South African Jargon Directory - A survival guide for visitors
Created | Updated Aug 30, 2005
Braai: What is a braai? It is the first thing you will be invited to when you visit a South African ex-pat or are invited to a ‘do’ in South Africa. A braai is a backyard barbecue and it will take place whatever the weather. So you will have to go even if it's raining like mad and hang of a cold. At a braai (pronounced br-I) you will be introduced to a substance known as mieliepap. Read further for an explanation of ‘pap’.
Now that you know what a braai is, here are some other words and phrases you will encounter when talking to a South African.
It is also a useful guide if you happen to be visiting South Africa. The words listed here are used by folk of all persuasions, genders and ethnic backgrounds. You do need to know what they mean. Really!
Ag. This is one of the most useful South African words. Pronounced like the ‘ach’ in the German ‘achtung’, it can be used to start a reply when you are asked a tricky question, as in: ‘Ag, I don't know’. Or a sense of resignation: ‘Ag, I'll have some more pap then’. It can stand alone too as a signal of irritation or of pleasure.
Biltong. Similar to jerky, it is dried, salted meat and can be made from beef, ostrich, antelope or anything that was once alive and fairly large. It is usual for expatriate South Africans to say: ‘What I really miss is my biltong, man’.
Bioscope. Pronounced ‘byscope’, its use is going out of fashion and in some urban areas, regrettably, it is being replaced by ‘movies’ and ‘flicks’. Sometimes it is reduced to ‘bio’ or ‘scopes’. But you may still be asked if you would like to go to the byscope.
Blooming. Pronounced ‘blimming’, it is roughly equivalent to ‘helluva’, as in: ‘Ag, that pap I had at the braai made me blooming sick’. For emphasis, ‘blooming’ can be replaced by ‘bladdy’ which, in turn, is a corruption of the Australian ‘bloody’, but is pronounced more like ble-rry (with rolled ‘r’s).
Bra. Not a piece of ladies underwear, ‘Bra’ is pronounced with a softer, shorter ‘a’. As in ‘br-uh’. Originated in Cape Town (see Caapies) meaning ‘brother’ or ‘friend’. The Pretoria version of Bra might be ‘Bru’ derived from the Afrikaans word ‘broer’ - also meaning brother or close friend. Both have the same meaning however but it would be a faux pas to use the wrong version when speaking to the wrong group. You would not for example say ‘Hey Bru’ to a Caapie.
Bunny-chow. Originating in Kwa-zulu Natal (KZN) a bunny-chow is hollowed out loaf of bread filled with minced beef. You may be offered a bunny-chow at a braai and can readily accept if you have a healthy appetite, however, never order a bunny-chow from a restaurant in KZN unless you’re a chili lover and like the sensation of your taste buds escaping through your ears and nose.
Caapie. Generally a Capetonian or a person who hails from or has lived for some time in Cape Town. Capetonians are thought to generally be affected by the magnetic influences of Table Mountain and slow down, as if operating in a time-distortion. Capetonians can be easily identified driving very slowly in the wrong lanes of highways all over Johannesburg (Vaalies assume it’s because they get lost anywhere without a mountain to guide them).
Cafe. This is the generic term for convenience stores and is pronounced ‘caffee’ or ‘cayf’. Traditionally operated by people of Portuguese, Greek or Asian ancestry, it is a good place to buy smokes, biltong or the Alka Seltzer you will need after trying pap at the braai. Corner Cafes have since been replaced by petrol station ‘quick-shops’ but these will still be referred to as the corner Cafe.
Cape Doctor. Older residents of Cape Town give this name to the South-Easter which blows in summer months, usually forming a flat, rolling cloud over Table Mountain - the ‘table cloth’ - and sometimes shutting down harbour operations. It was called the Cape Doctor because old-timers said it blew all of the city's bad air out to sea along with accumulated street garbage, discarded newspapers and suchlike.
China. Meaning friend or used as a substitute for the pronoun ‘you’ in some places. As in ‘Ag China, you missed the braai yesterday!’ or a more threatening usage ‘Watchit China!’ meaning ‘hey you, watch out!’Most commonly used to identify male friends or between men but can be heard amongst women in some areas.
Cuck. The less offensive and softer alternative to the swear word sh*t. Mostly used to evaluate conversation or action - such as ‘You are talking cuck’ or ‘That was a really cuck thing that she did’. The descriptive use of the word when referring to people can be ‘Cuckster’ - a person who habitually ‘talks cuck’. These people are generally assumed to bend the truth. Cuck is also used to identify most kinds of mess i.e.: ‘The guys had a braai last night and now they expect me to clean up their cuck’.
Dummy. If you find yourself in the company of a couple with a baby and the woman says, ‘Pass me the dummy,’ she is not necessarily asking that you bring her husband to her. She is referring to the rubber, nipple-like thing they stick in babies' mouths to shut them up. A dummy is a pacifier.
Dustbin. Self-explanatory, this is a garbage can. It is also called a rubbish bin’. If you refer to rubbish as ‘garbage’ you will be considered blooming pretentious.
Doll. A term of affection between males and females, it is used mostly in the Johannesburg area. A corrupted form of ‘darling’, it will be heard thus: ‘Your turn to take out the dustbin, Doll’. ‘But I took it out the last time, Doll’. ‘Well take the ble-rry thing out again, Doll’.
Donner. A rude word, it comes from the Afrikaans ‘donder’ (thunder). Pronounced ‘dorner’, it means ‘beat up’. ‘Your rugby team can get donnered in a game, or your boss can donner you if you do a lousy job.’
Eina. Widely used by all language groups, this word, derived from the Afrikaans, means ‘ouch’. Pronounced ‘aynah’, you can shout it out in sympathy when someone burns his finger on a hot potato at a braai.
Eitah. A greeting pronounced ‘ay-tah’. Used in the place of ‘hey there you’ in greeting. i.e. ‘Eitah Bra!’ meaning ‘Hello there brother’.
Fixed up. This means ‘good’. An example is this exchange: ‘You don't have to take the dustbin out, Doll; I took it already’. ‘Fixed up, Doll’.
Gogga: This is an insect, a bug, and all three of the g's are pronounced as though you are about to spit. South Africa is rich in goggas, some of them cute - like the harmless mantis and the intriguing stick insect - but others are disgraceful. The cockroach is the most disgraceful, especially when they fly. Natal has some monsters which could challenge Florida roaches any day. In its early days, the country's state-run TV service earned the enmity of viewers by scheduling a documentary on cockroaches at a time when millions of South Africans were sitting down in front of their sets with their Sunday evening meals on their laps. A highlight was how to dissect a cockroach. It did not go down well with the Sunday lunch leftovers. A dissected cockroach is even more disgraceful than a whole one.
Another particularly disgraceful gogga is the Parktown Prawn - a cricket the size of a Queen Prawn tastefully coloured bright red and black by Mother Nature to give a clear warning to all in its vicinity. Parktown Prawns, like skunks, spray a smelly black ink when frightened, hide in dustbins and shoes and can be a real party-pooper at a braai. Don’t try to donder it with a shoe though, because you might break your shoe – rather rest a poitjie pot over it until someone with nerves of steel can carry it away.
Guava. Everybody knows that a guava is a fruit - and a bladdy lekker one too. It is especially nice stewed and served cold with smooth custard, as lots of boarding school students will affirm. Guava juice is refreshing at breakfast. But in South Africa a guava is also a backside, a butt, a bum. If someone is behaving in an annoying manner, you can threaten to ‘skop (kick) him up his guava’. But it is inappropriate and politically incorrect to issue this warning to someone who is not a good friend. It will be taken amiss. Also, it is not polite to laugh if the Cape Doctor bowls a stranger over on to his or her guava.
Hang of. This is the same as the American ‘heck of’, as in: ‘I have a hang of a headache’ or ‘I had a hang of a good time at the braai’.
Hap. Pronounced ‘hup’, this means ‘bite’ and is used in the following fashion: ‘Give me a hap of your apple. Ag, please’.
Howzit. Howzit? - pronounced ‘how-z-eet’ literally means ‘how is it’ but is used to ask after the health or wellbeing of a bra or a china. These days its used more as a greeting requiring no response, expediently cutting out all the pleasantries like ‘hello, how are you’ - ‘fine, how are you’ - can all be replaced by ‘Howzit’ and a like reply of say ‘Hey! Howzit china!’
Isit? This is a great word in conversations. Derived from the two words ‘is’ and ‘it’, it can be used when you have nothing to contribute if someone tells you at the braai: ‘The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership’.
It is appropriate to respond by saying: ‘Isit?’ (Pronounced is-er-t).
Jawelnofine. This is another conversation fall-back word. Derived from the four words ‘yes’, ‘well’, ‘no’ and ‘fine’, it means roughly ‘how about that’. If your bank manager tells you your account is overdrawn, you can say with confidence: ‘jawelnofine’.
Jislaaik. Pronounced ‘Yis-like’, it is an expression of astonishment. For instance, if someone tells you there are a billion people in China, a suitable comment is: ‘Jislaaik, that's a hang of a lot of people, hey’.
Just now (you will hear it more like – jus-now). Universally used, it means ‘eventually’ and sometimes ‘never’. If someone says he will do something ‘just now’ it could be in 10 minutes or tomorrow. Or maybe he won't do it at all.
Kiff. Thought to have originated in the KwaZulu Natal region Kiff (Pronounced Ku-ff) can cover everything positive as in ‘Jislaak, that was a kiff braai’ or in response to - ‘so we'll pick you up some biltong at the cafe china?’ one could hear the reply ‘Kiff doll’ - indicating the affirmative.
Lappie. A lappie (pronounced ‘luppy’) is a cloth, a rag, used to wipe up a mess. You will find it in a machine shop to clean up oil spills, in a bar to wipe away spilled beer, or in the nursery where a baby who is munching a rusk (a hard biscuit found in every household) needs its face and hands hosed down and lappied every three minutes. All babies look like Winston Churchill and all smell of rusks.
Lekker. An Afrikaans word meaning nice, this word is used by all language groups to express approval. If you see someone of the opposite sex who is good-looking, you can exclaim: ‘Lekkerrr!’ while drawing out the last syllable. But that use is now thought politically incorrect in some areas.
Marmite. Contrary to American disinformation, Marmite is not discarded axle grease. Bought in small glass jars at supermarkets and cafes, Marmite is a salty vegetable extract and is the S.A's answer to peanut butter (American), or Vegemite (Australian). Generations have grown up with it on their school sarmies and, in turn, have inflicted it on their own children. This process has been going on for so long now, Marmite has become unstoppable.
Make A Plan. You will hear this good old South African phrase quite a lot. It means things might be screwed right now but we'll think of something just now. If you miss the bus to the airport, the hotel receptionist may say, ‘Don't worry man - we'll make a plan’. If that plan includes the hiring of a taxi, you may want to think twice about it.
No. This word has many meanings in South Africa other than the opposite of ‘yes’. Your host at the braai is likely to say: ‘No, I see your plate is empty. You want some more pap?’. Another example; if the clerk in a shoe shop asks if she can help, you may reply: ‘No, I'm looking for some tackies’. This means: ‘Yes, I'm looking for some tackies’.
Oke. A ‘guy’ or ‘chap’ or ‘bloke’. If you quite like someone you can say: ‘Ag, he is an OK oke’. Instead of ‘oke’ you can also say ‘ou’ which is pronounced ‘Oh’.
Pap. Encountered at braais, pap is boiled corn meal. Pronounced ‘pup’ it has the appearance, consistency and, many say, the taste of moist Plaster of Paris. Lots of South Africans pretend to like it. Eating pap is character building in the sense that one learns to grin and bear adversity, rather like Americans in the South have grown spiritually by consuming grits. In religious context, this process is called self-flagellation.
Pull in. Literally, ‘come on over’ or used in the form of an invitation. As in - ‘That ou invited me to his braai on Saturday. You should pull in’. Thought to originate from the days of drive-ins and roadhouses indicating that one would arrive in a ‘bakkie’ (a South African version of the pick-up truck but smaller) or other motor car.
Poitjie. (Poi-kie) This is a large cast-iron cauldron with three legs into which is thrown whatever is in the fridge or pantry (with considerable discussion and debate over the appropriate order of the layers) - left on a fire for a few hours resulting in a meal for a small army. Poitjie-art, like braaing is an acceptable past-time for a South African male – unlike traditional cooking or baking which will take quite a few more years to catch on across the majority of the male population (from all cultural backgrounds). Be very wary of poitjies from unknown sources!
Sarmie. Sandwich.
Sharp. With origins in the ‘townships’ sharp can be used as a substitute for ‘fixed up’ or ‘yes’ or ‘ok’. Could be used in the following manner - ‘Howzit China?’ Reply - ‘Eitah! Sharp bra!’ This is an incredibly versatile word and can be inserted just about anywhere as a one-word affirmative or encouraging response. As in:
‘See you at the braai skat?’
‘Sharp’.
Shame. Like ‘No’, this word can mean the opposite of its meaning in other parts of the world. If someone shows you a baby, you can say: ‘Ag, shame’. This does not mean the baby is ugly, it means the baby is cute. If the baby is ugly, it is more accurate to say: ‘Shame, hey’. If the baby is truly hideous, it is appropriate to say: ‘Jislaaik’. This may not be appreciated by the baby's parents.
Skabenga. Meaning thief, liar, or general miscreants. If you don’t want to invite someone to your braai you could explain by saying ‘That Ou is a real skabenga’. Pronounced ‘ske-beng-ga’.
Skat. Or Skattie. An affectionate term used between couples originating from the Afrikaans ‘skatlam’. As in:
‘Are you making me a sarmie skattie?’
‘Ja!’
‘Fixed up!’
Skinder, Skinner, Skinnerbek. Gossip is one of life's little pleasures, and that is what ‘skinder’ is - gossip. The word is usually pronounced without a hard ‘d’ and most people will simply call it ‘skinner’. A ‘skinnerbek’ is someone who does it a lot, commonly without paying too much attention to the facts. Such a person can be very popular at office tea breaks, at parties and other social gatherings - unless the skinner is about you, in which case the skinnerbek is a louse who deserves a skop up the guava.
Skop, Skiet en Donder. Literally ‘kick, shoot and thunder’ in Afrikaans, this phrase is used by many English speakers to describe action movies or any activity which is lively and somewhat primitive. Clint Eastwood is always good for a skop, skiet en donder flick.
Snoep. This is a favourite word, and it is used by all language groups throughout the land. Pronounced ‘snoop’ with a short ‘o’ sound as in ‘book’, it means stingy, mean, selfish. Be discreet about using it. For example, it may not be a good idea to say to your bank manager: ‘Unless I am granted this loan I shall have to conclude that this bank is snoep’. That won't help your cause. Sometimes people use this word when they fuss over their friends' infant children: ‘Don't be so snoep with a kiss - gimme a big one’.
Stoorie. Pronounced ‘stoor-ee’. From the Afrikaans word ‘storie’ meaning a story it has come to be used to indicate any kind of drama or convoluted explanation. For example ‘He gave me a heele stoorie about why he was so snoep with the lappies’ - in this context meaning ‘a whole dramatic tale’.
Stroppy. This word means pugnacious, difficult, aggressive, and it can be used appropriately at any level of conversation. For instance, a child who refuses to eat his stewed guavas can be described as stroppy. Or you may overhear the following comment during a discussion on international affairs: ‘This Saddam Hussein - he's a real stroppy ou. But he better watch out because these Yanks are not snoep with their missiles and he could fall on his guava. Big time’.
Tackies. These are sneakers or running shoes. The word is also used to describe automobile or truck tyres. ‘Fat tackies’ are big tyres, as in: ‘Where did you get those lekker fat tackies on your Volksie (VW), hey?’
Taxi. This word has a completely different meaning in South Africa - aside from the vehicles you can individually hire to transport you (on you own or with a friend) from A to B. Due to the severe limits of the public transport system in South Africa (which isn't recommended to be used by tourists anyway) a system of combi-taxis has developed over the years that travel daily or hourly on designated routes. Just about all 16-seater ‘combi’ vehicles in South Africa are a part of this taxi system (although a driver carrying only 16 passengers would be assumed to be having a very bad day!). Taxis of this type are not usually roadworthy and it would be a mistake to assume that they will at any time obey general road usage rules. It would however also not be advisable to express road-rage at the actions of a taxi cutting you off or stopping without warning to take on or let off passengers. South African drivers in general just ignore taxis and give them a wide berth. If one is forced for any reason to catch a taxi it would be a good idea to follow the example of traditional taxi-users and stow your wallet and any valuables in your hat, your shoes or in a plain plastic bad and hold this bag with both hands at all times.
Vaalie. These are the horde of creatures that descend on Cape Town once a year at Christmas time. They traditionally drive Big Expensive Cars and are inevitably towing Venter Trailers which they store the kids in. In the new South Africa, they are also known as ‘Gauties’, this word is derived from ‘Gauteng’, which is where we wish they would all go back to. Anyway, be nice to Animals, hug a Vaalie.
Vrot. A wonderful word which means ‘rotten’ or ‘putrid’ in Afrikaans, it is used by all language groups to describe anything they really don't like. Most commonly it describes fruit or vegetables whose shelf lives have long expired, but a pair of takkies (sneakers) worn a few times too often can be termed vrot by unfortunate folk in the same room as the wearer. Also a rugby player who misses important tackles can be said to have played a vrot game - but not to his face because he won't appreciate it.
Vuka. A word of Zulu origin meaning ‘wake up’. Can be used in any situation to inspire prompt action, such as ‘Vuka wena’ (wena also from Zulu referring to ‘you’ - in the singular) ‘go fetch a lappie to clean up this cuck next to the dustbin!’
Yebo. From the Zulu word meaning ‘yes’. Indicates the affirmative in just about any situation.
With this guide you should have an excellent chance of surviving a trip to South Africa or a visit with a South African ex-pat family. It is truly a magnificent country, the people are friendly and lively and despite the high crime rate (which one can avoid the influence of if you listen to the warnings of the locals) South Africa is a must-visit for all global travellers.
Now that you know what a braai is, here are some other words and phrases you will encounter when talking to a South African.
It is also a useful guide if you happen to be visiting South Africa. The words listed here are used by folk of all persuasions, genders and ethnic backgrounds. You do need to know what they mean. Really!
Ag. This is one of the most useful South African words. Pronounced like the ‘ach’ in the German ‘achtung’, it can be used to start a reply when you are asked a tricky question, as in: ‘Ag, I don't know’. Or a sense of resignation: ‘Ag, I'll have some more pap then’. It can stand alone too as a signal of irritation or of pleasure.
Biltong. Similar to jerky, it is dried, salted meat and can be made from beef, ostrich, antelope or anything that was once alive and fairly large. It is usual for expatriate South Africans to say: ‘What I really miss is my biltong, man’.
Bioscope. Pronounced ‘byscope’, its use is going out of fashion and in some urban areas, regrettably, it is being replaced by ‘movies’ and ‘flicks’. Sometimes it is reduced to ‘bio’ or ‘scopes’. But you may still be asked if you would like to go to the byscope.
Blooming. Pronounced ‘blimming’, it is roughly equivalent to ‘helluva’, as in: ‘Ag, that pap I had at the braai made me blooming sick’. For emphasis, ‘blooming’ can be replaced by ‘bladdy’ which, in turn, is a corruption of the Australian ‘bloody’, but is pronounced more like ble-rry (with rolled ‘r’s).
Bra. Not a piece of ladies underwear, ‘Bra’ is pronounced with a softer, shorter ‘a’. As in ‘br-uh’. Originated in Cape Town (see Caapies) meaning ‘brother’ or ‘friend’. The Pretoria version of Bra might be ‘Bru’ derived from the Afrikaans word ‘broer’ - also meaning brother or close friend. Both have the same meaning however but it would be a faux pas to use the wrong version when speaking to the wrong group. You would not for example say ‘Hey Bru’ to a Caapie.
Bunny-chow. Originating in Kwa-zulu Natal (KZN) a bunny-chow is hollowed out loaf of bread filled with minced beef. You may be offered a bunny-chow at a braai and can readily accept if you have a healthy appetite, however, never order a bunny-chow from a restaurant in KZN unless you’re a chili lover and like the sensation of your taste buds escaping through your ears and nose.
Caapie. Generally a Capetonian or a person who hails from or has lived for some time in Cape Town. Capetonians are thought to generally be affected by the magnetic influences of Table Mountain and slow down, as if operating in a time-distortion. Capetonians can be easily identified driving very slowly in the wrong lanes of highways all over Johannesburg (Vaalies assume it’s because they get lost anywhere without a mountain to guide them).
Cafe. This is the generic term for convenience stores and is pronounced ‘caffee’ or ‘cayf’. Traditionally operated by people of Portuguese, Greek or Asian ancestry, it is a good place to buy smokes, biltong or the Alka Seltzer you will need after trying pap at the braai. Corner Cafes have since been replaced by petrol station ‘quick-shops’ but these will still be referred to as the corner Cafe.
Cape Doctor. Older residents of Cape Town give this name to the South-Easter which blows in summer months, usually forming a flat, rolling cloud over Table Mountain - the ‘table cloth’ - and sometimes shutting down harbour operations. It was called the Cape Doctor because old-timers said it blew all of the city's bad air out to sea along with accumulated street garbage, discarded newspapers and suchlike.
China. Meaning friend or used as a substitute for the pronoun ‘you’ in some places. As in ‘Ag China, you missed the braai yesterday!’ or a more threatening usage ‘Watchit China!’ meaning ‘hey you, watch out!’Most commonly used to identify male friends or between men but can be heard amongst women in some areas.
Cuck. The less offensive and softer alternative to the swear word sh*t. Mostly used to evaluate conversation or action - such as ‘You are talking cuck’ or ‘That was a really cuck thing that she did’. The descriptive use of the word when referring to people can be ‘Cuckster’ - a person who habitually ‘talks cuck’. These people are generally assumed to bend the truth. Cuck is also used to identify most kinds of mess i.e.: ‘The guys had a braai last night and now they expect me to clean up their cuck’.
Dummy. If you find yourself in the company of a couple with a baby and the woman says, ‘Pass me the dummy,’ she is not necessarily asking that you bring her husband to her. She is referring to the rubber, nipple-like thing they stick in babies' mouths to shut them up. A dummy is a pacifier.
Dustbin. Self-explanatory, this is a garbage can. It is also called a rubbish bin’. If you refer to rubbish as ‘garbage’ you will be considered blooming pretentious.
Doll. A term of affection between males and females, it is used mostly in the Johannesburg area. A corrupted form of ‘darling’, it will be heard thus: ‘Your turn to take out the dustbin, Doll’. ‘But I took it out the last time, Doll’. ‘Well take the ble-rry thing out again, Doll’.
Donner. A rude word, it comes from the Afrikaans ‘donder’ (thunder). Pronounced ‘dorner’, it means ‘beat up’. ‘Your rugby team can get donnered in a game, or your boss can donner you if you do a lousy job.’
Eina. Widely used by all language groups, this word, derived from the Afrikaans, means ‘ouch’. Pronounced ‘aynah’, you can shout it out in sympathy when someone burns his finger on a hot potato at a braai.
Eitah. A greeting pronounced ‘ay-tah’. Used in the place of ‘hey there you’ in greeting. i.e. ‘Eitah Bra!’ meaning ‘Hello there brother’.
Fixed up. This means ‘good’. An example is this exchange: ‘You don't have to take the dustbin out, Doll; I took it already’. ‘Fixed up, Doll’.
Gogga: This is an insect, a bug, and all three of the g's are pronounced as though you are about to spit. South Africa is rich in goggas, some of them cute - like the harmless mantis and the intriguing stick insect - but others are disgraceful. The cockroach is the most disgraceful, especially when they fly. Natal has some monsters which could challenge Florida roaches any day. In its early days, the country's state-run TV service earned the enmity of viewers by scheduling a documentary on cockroaches at a time when millions of South Africans were sitting down in front of their sets with their Sunday evening meals on their laps. A highlight was how to dissect a cockroach. It did not go down well with the Sunday lunch leftovers. A dissected cockroach is even more disgraceful than a whole one.
Another particularly disgraceful gogga is the Parktown Prawn - a cricket the size of a Queen Prawn tastefully coloured bright red and black by Mother Nature to give a clear warning to all in its vicinity. Parktown Prawns, like skunks, spray a smelly black ink when frightened, hide in dustbins and shoes and can be a real party-pooper at a braai. Don’t try to donder it with a shoe though, because you might break your shoe – rather rest a poitjie pot over it until someone with nerves of steel can carry it away.
Guava. Everybody knows that a guava is a fruit - and a bladdy lekker one too. It is especially nice stewed and served cold with smooth custard, as lots of boarding school students will affirm. Guava juice is refreshing at breakfast. But in South Africa a guava is also a backside, a butt, a bum. If someone is behaving in an annoying manner, you can threaten to ‘skop (kick) him up his guava’. But it is inappropriate and politically incorrect to issue this warning to someone who is not a good friend. It will be taken amiss. Also, it is not polite to laugh if the Cape Doctor bowls a stranger over on to his or her guava.
Hang of. This is the same as the American ‘heck of’, as in: ‘I have a hang of a headache’ or ‘I had a hang of a good time at the braai’.
Hap. Pronounced ‘hup’, this means ‘bite’ and is used in the following fashion: ‘Give me a hap of your apple. Ag, please’.
Howzit. Howzit? - pronounced ‘how-z-eet’ literally means ‘how is it’ but is used to ask after the health or wellbeing of a bra or a china. These days its used more as a greeting requiring no response, expediently cutting out all the pleasantries like ‘hello, how are you’ - ‘fine, how are you’ - can all be replaced by ‘Howzit’ and a like reply of say ‘Hey! Howzit china!’
Isit? This is a great word in conversations. Derived from the two words ‘is’ and ‘it’, it can be used when you have nothing to contribute if someone tells you at the braai: ‘The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership’.
It is appropriate to respond by saying: ‘Isit?’ (Pronounced is-er-t).
Jawelnofine. This is another conversation fall-back word. Derived from the four words ‘yes’, ‘well’, ‘no’ and ‘fine’, it means roughly ‘how about that’. If your bank manager tells you your account is overdrawn, you can say with confidence: ‘jawelnofine’.
Jislaaik. Pronounced ‘Yis-like’, it is an expression of astonishment. For instance, if someone tells you there are a billion people in China, a suitable comment is: ‘Jislaaik, that's a hang of a lot of people, hey’.
Just now (you will hear it more like – jus-now). Universally used, it means ‘eventually’ and sometimes ‘never’. If someone says he will do something ‘just now’ it could be in 10 minutes or tomorrow. Or maybe he won't do it at all.
Kiff. Thought to have originated in the KwaZulu Natal region Kiff (Pronounced Ku-ff) can cover everything positive as in ‘Jislaak, that was a kiff braai’ or in response to - ‘so we'll pick you up some biltong at the cafe china?’ one could hear the reply ‘Kiff doll’ - indicating the affirmative.
Lappie. A lappie (pronounced ‘luppy’) is a cloth, a rag, used to wipe up a mess. You will find it in a machine shop to clean up oil spills, in a bar to wipe away spilled beer, or in the nursery where a baby who is munching a rusk (a hard biscuit found in every household) needs its face and hands hosed down and lappied every three minutes. All babies look like Winston Churchill and all smell of rusks.
Lekker. An Afrikaans word meaning nice, this word is used by all language groups to express approval. If you see someone of the opposite sex who is good-looking, you can exclaim: ‘Lekkerrr!’ while drawing out the last syllable. But that use is now thought politically incorrect in some areas.
Marmite. Contrary to American disinformation, Marmite is not discarded axle grease. Bought in small glass jars at supermarkets and cafes, Marmite is a salty vegetable extract and is the S.A's answer to peanut butter (American), or Vegemite (Australian). Generations have grown up with it on their school sarmies and, in turn, have inflicted it on their own children. This process has been going on for so long now, Marmite has become unstoppable.
Make A Plan. You will hear this good old South African phrase quite a lot. It means things might be screwed right now but we'll think of something just now. If you miss the bus to the airport, the hotel receptionist may say, ‘Don't worry man - we'll make a plan’. If that plan includes the hiring of a taxi, you may want to think twice about it.
No. This word has many meanings in South Africa other than the opposite of ‘yes’. Your host at the braai is likely to say: ‘No, I see your plate is empty. You want some more pap?’. Another example; if the clerk in a shoe shop asks if she can help, you may reply: ‘No, I'm looking for some tackies’. This means: ‘Yes, I'm looking for some tackies’.
Oke. A ‘guy’ or ‘chap’ or ‘bloke’. If you quite like someone you can say: ‘Ag, he is an OK oke’. Instead of ‘oke’ you can also say ‘ou’ which is pronounced ‘Oh’.
Pap. Encountered at braais, pap is boiled corn meal. Pronounced ‘pup’ it has the appearance, consistency and, many say, the taste of moist Plaster of Paris. Lots of South Africans pretend to like it. Eating pap is character building in the sense that one learns to grin and bear adversity, rather like Americans in the South have grown spiritually by consuming grits. In religious context, this process is called self-flagellation.
Pull in. Literally, ‘come on over’ or used in the form of an invitation. As in - ‘That ou invited me to his braai on Saturday. You should pull in’. Thought to originate from the days of drive-ins and roadhouses indicating that one would arrive in a ‘bakkie’ (a South African version of the pick-up truck but smaller) or other motor car.
Poitjie. (Poi-kie) This is a large cast-iron cauldron with three legs into which is thrown whatever is in the fridge or pantry (with considerable discussion and debate over the appropriate order of the layers) - left on a fire for a few hours resulting in a meal for a small army. Poitjie-art, like braaing is an acceptable past-time for a South African male – unlike traditional cooking or baking which will take quite a few more years to catch on across the majority of the male population (from all cultural backgrounds). Be very wary of poitjies from unknown sources!
Sarmie. Sandwich.
Sharp. With origins in the ‘townships’ sharp can be used as a substitute for ‘fixed up’ or ‘yes’ or ‘ok’. Could be used in the following manner - ‘Howzit China?’ Reply - ‘Eitah! Sharp bra!’ This is an incredibly versatile word and can be inserted just about anywhere as a one-word affirmative or encouraging response. As in:
‘See you at the braai skat?’
‘Sharp’.
Shame. Like ‘No’, this word can mean the opposite of its meaning in other parts of the world. If someone shows you a baby, you can say: ‘Ag, shame’. This does not mean the baby is ugly, it means the baby is cute. If the baby is ugly, it is more accurate to say: ‘Shame, hey’. If the baby is truly hideous, it is appropriate to say: ‘Jislaaik’. This may not be appreciated by the baby's parents.
Skabenga. Meaning thief, liar, or general miscreants. If you don’t want to invite someone to your braai you could explain by saying ‘That Ou is a real skabenga’. Pronounced ‘ske-beng-ga’.
Skat. Or Skattie. An affectionate term used between couples originating from the Afrikaans ‘skatlam’. As in:
‘Are you making me a sarmie skattie?’
‘Ja!’
‘Fixed up!’
Skinder, Skinner, Skinnerbek. Gossip is one of life's little pleasures, and that is what ‘skinder’ is - gossip. The word is usually pronounced without a hard ‘d’ and most people will simply call it ‘skinner’. A ‘skinnerbek’ is someone who does it a lot, commonly without paying too much attention to the facts. Such a person can be very popular at office tea breaks, at parties and other social gatherings - unless the skinner is about you, in which case the skinnerbek is a louse who deserves a skop up the guava.
Skop, Skiet en Donder. Literally ‘kick, shoot and thunder’ in Afrikaans, this phrase is used by many English speakers to describe action movies or any activity which is lively and somewhat primitive. Clint Eastwood is always good for a skop, skiet en donder flick.
Snoep. This is a favourite word, and it is used by all language groups throughout the land. Pronounced ‘snoop’ with a short ‘o’ sound as in ‘book’, it means stingy, mean, selfish. Be discreet about using it. For example, it may not be a good idea to say to your bank manager: ‘Unless I am granted this loan I shall have to conclude that this bank is snoep’. That won't help your cause. Sometimes people use this word when they fuss over their friends' infant children: ‘Don't be so snoep with a kiss - gimme a big one’.
Stoorie. Pronounced ‘stoor-ee’. From the Afrikaans word ‘storie’ meaning a story it has come to be used to indicate any kind of drama or convoluted explanation. For example ‘He gave me a heele stoorie about why he was so snoep with the lappies’ - in this context meaning ‘a whole dramatic tale’.
Stroppy. This word means pugnacious, difficult, aggressive, and it can be used appropriately at any level of conversation. For instance, a child who refuses to eat his stewed guavas can be described as stroppy. Or you may overhear the following comment during a discussion on international affairs: ‘This Saddam Hussein - he's a real stroppy ou. But he better watch out because these Yanks are not snoep with their missiles and he could fall on his guava. Big time’.
Tackies. These are sneakers or running shoes. The word is also used to describe automobile or truck tyres. ‘Fat tackies’ are big tyres, as in: ‘Where did you get those lekker fat tackies on your Volksie (VW), hey?’
Taxi. This word has a completely different meaning in South Africa - aside from the vehicles you can individually hire to transport you (on you own or with a friend) from A to B. Due to the severe limits of the public transport system in South Africa (which isn't recommended to be used by tourists anyway) a system of combi-taxis has developed over the years that travel daily or hourly on designated routes. Just about all 16-seater ‘combi’ vehicles in South Africa are a part of this taxi system (although a driver carrying only 16 passengers would be assumed to be having a very bad day!). Taxis of this type are not usually roadworthy and it would be a mistake to assume that they will at any time obey general road usage rules. It would however also not be advisable to express road-rage at the actions of a taxi cutting you off or stopping without warning to take on or let off passengers. South African drivers in general just ignore taxis and give them a wide berth. If one is forced for any reason to catch a taxi it would be a good idea to follow the example of traditional taxi-users and stow your wallet and any valuables in your hat, your shoes or in a plain plastic bad and hold this bag with both hands at all times.
Vaalie. These are the horde of creatures that descend on Cape Town once a year at Christmas time. They traditionally drive Big Expensive Cars and are inevitably towing Venter Trailers which they store the kids in. In the new South Africa, they are also known as ‘Gauties’, this word is derived from ‘Gauteng’, which is where we wish they would all go back to. Anyway, be nice to Animals, hug a Vaalie.
Vrot. A wonderful word which means ‘rotten’ or ‘putrid’ in Afrikaans, it is used by all language groups to describe anything they really don't like. Most commonly it describes fruit or vegetables whose shelf lives have long expired, but a pair of takkies (sneakers) worn a few times too often can be termed vrot by unfortunate folk in the same room as the wearer. Also a rugby player who misses important tackles can be said to have played a vrot game - but not to his face because he won't appreciate it.
Vuka. A word of Zulu origin meaning ‘wake up’. Can be used in any situation to inspire prompt action, such as ‘Vuka wena’ (wena also from Zulu referring to ‘you’ - in the singular) ‘go fetch a lappie to clean up this cuck next to the dustbin!’
Yebo. From the Zulu word meaning ‘yes’. Indicates the affirmative in just about any situation.
With this guide you should have an excellent chance of surviving a trip to South Africa or a visit with a South African ex-pat family. It is truly a magnificent country, the people are friendly and lively and despite the high crime rate (which one can avoid the influence of if you listen to the warnings of the locals) South Africa is a must-visit for all global travellers.
