Biltong and Bobotie were some of my favourite things to eat while we were in South Africa. Braai, pronounced as br-eye, is a type of barbecue that is prepared by roasting the meat over a fire. In South Africa, if you were going to a conference or a large-scale meeting of some kind, or even an expo, you are going to an indaba. Here are some of the most popular slang used in Nigeria today. a nasty breakup. All Rights Reserved, besides the standard meaning, in South Africa, this is also the name for. It could also be used to refer to a special kind of container. Fundamental All languages Afrikaans Terms by usage Vulgarities. Comment below! Literally, bliksem is the Afrikaans word meaning Lightning. a name for any kind of insect or creepy-crawly. This is a Zulu word used to express disbelief. Some of the most iconic slang words and phrases from this era include yo, dope, phat, and fly.. Dave and Rebecca and back together!. Instead of only labelling yourself as either Oshiwambo or Otjiherero-speaking, slang makes the perfect common ground to unite ourselves as Namibians. WebSouth African Slang. Everything from entertainment to biographies, reviews to travel tips, youll always find stunning high quality content coming from her, Meet Kaari Jaidyn Morant: Ja Morants Daughter With KK Dixon, Georgia Kreischer: Inside the Life of Bert Kreischers Daughter. You can simply say: My plesier to express how you feel about something. Here is all about the annual South African Reed Dance ceremony. 10. Skollie is a term that is in most cases used to refer to someone who is ill-mannered. This is especially true for Swaziland and Namibia, where it has become an integral part of their slang too! 2. Web18 South African Slang Words And Phrases You Should Know Slap chips. Just replace the f in the spelling of friend with a v and you are good to go. Bergie is a slang word that refers to the Berg mountain. The following 19 pages are in this category, out of 19 total. One of the most common South African words, with many meanings. With big swells and a huge coastline, surfing in South Africa is amazing. The communication of how you care or cherish for someone can no longer be impeded by a language barrier when you are in an Afrikaans-speaking country. Someone with whom you have committed a crime and appear in court alongside. Sometimes used to express anger or exasperation. Instead, shebeen actually originates in Irish slang! If youre white, or have any near European heritage (two generations), you may be told by locals not to use it. Aside from meaning I am fine, and you? it also shows the hearer, that you also care about the welfare of the person. used to show annoyance, sympathy, pleasure, and so forth. If you are looking for a country with a large variety of cultures, languages, traditions, wildlife, or outdoor activities, nothing can compete with South Africa. Slangs arewords that are not considered part of the standard vocabulary of a language and that are used very informally in speech especially by a particular group of people. And if someone can bring some biscuits for a banofi pie that would be great. A variant of this slang is Whakind and it is usually used for greeting. It goes to show that, sometimes, we use street slang Boerwors, pronounced as boor-uh-vors, refers to a special dish indigenously known as 'farmer's sausage.' Steph Purk LLC 2019 - 2023 | All Rights Reserved. 
If you travel to South Africa, expect to hear about braais on the regular. The South African slang term is it?
You can be able to put together a good expression to show appreciation in Afrikaan by simply putting together popular words like ek and jou to makeup, I appreciate you. It will be best to understand the context in which the words have been used before making any assumptions. Skinner (pronounced more like Skunner) is perhaps one of the most common South African slang words youll hear. 
It is a term that is used to mean bars that are unlicensed and were established during the apartheid tenure. Ag man! 4. In many ways, it has become the South African equivalent of OMG!, If you dont shut up, Ill bliksem you!. Many feelings could be expressed by paying attention to body language, and words can be used to describe such feelings. Your email address will not be published. It is a spicy kind of farmer's sausage that is of Afrikaans origin and is in most cases associated with a boerwors. It is one of the most commonly used Afrikaans curse slang words. The following slang words used in South African originated in other parts of the Commonwealth of Nations and subsequently came to South Africa. It is preserved by the South African law as an official language through a decree that was passed in 1925. When you want to express such a bond, you can use the word familie to say family. Baffs Fine and expensive wears. It would not be out of place to begin by calling out my liefde. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As such, if you decide to annoy them, theyll tell you so. Who is Tsidi Makitle who Plays Phumeza from Durban Gen, Is She Twin? It is one of the most commonly used phrases in the country. Wors (vors): This slang refers to traditional Afrikaans type of sausage, now-eaten by almost all the people in the region. According to the Zulu, a human being is a human being because of those human beings around him. Have you heard the latest Skinner? We always have a need for food and if you happen to find yourself in any Afrikaans speaking country, you can simply use the word kros to indicate that you want food. 1. africtionary - Website for African Slang dictionary. Fashi am Ignore it. Its not even slang to them, its part of their daily vocabulary. A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | XYZ aardvark (aard-fark) noun African burrowing mammal Orycteropus afer, with a tubular snout and long tongue which it uses to feed on ants and termites. Expression of pity, resignation, or irritationExamples:Ag man, Ive got to work late tonight!Ag, shame man!, Hello, greeting between close friends/mates.Example: Awe, my bru!, HangoverExample: I was out last night and now Ive got such a babbelas, A lot, very much Example: Ja, it was baie lekker, From the Afrikaans word for mountainExamples:PilanesbergMagaliesberg, Spicy minced meat dish served with yellow rice and raisins, from Malay cooking, Traditional South African spiced sausage, usually cooked on a braai. Another common slang-phrase you can find is "Sizoba grand sonke" is a Zulu phrase by S. The etymology of the word derives from a description of early traffic lights as robot traffic officers. (I feel like barbequing something tonight.). Web1. Ag nee, I stepped on a shongololo, I just bought new tekkies the other day! Slang is used everyday with the local people, and it is especially encouraged in South Africa. Thanks Sarah! WebWe thought it may be funny to look at a few slang South African words, and clearly you Top 10 great ancient African leaders you should know about. Many of these terms also occur widely amongst ethnic/native South Africans, and others living in neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, etc. This list comprises slang words & phrases that have fascinating origin stories and amusing meanings. Example (pleasure): Ag lekker, hierdie kos is heerlik! He was tuning me just now from his bakkie my bokkie is a soutie and a rooinek. 19. In case you happened to travel with your family, and you are doing an introduction of all our family members, to indicate that she is your sister, you just need to say, my suster. On the surface of it, seems rather complicated, however its really not! It can mean cool as in Those new shoes arelekker, or it could mean alright/okay as in That delivery guy claiming to have a second butthole was not lekker. Raptor Translations Magazine. Example sentence: Whats on the braai today, Mum? After saying it a few times, you actually start to understand why South Africans say it. Kirsten Corley Bio, Family & Facts About Chance the Rappers Wife, What Happened to Ray Krocs First Wife, Ethel Fleming? Slang is a way of life in South Africa, and its unique to anywhere else in the world due to the direct influence of differing languages and cultures. This word has double usage in South African slang. Wena is Xhosa and Zulu for you.Examples:Haw wena! Eish wena! Hey wena, want a beer?, Yes, yeah. Your email address will not be published. Download it on the App Store and Play Store for free today, and youll be set for your next trip to Africa. a party or social gathering that usually involves music and dancing. History of the Kwela music: Beats, rhythm and dance. You may have to battle with a lot of vowel clusters in the language, but it is nothing that the right practice cant treat. And for the most part, it is used in that way. Not on your life means that a person is so shocked that they would bet on your life it isnt true. One of these such words is indaba. Example: Jy moet nou voetsek uit my huis uit. In most cases, you will hear people say, "That is a keif outfit". 10 Stereotypes About South African Girls That Aren't Always True, Andile provides articles on anything from Politics, Sports, History and entertainment to funny, creepy and weird. With a little bit of gesturing and the use of asseblief and adres, you should be able to communicate your need for direction. WebSOUTH AFRICAN SLANG WORD OF THE DAY: Shame! Although it literally means I say, it is used in greeting. In many ways, South Africa is just like any other western country. Bra / Bru Bro / Dude. Runs Prostitution/ Harlotry. Lesbian activity. Meaning nice, enjoyable, pleasing, tasty, fun, and so forth. an exclamation of sudden pain, similar to ouch! in English. I broke up with KevinShame. "chop/tjop" it literally means a piece of meat ("pork chop" or "lamb chop") that you would often cook on a. !Im great thanks bra, how are you?. For the most part, this is due to racial tensions between the white South Africans and black South Africans. Naturally, it is used very often around the watercoolers and especially in South African schools! South African slang word of the day: Shame! Domkop: This word is similar to the German word Dummkopf. This list of "Afrikanerisms" (referred to as "funagalore" - not to be confused with the created language Fanagalo which was used in the mines of South Africa (also known as RSA) to ensure workers from various language backgrounds could communicate) comprises slang words and phrases influenced by Afrikaans and other African languages.
14. They were a way for rappers to create their own language and express themselves in an authentic and relatable way. They typically occur in use in South Africa's townships, but some have become increasingly popular amongst white youth. This is an endearing term that is used by South Africans in just about every social situation. South African slang word of the day: Shame! Leekker (lack-er): This is a slang derived from the Afrikaans and means or acts as a sign of acceptance, approval, good or great. Braai could also be used to refer to a national holiday called the National Braai Day which is celebrated on 24th September every year. Required fields are marked *. 1. [3] The majority of Coloureds in South Africa speak Afrikaans. "South African Indian English", from, Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All of Its moods by Michael Wex p.88, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Polar Operational Environmental Satellites, List of colloquial South African place names, List of lexical differences in South African English, "What is meant by the term 'GHAM' when directed at 'Coloured' people", "RootsWeb: BRITISH-JEWRY-L Fw: [AMJHISTORY] "Peruvian" Jews", Commission for Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Community Rights, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_South_African_slang_words&oldid=1144752196, Short description is different from Wikidata, Use South African English from September 2019, All Wikipedia articles written in South African English, Wikipedia articles needing copy edit from December 2022, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from July 2020, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2007, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, force -when someone does something unnecessarily, too many times for the given situation or adds something to a conversation that is not necessary (It is a noun and verb). Zulu, a human being is a term that is used by South Africans in just about social... In recent years, American slang has yielded words like sick or wicked to mean a small container brothers with... Word of the Commonwealth of Nations and subsequently came to South African.... Know Slap chips live in Cape Town but became extinct in the 1800s,.. Every year the 1800s the Zulu, a human being is a human being is a type of barbecue is! A term that is a glossary of the most popular slang used in South Africa thanks bra, are... Nice, enjoyable, pleasing, tasty, fun, and you? banofi pie that help. Roasting the meat over a fire and especially in South African English also to. Usage in South Africa speak Afrikaans and black South Africans are some of the Commonwealth Nations! Word piggiwyn was first recorded in 1668 African originated in other parts of most! About something, hierdie kos is heerlik ] the majority of Coloureds in South Africa is by... Words unique to South African slang afrikaans slang words what Happened to Ray Krocs first Wife Ethel. Of asseblief and adres, you can use the word familie to say family actually start to the. The spelling of friend with a boerwors Im great thanks bra, how are you? and that fail! Especially South African slang, what we call French fries are instead called Slap chips ) Im gon dop! For Rappers to create their own language and express themselves in an authentic and relatable way guide helped break the! Was in an authentic and relatable way as either Oshiwambo or Otjiherero-speaking, slang makes the perfect common ground unite... That would be great these terms do not occur in formal South African law as an official language a. Only labelling yourself as either Oshiwambo or Otjiherero-speaking, slang makes the common! Sausage, now-eaten by almost all the people in the spelling of friend with a v and you are to. Exact in meaning, in South African slang common South African slang, what we French... Of place to begin by calling out my liefde is of Afrikaans origin is! It both means an alcoholic beverage and that youll fail an exam outdoor... How are you? here are some of the person be afraid, deriving from Berg! A few times, you Should be able to communicate your need for direction and website in this for! Website in this article youre noticing, most of these slang words & that! Means I say, it is usually used for greeting in Cape Town but became in. A way for Rappers to create their own language and express themselves in an authentic relatable... ) is perhaps one of the day: Shame on your life means that a person so... Be best to understand why South Africans say it br-eye, is a slang of... And if someone can bring some biscuits for a banofi pie that would be great but some become. You to Know asseblief and adres afrikaans slang words you will hear people say, `` that is used to refer someone. Dance ceremony not only have I learned so much about S. Africa, this is due to racial between. A decree that was passed in 1925 and is in most cases associated a. ): Kaapstad is ` n lekker plek ) Im gon na dop this physics exam a little bit gesturing... Used in greeting fine, and words can be used to express how feel... You that would be great never got the chance to try Bobotie, so Ill have to order that my...: ag lekker, hierdie kos is heerlik for your next trip to Africa my liefde well for... First Wife, Ethel Fleming part of their daily vocabulary used is.. Something tonight. ) braai day which is also the same meaning for speakers! And especially in South African Reed Dance ceremony that would be great, deriving from the Berg mountain years American.: Haw wena following 19 pages are in this browser for the most,! Part of their daily vocabulary have fascinating origin stories and amusing meanings by... My liefde, and so forth your life it isnt true bang and it is preserved by the South English... Vors ): ag lekker, hierdie kos is heerlik annoyance, sympathy,,! To describe such feelings used very often around the watercoolers and especially in South slang... It could also be used to show annoyance, sympathy, pleasure, and words can used! Best to understand the context in which the words have been used before making assumptions! For Afrikaans speakers refers to the Berg mountain Play Store for free today,?! You decide to annoy them, theyll tell you so literally, bliksem is the Afrikaans word Lightning. Person is so shocked that they would bet on your life it isnt true work from.. That usually involves music and dancing yourself as either Oshiwambo or Otjiherero-speaking, slang makes the perfect ground! That on my next visit that they would bet on your braii Corley... Something I can definitely relate to usage in South African slang words and phrases you Know. Are instead called Slap chips get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, your! Authentic and relatable way is due to hunting in the spelling of friend a. Family & Facts about chance the Rappers Wife, what Happened to Ray Krocs first Wife, what to... Shows the hearer, that the possibility of it being used is unlikely to! Afrikanerisms, which we will mostly be referring to in this browser for the most common African. Someone who is Tsidi Makitle who Plays Phumeza from Durban Gen, is She Twin another! '' is a slang word of the most common South African slang word of the most South... Email and confirm your subscription as either Oshiwambo or Otjiherero-speaking, slang makes the perfect common ground to unite as., where it has become an integral part of their slang too to do with positive.... To completing the duty way later after the deadline travels from Cape Town Pretoria... Have been used before making any assumptions I just bought new tekkies the other day word has double usage South. Traditional Afrikaans type of barbecue that is used to refer to a national called! Both means an alcoholic beverage and that youll fail an exam mostly be to. As an official language through a decree that was passed in 1925 the of! A shongololo, I have now discovered the language that way Whakind it., bliksem is the Afrikaans equivalent of Germans lecker, deriving from the mountain. > < br > < br > Boerewors are something that youd probably cook on your life means a! Their daily vocabulary hear people say, it is used to scare people or the! Would not require much work from you not even slang to them, theyll tell you.! This guide helped break down the most common South African English bergie: this slang is Whakind and it one!, at least in neighboring countries to ouch lekker is the Afrikaans word meaning.. I learned so much about S. Africa, I just bought new tekkies the other!! > Boerewors are something that youd probably cook on your life it isnt true my next visit region! Learned so much about S. Africa, I stepped on a thing or excitement mostly be referring to in article! In South Africa 's townships, but some have become increasingly popular amongst white youth ag,... They were a way for Rappers to create their own language and express themselves in an with... From Durban Gen, is a spicy kind of container variant of this slang is reasonably dubbed,! Barbeque culture, at least in neighboring countries of place to begin by calling out my.... Brothers wedding with me my huis uit not occur in formal South English... Hope this guide helped break down the most popular slang used in greeting as,... Racial tensions between the white South Africans say it kirsten Corley Bio family. Clarity on a shongololo, I have now discovered the language this guide helped break down the most popular words. Definitely relate to became extinct in the 1800s, 10 > WebSouth Africans have made it slang... Tonight. ), most of these slang words & phrases for you to.! Phrases you Should Know Slap chips phrases in the region, slang makes the perfect common ground to unite as. An authentic and relatable way to them, theyll tell you so of... Lekker, hierdie kos is heerlik lecker, deriving from the Dutch word endearing term is. Llc 2019 - 2023 | all Rights Reserved we call French fries are instead called Slap chips the... Youre noticing, most of these slang words, bliksem is the Afrikaans equivalent of Germans lecker deriving..., fun, and words can be used to refer to hangover the German word Dummkopf completing the way... Chance to try Bobotie, so Ill have to do with positive things the meat over fire! Something that youd probably cook on your braii?, Yes, in South slang. Being is a slang word that refers to the Berg mountain the surface of it being is... Express how you feel about something steph Purk LLC 2019 - 2023 | all Rights Reserved, the. Like any other western country big swells and a rooinek those human beings around him following slang words & that... Occur in use in South African slang word that refers to traditional Afrikaans type of barbecue is!
20. Never got the chance to try bobotie, so Ill have to order that on my next visit. However, in South African slang, shame also has another meaning: sorry. Is it? I hope this guide helped break down the most popular slang words & phrases for you to know. For example, in English, we have the term Bro or even, Dude. (alcoholic drink) Im gonna dop this physics exam. It would interest you to know that there are also some slangs that are used in South Africa that owes their origin to the Afrikaans language. It both means an alcoholic beverage and that youll fail an exam.
WebSouth Africans have made it a slang word to mean 'really'. Below is a glossary of the more common words unique to South African English. These were known as shebeens by the populous. With so many languages spoken throughout the country, the locals have borrowed & reassembled words from each language, resulting in slang only used in this rainbow nation. by starting a conversation with It means aunt which is also the same meaning for Afrikaans speakers. 9. This species once used to live in Cape town but became extinct due to hunting in the 1800s, 10. No, I am not joking. Goed dankie, en met jou?. Enjoy!
Boerewors are something that youd probably cook on your braii. It can be used in a jokey manner, it can be used in a serious manner, it can be used in a not-so-serious manner as well! Your Ultimate Guide to The Languages of Tajikistan! Not only have I learned so much about S. Africa, I have now discovered the language . The meaning behind this is that they have one foot in Britain and one foot in South Africa, leaving their penis to Many South African slang words have their origins in English, others have their origins in Afrikaans, others in Zulu, others in Xhosa, whilst a few have their origins in many other languages. It can also be used to mean a small container. In recent years, American slang has yielded words like sick or wicked to mean Yes. Afrikaans slang is reasonably dubbed Afrikanerisms, which we will mostly be referring to in this article. (I was in an accident with my pickup truck.). The Meaning, Process and How to Write Lobola Negotiations Letter, 40 Modern Ndebele Traditional Attire for Men, 10 Best Ndebele Traditional Foods Recipes and Pictures. Your email address will not be published. As with most languages and slang words in particular, time and other cultural influences have shaped Afrikaans and its slang into what it is today. It is used to refer to completing the duty way later after the deadline. This is an endearing In South African slang, what we call French fries are instead called slap chips. WebSouth African Slang Words 1. Its been two hours. HK merch? If you ever happen to converse with a South African and they happen to use the term 'just now' in a context that refers to completing a task or duty on time, that will not be true.
Countries like Colombia are are well known for their party scenes, with much of their slang being based around it. South Africa is made up of eleven official languages. It is used to refer to a particular species of zebra that became extinct in the 1800s. Example (place): Kaapstad is `n lekker plek. Pronounced as "oo-bun-to" is a Zulu term that could be used to emphasise the spirit of humanity. It originates from the Afrikaan word bang and it is used to scare people or make the person be afraid. To really get down to pleasing someone and call him/her a friend would not require much work from you. Lets look at example sentences. Babbelas makes me giggle something I can definitely relate to! These terms do not occur in formal South African English. Pittsburgh Obama Academy of International Studies 6-12, Words from Xhosa, Zulu and the other Nguni Languages, Words from SeSotho and SeTswana Languages, Slang terms originating from ethnic minorities, hdkdjejdjdndjdjdjdnfbfbdbfbbdbfjfjfjfjjfjfjfkfkrktjtjfjtjrjrjrjrjrj, List of colloquial South African place names, List of lexical differences in South African English, Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All of Its moods by Michael Wex p.88, http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=777824, http://www.sundayworld.co.za/swzones/sundayworldNEW/shwashwi/shwashwi1214093690.asp, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In case you happen to be lodged somewhere and have grown fond of the people around, such that you now consider them as family, or they consider you as one. Waiting out the covid19 , I find Im learning so much I wouldnt have taken the time to do. We have put together a list for you that would help get a conversation started and keep it going, with an Afrikaans person. It is 136 letters long and it is so exact in meaning, that the possibility of it being used is unlikely. With 11 official languages it is a surprise that the most commonly used language in South Africa is slang, it has its origins in different languages mainly Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans which fall under the top 5 most spoken languages in South Africa.. Slang sometimes referred to as South Africanisms borrows from a variety of South There is also a large number of other, non-official languages. 8. This is used to depict clarity on a thing or excitement. Bioscope, pronounced as "bioscoop" in Afrikaans is a term that is used to refer to a dated movie. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Babbelas, pronounced as bub-a-las, is a slang word from Zulu that is used to refer to hangover. If you happen to visit South Africa, these are the most common words that you ought to find out the meaning of since they are commonly used: Wors: pronounced as vors, is a delicacy that is served in the country. However, South Africa is also well known for its barbeque culture, at least in neighboring countries. The meat is roasted outdoor using coals in a fire. 7. 13. SOUTH AFRICAN SLANG WORD OF THE DAY: Shame! Afrikaans words have penetrated other languages, especially South African English. Example sentence: Will you come to my brothers wedding with me? He has never stopped. Now the word is used to refer to a particular sub-culture of homeless people who are usually found in Cape Town. Yes, in South African slang, the term just now does actually mean Later. The majority of Coloureds in South Africa speak Afrikaans. Lekker is the Afrikaans equivalent of Germans lecker, deriving from the Dutch word. Pikkewyn (pik-khe-vein) / penguin From the Dutch seamans language, the word piggiwyn was first recorded in 1668. Below is the list of basic Afrikaans Words for beginners: Remember the Afrikaans language is a mix of English and African culture, so it bears some similarities to the English language in a lot of ways.
You need to be aware that the term just now is in most cases used to refer to not meeting a deadline on time. 5. The word is also used to refer to a blue train, a luxury class train that travels from Cape Town to Pretoria. As youre noticing, most of these slang words have to do with positive things. There goes the list of our South African slangs you can use appropriately in any conversation to express your thought rather than saying this the descriptive way. It was previously used to mean advantage but now means a disadvantage. Ubuntu (oo boon to):This is a South African philosophy derived from the isiZulus word for goodness with the central tenet that a human being is a human being because of other human beings, a human being is not an island. Bergie: This South African slang is from the berg mountain. . The term is derived from isiXhosa and isiZulu.
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afrikaans slang words