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 saw your friend walking with elinye ilawu.
He speaks like that because he is dating ikula.
I canβt wait for Monday so that I can have mogodu at Mogodu Monday.
Letβs go to Mogodu Monday next week.
I represent Katlehong till I die.
I need to visit Vosloorus very soon.
My dad is always listening to Mbhaqanga.
South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first in Africa.
Johannesburg's Apartheid Museum documents the struggle against racial segregation.
Cape Town's Robben Island held Nelson Mandela for 18 years.
Durban's Golden Mile beachfront is a major tourist attraction.
Pretoria's Union Buildings house the South African presidency.