KZN's most searched slang word revealed
Unscramble has released the latest stats on the most searched slang words in South Africa. Here's the full list and what they all mean...
Each generation normally comes up with its own lingo - informal words and phrases that you would probably never find in a dictionary.
These are words that a particular group of people gives meaning to. So, if you are not part of a certain age group or social circle, you might not always know what they mean.
But slang words make life fun. They can be funny, exciting and, sometimes, completely confusing if you have no idea what people are talking about.
Unscramble Words recently released an analysis of Google search data for 2026 revealing the most searched slang words in South Africa so far.
The research found that “67”,was the most searched slang term in the country.
Other popular searches included “gooning”, “big back”, and “crash out”.
'Clock it'
In KwaZulu-Natal, “clock it” took the top spot as the province’s most searched slang word.
The term is so popular that even President Cyril Ramaphosa recently went viral for doing the “clock it” gesture during a visit to the Univetsity of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Now, if the president knows what it means, surely we should all know what the Gen Z and younger generations are talking about, right?
What exactly do these slang words mean?
Below is a list of 20 slang words highlighted in the research and what they mean:
South Africa's most searched slang words (monthly searches), provided by unscramblerer:
- 67 (131 600 searches) - There is no literal meaning to six seven. Its absurdity is the point, making it a prime example of "brainrot" internet humour where the randomness itself becomes funny.
- Cap, capping, no cap (21 500 searches) - a lie, a fake claim or an exaggeration. No cap means the opposite: I'm telling the truth, seriously, no lie.
- Simp (20 900 searches) - show excessive devotion to or longing for someone or something. Most popular slang use is related to relationships where one partner does all the giving.
- Aura, aura points, aura farming (19 700 searches) - a person's cool factor, swagger or presence. Aura points are essentially coolness points that you can gain or lose by doing cool or cringe-worthy actions. Aura farming refers to a behaviour where a person does something for the sake of looking cool.
- Sigma (18 200 searches) - refers to an independent, self-reliant person who operates outside traditional social hierarchies, often described as a "lone wolf".
- Mogging, mogged, mog, framemog (16 200 searches) - outclassing someone else by appearing more attractive or successful.
- Gooning (14 700 searches) - The term has evolved to casually refer to becoming overly obsessed with something.
- Big back (13 200 searches) - refers to someone with a large physique. Someone who is seen as gluttonous or out of shape. It’s less about literal size and more about poking fun at behaviour, like hogging food or being sluggish.
- Clock it (11 600 searches) - agreeing with a sharp observation. Calling something out. Stating an unspoken truth.
- Rage bait (10 100 searches) - online content created on purpose to make people angry.
- Glazing (9 700 searches) - praising someone excessively and insincerely (sucking up).
- Chopped (8 500 searches) - something that is ugly, undesirable or unattractive. Looking very rough.
- Crash out (8 000 searches) - losing total emotional control and throwing a major tantrum.
- Larping, larper (7 800 searches) - someone who pretends to be something they are not.
- Bussin (6 900 searches) - extremely good, excellent or delicious.
- Cuh (6 800 searches) - a fun way to address a close friend. Similar to bro or dude.
- Maxxing (6 600 searches) - to maximise and optimise. Go all in on improving a specific part of your life.
- Mandem (5 600 searches) - a group of close male friends. Your crew.
- Oomf (5 200 searches) - short for "one of my followers" or "one of my friends".
- Bird (4 100 searches) - someone acting foolishly in relationships. Lacks common sense, has low standards and stays with a man who disrespects her.
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