In this paper, we proposed an adaptive fuzzy sliding control for unknown nonlinear systems using estimation of bounds for approximation errors. Unknown nonlinearity of a system is approximated by the fuzzy logic system with a set of IF-THEN rules whose consequence parameters are adjusted on-line according to adaptive algorithms for the purpose of controlling the output of the nonlinear system to track a desired output. Also, using assumption that the approximation errors satisfy certain bounding conditions, we proposed the estimation algorithms of approximation errors by Lyapunov synthesis methods. The overall control system guarantees that the tracking error asymptotically converges to zero and that all signals involved in controller are uniformly bounded. The good performance of the proposed adaptive fuzzy sliding mode controller is verified through computer simulations on an inverted pendulum system.