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papsak

(South Africa) Cheap wine sold in a bag.

ˈpæpsəkDocumented since 1990s1990sMillennialhistorical237 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
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Etymology timeline

Born ~1990 · no dated citations yet
1990BornToday, 2026
Millennial / early-internet eraSee decade cohort →

Definitions

Global
#1·Apr 27, 2026Global

(South Africa) Cheap wine sold in a bag.

‘I wasn't…’ she starts in a voice so little and pathetic, I have to lean in to hear her. Her breath is ripe with cheap papsak.
For parents

"papsak" means cheap wine sold in a bag. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

For ESL learners

"papsak" is informal English meaning cheap wine sold in a bag. It is part of South African English. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "cheap wine sold in a bag" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "papsak" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.

Cluster: alcohol
Heard in the wild
  • “7. [↑](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tot_System#cite_ref-7)["'Papsak' runs dry"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121020184358/http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/papsak-runs-dry-1.371260). _IOL news_.”

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For specific readers

"papsak" means cheap wine sold in a bag. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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