Browse African Slang

Laughing my ass off

Young boy / youngster.

Crazy person (playful).

"Laduma!" is a cheer for scoring a goal (means "it thunders"). Laduma money isn't formal slang, but one might jokingly y...

A celebratory exclamation meaning 'It thunders!' in Zulu. Famously used by sports commentators when a goal is scored.

Goal scored (soccer).

An Afrikaans phrase that literally means "laugh me a porridge." It signifies laughing so hard you go weak (turn to mush)...

Also means “dad” (same as *Bali*, just a variant – some say “the Lali” to mean their father).

Hungry / starving.

Sun / bright vibe.

Very, a lot (literally “long” in Afrikaans, repurposed as intensifier).

Here/place / "at this point".

Originally Afrikaans for "fancy" or "posh," used in English to describe something high-class or someone who is affluent ...

Fancy person or someone acting upper-class.

Originally Afrikaans for a fancy, rich person, larnie is used in SA English to mean someone who is well-off or acting ab...

Fancy / posh.

Outfit arrangement / style layout.

Afrikaans word meaning 'tasty' or 'nice.' In slang usage it means great, cool, awesome.

An Afrikaans phrase meaning "nice thing," used to refer to an attractive person (usually female) or a "hottie." It's a c...

An Afrikaans-influenced exclamation meaning "Awesome, man" or "Nice!" The word "lekker" means good or enjoyable. This ph...

Hot / attractive (UK influence, used locally).

Let them shine,"Quiet bro, let her cook.

Improve status.

Different tiers of success.

“Sweetheart” or dear (Afrikaans for love, often used affectionately).

Life is happening intensively.

Awesome, exciting

Adding “litu” (little) as a meme way to describe something humorously.

Lit situation.

A popular slogan meaning "local is great." Lekker means nice, so it encourages enjoying local products, places or people...

Crazy / wild.

Music loop

A South African proverb meaning love is natural and falls upon people indiscriminately. One cannot control or predict wh...

Quietly / secretly.

Township / location.

Afrikaans for "Listen carefully (to me)." This phrase is often used in SA English context when someone in authority (a p...

Hangs around quietly (online/offline).

Rich/decadent look/feel.

trends/pov-youre-trying-to-decode-your-teens-lingo-and-stumble-across-this-list-of-20-trendy-slang-words-20250226 "POV: ...

Love/affection