Thanks to its melting pot of 11 official languages, South African’s tend to use a lot of slang or ‘South Africanisms’ drawn from the various languages. South African conversational English is littered with words and phrases from its seductive menu of official languages, so don’t be
shy to mix it up. As with any culture, new slang is popularised everyday. Here’s a few to help you on your way, but if you hear more, be sure to ask what they mean and drop us a line at … and we’ll add them to the list.
Aikona – not on your life / never
Aita (Pronounced ‘ai-tah’) – a greeting
Akubekuhle (Pronounced ‘aako-beck-hoole’) – meaning cheers, to cheers a drink or thanks in Zulu
Arvie (Pronounced ‘rve’) – afternoon
Bobotie (Pronounced buh-boor-tea) – served with yellow rice and raisins, this is a spicy traditional Malay mince with an egg custard topping.
Babbelas (Pronounced ‘bub-elaas’)- South African Afrikaans for tender the morning after the night before, hangover
Bakgat – (Pronounced ‘buck-ghat’) – when something is done correctly
Bakkie – (Pronounced ‘buck-key’) – a utility / pick-up truck or Tupperware container
Biltong – dried, seasoned meat, similar to jerky
Bioskoop (Pronounced ‘bio – skoowp’) – means Cinema – We want to go to the bioskoop tonight
Biscuit – South African Afrikaans for cookie, used as a term of affection – Claudia, you biscuit!!
Bliksem – hi or punch
Bitter Koud (Pronounced ‘bitterr coat’) – South African Afrikaans for very cold
Boer – Afrikaans word for farmer
Boerewors (boerie) – spicy South African farmers’ sausage
Boetie (Pronounced ‘Boet – tea’) – South African Afrikaans for little brother, this can also be used as a nickname.
Bokkie – a small buck, or affectionate name for a female (my bokkie)
Bra – Afrikaans word for male friend – “dude” in English
Bru – male friend
| Braai – a BBQ |
Cell phone – mobile phone, hey bru can I use your cell phone.
Choc – township slan for R20 note
Chommie (Pronounced – ‘Ch-ooom-mi’/ china – my friend, my buddy – How are you my chommie?
Choon – South African Indian slang for telling someone something, could also be a song
Chow – means eat – this can also mean sex, so be careful how you use it
Cozzy (Pronounced cozzie) – swimming / bathing costume
Dik bek – sulking / pouting
Diski – South African township slang for football eg. Learn the Diski Dance for 2010
Doss – nap
Dorpie (Pronounced “door – pee”) – a town small in size
Droë wors (Pronounce ‘oë’ as an ‘ooa’) – dried sausage, similar to biltong
Eina! (Pronounce ‘ei’ as an ‘a’) – ouch!
Eish! (Pronounced ‘aysh’) – a phrase of exclamation eg. Eish! I am so tired
Fundi – expert – ‘umfundisi’ meaning teacher or preacher
Gatvol – fed up, had enough
Gelukkige Verjaarsdag (Pronounced ‘GGeluk’ – ‘kighe’ ‘Feryaarsdag’) – South African Afrikaans for Happy Birthday
Gogga – bug in Khoikhoi xo-xon
Gooi (Pronounce ‘g’ as a rolling ‘gggg’ almost like a cat purring) – chuck or throw something
Highway – motorway / freeway
Howzit – how’s it going? How are you?
Hundreds – excellent, good – Hi buddy how are you? I am hundreds
Indaba – from the Zulu language meaning ‘a matter for discussion’ or widely known in South African English as conference
Just now – interchangeable meanings which could be ‘just now’, ‘tomorrow or perhaps ‘never’
Kombi – a minivan
Kwaai (Pronounced “kw” – “eye”) – a homonym meaning – cool, excellent or angry in South African Afrikaans
Monkey’s wedding – a rain shower when the sun is out
Plaatjies (Pronounce ‘tj’ as an ‘ck’) – flip slop sandals (also see slip slops)
Laaitie (Pronounces as “lighty”) – a young person, usually a young male such as a younger brother or son
Laduma! (Pronounced “Laaa” “doooo” “ma!”) – it thunders in Zulu – used when a goal is scrored in South African soccer matches
Larney – fancy / designer
Lekker – great / tasty
Makarapa – a modified, decorated miners’ helmet used by South African soccer fans
| Mielie – corn on the cob |
Naartjie (Pronounce ‘v’ as an ‘f’) – tangerine, mandarin
Ou Ballie – South African Afrikaans for old man
Oke (Pronounced ‘oak’) – a guy / bloke
Padkos – food for the road / journey
Pap / mielie meal – ground maize
Pavement – sidewalk
Robot – traffic light
Rondavel – free-standing round building which usually has a thatched roof
Sangoma – South African traditional healer
Shongololo – millipede
Siff – Used in South African English to discribe disgusting, horrible or ugly – “This milkshake is siff!”
Skinner – gossip
Slap chips – French fries
Slip slops / slops – flip slop sandals
Spaza shop / cafe (Pronounced ‘caffie’- convenience store
Stoep – verandah
Sosatie – a kebab on a stick
Swak (pronounced – “swuk”) – South African Indian slang for bad or a lot on your shoulders
Tannie – Afrikaans for aunt
Tekkies – sneakers
Tokoloshe – evil spirit
Toyi-Toyi – South African Zulu for protesting and dancing in the street
Tsotsi (Pronounced ‘Tzotzi’) – a person who does no good, gangster, layabout
Tune – to give a person lip – Don’t u tune me
Veld – bush / grassland
Veldskoens / vellies (Pronounce ‘v’ as an ‘f’) – traditional Afrikaans outdoors shoes made from hide
Voetsek (Pronounce ‘v’ as an ‘f’) – go away / buzz off
Vuvuzela (Pronounced ‘Voo’ – ‘voo’ – ‘ze’ – ‘la’ ) – Setswana for a stadium horn, used by football fans during matches in South Africa
Yebo (Pronounced ‘Yeahbaw’) – Yes in Zulu
