Johannesburg
/jʊəˈɦanəsbœrχ/
Johannesburg is the Afrikaans name for the city of Johannesburg in South Africa.
You may also encounter the nickname Egoli, which means City of Gold or the slang term Joburg, which is used among young people.
Meaning: a city in South Africa (name)
Which one should you use?
Johannesburg is the standard name, while Joburg is a slang alternative and Egoli is a nickname.
How do you pronounce it?
/jʊəˈɦanəsbœrχ/
Did you know?
- The nickname Egoli is not Afrikaans but comes from the Zulu language, illustrating the deep linguistic blending found in the city.
- In South Africa, the term Joburg is often used as a social marker of urban identity that cuts across different ethnic and linguistic groups.
- Unlike many other slang terms in Afrikaans, the shortened Joburg is frequently used even in relatively formal settings.
Examples in context
- Dis lekker om Egoli te besoek!It's nice to visit Egoli!
- Ek gaan volgende week Johannesburg toe.I am going to Johannesburg next week.
- Johannesburg is 'n baie groot stad.Johannesburg is a very large city.
- Het jy al ooit in Johannesburg gewoon?Have you ever lived in Johannesburg?
Example conversation
Nicola and Johan are talking about their travel plans.
- NicolaIs jy lus vir 'n trip na Johannesburg?Do you feel like taking a trip to Johannesburg?
- JohanJa, ek wil graag Johannesburg sien.Yes, I would really like to see Johannesburg.
- NicolaDit sal vir jou 'n groot avontuur wees.It will be a big adventure for you.
- JohanEk is baie opgewonde oor die reis.I am very excited about the trip.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “johannesburg” translations and entries Johannesburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
