“Cava the influence” – said the influential Shakespeare while enjoying the royalties he got after dumping 1500 words into the English language.

Slang is an informal language that is very popular with young people. There are words and phrases that have double meanings and can sometimes leave you dazed. Words like “rubber” have changed over time and now carry a totally different meaning.

I recently watched a YouTube video of two guys who go into black American neighborhoods and play pranks on people. One of their pranks includes using slang words and phrases that have a double meaning, such as “bust a nut, which once meant to “work hard” but now means “to ejaculate”, just to see what people think and how they react.

Following on this, Live SA hit the streets of Johannesburg recently to find out how slang has evolved here, what slang the South African youth prefers and how clear the words and references are to everybody using them, from their likes to dislikes, coined phrases and so on.

words: Nhlanhla & Leslie

video: Nadine & Nhlanhla

Do you have a story on the State of South African Youth? Tweet us, @LiveVIPZA.

Register for our #VIPYouthFest in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. See you there!