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National symbols are strongly connected with nation-building and national identity. However, despite their prevalence, national symbols role in nation-building and national identities formation remains an under-researched area. To fill the gap, this study set out to understand the contribution of national symbols to nation-building and national identity formation. Four vital national symbols: the coat of arms, the national flag, the constitution, and the national anthem were analysed using both the semantic and syntactic structure of the symbols to provide a comprehensive analysis of the national symbols. This study reveals that the national symbols have not been accepted widely by all groups as is often assumed. The sampled symbols revealed that South Africans were drawn to the constitution's principles of equality, human rights, and citizenship-related benefits, which strengthened their pride in their country and contribute to nation-building. The study confirms that national symbols contribute to nation-building and also provides an essential lens for understanding of splitting (cultural and national) and identification processes. This study contributes to the theories of symbolism in general by highlighting the important role fulfilled by national symbols in nation-building and national identity formation. Generally, the study of national symbols, combined with national and cultural identity, appears to be a significant area of research that merits additional focus.