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.
I can't wait to go back to G-Town and see the homies...
I'm gonna go home and smoke some ganja.
Me: Gombo means "a newly developed area. It is the name given by the Xhosas to the City of East London after its foundation in 1836"
You: That is gibberish.
Me: uyarhubha.
I have so many stories about the 21:01 gang.
Afr: Daai makmoer moet my nie plaa nie-
Eng: that asshole shouldn't bother me
Daai Steve is OK maar 'n fokkerkie
Translation: that guy Steve is a real small fuck
Jou poepholl!
Translation: you asshole
Usisi wam nguNongendi.
My sister is a nun.
Good to see you, saluka. I last saw you after initiation school.
I can't wait to see my younger brother as ikrwala.
Ola Nyoviolas, I am your biggest fan.