Slang

1. Hhayibo!

   No way! / Hang on!

   Usage

   The standard reaction to disbelief or mild protest, understood by speakers of every South African language. Safe with anyone, though a sharp tone reads as a real objection

   Grammar Note

   "Hhayi" (no) plus the emphatic particle "bo"; Xhosa spells it "hayibo".

2. Yoh!

   Whoa!

   Usage

   An interjection of surprise — at a price, at the heat. Safe with anyone

3. Eish

   Eish (oh no)

   Usage

   For dismay or sympathy with someone's trouble; pan-South-African and safe with anyone

4. Sharp

   All good / got it

   Usage

   Both "got it" and "see you", often with a thumbs-up. For peers and shop staff, not for formal settings

5. Heita

   Hey!

   Usage

   A township greeting for friends your age; with elders use the proper "Sawubona"

6. Ayoba

   Cool / awesome

   Usage

   Youth slang for praising music or style, spread nationwide around the 2010 World Cup. For friends your age, not elders or formal settings

7. Bhuti

   Brother (polite address)

   Usage

   A warm, respectful way to address a man whose name you do not know — shop staff, taxi drivers. It works for men older than you too

8. Sisi

   Sister (polite address)

   Usage

   A warm, respectful way to address a woman whose name you do not know, in shops and restaurants. For an older woman, "Mama" shows more respect

9. Baba

   Baba (respectful address)

   Usage

   A respectful address for a man older than you, regardless of relation. Zulu society takes deference to elders seriously, so this is the safe default; for men your own age use "Bhuti"

10. Mama

    Mama (respectful address)

    Usage

    A respectful address for a woman older than you, regardless of relation. It warms things up instantly at a market or eatery. Not used for women your own age

11. Gogo

    Gogo (grandmother)

    Usage

    Grandmother, and a respectful address for any elderly woman, related or not. It has passed into South African English and is widely understood. Never used for a young woman

12. Mfowethu

    My brother

    Usage

    Literally "our brother"; a familiar address between men of similar age. Not used to women

    Grammar Note

    The vocative of "umfowethu"; the initial vowel of the class prefix drops in address.

13. Chomi

    Friend / buddy

    Usage

    A casual word for "friend", from English "chum". For close friends your age, of any gender; not for elders

14. Ekasi

    In the township / back home

    Usage

    From Afrikaans "lokasie"; it means the township or neighbourhood someone is from. Safe with anyone, but never use it to talk down about where someone comes from

15. Mzansi

    Mzansi (South Africa)

    Usage

    An affectionate name for South Africa that came from the Nguni word for "south"; Zulu speakers use it constantly, and it is everywhere in music and broadcasting. Safe with anyone

16. Ngempela?

    Really?

    Usage

    A backchannel for surprise that signals you want to hear more; safe with anyone

    Grammar Note

    "Nga-" (by/with) plus "impela" (truth) — literally "in truth".

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