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.

Igedlela is a Zulu slang term for a car.



Formally, it means kettle.
Example

Ulibonile igedlela lami elisha?



Did you see my new car?

Masiya 19 April 2025
Used to describe someone who tends to do stupid things from time to time.
Example

Why did you do that s'numnum?

Dakalo 20 April 2025
Jomo is a name given to a kasi kid that has a big head. They are usually very good at football (like Jomo Sono)
Example

Did you see that goal by Jomo?

Stanley 21 April 2025
Bherhi is a Xhosa term for a homeless person.
Example

Did you see Thabo left home, ngu bherhi ngoku.

Yanga CPT 25 April 2025
Street kid is a term used in South Africa to refer to homeless kids, living on the streets.
Example

I almost a became a street kid when I lost my mother.

Yanga CPT 25 April 2025
A hype man is the guy or girl whom is essentially the MC at a club. They usually have the mic and hype the crowd up.
Example

That hype man from yesterday was good 🔥

CG 25 April 2025

PSL

PSL is the acronym for Premier Soccer League, which is the South African top flight soccer/football league.
Example

We can't let Mamelodi Sundowns win the PSL title again 🤦🏾‍♂️

Percy 27 April 2025
A cylon is a term generally used in Gqeberha that means a crazy person or a psycho.
Example

Yi cylon maan lawey.

Percy 27 April 2025
Kapa is the Xhosa name for Cape Town.
Example

Ndiphuma eKapa mna.

Percy 27 April 2025
Gugulethu is a township in Western Cape, South Africa and is around 20km from Cape Town. Its name is a contraction of igugu lethu, which is Xhosa for our pride / our hope.
Example

When i visit Cape Town, I make sure I go to Gugulethu.

Percy 27 April 2025
Gugs is a shortened term that referes to the township of Gugulethu in Cape Town.
Example

Ndiphuma eGugs

Percy 27 April 2025
Khaltsha is a term that is used to refer to the township of Khayelitsha in Cape Town.
Example

Masambe siye eKhaltsha, mfowethu.

Percy 27 April 2025

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