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.
The word was popularised on social media after Naomi Campbell said ‘amandala’ instead of the correct ‘amandla’ at the Global Citizen Festival in 2018.
You'll be strong. Hayi wethu Amandala to you.
He came in with a vrr phaa and all the girls went crazy.
Madumane: Thank you Sauta for the love.
Twitter post caption: It can only be South Ah
Uthetha amasimba.
Translation: You are talking shit
Madumane ke star.
Yho motase, I couldn't believe what I saw.
Context is very important when it comes to this word because it also means "I no longer love him/her".
Girl: Is that your child there
Guy: Yes, that's my baby girl.
Girl: Yhu samthandi mntkbw
CPUT learners 🗣: Ingenile "R1500"
After 3 days: Bank balance 0.00
When you friends see that Amanda is going to play with your fellings, they simply use the term like
"🗣: Batla u hurda boy tlohella ngwanana enwa"