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.

Lord Kambala Day in South African football circles refers to September 5, 2020, a day etched in PSL (Premier Soccer League) history when Manuel 'Lord’ Kambala, playing for Baroka FC, scored a crucial equalizer against Kaizer Chiefs. That goal denied Chiefs the league title on the final day of the 2019/20 season, handing the championship to Mamelodi Sundowns instead. This singular moment earned Kambala the nickname "Lord Kambala" and immortalized his contribution to South African football lore.
Example

Happy Lord Kambala Day, everyone πŸŽ‰

Masiya 06 September 2025
Township meaning for slang whose direct translation means 'gangster language' 'taal' being the Afrikaans word for language. A huge contribution to this type of slang stem from South African prisons.
Example

He came back from Pollsmoor speaking Tsotsi taal.

Tshidi (Not Matshidiso) 18 September 2025
Xhosa term for sleeping over at a boyfriend/girlfriend's place.
Example

Umntu wakhe uthe makatake iweekend yonke.

Her partner asked her to sleep over for the whole weekend.

Tshidi (Not Matshidiso) 20 September 2025
Intusi sisithetha-ntonye sobisi. Intusi is Milk in isiXhosa dialect.
Example

Intusi yesizwe isengwa ezinkomeni zelali.

Khingh 21 September 2025
Umgxobhozo yindawo echifichifi ngenxa yodaka namanzi, emva kokuba kunethe imvula ngamandla.

In English umgxobhozo is a swamp.
Example

Ngenxa yokuqhuba amatakane, uyise kaThando uthe dyumpu emgxobhozweni.

Khingh 21 September 2025
Ingwe in a Xhosa and Zulu word for a leopard.
Example

Ingwe idla ngamabala.

Khingh 21 September 2025
Inyathi is a Xhosa and Zulu word for a buffalo.
Example

Inyathi ibuzwa kwabayaziyo.

Khingh 21 September 2025
Indoda is another term for GodπŸ₯²
Example

Indoda yinkulu yehlabathi.

Khingh 21 September 2025
Thobela will be "Be obedient" in IsiXhosa
Example

Thobela abase magunyeni
Be obedient to authorities

Pronunciation
by Thobela Memani
Thobela Memani 02 October 2025
Bafana Maths refers to the calculations Bafana Bafana usually does before qualifying for a major tournament. It usually entails β€œif team A wins, team B draws, and we win by so many goals, then we qualify”
Example

We need Nigeria to beat Benin and we beat Rwanda, then we’ll qualify for the World Cup. My Bafana Maths is on point now.

Zama 14 October 2025
Ama 1K is a term that refers to anyone born between the year 1000 until the year 1999. Ama2000 came up with this term to counter the fact that they are called ama 2k.
Example

ama 1k should just retire from social media.

Mr Trends 23 October 2025
A student at the University of the Free State.
Example

Only a Kovsie knows the feeling.

S Rungan 28 October 2025

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