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The 5 Best South African Sayings (and Why We Love Them)
By Faith Abrahams•December 6, 2025•3 min read
Discover the five best South African sayings and why locals love using them. A fun, proudly SA breakdown of our most iconic expressions.
South Africans don’t just speak — we perform. Our slang is a cultural treasure chest filled with attitude, humour, and pure genius. Whether you’re comforting a friend, celebrating a win, or dragging someone politely, Mzansi has a phrase for every moment. Here are five of the very best:
1. “Eish!”
The national expression of stress, frustration, surprise, confusion, or mild disappointment.
Stub your toe? “Eish.”
Petrol price goes up? “Eish!”
Friend tells you drama? “Eish…”
One word. Infinite emotion.
Stub your toe? “Eish.”
Petrol price goes up? “Eish!”
Friend tells you drama? “Eish…”
One word. Infinite emotion.
2. “Now Now”
A time period ranging from 2 minutes to… who knows.
It’s not “now,” but it’s also not “later.”
It’s “now now.”
If you know, you know. If you don’t… shame.
It’s not “now,” but it’s also not “later.”
It’s “now now.”
If you know, you know. If you don’t… shame.
3. “Just Now”
The cousin of “now now.”
This one doesn’t mean soon. It means… eventually.
At some point.
Maybe today.
Maybe next week.
But don’t stress — it’s coming.
Just now.
This one doesn’t mean soon. It means… eventually.
At some point.
Maybe today.
Maybe next week.
But don’t stress — it’s coming.
Just now.
4. “Sharp-Sharp”
A greeting. A goodbye. A confirmation. A vibe.
Someone asks if you’re good? “Sharp-sharp.”
You’re signing off a phone call? “Sharp-sharp!”
It’s the South African stamp of approval.
Someone asks if you’re good? “Sharp-sharp.”
You’re signing off a phone call? “Sharp-sharp!”
It’s the South African stamp of approval.
5. “Ag, Shame”
The most versatile phrase in the country.
It can mean:
It can mean:
- “Ag shame. Awww, that’s cute.”
- “Ag shame. That’s embarrassing for you.”
- “Ag shame, man, that’s sad.”
Tone of voice = everything.
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Fai
Faith Abrahams
Our Resident Explorer
Faith is passionate about discovering the gems hidden in plain sight — from township music festivals to wildflower road trips in the Northern Cape. She connects Computicket’s offerings across events, travel, and experiences with a love for local culture and adventure. If it’s proudly South African and packed with potential, Faith’s already written about it — or she's there.
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Article Info
3 min read
December 6, 2025
218 words
Status: published