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.

Currency of South Africa (ZAR) issued by the South African Reserve Bank. 1 Rand = 100 cents.
Example

The rand is also used in Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini through monetary agreements.

Travel Admin 21 July 2025
Mfethu is a Nguni term, short for mfowethu, meaning my brother. It is generally used to refer to a man, doesn’t have to be related to you.
Example

Dankie for featuring me, mfethu.

Pronunciation
by MXhosa
MXhosa 24 July 2025
Mfowethu is a Nguni term for "my brother". It can be used to refer to any male, it doesn't have to be your biological brother. It's like saying "bro".
Example

Sure mfowethu, I will see you tomorrow.

Pronunciation
by MXhosa
MXhosa 25 July 2025
Umpu is a Xhosa word for a gun.
Example

Ndifuna umpu wam
I want my gun.

OD 26 July 2025

011

011 is the Johannesburg dialling code. It can also used to refer to Johannesburg.
Example

I rep 011 till I die!

Zama 10 August 2025

031

031 is the dialling code for Durban. It can also be used to refer to Durban.
Example

I rep 031 till the day I die.

Zama 10 August 2025
Izinganekwane izingxoxo ezazixoxwa ogogo/omama/omkhulu Kanye nobaba.Zaxoxelwa abantwana ngesikhathi sakudala.
Example

Umama uxoxela izingane zakhe inganekwane.

Pronunciation
by Siyanda Ndima
Siyanda Ndima 10 August 2025
A South African slang term to calm down or relax.
Example

I will be chillaxing by the beach all day today.

Siya 10 August 2025
Ayeye In some Southern African languages (e.g., Xhosa), it can mean "you're in trouble".
Example

Ayeye! The game is about to start!

tammy 11 August 2025
Inyhori is a Xhosa slang term that’s used to refer to someone with one eye.
Example

They stabbed him in the eye, now yinyhori.

Pronunciation
by MXhosa
MXhosa 16 August 2025
Deragatory slang which means to have sexual intercourse, bang .
Example

my Gee, Tommorow my chick will be visiting me, I can't wait to Ashkarine The Banganoy.

Siba da Ntsizwa (GI) 24 August 2025
cash, stash , dough, (relation to money in general.)
Serendipitously the word is a title of the song that shook the whole mzansi, nation as a whole, it was in every corner one would turn.
Example

ntwana ako sike gumba dar, lend me some cash nyana.

Siba da Ntsizwa (GI) 24 August 2025

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