South Africa Slang Dictionary

South African slang is a rich, multilingual mix that borrows freely from the country's eleven official languages - isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sesotho and more - plus street languages like tsotsitaal and Sepitori. It's the language of the townships, the taxi rank, kwaito and amapiano, and everyday Mzansi life from Joburg to Cape Town to Durban. Words like eish, howzit, lekker, sharp sharp and yebo are woven into how South Africans speak every day. Explore the community-built dictionary of South African slang below - and add the words you know.

Add a South African word

South Africa

5 Bob

Refers to the 50 cents coin.

Example

Kid: How much are these chips

My friend: They are 5 bob, my friend.

Chief • 24 July 2020

1 0 0

South Africa

My friend

This is a term that refers to the Somali or Pakistani shop owners in South Africa. This term started when these shop owners first arrived in South Africa and they referred to everyone as "My friend". The name was then subsequently given to them.

Example

1. Child: Hi, my friend. How much are your sweets?
My friend: It's 2 bob for one sweet, my friend.

2. No one:
Pakistani shop owner: My friend I am not your friend, my friend.

Chief • 24 July 2020

1 0 0

South Africa

Jacket

Not to be confused with the clothing item. This is a SePitori term for R10 (Ten Rands). In other parts of South Africa, R10 is referred to as Tiger

Example

Ke shota ka jacket, ntjaka.

DRex • 25 July 2020

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South Africa

O jewa ke eng?

O jewa ke eng is a Sotho term that directly translates to "What is eating you" in English. This is a phrase that has become famous on Twitter after a user named @akreana tweeted it back in June 2019.

Example

Friend 1: Why are you so down, o jewa ke?

Friend 2: Eish my friend, my boyfriend has been cheating on me with that slut from Pitori.

Mr Trends • 26 July 2020

2 0 0

South Africa

Eish

Form of exclamation used to express a range of emotions, such as surprise, annoyance, or dissapointment.

Example

Eish, I will stop supporting Kaizer Chiefs because they are always losing.

Mr Trends • 26 July 2020

1 0 0

South Africa

Covidpreneur

Covidpreneurs are those dodgy tenderpreneurs who loot the government money intended for Covid-19 tenders. They register dodgy businesses and win tenders but they either not deliver at all or they deliver below par results.

Example

Deals that are believed to be worth more than R2.2bn, involving emergency purchases of personal protective equipment (PPE) are being said to be chowed by Covidpreneurs.

Sinazo • 26 July 2020

3 0 0

South Africa

A Reece

The king of South African rap, if not African rap. If you disagree with me, go argue with your ancestors. He hails from the great city of Pitori. He has the hip hop industry on his back like he is Quasimodo.

Example

A Reece is the greatest rapper alive. He is the G.O.A.T!

DRex • 30 July 2020

1 0 0

South Africa

4-5

A South African slang term for penis

Example

He pulled out his 4-5 out of the blue.

Chief • 01 August 2020

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South Africa

Ben 10

Ben 10 is the term used to describe young males who like dating older women. In most cases, these women give these young males money on top of all the sex.

Example

Did you hear that she got herself a Ben 10?

Chief • 01 August 2020

2 0 0

South Africa

A loota continua

The looting continues.
This is a term that was first used in the 2020 covid-19 lootings that were happening in South Africa.

Example

Covidpreneur 1: Which car are you buying with that Covid-19 money that's supposed to help your community?

Covidpreneur 2: Getting myself a G Class.

Covidpreneur 1: A loota continua

Chief • 05 August 2020

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