Browse African Slang

Put me on or plug me

Point of view skit intro

Paper / money.

Group / crew.

Party (stylized).

Means “on the ground” and refers to the *current situation* or *in real life.* Often used to contrast talk versus realit...

Flower (nickname).

Hoodie / winter drip.

Large knife; also act violently.

Crazy / surprising situation.

Maize porridge, a staple food. Not slang but culturally significant and often searched

Literally "porridge and meat" in Afrikaans. Pap (maize meal porridge) with vleis (meat) is a traditional combo, essentia...

Stylish guy (imported usage).

Slang for relax or settle in one spot. To "park off" is to sit down and hang out informally, as if you've parked yoursel...

Pass / share access.

“Watch out!” or “Be careful.”

Watch out / be careful (Afrikaans).

Set the way / pioneer.

Sidewalk.

A humorous term for a mutt or mixed-breed dog (implying it's the product of random street matings). It's like calling a ...

To go crazy or be crazy (from Shona *kupenga*, to be mad).

The party or celebration after finishing final exams (literally dropping one’s pen).

To “pepper” someone is to flaunt your success to make others envious.

(Zulu, 'my forever') A term expressing that someone is your eternal one. It gained popularity through a love song; calli...

You know / after all.

Chill / relax.

Cooled down / resolved.

Drink (alcohol).

Thursday casual drinking tradition.

An idiom meaning to join a conversation halfway and get the wrong idea – like someone coming in at the end and only pick...

To dress up stylishly (literally “hit a look”).

Bike / small motor.

Measure / test.

One thousand Kwacha (in old currency slang, 1 “pin” = K1,000). Still used after rebasing to mean K1 or K1,000 depending ...

Pretoria nickname.

Farm (Afrikaans).

A country bumpkin, farm boy (Japie = common farm name).

Flip-flop sandal.

Afrikaans saying meaning 'a plan is yet another plan,' implying we'll improvise something

To be honest and not hide anything. It comes from the Afrikaans "oop kaarte speel." If you play open cards, you're layin...

Source / provider.

Well-connected.

To keep money for self.

An idiot or foolish person (vulgar, literally “anus” in Afrikaans).

Very offensive term for genitalia; also used as a harsh insult.

Something highly appealing.

Afrikaans for 'pump,' but in slang can mean to have sex (vulgar)

Cute loved one

A cast-iron pot, or a stew made in it (cooked slowly over coals).

Place / spot / location.