Heita! Learn Tsotsitaal & Scamto (Street Language)

Tsotsitaal and iScamtho are urban varieties mixing isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English. This course teaches you to understand kasi conversation, music lyrics and youth media.

From kwaito and amapiano lyrics to Soweto street corners and Cape Flats Sabela, street language is where South African identity is invented in real time.

Millions of urban youth speakers

Start the free trial lesson Take the placement test Enrol in the full course

Course levels

Kasi Basics

12 automated lessons · 6 quizzes · 3 games · 1 assignment

Everyday Street Talk

12 automated lessons · 6 quizzes · 3 games · 1 assignment

Music & Media Fluency

12 automated lessons · 6 quizzes · 3 games · 1 assignment

Advanced Urban Register

12 automated lessons · 6 quizzes · 3 games · 1 assignment

Starter phrases with pronunciation

Heita

Hey / hello

HAY-tah

Sharp fede

All good, we're sorted

shahp FEH-deh

Ke sharp

I'm fine

keh shahp

Grand

Good, okay

grand

Awe mfethu

Hi my brother

AH-weh m-FEH-too

Siyaphi?

Where are we going?

see-YAH-pee

Included learning materials

Learner workbook

Printable PDF and Word workbook per level, styled like this site.

Children's book

Illustrated story set in the provinces where the language lives.

Phrase dictionary

Thematic dictionary with pronunciation for every entry.

Audio pack

Downloadable pronunciation drills for offline practice.

Enrolled students download every Tsotsitaal & Scamto (Street Language) workbook, children's book and dictionary from their dashboard.