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.

Anyone born from the year 2000 to 2009. The other word for AMA2000 is AMA2K
Example

Someone saying something about a 2K/2000: “Ama2000 don’t know their home languages.” or “Ama2K love listening to amapiano.”

Certified2K 08 November 2025
A term used in South African high schools—coined by the Matric Class of 2024—to refer to students born in 2010 during the FIFA World Cup hosted in South Africa. The nickname comes from the tournament’s official anthem, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” by Shakira. It’s commonly used to refer to Grade 8 learners of 2024, most of whom were born that year.
Example

Eish, amaWaka Waka were making noise while we were writing.

Certified2K 08 November 2025
A Tender Prophet is a name given to a tenderpreneur who can prophecy that s/he will be awarded a tender before it is officially awarded. This name has been used to describe Cat Matlala who rented a clinic on South African Police Service (SAPS) property six months before he scored a tainted R360 million police health services tender.
Example

He rented the property before he was given the tender. Surely he is a prophet. He is a tender prophet.

Skhokho 27 November 2025
Snokonoko means money, tjhelete ,zaka,moola,magumba and I would encourage majita to have it
Example

Mzala o na le snokonoko

Khathazamadoda 20 January 2026
It is a "Lobedu" word, It is used as a swear word and can be vulgar, which means 'Anus/Asshole"."Lobedu" A language widely known in Limpopo commonly known as "Khelobedu"
Example

You don't randomly say it, as it can be very vulgar, "Toko yao" which means "Your asshole".

Keletso 16 March 2026
It is a "Lobedu" word, regarded as a swear word and can be vulgar, which means 'Anus/Asshole".
Example

As it is vulgar and generally considered an insult,you don't randomly use it, however You can say "Toko yao" which means "Your asshole/anus".

Keletso 17 March 2026
Dube is a historic, relatively affluent residential neighborhood in Soweto, Johannesburg, established in the 1950s for the Black middle class and named after educator John Langalibalele Dube.
Example

I was born and bred in Dube.

Maps 20 March 2026
Good kind Philosophy of the hosh slang in all different languages to tell each origin of place, when and why.
Example

You sound like a alhoshnability kind of a person

Dr Grey 03 April 2026
Azanka is a sePitori term for “I have never”.
Example

Azanka ka bona ntho e so.



I have never seen something like this.

Joe 04 June 2026
is a pedi name that's usually uttered by stingy limpopian males when refusing to give huns the money.
Example

"Ke bea Bomma pele"

Pronunciation
by Bra frans
Bra frans 04 June 2026
is a word used as a form of being surprised nor reacting to shocking incidents.
Example

"Makhi o hlokofetsi, ijoh modimo mara!"

Pronunciation
by Bra frans
Bra frans 04 June 2026
when a good dancer knows when to leave the stage.
Example

"Chomi o mpethile ka hit/run and ke cachitse"

Bra frans 04 June 2026

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