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.

A derogatory term for foreigners in South African slang, particularly foreigners from African countries.
Can also be spelt as Kwirikwiri or kwarakwara.
Example

Stop calling foreign people kwerekwere!

DRex 21 April 2021
University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Students who go here think they breathe flavoured air and will make sure you know it.
Example

No one:

Wits student: Wits is better than UCT but this is a conversation y'all are not ready for.

Varsity Dude 21 April 2021
The first lecture of the day (07h45) at Rhodes University.

Also see Rhodent.
Example

Yoh dawg, I partied to hard last night that I missed my dawnie.

Varsity Dude 21 April 2021
Another name (Nickname) for the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Example

I got rejected at Tuks so I will apply at TUT.

Varsity Dude 21 April 2021
A Sepitori term for a loose girl or sfebe.
Can also be spelt as Mogwanthi.
Example

Mogwanti wa Pitori.

Danny 20 April 2021
Igolo is a Xhosa/Zulu term for an asshole. It is also used as a swear word so I would suggest you don't call anyone that.
Example

You are mad, golo.

DRex 19 April 2021
A kasi term that is used to refer to an older man. It is borrowed from Afrikaans and has a direct translation of big man.
Example

Sure grootman, zkhiphani.

DRex 19 April 2021
A person, usually a blesser or sugar mama who just swipes his/her card without any hesitation.
Example

We are out of beer... mswapheni

We are out of meat... mswapheni

DRex 19 April 2021
A Xhosa clan name that was made famous by former president Nelson Mandela.
Example

Madiba passed away in December 2013.

Sinazo 19 April 2021
A Xhosa greeting used to greet multiple people. You use molo to greet one person.
Example

Molweni bantu abadala.

Sinazo 18 April 2021
A Xhosa greeting used to greet one person. To greet multiple people, you say molweni.
Some people spell it as mholo.
Example

"Molo sisi, kunjani? Uphilile na? Bendicel'umzuzu wokuthetha nawe mna" - Mandisi Dyantyis

Sinazo 18 April 2021
A baSotho/Tswana term for Balls (As in testicles, not a soccer ball).
Example

O boa marete saan

Danny 16 April 2021

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