Those visiting South Africa for the first time are often left confused when speaking to South Africans for the first time. Plenty of “what did he say?”, blank stares, and a flurry of typing words into Google translate are no way to try and master the language of the Saffa. Brush up on your South Africanisms with our trusty Travel Dictionary.
- Awkward [ohrk-wid]
Meaning: This word can be used to describe anything strange or out of the norm, or an uneasy situation. It can also be shortened to awkies.
Usage: She tripped up the stairs in front of the whole class this morning. That’s so awkward!
- Big Five
Meaning: The African lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard. You may spot them on safari!
Usage: Keep an eye out for the Big Five when exploring the bushveld.
- Biltong [bil-tong]
Meaning: A tasty snack made out of dried and salted meat.
Usage: We must definitely pack some biltong to take along for our braai.
- Bliksem [blik-sim]
Meaning: To beat someone up. It can also be used interchangeably with donner.
Usage: That guy better not mess with you or I will bliksem him!
- Boerewors [boo-rah-vorrrs]
Meaning: A type of sausage that South Africans can’t live without. Make sure you pronounce that rolling “r”!
Usage: When you visit a friend’s braai, there’ll very likely be boerewors (or boerie) on the grid.
- Braai [br-eye]
Meaning: A South African barbeque.
Usage: Dop and braai are two words you need to learn if you’re visiting South Africa to have a jol!
- Bunny chow
Meaning: Curry served out of a loaf of bread.
Usage: Grab some bunny chow when visiting Durbs.
- Bushveld [bush-felt]
Meaning: A type of vegetation made up of low-growing thorn trees and bush.
Usage: Game drives are the best way to spot wildlife in the bushveld.
- Chommie [choh-mee]
Meaning: A friend or mate.
Usage: I invited all of my chommies to the braai.
- Dodgy [dod-jee]
Meaning: Something dangerous or suspect.
Usage: Don’t walk around late at night in a dodgy area.
- Dop [dohp]
Meaning: A drink. Not to be confused with dorp [doh-rp] which is a small village.
Usage: Let’s go out tonight and have a dop with the boys!
- Durbs [derbz]
Meaning: Durban
Usage: Durbs has plenty of lovely beaches.
- Eina! [ay-nah]
Meaning: Ouch!
Usage: Eina! That oke really donnered me.
- Eish [ay-sh]
Meaning: This isn’t so much a word as an expression, and can be used to express surprise or anger.
Usage: Eish! That was eina!
- Fundi [fuhn-dee]
Meaning: An expert.
Usage: He is a real fundi at blowing his vuvuzela.
- Fynbos [fayn-bos]
Meaning: Natural shrubland vegetation mainly found in the Western Cape.
Usage: Keep an eye out for fynbos on your hike.
- Gatvol [ghat-fohl]
Meaning: Fed up.
Usage: I am gatvol of all the traffic in Jozi this weekend.
- Gogga [ghor-gha]
Meaning: An insect.
Usage: You may see lots of goggas on your hikes through the fynbos.
- Is it [iz-it]
Meaning: Is that so/really?
Usage: Person 1: That jol last night was off the hook, my chomma. Person 2: Is it?
- Ja-nee [yar-near]
Meaning: Yes-no. It usually means the affirmative.
Usage: Person 1: Did you see the game on Friday? Person 2: Ja-nee, it was a hectic one hey!
- Jol [johl]
Meaning: A party or to party.
Usage: We are going to have a jol!
- Jozi [jo-zee]
Meaning: Johannesburg.
Usage: Jozi is the provincial capital of Gauteng.
- Just now
Meaning: If a South African tells you they will be ready “just now”, “soonish” or “now-now”, this could mean anytime in the foreseeable future (basically any time other than right now), and you may want to take a seat. You’ll be waiting a while.
Usage: I’ll be there now-now.
- Koeksister [kohk-sis-tah]
Meaning: A traditional sweet made from twisted dough, dipped in syrup.
Usage: Koeksisters make a lekker dessert
- Koppie [koh-pee]
Meaning: A small hill.
Usage: I’m hiking up that koppie to see some fynbos.
- Kwaito [kw-eye-toe]
Meaning: A mixture of South African disco, hip hop, R&B, house, and reggae.
Usage: You may hear kwaito music when you visit a friend’s pozzie.
- Lekker [leh-kah]
Meaning: Used to show approval.
Usage: The boerewors at the braai was really lekker!
- Oke [ohk], ou [oh]
Meaning: A man.
Usage: Do you think that oke will give us some of his boerewors?
.jpg?auto=enhance,format,compress&q=80 "Nelson Mandela (Madiba)")
- Madiba [muh-dee-bah]
Meaning: An affectionate nickname for South Africa’s former president, Nelson Mandela.
Usage: We will always honour Madiba for his inspirational legacy.
- Maak n plan [mark-a-plun]
Meaning: To develop a strategy to overcome difficulties.
Usage: I’m not sure how to get there but don’t worry, we’ll maak n plan.
- Malva pudding [mal-vah-pudding]
Meaning: A sweet pudding served with hot custard.
- Melktert [mehlk-tahrt]
Meaning: A sweet pastry with a creamy milk filling.
- Mzansi [m-zun-see]
Meaning: South Africa
Usage: Melktert, potjiekos, and malva pudding are the reasons we love Mzansi
- Padkos [put-kors]
Meaning: This literally means “road food” – snacks you will take along on a road trip.
Usage: Don’t forget to pack some lekker snacks for our padkos.
- Pasop [puh-s-ohp]
Meaning: Beware or be careful.
Usage: Pasop! That oke looks dodgy!
- Pavement
Meaning: A sidewalk.
Usage: Eish! I just saw that oke trip and fall on the pavement.
- Potjiekos [poy-kee-kors]
Meaning: A meal made in a large, 3-legged pot – almost like a witches brew.
Usage: There is nothing better than potjiekos cooked on a braai.
- Pozzie [poh-zee]
Meaning: A person’s home.
Usage: You may be invited to a braai at a friend’s pozzie if you’re a lekker oke.
- Rand
Meaning: The South African currency; 100 cents make up one rand (R1).
Usage: Will you spare me some rand to buy some biltong?
- Robot [roh-bot]
Meaning: Traffic lights.
Usage: Turn left at the robot and park on the pavement outside my pozzie.
- Rock up
Meaning: To arrive, usually in a care-free manner.
Usage: She rocked up at the jol late. Awkies!
- Rooibos
Meaning: A sweet South African tea.
Usage: Would you like some rooibos tea with your sarmie?
- Rubbish bin
Meaning: Trash or garbage can.
Usage: Make sure you throw all the dirt in the rubbish bin and not on the pavement.
- Sangoma [san-goh-mah]
Meaning: A traditional healer.
Usage: If you’re visiting a township after a big jol, we recommend visiting a sangoma for a hangover remedy.
- Sarmie [sar-mee]
Meaning: A sandwich.
Usage: Some okes like to have toasted sarmies at a braai.
- Shebeen [sha-been]
Meaning: A township bar.
Usage: Lets go to the shebeen for a dop.
- Skinner [skin-nah]
Meaning: To gossip.
Usage: I don’t mean to skinner, but she’s wearing takkies with a dress.
- Skelm [sk-el-em]
Meaning: A person who can’t be trusted. It can be used interchangeable with dodgy.
Usage: Passop, that oke looks like a skelm!
- Skop, skiet, en donner [skohp-skeet-en-don-nah]
Meaning: Used to describe any action movie. It literally means “kick, shoot, and beat up”.
Usage: This film is not lekker. It’s just skop, skiet, en donner!
- Slap chips [slup-chips]
Meaning: Soft, oily, and tasty fries, usually paired with fish (vis en tjips!). The word “chips” can also be used to describe crisps.
Usage: We’re going to get some slap chips for our padkos.
- Takkies [tak-kees]
Meaning: Trainers or walking shoes.
Usage: Wear your takkies on a hike up the koppie.
- Township
Meaning: Low-income housing where black, coloured, and Malay South Africans were confined during apartheid.
Usage: Don’t forget to do a township tour, visit a sangoma, and have a drink at a shebeen!
- Vuvuzela [voo-voo-zeh-la]
Meaning: A plastic trumpet used by supporters at soccer matches. The word comes from the Zulu language and means “making a noise”. You will soon realise why.
Usage: Tell that oke to stop playing his vuvuzela!
- Yebo [yeh-bor]
Meaning: Yes, to agree, or show approval.
Usage: Person 1: Have you ever been to Jozi? Person 2: Yebo!
What other South Africanisms do you think we should include in our travel dictionary? If you’re visiting South Africa, book your affordable accommodation with TravelGround.com!
Main image by celso (Flickr)
