List of South African slang words

Afrikanerisms

This list of "Afrikanerisms" comprises slang words and phrases influenced by Afrikaans and other African languages. Typical users include people with Afrikaans as their first language but who speak English as a second language; and people living in areas where the population speaks both English and Afrikaans. Many of these terms also occur widely amongst ethnic/native South Africans. These terms do not occur in formal South African English. Note when the letter "g" is either the first or last letter of the word, it is pronounced as an unvoiced velar fricative.

Fanakalo also refers to when people of non-Zulu origin attempt to speak Zulu without the proper pronunciation and throat sounds. Fanakalo in Zulu literally means "same as this" – (fana – same, ka – as, lo – this).

• aap – lit. ape/monkey. Originally refers to any person who behaves similarly to an ape or an idiot, i.e. Barbaric, regardless of skin colour. Can be considered racist due to its reference to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
• aap uit die mou laat – lit. "to let a monkey out of the sleeve"; means to reveal a secret.
• al gaan staan jy op jou kop en fluit God Save the Queen deur jou poepol, jy sal niks regkry nie! - lit. "Even if you go stand on you head and whistle "God Save The Queen" out of your arsehole, you're not gonna accomplish anything!". A verbal warning against wasting your time and energy on a pointless pursuit, i.e. you're not gonna convince anyone, no matter how special you are. Similar to "Jy poep teen donnerweer".
• ag man – oh man; ag as the Afrikaans equivalent to "oh" (pronounced \ach\ like German ACHtung), "man" pronounced as in English.
• ag shame – both an expression of pity and sorrow, depending on context: Ag shame, daardie baba is te oulik! (Awe that baby is so cute!); Ag shame, die arme hond is dood. (Ah shame, the poor dog died.)
• as dit pap reën moet jy skep – lit. "If it's raining pap, you must scoop it". Means when an opportunity presents itself, you must take it. Similar to "When opportunity comes knocking, open the door".
• antie – an older female authority figure. Derived from the English "aunt", with the original meaning still intact.
• anties – breasts/boobs
• aweh/awe (pronounced \AAAH-WHE\) – said in excitement, as in: Aweh; my boss said I can go home early today. Same as the English pop culture slang 'yas'. The word has many meanings or uses: "hello", "goodbye", "yes". Also associated with prison use. (Greeting) "Aweh, my bru." (Hello my friend). Similar: howzit, yooit, hoesit, yo.
• babbelbekkie – someone who talks a lot
• babelaas / babbelas – hangover (of Zulu origin)
• bakgat – cool; expression of appreciation for something very well accomplished
• bakkie – a utility truck or pick-up truck, now a mainstream word in South African English. Can also refer to a small plastic container/bowl.
• bakkies – the plural of bakkie (above), but is also used to refer to a person's cheeks and can become a personal nickname; see Bakkies Botha
• bakuzzi – a portmanteau of the words "bakkie" and Jacuzzi, describing a pick-up truck's load-bay filled with water.
• bakvissie – a giggly teenage girl (from bakvis, a fish too small to be kept and thrown back into the water).
• bale – (TV) used to signify annoyance (pronounced barlee)
• bangbroek - lit. "scaredy-pants"
• befok – really good, exciting, cool; as in "The rock-show was befok." [Do not confuse with gefok.] Can also mean "crazy" in a very strong sense, as in "Are you befok?" – derogatory. Can also mean "to have sex with".
• bekak – lit. "to shit on something". Often referring to a person who is extremely angry. Literally referring to a person "shitting his pants"
• befoetered/bedonnered – lit. extremely angry similar to "diedonnerend", etc.
• bek – derogatory term for mouth (Afrikaans: an animal's mouth); Hou jou bek! – "shut up!" , "Shut your trap!" (literally: "hold your [animal's] mouth"). This translates well into British English as "Shut your gob."
• bergie – from Afrikaans berg, which translates to "mountain", originally referring to vagrants who sheltered in the forests of Table Mountain; now a mainstream word for a particular subculture of vagrants, or homeless persons, especially in Cape Town.
• beter bang Jan, as dooie Jan – lit. "better to be a scared Jan rather than a dead Jan". English equivalent is "better to be safe than sorry".
• bietjie-baie – lit. "a little bit too much". "bietjie" (a little bit - "be-key") and "baie" (a lot - "bye-ya")
• biltong – dried meat, similar to jerky (a mainstream word), the process of making biltong differs.
• binnekant van my ooglede kyk – lit. "looking at the inside of my eye lids". Refers to a person who wants to close their eyes and sleep as soon as possible.
• bioscope, bio – cinema, cinema (now dated), originally an international English word that became defunct elsewhere, it has survived longer in South Africa^[1] as a result of the influence of the Afrikaans cognate bioskoop. Also related to the Dutch word "bioscoop", which still means "cinema" in Netherlands usage.
• blerrie/bladdy hell – damn/damnit. Originally from the British English phrase "bloody hell".
• bliksem – strike, hit, punch; also used as an expression of surprise/emphasis. It derives from the Dutch word for "lightning", and often occurs in conjunction with donner. Used as a curse in Afrikaans: "Jou bliksem!" (You bastard!)
• bliksemse – lit. "damn thing" Used in conjunction with "donnerse".
• bloedaglik vererg – lit. "annoyed to the breaking point" (bloody annoyed). The less violent version of "moer-strip", usually ends up with the sufferer warning the person who's annoying them to stop it immediately before they get angry and get to the point of the "stripping their moer".
• blou – being sad, as in the English language feeling blue
• blou kol – lit. "blue spot". Refers to the blue/purple hue visible on a Bruised area of the skin.
• blou oog – lit. "blue eyes". Refers to both the colour of the Iris as well as a bruised and swollen eye (black eye).
• bloutrein – literally "blue train", referring to methylated spirits, sometimes used for drinking (filtered through a loaf of white bread). Also refers to the Blue Train (two words), a luxury train that travels from Pretoria to Cape Town aka "Transkaroo"(a trans-Karoo rail-line).
• boef – lit. "law-breaker". Refers to any person who has broken a law and got away with it. Derived from the Afrikaans word of the same spelling for "to cuff" (i.e. to arrest, or get arrested). The plural "boewe", refers to both the multiple persons arrested and the cuffs themselves. Considered outdated as "bliksem" and "skelm" are more commonly used.
• boer – literally "farmer" in Afrikaans. (pronounced boo-(r)) English-speaking people use the word to indicate an Afrikaans farmer, especially in a derogatory way, like "country bumpkin", "boorish"; but Afrikaners use it with much pride, indicating a person with a deep love of the soil of Africa, a provider of food and strictly speaking - a white Afrikaner, though a black farmer is still called a 'boer' in Afrikaans, the "national pride" usage is strictly reserved for white Afrikaners. Boere (the plural form) can also refer to the police. "Boer" does not only refer to an Afrikaans farmer, but also to a proudly Afrikaans person, whether he farms for a living or not.
• boererate – a number of local home remedies that are super effective and cheap. May also be applied to DIY projects.
• boerewors – popular type of sausage in South Africa. In Afrikaans, literally "farmer-sausage", used as a mainstream word in South African English.
• boerewors roll/boerie roll – the South African equivalent of the hot dog, using the boerewors with an onion relish in a hot dog bun
• boet – male friend (from boetie, informal form of broer meaning brother, see also bru and bra below); compare American English: "dude" or "bro"
• boland – refers to the geographic region known as the Highveld (a large plateau that rises 1500m above sea level, North from the Eastern Cape and falls in the South of Limpopo). Usually the term is primarily used by Southern Coastal regions to refer to the inland provinces that form a part of the plateau.
• bokkie – (diminutive of bok, literally meaning "little buck" or "doe") a popular term of endearment, comparable to "sweetheart", "honey", etc.
• boom – Literal translation is "tree" but is commonly used to refer to marijuana
• bosberaad – strategy meeting held outdoors, for example in a game reserve
• bossies, or bosbefok – crazy, whacko, mad. Also a term for one who has shell shock. Refers to the time of the South African Border War where soldiers spent time in the bush ("bos/bosse") and would return home suffering battle flash-backs (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
• boutjies – (pronounced "bow-keys") Is the diminutive form of "boude" ("bum-cheeks"). Can also be used to refer to Chicken drumsticks, i.e.: "Hierdie hoenderboutjies is baie lekker." (These chicken drumsticks are delicious).
• brak – mongrel dog, can also refer to brackish water
• brandy-en-Coke – a favoured combination of the spirit brandy and the soft-drink Coca-Cola
• Branna –- short for "brandewyn" (lit. "brandy")
• breakdown/vulture – a pick-up that's been specially modified into a tow-truck. They literally sit on the sidewalk and wait for an accident to happen, and sometimes they cause the accident as well. When you break down, they come fetch you.
• breëbors – lit. "broad chested". A sign of masculine pride.
• broekie – panties or ladies underwear. From Afrikaans: broek, meaning "trousers/briefs". Common usage: "Don't get your broekies in a knot" which means "Calm down".
• broekie lace – ornate ironwork found on Victorian buildings (lit. 'pantie lace'), the tie that you find on board shorts
• bra – male friend
• Bring-en-Braai – Contrary to the original traditions of the Braai, Bring-en-Braai allows the guests to bring their own food and drink items (usually pre-prepared, except for the meat) to the gathering and to cook it themselves or to have it prepared by the main chef if requested. Fellow guests must first ask permission to eat a food-item that was brought by another guest. 'n Bring-en-Braai can extend to a much larger gathering where large groups of people prepare the food they brought around multiple braais. In this case, it is similar to a "Straat-braai" ("street-braai, similar to a Block party).
• bromponie - lit. "a noisey pony", refers to a scooter motorcycle because a full-size motorcycle is often referred to as an "ysterperd" (iron horse), since a Pony is much smaller than a Horse.
• bru – a term of affection. (see also "bra" and "boet"). Shortened from Afrikaans broer, meaning "brother". An example would be "Hey, my bru, howzit?"
• bruinoog/browneye - while the original meaning is still intact, it can also refer to a person being literally shown a naked arse.
• buk – duck your head down quickly, as in "Buk when you go in the door, it's really low."
• bucks – refers to antelope, as well as to some degree, the South African National Rugby Union Team known as "Die Springbokke" (The Springbucks). Can also refer to money.
• button – mandrax tablet (Slang Only)
• braai – a barbecue, to barbecue (from braaivleis – grilled meat), used as a mainstream word in South African English. Specifically to grill meat on an open fire. As a noun, it is also the literal area/object used for the grilling of the meat as well as the social gathering around it.
• braaibroodtjies – toasted sandwiches that are grilled over an open flame on a braai. Usually served as a side-dish to braaivleis.
• cheekyprawn – a term of foul abuse
• carguard – a guy who is paid to guard cars in a shopping centre parking lot as well as occasionally help consumers load-up their cars
• cherry – "meddie", see tjerrie
• cheers – lit. a toast. Also used as a goodbye greeting: "See you later buddy, cheers."
• china/chine – a friend; as in the greeting Howzit my china? Likely origin: Cockney rhyming slang "China plate" (meaning "my mate"); from early British immigrants.
• chan – a derogatory term for an overweight, metrosexual South African. (likely origin: derived from the slang term china/chine). Also used as a variation to bru and bra.
• chommie/chomma – a friend (similar to English "chum"); also refers to the perineum area between vagina and anus. Also spelled tjommie.
• "chop/tjop" – literally means a piece of meat ("porkchop") simiiar to the English "bro", "dude"
• chop-chop – lit. means "quickly". Is used when a person has had something done, or wants to have something done in a short amount of time.
• choty goty – beautiful girl
• chrisco – a party/disco where Christian music mainly features; a combination of the words "Christian" and "disco"
• Chwee chweereekeys– getting high
• coconut – lit. coconut fruit; can be used as a racist remark towards black people who behave like Caucasians, "brown on the outside, white on the inside".
• cuiter – somebody one has a strong dislike for. It has a similar meaning to the word cunt in the English language.
• cullis – young girl who is extremely lead
• dagga – most commonly used word for marijuana
• dik – lit. "thick". Can be a derogatory term for being overweight, similar to "dikgat", as well as the Satiety-state (also known as the absence of hunger after a meal, or the sensation of being "full")
• dikbek – grumpy, in a huff (literally: "thick mouth" (pout), with an image of puffed-out cheeks like a bullfrog)
• dikgat – lit. "fat-arsed". Derogatory term for overweight people, used in conjunction with "vetgat"
• diedonnerend; diemoerend; diebliksemend – lit. extremely angry, borderline volatile. derived from "donner", "moer" and "bliksem".
• dinges – thingamabob, a whatzit or a whatchamacallit. Dutch – dinges.
• djou Ma se poes! – lit. "you're mom's pussy" (vulgar). Used as a strong disagreement.
• Dog het gedog hy plant 'n veer en 'n hoender kom op – lit. "Think thought it would plant a feather and then 'n chicken will come up". Translates as "Thinking won't get you anywhere."
• doos – literally the Afrikaans translation for "box". Depending on context, the slang/derogatory version can mean prat, twat, idiot but most commonly understood as a translation of "arsehole".
• domkop – idiot (lit. Dumbhead), same as German "Dummkopf" or Dutch "domkop"
• dom nool – emphasis of "stupid idiot"
• donner – to beat up. Used together with "bliksem". Derived from "donder" (thunder, related to Thor). Amounts to an ancient curse. Like "Nick I'm going to donner you".
• donnerse – lit. "damn thing". Often used in frustration with another person or thing: "Die donnerse ding wil nie werk nie." ("The damn thing doesn't wanna work").
• donkie is 'n wonderlike ding – lit. "A donkey is a wonderful thing". Based on a rhyme of the same name, which satirically describes why a donkey should be considered "wonderful". It can be used to describe any undesirable object/situation that may have its benefits as well.
• dof – stupid or slow to understand.
• dop – alcohol, to drink alcohol, to fail. For example: "Come and drink a dop (a drink) with me" or "I'm gonna dop that test." Originally refers to a tot (measure).
• doss, dorse, dossing – sleep or nap
• driehoekigekoeliekoekie – lit. "triangular Coolie cookie"; sefers to a samosa
• Droëwors – (Afrikaans) dried boerewors, similar to biltong
• drol – lit. a turd (vulgar); also refers to an arsehole/idiot
• dronkie – drunkard
• druk – to embrace or squeeze, hug (noun) "Gee my 'n drukkie," "Give me a hug." (not necessary sexually)
• DStv - a popular Digital Satellite Television pay-service throughout Southern Africa. The satellite-decoders, mainly used by all the subscribers, are often informally referred to just as "a DStv" instead of "DStv-decoder".
• dux – to dream, sleep; 'lekker dux' -to have sweet dreams
• dwankie – someone or something that is lame, stupid, uncool, or generally undesirable. Generally used as an insult or in a derogatory way. Zef slang. Can be used as both a noun: "Look at those dwankies over there!" and an adjective: "My chinas have gone dwankie!"
• eh pappa! – lit. "whoa daddy!"
• eina! – ouch! used as a mainstream word in South African English. [Probably of Khoisan origin.]
• eish! – Wow! What? Expression of surprise. Of Bantu origin.
• ek sê – I say!
• entjie – Cigarette. For example, "Awe ou. Steek 'n ent!". Also refers to a small distance away: That car is an entjie away from you.
• flaterwater – correction fluid (e.g.: Tipp-Ex, Wite-Out) [comes from flater (mistake) and water (water)]
• flou – an unfunny (weak) joke (from the Afrikaans word for weak), can also refer to weak coffee or tea or weak alcoholic drink. A person that is weak. (Die man is te flou – "The man is too weak").
• fok – Afrikaans for "fuck", can be used in most ways it is used in English. Fokken = fucking, gefok = fucked. Dutch – Fokken = breeding (animals).
• fok voort – lit. to proceed in a single-minded direction regardless of obstacles. Derived from the phrase: Kyk Noord en Fok voort. (Look North, and go forth).
• fok weet – lit. "fuck knows". A response to an unanswerable question (vulgar). Similar to "I don't know who knows"
• fokker – lit. "fucker". Also the name of the Dutch aircraft manufacturer, Fokker.
• fokkol – lit. "fuckall". Literally means "absolutely nothing" (vulgar): Ek het fokkol geld ("I've got no money").
• fokkoff – lit. "fuckoff" (vulgar)
• fopdosser – a drag queen
• gat – lit. "hole". Also refers lit. to "arse". Can also be used as a shortened version of the word "gaan" (going to).
• gatkruip – lit. "arse creeping" or Brown nosing
• gat velle brand – lit. "arse-skin burning". Is a warning from a parent to his/her child, that they are about to receive a big hiding: Ek sal jou soo hard pak gee, dat jou gat velle gaan brand! (I'm gonna give you such a big hiding that bum is gonna feel like it's burning.)
• gatvol – lit. annoyed enough to the brink of getting angry: Ek is gatvol vir jou kak. (I've had enough of your shit.)
• ge- – used to refer to an attached Afrikaans verb in past tense (as in ge+bliksem = "gebliksem"), can often be used in mixing languages by adding it to English verbs: Ek het dit 'gelike' (I Liked That: Original Afrikaans: Ek het daarvan gehou).
• geit – (pronounced "gate", with the "g" sound in the back of the throat) It literally means "quirks". Usually a negative connotation in relation to a person being either: stubborn, fussy or demanding and sometimes also relating to Hypochondriasis. Literal English translation will align it with "-ness" (a.i. hardness, stubbornness). An example is: "hardegat-geit" (lit. hard-arsed and cocky).
• gham – derogatory term for an "uncivilized coloured"; used to describe someone with undesirable traits in looks and mannerisms. "Ew, that guy is so gham!"
• glug-glug-glug – lit. the sound made by a flowing liquid through a small opening, like a bottle being emptied. Also refers to a viral television advertisement from the 1980s (involving a little boy playing with his toy Ferrari Testarossa) by the South African Oil company, Sasol. The term also became one of Sasol's signature slogans.
• goffel – ugly girl/woman. For example, "What a G!". Also a degrading term for a person of coloured origin.
• gomgat – bumpkin, redneck (in the US sense, not to be confused with rooinek, the literal translation of redneck).
• goof, ghoef – swim, take a dip
• gooi – throw, chuck or to "tune" (see below) someone
• goose – also chick, cherry: a young woman or girlfriend (used mainly during the 1950s, now dated). Also a famous line by South African comedian Barry Hilton.
• Haai Oe Blommie! – a catchphrase from the beloved Afrikaans children's program Liewe Heksie (lit. "Dear beloved Little Witch") used by the title character while talking to the other main character "Blommie Kabouter" (lit. "Flower Gnome"). Has come to mean "Oh My Gosh" in its most sincere form.
• hardegat-, gheit – lit. "hard-arsed". Describes the stubbornness of a person.
• houding – character, style or attitude
• heita – "hello" or "hi". It was from this that telecommunications company Telkom got the name 8.ta for their mobile addition.
• hoesit, hoezit, howzit – derived from "How is it going? – contracted to how's it? In South African English context, howzit is more a greeting of "hello" rather than "how are you?", similar to South African black slang's "eta" or "ola"
• hokaai stop die lorrie! – lit. "Whoa there! Stop the lorry!". Often used to call an immediate halt in whatever is being done, usually in conjunction with a possible undesirable outcome.
• hol – lit. hollow. It also refers to "run very fast" ("Daai man hol so vinning"; "That man ran so fast"). Also refers to anus.
• holskeurend – lit. "anus-ripping". Refers to hysterical laughter. Used in conjunction with "lag my gat af" (laughing my arse off).
• honne – informal spelling and pronunciation of "honde" (dogs). In most cases of plurals ending in -onde & -ande, the "d" falls away in the informal pronunciation and spelling and the "n" is duplicated and re-positioned within the degrees of comparison. For example: Tande (plural of tand; "tooth"), formal = "tan - de", informal = "ta - ne". In singular words' syllables ending in "-nd" and "-heid", the "d" is pronounced as a "t". For example: "ge-son(t)-hei(t)" (gesondheid, "health").
• hottentot - derogatory term describing people of multiracial ethnic backgrounds, especially those of Malaysian-decent (i.e. the majority of Capetonians).
• in sy moer in – badly damaged, destroyed (rude, often considered profanity due to 'moer' to beat up). often used in conjunction with "moer-in".
• in sy glory in – same as above, considered to be less rude.
• innie/oppie – informal combined spelling of the phrases "in die" (in the) and "op die" (on the).
• ja – yeah (literally "yes" in Afrikaans)
• Jakob regop – lit. "Jacob upright". Refers to an erect Penis
• jakkals trou met wolf se vrou – lit. "Jackal weds Wolf's wife". Refers to the weather phenomena known as a "Monkey's wedding". Can be used to describe an unlikely situation.
• jux/juks/jags – Meaning "horny". For example, "Jinne meisie, jy maak my nou sommer lekker jags."
• ja-nee – literally "yes-no", an expression of positive confirmation.^[2] Example : Dis warm vandag. ("It's hot today") : Ja-nee ("Indeed")
• jislaaik! – expression of surprise, can be positive or negative. Often used when you get a fright, but equally often during particularly exciting parts of a rugby game.
• jissie – a shortened version of "jislaaik", can also be considered highly informal and use is usually frowned upon.
• jinne – another variation of "jislaaik", considered to be less rude.
• jo – an expression of surprise e.g., "Jo, that was rude" "Jo, you gave me a fright!" pron. yo as in New York)
• jol – to have fun, to party, can also refer to a disco or party, to commit adultery or even dating or courting
• Juffie – the shortened version of "Juffrou". "Juffrou" is a shortened version of the formal title given to address a young unmarried woman "Mejuffrou" (Miss). It is also the formal title given to address a female teacher of any age or marital status, whereby "Juffie" would be considered informal.
• kaffer – lit. Black people. Highly offensive, derived from the Islamic term "Kafir" (a non-believer of Allah).
• kafferbudgie – lit. "black budgie" (vulgar). Highly offensive, though humorous description of a Fly.
• kafferpak – lit. the exaggerated losses of one sports team during a match, especially if the team didn't have their head in the game, or if the opposing team was overpowering. Is also considered heavily derogatory as it refers to the slaughtering of black Africans by Afrikaners during Apartheid.
• kak – Literal translation: shit, crap, rubbish, nonsense (vulgar), of very wide usage. Also used as a way of further expressing one's feeling in language, for example, instead of "that girl is pretty" one can say emphatically "that girl is kak pretty!"
• kakhuis – lit. "shithouse". Refers to both a toilet and the bathroom it's located in, as well as "a lot of".
• kakspul – lit. "shithouse/shitload". Refers to a troublesome situation as well as an exaggerated amount of money.
• katkop – half a loaf of bread hollowed out and filled with chips (i.e. French fries, not crisps. Often regarded as basic prison food. (Literal translation from Afrikaans = cat head or cat's head). In South Africa French fries refers to thinly cut fried potato chips, whereas slap tjips (lit. limp chips) refers to the thicker British-style chip. Crispy potato chips are known as potato crisps.
• katspoegie – lit. "kat's spit". Refers to a very small amount of something, similar to "bietjie" (a little bit)
• kattekwaad – lit. "mad cats". Refers to Mischief.
• kasteel – lit. "castle". Also refers to the brand Castle Lager, a popular type of beer.
• khaki – [from the colour worn by British troops] derogatory term for an English person. As well as the traditional clothes worn by Boere (Afrikaans speaking white farmers).
• kêrels – police (original Afrikaans meaning: guys, chaps). "The kêrels are coming, watch out!" (dated). More commonly referring to boyfriend or literal translation: Guy or young man. Dutch – kerels.
• kerrie-en-rys – lit. "curry and rice", is a popular South African variant of a curry usually served with rice and blatjang
• kiff, kif, kief – (adjective) wicked, cool, neat, great, wonderful. The word derives from the Arabic word kif, meaning pleasure or marijuana. This may also be related to the Afrikaans word for poison: gif. Coastal pot-smokers used the term to refer to Durban Poison: "Gifs" [locally-grown marijuana]. The word evolved into kiff, an adjective or exclamation meaning "cool", amongst English-speaking people on the east coast.
• kie-kie/kiekie/kiek-kie – pronounced "key-ki"; refers to a photograph
• klankie – lit. "a sound", Can also mean unpleasant smell. Used in conjunction with "klank". Pronounced as in "clunk"
• klap – to smack. (from Afrikaans). "He got klapped in the bar". Like a "bitch-slap".
• klets – lit. to have a conversation. Often used to jokingly refer to women who are chatting non-stop and about nonsensical topics.
• klikkie klik bek – lit. a tattle tale
• klipslag – lit. "stone-stroke". Used to jokingly refer to a person who can't swim even if their life depended on it and thus sinks like a stone in water, this is mostly a joking self-reference by unconfident swimmers.
• klokke – lit. "bells". The plural of the word "klok" (derived from "clock"). It also refers to a man's Testes.
• Koeksister – lit. "cake sister". A sweet pastry that's been fried and dipped in a honey syrup, and shaped in the form of a French-braid. It also can refer to lesbians.
• koek – lit. "cake". Can be used to refer to a response to a sticky situation: "O Koek" (Oh Shit); clumped hair that is messy: Jou hare is gekoek (Your hair is very messy and difficult to brush); Can also refer to a Vagina.
• koebaai - An an anglicism of "goodbye".
• koffie-moffie – a camp male waiter or male flight attendant. See "moffie".
• kont – same as "cunt" in English (profanity)
• kortgat – lit. "short arse". cutesy nickname given to shorter-than average people, can be considered offensive unlike its antonym "langeraad"
• krimpie – old person
• kraaines – lit. "crow's nest". While the original English meaning stays intact, it can also refer to a big mess. Whether it be messy hair, a messy bedroom or a loud and messy gathering, like a party.
• kreef – literally means 'crayfish' but it refers to promiscuous woman with the intent to attract men/guys.
• kry 'n kramp! – lit. "get a cramp". A definitive expression of strong disagreement, usually used to end an argument regardless if the issue was resolved. Can also be used to refer to exaggerated negative feelings towards a stubborn person: Ek wens hy kry 'n kramp! (I wish he gets a cramp!). Used in conjunction with "gaan kak!".
• kwaai – cool, excellent (Afrikaans: "angry". Compare the US slang word phat.)
• kydaar – visitor from northern provinces, especially Gauteng, to Cape Town; from "kyk daar!" – "just look at that!". See also "soppiekoppie".
• laf – lit. "stupid/crazy". Used in conjunction with "mal".
• lag – to laugh. For example: They lag at the joke.
• laaitie, lighty – a younger person, esp. a younger male such as a younger brother or son
• lank – lots/a lot
• langeraad – cutesy nickname given to a really tall person
• lang maer blonde man – a slight contrast to the phrase "tall dark and handsome", it describes a goodlooking tall blonde-haired, and usually blue-eyed, man. The phrase came to prominence in the 1990s due to Afrikaans singer/actor Steve Hofmeyr's popularity with the ladies on Agter Elke Man (a popular Afrikaans TV series/film). He was tall, goodlooking, had blonde hair and blue eyes.
• laanie, larny – (n) boss, used in a different tone. (adj) fancy
• las – 1. an act that is undesirable to commit, a burden. 2. To tell someone or suggest to stop doing an act. (origin: something that is slowing you or an object down; for example, "'n Las in die pad.", meaning "An object as in a stone in the road."). 3. To physically join two separate objects together: (Las die punte van die twee toue aanmekaar; Tie the two ends of the ropes together.)
• lus – to have a craving for. "I lus for a cigarette". (Also see "smaak".)
• lekker – nice, good, great, delicious, (lit. tasty), for example "tik, tik is lekker". noun: a small piece of candy
• loadshedding – a series of controversial scheduled power-cuts by electrical supplier Eskom. Named in order to "shed the load" off of the overloaded National Power Grid.
• lorrie – lit. "truck". Derived from the English word "Lorry" with an identical meaning, the term gained popularity after the British colonized South Africa. Though "trok" (the proper Afrikaans translation for "truck") is still in use, it's been heavily replaced with the slang term "lorrie". Is sometimes used to jokingly compare cars that are just as difficult to drive as an actual truck.
• loskind – a really slutty girl, usually wears revealing clothes and is easy to get with (for example: "Sarah is 'n fokken loskind!")
• loskop – air head, literally a "lost head" refers to someone whose head is in the clouds, clumsy, forgetful.
• loslappie – a person who sleeps around a lot (i.e. "whore/manwhore", but not as derogatory)
• ma-hulle/ma-le/pa-hulle/pa-le – collective references to both parents which can be either centered around the mother (ma) or father (pa). Based on the word hulle (they).
• maaifoedie – motherfucker, as in "Jou maaifoedie"
• maat – friend (OED), also partner (wife, girlfriend)
• mal – mad, crazy, insane
• malhuis – lit. "looney bin"
• mallie – mother
• mamparra – idiot
• melktert/milk tart – a traditional custard tart of Dutch origin. Unlike a conventional custard tart, a melktert has a strong milk flavour and is best served with a dash of cinnamon sprinkled on top.
• mmchakawally – cigarettes
  • mugwaai – cigarette
  • entjie – cigarette
  • Gebruiker – cigarette
• mielie – millet corn (AmE) / maize (BrE), staple diet
• muggie – bug, especially a little flying gnat
• moegoe – stupid person, coward, or weakling
• moffie – male homosexual (derogatory). Can be compared to "fairy". From "mofskaap", castrated sheep.
• moer-toe – stuffed up or destroyed (my car is moer-toe)
  • moerse – a very strong word for big, for example: "that's a moerse house"
  • moer – to hit / to fight with, for example: "he is gonna moer you" Also a word for a nut used with a bolt
• moer strip – a point in time when a person's patience has worn so thin, he could snap violently at any moment. Derived from a nut (moer) that strips its threads when excessive force is applied.
• moer-meter – comically describes a person's temperament for their tolerance of bullshit. Derived from the red thermometer and used as a metaphor as illustrated by Donald Duck when he get's mad. Used in conjunction with "bloedaglike vererg".
• mompie – retard ("Liesl, you are such a mompie!")
• morne – boring, sterile, unexciting ("This is more morne than watching Saracens play!")
• mos – Afrikaans, implies that what has been said is well known or self-evident (a formal part of grammar, the closest English equivalent would be "duh!"). "Ek drink mos tee." ("I drink tea, duh!"). Used at the end of a sentence, as in "...Jy weet mos." ("...Obviously, as you know.")
• motivate (English) – from Afrikaans, "to justify or provide reasons for a suggestion or proposal", as opposed to English "inspire"
• my magtig!/liewe magtig! – expression of surprise, can be negative depending on context. Similar to "Oh Dear Lord!", "My word!" and "Oh my God" (though no religious emphasis). For example: My magtig maar jy het groot geword! (My word, you've grown up!); Liewe magtig man! Ek het jou gese om dit nie te doen nie! (Oh Dear Lord man! I warned you not to do it!). Taken from "magtig", which translates as "powerful".
• mxit taal – lit. "mix it language". Refers to the text-based grammar usage that was popularized by the now-defunct Mxit, a free instant messaging service. For example: Eng: How R U? Afrikaans: Hoe ganit? (Hoe gaan dit?); Eng: I'm gr8 (I'm great).
• naai (Afrikaans) – copulate; but strictly speaking "sew", from the action of a sewing machine needle
• naartjie (Afrikaans) – (pronounced "naar-key", though comically pronounced "naar-chi", "ch" as in "choo-choo") tangerine, mandarin, satsuma – any peelable orange-coloured citrus fruit with neat segments; used as a mainstream word in South African English, and a dietary staple. Often thrown at T.V. when frustrated with referee decisions. Can also be a reference to a pretty young woman, similar to "cherry". Legendary South African comedienne Shaleen Surtie-Richards jokingly referred to herself as a "vet sappige naartjie" (a fat juicy naartjie), when describing herself in the orange outfit she had on at that moment while on the judging panel of Supersterre (an Afrikaans singing-talent show created and hosted by singer Patricia Lewis), right after fellow judge Niekie Van Der Westhuizen complimented Lewis' Evening gown as well as the guest coach, Bianca Le Grange, and the contestant's outfits, all of which were orange, coincidentally.
• N.A.A.F.I. – (pronounced NAAFI) acronym for: "No Ambition and Fuck-all Interest"; (originated from the (still existing) British military "Navy, Army and Air Force Institute") referring to a lazy person. Used extensively during the days of National service.
• nè? – do you know what I mean/agree?, oh really?, is it not so? or British English "innit?". Similar to the French "n'est-ce pas" and the Portuguese "né?", meaning "Isn't it?", e.g. "Jy hou van tee, nè?" ("You like tea, not so?") (informal). The South African English equivalent is "hey", for example "Eish, its cold hey?". Popularized by actor Zack du Plessis in his role as "Hendrik Van Tonder" in the South African sitcom Orkney Snork Nie.
• neuk – lit. "to hit", less vulgar than "moer", "donner" and "bliksem"
• nogal – of all things. Term expressing a measure of surprise
• nooit – never, no way, unbelievable!
• now-now/nou-nou – contrary to the original meaning of the English word "now", It means "in due time", and therefore can mean anything from "in the next five minutes" to "in the next five years"
• nou-net – lit. "just now". Refers to an event that happened immediately within a few minutes ago.
• net-nou – lit. "earlier that day". Refers to an event that happened a while ago, though still within 12hrs.
• nou – lit. "Immediately". Also means "narrow".
• net-net - lit. "just just". Refers to something/someone that has either impeccable timing and/or is just shy from, and just far enough to, winning any competitive event. English equivalents are: "Just in the nick of time", "just shy of winning", "almost". For example: Ek het my eksamen vraestel net-net deur gekom (I just barely passed my exam).
• Nou gaan ons Braai! – lit. "Now we're gonna Braai!". Pokes fun at the procrastination of the braaier, who intends to start immediately, but doesn't start till much later. It usually takes up to 1 hour to prepare the fire and in that time, the braaier can get easily distracted by socialising.
• nou-toe-nou! – lit. translates as "now-to-now". An expression of surprise revelation. The closest English equivalent is "No Wonder!"
• O Griet! – lit. "Oh Gosh!". A catchphrase uttered by the beloved witch Liewe Heksie when calling out her magic horse, Griet, whom she's able to conjure-up with the phrase, though she never remembers his name and as a result she only ever summons him by accident whenever she's in panic. The popularity of the catchphrase ensured that it gained use via the general public and therefore is used by a person whenever their in a state of panic.
• O gonna Madonna – ("g" sound pronounced in the back of the throat) Derived from "O Gonna" ("Oh Shit", but not vulgar), the singer Madonna's name was added to the phrase by Leon Schuster for comedic rhyming effect, it has since become one of his signature catchphrases along with: "O gatta patata" & "Oh Schucks" (both mean "Oh Shit", and the latter was inspired by Leon's own last name)
• oom – an older man of authority, commonly in reference to an older Afrikaans man (Afrikaans for "uncle")
• onder draai die Duiwel rond – lit. "the Devil roams beneath the surface". Derived from the Afrikaans TV series of the same name as well as the show's theme song "Stille Waters" (Still Water) by renowned Afrikaans singer Laurika Rauch. It refers to a secretive and often deceptively antagonistic behavior/situation that contradicts the positive first impression of the outward appearance, i.e. it is similar to "the calm before the storm".
• Ons Vir Jou Suid-Afrika – lit. "We for Thee South Africa". A declaration of Afrikaner national pride.
• ou (plural = ouens) man, guy, bloke (also oke) (literally "old")
• ouballie – old man, dad; as in: "shaft me, ouballie" "My ouballie (father, dad) will be home soon".
• ousie – Term used to refer to a maid, usually a black female; also used by black females to call/refer to each other
• padda – lit. "frog". Refers to the amphibian species. Though the origin of the word states the "double-D" to be pronounced as it is, the informal pronunciation "parra" (with the trilling "r") has become the norm, though the spelling stays the same. It can also refer to a vagina (vulgar) depending on context.
• pap – traditional maize porridge similar to grits; can also mean "deflated". Pap (porridge) is primarily known in three stages; all three are variant to the water-to-maize ratio: stywepap (lit. "stiff-pap"; 3/4 water-to-maize), phutupap/krummelpap (pap with a crumbly texture; 1/4 water-to-maize) and slap-pap (pap with a runny texture; 4/3 water-to-maize).
• paplepel – lit. "pap-spoon"; a wooden spoon used in the making of pap, but can also be used to give a hiding
• papier vampier – lit. a "paper vampire". Refers to a Stapler.
• papgat – lit. a physically weak person
• pap-sop-nat – lit. "very wet"
• pak – lit. "to pack". Also means "to give a hiding"
• patat – lit. "sweet potato". A favourite side-dish for Afrikaners, the name "patat" ("pah-tut") can also become a pet-name or Term of endearment.
• plak – lit. "to stick". Can also refer to starting an informal settlement like a Township (Plakkerskamp)
• plakkerskamp/township – an informal settlement primarily housing non-whites of very low-income in poorly self-constructed houses known as "shacks"
• paraat – disciplined. Somebody who is paraat, generally has "houding" i.e. style / character
• paw-paw – lit. a Paw-paw fruit. Can refer to an idiot, but is less derogatory and often used to lightly joke with the person in question.
• perdedrolle is fye – lit. "Horseshit is figs". When someone is accusing another person of bullshitting them: Jy probeer my se dat perdedrolle is fye! (You're trying to tell me that horseshit is figs!)
• plaas – lit.: farm. Also, when someone falls down: Plaas gekoop.
• pleister/plaster – lit. "to plaster", as in to plaster a wall. Can also refer to a Band-Aid.
• platteland – rural area, country (as in living in the country, as opposed to living in the city)
• platsak – lit. out of cash, flat broke
• piel – derogatory term for a male genitalia ("cock" or "dick")
• piesang, piesang, paw-paw – lit. "banana, banana, Paw-paw". Children's rhyme used when a person makes a fool of himself and/or is a sore loser.
• poepol – (from poephol, arse) an idiot. lit. an arsehole (more specifically the anus), but not as derogatory. Can be used as source of comedy: Ek voel soos 'n poepol.
• poepolletjie – lit. Diminutive form of poepol, strictly reserved as a term of endearment between couples.
• poep – lit. "to fart". Derived from the English term "poop", it literally means "to pass gas".
• soos 'n poep teen donderweer – lit. "it's like farting against a thunderstorm". Meaning the argument being presented is falling on deaf ears due to either a much more intimidating defense, or just plain ignorance, i.e. the sound of the fart is being drowned-out by the sound of Thunder. Its closest English counterpart would be "it's like talking to a brick wall".
• poepruik – lit. "to smell a fart". Refers to a person who is sleeping in late, though it specifically points to the person wasting time because of it.
• poes – derogatory term for a female genitalia ("pussy" or "cunt")
• poesklap – lit. a very hard slap. similar to "klap" (to smack/slap), but far more painful: Ek gaan jou so 'n harde poesklap gee, jou tanne gaan vibreer vir maande lank. (I'm gonna smack you so hard, that your teeth will vibrate for months).
• pote – lit. "animal paws". Is an informal reference to a person's feet ("voete" in Afrikaans) directly relating the condition and size of the feet to that of an animal's paws.
• potjie – (pronounced "poi-key") lit. the diminutive form of the English/Afrikaans word "pot", referring to the cooking utincle, but more specifically a small-to-large size cast iron pot. It is traditionally used to make potjiekos, phutupap and samp (stampmielies).
• Potjiekos – lit. "small pot food". Is a meat and vegetable dish that is specially cooked in a potjie. It is traditionally slow-cooked over an open fire for a couple of hours before being served during a Braai (social gathering). Though it's similar to a stew, the main differences are: a stew has lots of water/sauce, while a potjiekos has very little water/sauce; and you stir a stew, you don't stir potjiekos as it's intended to not have the individual ingredients' flavor mixing.
• pommie, pom – derogatory term for an English person (borrowed from Australia)
• poplap – derived from "lappop" (rag doll). It is a term of endearment towards young beautiful women, and can also extend to much younger girls usually via a grandfather-figure. The closest English equivalent would be "poppet".
• praatsiek – lit. verbal diarrhea. A person who talks non-stop.
• praat 'n gat innie kop – lit. "speaking a hole in someone's head". To strongly convince someone to agree with you.
• quarter-past kaal arm – lit. "quarter-past naked arm". A sarcastic response to the question "What time is it?", whereby the user either doesn't know the time or doesn't care. With "naked arm" referring to the person not wearing a Wristwatch.
• raining cats and dogs/reën katte en honde – lit. "excessive rain"
• rigting bedonnerd - lit. "directionless". Refers to any person who becomes easily disorientated when no visual references are helping helping their navigation, i.e. they feel lost very easily. It can also be used to humorously describe a person's poor sense of direction, for example: "James May can get lost in his own house."
• robot – lit. Afrikaans for "a Robot". Is also used exclusively in South Africa, to refer to a Traffic light. Originating from Traffic guards during the British colonization period, for moving like a robot while directing traffic. Though the traffic guard has largely been replaced by the traffic light, the name stuck.
• rooinek – ("red neck") Afrikaner derogatory term for English person or English-speaking South African. Derived in the 19th century due to native British not being used to the hot African sun and getting sunburnt, especially on the neck. Almost the exact opposite to the American usage of "redneck". Alternative explanation, reference to the fact that British officers during the two Boer Wars had red collars.
• rooijasse/rooibaadtjies – lit. a red jacket/coat. Refers to the British soldiers of the Anglo-Boer Wars that wore red coats.
• safari – a camping adventure into the African wilderness, including in a nature reserve
• saffa – lit. "a South African". Taken from the initials "S.A.", the term refers to any South African-born person who also grew-up in the country. This sometimes also extends to the South African Expats.
• sat – tired, dead – "Ek is siek en sat van sy nonsens" – "I'm sick and tired of his nonsense", see 'vrek' below (pronounced as "sut" in English)
• se gat – expression of strong disagreement often used in conjunction with "se moer" & "jou gat" (your arse).
• sies, "sis" – expression of disgust, disappointment, annoyance, as in: Ag sies man.
• Sie-sah – expression of goodness, or of disgust, depending on context.
• schoepit - pronounced "s-choo-pit", is the informal pronunciation of the word "stupid".
• scrompie – slang for "hobo" or bergie. (Liesl told her 7-year-old son, Karl, to walk away from the scrompie walking towards them.)
• sharaap – informal pronunciation of the English phrase "shut up"
• sien jou gat – lit. "seeing your own arse". Refers to making an enormous fool of yourself and being out-performed & out-classed.
• soos Siebies se gat – lit. "like Siebies' arse". Refers to a job done badly and a messy room. Derived from a man of unknown origin known as "Siebies" (short for Siebert or Sieberhagen)
• sit gat, rus bene – lit. "sit arse, rest legs". Refers to relaxing after a long hard day.
• skapie – someone who might be referred to as a "pussy". Literally "little sheep".
• skeef – skewed, gay, as in: hy het 'n bietjie skeef voorgekom (he seemed a bit gay)
• skief – to glare at someone (root: Afrikaans 'skeef', skew)
• skop, skiet en boomklim – literally "kicking, shooting and climbing trees". A colloquial description of an action film, usually of the lighter, more humorous kind. (Think Jackie Chan.)
• skop, skiet en donner – literally "kicking, shooting and beating people up". A colloquial description of an action movie of the more violent kind. (Think Jean-Claude Van Damme and Arnold Schwarzenegger.)
• skelm – (pronounced: skellem) crook or trouble-maker, mistress, secret lover, on the sly
• skilpad het nie vere nie, en appels is nie pere nie – lit. "tortoises don't have feathers, and apples aren't pears". It is a children's rhyme that discusses a mistruth. It's the Afrikaans equivalent of "liar liar pants on fire."
• skinner, skinder – gossip
• skop – kick
• skort – watch out, be careful or something is wrong here
• skraal – very hungry; Durban region, from Afrikaans for "thin" or "emaciated"
• skrik – fright; also used in the phrase skrik my gat af (lit. a very big fright)
• skyf – cigarette, a puff, and also less commonly marijuana or dagga
• skuit – (pronounced "skate") lit. "to shit"; similar to "taking a dump"
• skwaanz – to snitch and sue; a bru dat overreacts to situations or activities they themselves participate in, like, they choke out people in the choking game and thinks dat is fun, but when someone chokes THEM out, they snitch and sue. Also, "squanz"; "Yo, dat bru is skwaanz! We don't hang wit daardie fok."
• slapgat – English translation is "lazy arse", also can refer to something badly put together, "Hy het dit slapgat gemaak" (he put it together haphazardly)
• slaptjips/ slapchips – (pronounced as "slup chips") similar to thick-cut British chips; usually soft, oily and soaked in vinegar. Slap is Afrikaans for "limp". French fries refers to thinly cut chips. Crispy potato/corn chips are referred to as 'chips'.
• smaak – to like another person or thing. "Seems" as in "smaak my ..." I get the impression that...
• smaak stukkend – to like very much or to love to pieces (literal meaning of stukkend). "Ek smaak you stukkend" = "I love you madly".
• smeerlaken – Afrikaans lit. "spread" + "sheet" i.e. an Excel or Lotus worksheet.
• sms – abb. "short messaging service". Refers to the text messages sent and received via mobile phones: SMS me your number quickly?
• sneeudier – old person
• sel – lit."cell" in all definitions of the word, i.e.: selfoon (cellphone); tronk sel (jail sel); plant sel (plant cell)
• selle – the plural of "sel", as well as a shortened version of the word "dieselfde" (the same): Hy het die selle foon as ek. (He's got the same cellphone I have)
• so mond moet jam kry – lit. "a mouth like that should get Jam". Indicates a compliment that deserves a sweet reward. Can be used with humorous effect when "mond" is replaced with "poepol/hol", to joke about a smelly fart: So hol moet jam kry!
• soek – to look for trouble with someone/to antagonise/to stir up trouble = "you soeking with me?" – Afrikaans: "to seek or look for".
• sommer – for no particular reason, "just because"
• soppiekoppie – derogatory term for up-country visitor to Cape Town, from "pasop die koppie" ("careful of your little head!") from the habit of fathers carrying their small children on their shoulders and warning them of the low door beams in old buildings in Cape Town.
• sosatie – a kebab on a skewer, used as mainstream word in South African English.
• soutpiel/soutie – derogatory term for English person, literally salty penis. Someone with one foot in England, the other in South Africa and their penis hanging in the Atlantic Ocean.
• soutpilaar – lit. "salt pillar". Refers to anyone who is standing and staring unnecessarily at something (whether it is at an object or into blank space, ie daydreaming) and isn't paying attention to his/her surroundings. Based on the biblical figure Lot's wife, who turned into a pillar of salt after disobeying God's command by looking back at the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
• spaarbussie/spaarbus – lit. "save-bus". Refers to a piggy bank.
• space case – a small hard-plastic case that is used by students for storing personal stationery
• spietkop – lit. "speed cop". Refers to traffic police officers that control speed limits. It was popularized by comedian Leon Schuster, in the phrase: "Stop-stop, ek is 'n spietkop!"
• spookasem – lit. "ghost-breath". Refers to Cotton candy.
• spyker – lit. "a nail". Can also refer to rough sex, similar to "naai".
• steek – stab, poke (with a knife). "He/she steeked her/him" = "He/she poked her/him". Also see "naai" = Nick steeked me stukkend.
• stukkie, stekkie – a woman (from the Afrikaans meaning "a piece") – mostly used when referring to a woman that you have/have casual encounters with, girlfriend.
• stoep – porch, verandah, like American English stoop, but pronounced with a shorter vowel.
• stompie – a cigarette butt, a short person or impolite term to refer to the remaining arm/leg/finger after an amputation.
• stukkend – (Afrikaans) broken, a lot. Also commonly used when someone is hungover. For example, "I am so stukkend".
• suig 'n duik in my kop – lit. "sucking a dent in my skull". Refers to a very strong sucking sensation caused by a thick viscous drink when drinking it through a straw, especially a McDonald's milkshake, which is famous for the sensation.
• swak – broke. Original Afrikaans: weak. "I'm swak, ek sê". Also used to suggest that someone's behaviour was harsh (with varying degrees of seriousness, depending on tone and context), for example: "It's swak that I failed the test"
• sy naam is Kom Terug en sy van is Bloedbek/Bloedneus – lit. "its first name is Come Back, and it's last name is Bloody-mouth/nose/Or Else". A verbal warning given to a person who wants to borrow something.
• tata/ta ta/ta-ta - Is a goodbye greeting of British origin.
• tekkies – running shoes. (The Anglicised pronunciation tackies has become mainstream in South African English.) Sports shoes that are specifically designed for running and often used for comfort.
• tiet – English equivalent "boob" or "breast" (from "teat")
• tet – breast or boob
• tjor/tjorretjie – diminutive description of a car, especially one that's being admired: This is a nice tjorretjie you got here!.
• tjorts - refers to the sound droplets of liquid make, often referring to a very minimal amount of a liquid ingredient, similar to "kat spoegie".
• toppie, ou toppie – father – see ouballie
• tos – lit. to masturbate
• trek – to move or pull. (The word has become international with the meaning of "making a pioneering journey"; the slang usage more closely resembles the standard Afrikaans meaning.)
• tuinboi – term used to refer to a male gardener, usually a black gardener
• uitgekak van 'n kant af – lit. "to be shit on". Referring to a person who is extremely angry towards someone else with good reason, and shouting and swearing at them in order to get their point across: My baas het my uitgekak van 'n kant af oor my slegte houding. (My boss angrily moaned at me about my bad behavior.)
• Tande Tel – lit. "counting teeth". In Afrikaans tradition, the children don't join in the adults' conversations as they often don't understand the topic. As a result of this, children who listen in on conversations, which they have no business being in, are called-out for "tande tel", as the only thing they can do at that point is to count teeth. It's often considered rude to "tande tel" in an adult conversation.
• tannie – lit. "aunt/mother". Derived from the Dutch word "tante" (aunt), it refers to any older female authority figure. The female counterpart of "oom" (uncle). Though the original English meaning stays intact, the term has come to indicate a sign of tremendous respect towards a much older woman. Rules in using the term correctly are: The woman must be at least 10 or more years older than yourself, otherwise they might consider it offencive towards their age if they are young; Unless she is your real-life aunt, referring to a woman as "tannie" is purely permission-based, i.e. if she doesn't accept the term (and she'll tell you), then you should refrain from using it when addressing her.
• Taxi – To the rest of the world, it's a form of public transport. However, for South Africans, they are horrible death boxes that disobey almost all road laws, specifically a 'minibus taxi'. The most popular variant is the Toyota HiAce (1982-1989 generation and 2004 - present generation).
• tiekie/tie-kie/ticky – taken from the word "tiekieboks/ticky box", is the popular name of the now outdated streetside Payphone. Though ticky boxes are still in use, they have been largely replaced by cellphones. The ticky box takes its name from the limited time-period per call, based on the ticking of a timer.
• tok-tok-tokkie – refers to a woodpecker, with "tok-tok" being the sound the bird makes while pecking. Also refers to the woodpecker-style bird used in some cuckoo clocks.
• TVP (tiener velprobleem) – acne problems
• Uitkak – scolding
• vaalie – mildly derogatory term used by people on the coast for a tourist from inland (Root: Old Transvaal province)
• vark – lit. "pig". Identical meaning to the English word in all of its interpretations, i.e.: Pig, Pork (varkvleis), arsehole (vulgar).
• van die os op die wa af - lit. "from the ox off on the wagon off". Similar to "speaking of which" and "while we're on the subject"
• van toeka se dae af – lit. "since the olden days". Derived from the acronym "toeka", which is defined as the foundation of God's Word, which means it has been used since biblical times.
• vellies – veldskoene, traditional Afrikaans outdoors shoes made from hide
• verkramp – politically conservative or pessimistic, the opposite of verlig, or enlightened
• vetkoek – a deep-fried pastry that can either have a sweet filling of jam, honey, and syrup, or a savory filling of beef, chicken, pork, etc. Though the name literally translates as "fat cake", that name was already reserved by an English dessert, so in order to distinguish between the two very different dishes, vetkoek remains the universal name across all languages.
• voertsek, voetsek – get lost, buzz off, go away, run, scram, stuff off, bugger off (it can be considered rude, depending on the context) – usually used when referring to an animal. From the Dutch "vort, zeg ik" – used with animals, meaning "Go away!" or "Get moving". Voetsek is considered to be far more assertive than its English counterparts.
• voetjie-voetjie – lit. a game of footsie
• voël - lit. "bird". While the original meaning remains intact, it also refers to a penis (vulgar), due to "eiers" (eggs) being another nickname for testicles.
• voshaarnooi – lit. "a red-headed girl". Derived from the song of the same name, by Afrikaans singer Louis Van Rensburg, the song describes the beauty of a young fiery red-headed girl (voshare = red hair). The original Afrikaans term for a "red-head" is a rooikop.
• vrek – Afrikaans, meaning an animal dying. Possibly from Dutch verrekken to dislocate?
• vrot – bad, rotten, putrid, sometimes drunk
• vrotbek – someone who swears a lot or is swearing a lot at the moment, as well as someone with bad breath.
• vry – to make out or courting (equivalent to American "necking", British "snogging" or Australian "pashing")
• Vrystaat vernier – shifting spanner
• waai – Afrikaans for "wave hello/goodbye". Slang for "to go". Durbanites like to say "Hey, let's waai pozzy." = "Let's go home." Also refers to the blowing of wind.
• waar val jy uit die bus uit/van die bus af? - lit. "Where did you fall off the bus?". Is a question usually asked when the person you are talking to, wasn't paying attention to the topic changing when they joined the discussion, and as a result they usually interrupt the discussion with an off-topic question.
• Wat het dit te doen met die prys van eiers? – lit. "What does that have anything to do with the price of eggs?". Is a question that is asked when a new, often unrelated, topic, arises in a conversation whereby one person might question the new topic's relation to the current one.
• watookal – lit. "whatever"
• windgat – lit. "wind-arse". This is a man who is misbehaving yet manages to get away with it by utilizing a charming personality, even though he can gain an inflated ego from it. It can also refer to people who regularly drive faster than the speed limit.
• woes – wild, untidy, unkempt or irreverent. A general term pertaining to either a person, behaviour or situation.
• wys – multiple meanings – to insult (see tune) or to say e.g. "Yoh, John wys me after I told him to shut up!"
• yoh – an expression of surprise e.g., "Yoh, that was rude" "Yoh, you gave me a fright!", (Police-chief talking about the poor physique of his policemen) "They should look at our men and say "yoh!".
• ysterperd - "iron-horse", describes a motorcycle, specifically a Harley-Davidson-style "full-size" motorcycle. Is derived from the fact that a motorcycle, with all it's uses, is the modern day equivalent of a horse-and-rider.
• ystervarkie(s) – lit. "iron piglets". Also known by their English/Australian name "Lamingtons", these are small cubes of sponge cakes dipped in chocolate syrup and covered in desiccated coconut. It takes its Afrikaans name from the ystervark (Afrikaans for porcupine) due to its resemblance to the animal.
• zef – from the Ford Zephyr car, cheap to tune up; cool, rough guy; common person; kitsch, trashy
• zol – a homemade cigarette rolled with old newspaper or rizlas (likely marijuana-filled) joint (equivalent to American "doobie")

Words from Khoi San languages

• aitsa – is usually used when exclaiming agreement like you would when saying "sweet!", "nice!", "lekker!", and "got it!" .
• buchu – name applied to a range of medicinal plants.^[3]
• dagga – marijuana (has become a mainstream word in South African English) (from Khoe daxa-b for Leonotis plant)^[3]
• eina – exclamation of pain, as in ouch (from Khoekhoe exclamation of pain or surprise)^[3]
• gogga – bug (from Khoe xo-xo, creeping things, here the g is pronounced like ch in Scottish loch)^[3]
• kaross – garment made of animal skin (from Khoe meaning skin blanket)^[3]

Words from Xhosa, Zulu and the other Nguni Languages

The following lists slang borrowings from the Nguni Bantu languages (which include Zulu and Xhosa). They typically occur in use in South Africa's townships, but some have become increasingly popular amongst white youth. Unless otherwise noted these words do not occur in formal South African English.

• aikona! – a strong refusal/disagreement, meaning "No!"
• tjaila" – (pronounced: chai-la) "time to go home"
• cava – meaning "to see: (the c is pronounced as a dental click). It can be used meaning both "to see" or "to understand" as in "Did you cav that bird?" or as in "Do you cav what I am saying?"
• cocopan – small tip truck on rails used in mines (from Nguni nqukumbana, Scotch cart)^[3]
• donga – ditch of the type found in South African topography. From Zulu, "wall"; this has become a mainstream word for such a feature.
• eish! – an interjection expressing resignation
• fundi – expert (from Nguni 'umfundisi' meaning teacher or preacher) – used in mainstream South African English
• faka – to put (pronounced as fuh-guh) from the common Nguni word meaning the same thing -faka
• gogo – grandmother, elderly woman (from Zulu, ugogo)
• hawu! – expression of disbelief, surprise. Pronounced like English "how!". From the Zulu "hawu".
• hayibo! – wow! (from Zulu, 'definitely not')
• indaba – conference (from Zulu, 'a matter for discussion'); has become a mainstream word in South African English
• inyanga – traditional herbalist and healer (compare with sangoma)
• jova – injection, to inject (from Zulu)
• laduma! – a popular cheer at soccer matches, "he scores!" (literally: "it thunders", in Zulu)
• muti – medicine (from Zulu umuthi) – typically traditional African
• Mzansi – South Africa (uMzantsi in Xhosa means "south"), specifically refers to the south of Johannesburg.
• Nca – (pronounced "Ntj-ah") an expression of appreciation or admiration, similar to "nice"
• sangoma – traditional healer or diviner
• shongololo (also spelt shongalolo) – millipede (from Zulu and Xhosa, ukushonga, 'to roll up')
• spaza – an informal trading-post/convenience store found in townships and remote areas (also a term referring to something cheap and nasty – i.e. of poor quality)
• tokoloshe – a dwarf-like water sprite, taken from tokoloshe.
• toyi-toyi – (more commonly spelt toi-toi) protest-dancing; used in mainstream South African English
• tsotsi – gangster, layabout, no gooder
• ubuntu – compassion or kindness, humanity
• Vuvuzela – a traditional horn made from the hollowed-out horns of a Kudu bull. It produces a monotonous tone and is often used as a summonings. A modernized version is made from plastic and more closely resembles a straight trumpet. The modern version is commonly used by the audience at Soccer games, though usage of it has been highly frowned upon and in some cases banned because of noise-regulations, due to its incredibly loud blaring monotonous tone.
• yebo – Zulu meaning yes
• wena – Zulu meaning "you". Commonly used in a sentence "Haw wena!"

Words from Portuguese

• a luta continua! – a rallying cry used during the anti-Apartheid struggle (and the independence wars in Angola and Mozambique). [Port. for "the struggle continues".]
• caldo verde – traditional Portuguese kale soup with chouriço (Portuguese pork sausage).
• catemba – a drink made by mixing red wine and a soft drink, usually cola.
• chouriço – traditional Portuguese pork sausage.
• espetada – a typical Portuguese dish made usually of large chunks of beef rubbed in salt, skewered onto a bay leaf stick.
• jerepigo – a usually red heavy dessert wine. [from Port. "geropiga".]
• mielies or mealies – maize. [from Port. "milho".]
• padece – derogatory word for Afrikaners used by South African-Portuguese.
• padrão – a large stone cross inscribed with the coat of arms of Portugal that was placed as part of a land claim by numerous Portuguese maritime explorers in South Africa and elsewhere.
• peri-peri – chili pepper. [from Port. "piri-piri".]
• pikinini – a child [from Port. "pequenino".]
• prego roll – steak sandwich made with piri-piri (chili) sauce and served on a Portuguese roll. [from Port. "prego".]
• trinchado – a popular spicy meat dish of Angolan and Mozambican origin.

Original South African English coinages

• aswell – means "me too" when pronounced with over-emphasis on the "as"
• boykie or boytjie – meaning a young white male who is cool in the high-school stereotype kind of way. Sporty and tanned, uses a lot of slang. From English "boy" and the Afrikaans "-tjie" meaning little.
• boi/boy –f a young black man or a young male of any ethnicity, depending on context
• baff – Fart
• boney – motorcycle
• bra – male friend (shortening of brother, see also bru above)
• canyon crab – derogatory term for Afrikaner^[4]
• chase – leave, go; analogous to "blow" or "duck", as in "Bru, let's chase."; "This place is dof; I'm gonna chase, boet."
• cherps or chips – "Watch out" or "Move out the way", as in "Chips chips everyone, here comes the teacher!" (distinct from the food or snack). Also often used when something gets thrown, or to ask someone to step out the way. Compare "heads up!".
• chop – idiot
• chot – a very offensive term for a sexually active female
• clutchplate – derogatory term for Afrikaner^[4]
• connection – a friend, mate, chommie
• cozzie – a swimsuit, short for swimming costume^[5]
• crunchie – derogatory term for Afrikaner^[4][5]
• diss – to intentionally disregard somebody else.. That oke is totally dissing me
• dof – stupid. "Are you dof?"
• dop – Drink or to drink, primarily when talking about alcohol, from the Afrikaans "dop" (shell, referring to a small glass for alcohol).
• 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)
• give rocks – to be indifferent. For example: I give rocks about your concerns! (I couldn't care about your concerns!) Can also be abbreviated to "Give rocks.", and the negative version "I don't give rocks" means exactly the same thing.
• giyn – a homosexual male
• graze – a term used in reference to food. "I'm starving, let's go get some graze."
• higher grade – a bit too complicated (from the South African matric division of exams into standard grade and higher grade. The system of dividing subjects into higher and standard grade has become non-existent as of 2008.)
• hundreds – good, fine. (As in 100 percent; for example: John: "Hey bru, howzit going?" Dominic: "I'm hundreds boet.")
• jukka – a lazy person or a loser
• just now, sometime in the near future or the near past, not necessarily immediately. Expresses an intention to act soon, but not necessarily immediately, or expresses something that happened in the near past. Probably from the Afikaans netnou with the same meaning.
• now now – an immediate but not literal declaration of impending action, may be past or future tense. From the Afrikaans expression "nou nou".
• Dutchman – derogatory term for Afrikaner^[4]
• isit – (pronounced: \izit\) the words "is" and "it" put together. Short term for "Is that so?" (For example: John: "Bra, I just found out I have a million dollars!" Charles: "Isit?"; or: John: "Bru, you would not believe how amazing it felt to footskate in front of all those people." Charles: "Isit?") Also, it can mean "really?"
• lift – elevator
• location – a Bantu township
• naai – derogatory for having sex with a girl ("Last night she gave me a lekker naai"), British English 'fuck', or from the Afrikaans "naai" (same meaning, from the Afrikaans term for "to sew", from the movement of the needle on a sewing machine)
• nca – meaning something is nice (the nc is a nasalised dental click)
• packet or "checkers"– a plastic bag
• penalty – refers to someone tripping (usually shouted if someone almost trips)
• pull through – come or arrive, especially to a place/event that is amenable: "We're having a great jol here, boet. You should pull through."
• robot – traffic-light^[5]
• rockspider – derogatory term for Afrikaner^[4]
• rop – nice, radical. (e.g. "That was such a rop wave.") Also used as a verb meaning 'to steal'. (e.g. "I will rop you of that kief watch.")
• traffic circle – roundabout (road)
• scheme – to think that (e.g. "I scheme we should go home now"; usage evolved from the hyperbole "What are you scheming?" asked of a person deep in thought.)
• siff – if something is gross or disgusting or ugly. "Did you see her oufit? It was totally siff!"
• slops – flip-flops
• speak goat – derogatory term for speaking Afrikaans
• soapie – a soap opera
• swak – see "swat". From the Afrikaans for "weak"
• swat – carrying out an action resulting in an undesirable or negative outcome; "when you chaffed my cherrie the other day, it was swat oke. Totally swat"; "Moderating a list of slang words is impossible and totally swat oke"; "Changing this word to swak would be totally swat oke".
• Skommel(draadtrek) – to masturbate, from Afrikaans
• takkies – sports shoes
• tickey – Thruppence or 3 pennies, e.g. "You could get a tickey for returning a coke bottle and three tickeys would buy you an eskimo pie". Dated, tickey-box is more recently used.
• tune – to give someone lip ("Are you tuning me?")
• voetsek – impolite way to say "go away", commonly used with animals or as derogatory term. (from Dutch voort seg ik via Afrikaans)
• saamie/saarmie – a sandwich^[5]
• zamalek – Black Label Lager, locally brewed under licence (derived from the Egyptian football team of the same name because of the team colours) A very popular local beer because of the high alcohol content.

Slang originating from other countries

The following slang words used in South African originated in other parts of the Commonwealth of Nations and subsequently came to South Africa.

• bill – used to ask for the check; as in: "Can I have the bill, please?", identical to British English.
• bint – a girl, from Arabic بِنْت. Usually seen as derogatory.
• buck – the main unit of currency: in South Africa the rand
• china – friend, mate (from Cockney rhyming slang china [plate] = "mate"), alternatively, as above coming from the Bantu word umshana
• chow – to eat
• coaster – a state of affairs that surpasses cool
• Kaffir – 1790, from Arabic "kāfir" كَافِر, literally "one who does not admit the blessings of God", from kafara كَفَرَ "to cover up, conceal, deny". Non Believer. In a purely religious sense would refer to an atheist not believing in any creator or creative-force, but in Ottoman times it came to refer almost exclusively to "Christians". Used as a term of disdain referring to Dutch Colonists in Indonesia/Malaysia. Carried to the Cape of Good Hope by Dutch colonists who consequently used it to refer contemptously to the native population. Early English missionaries adopted it as an equivalent of "heathen" to refer to Bantus in South Africa (1792), from which use it came generally to mean "South African black" regardless of ethnicity, and became a term of abuse at least as early as 1934. [racial slur for] a black person (Usage now actionable on account of historical ties to apartheid and incitement to racial hatred.)
• pom – name for an English person originating from England
• shab short for shebeen. In common usage.
• shebeen – illegal drinking-establishment (from Irish sibín), synonymous with speakeasy. In South Africa it refers in particular to unlicensed bars in the townships, and has become a mainstream word. During the apartheid era laws prohibited non-whites from consuming any alcohol except traditional sorghum beer, and taverns selling 'hard-tack' became the centre of social activity.
• tom – money or cash, as in "I must earn some tom". From Cockney rhyming slang where "tom" comes from "tomfoolery" ("jewellery")
• whenwe – a nostalgic white migrant from other parts of Africa, especially Zimbabwe: "when we were in Rhodesia..."

Slang terms originating from ethnic minorities

South African Coloured Slang

The majority of Coloureds in South Africa speak Afrikaans. Those who speak English use the equivalent English words as slang.

• AAP – Girl/ Girlfriend
• Aapedill – Girl/Girlfriend
• Awe – "Howsit", "hello". A slang way of greeting someone
• befok – "mad"; also possibly "super cool", as in My broe daai kar is befok. Pronounced \ber fork\.
• betters – "To replenish" or "refill". Example: Ekse lets make a betters with the mineral
• boss – "nice" – "that girl is boss, ek sê"
• boppin – "Very Good", example: "awe ekse my brah, howzit your side?"; in reply: "nei, eks (i am) boppin brah"
• bot – refer to gaam usually associated with a person, act or object that is either dodgy or gangster-like. (Originated from Afrikaans slang bot.)
• bushie – derogatory term for a "Coloured" person. Derived from the word bushman. Bushman are predominantly light in complexion.
• guy – similar to the American English word "dude"
• bok – girlfriend
• bolt/one out – used extensively in KZN. Means "by yourself" or "only one".
• chop – "stupid" or "pathetic" – "don't be such a chop (idiot)"
• chup – "tattoo" – "cool chup exse"
• chow – "eat" or food
• chuck – "leave". Equivalent of American "to bounce". Examples: "Come bru lets chuck" or "sorry can't go to the braai i gotta chuck." If you are funny you might say, "boet, I have to make like Norris and Chuck."
• crown/kroon – "money"; can also refer to virginity.
• dobbel – "gamble"
• dasifouti – no Problem, lit("there is no fault")
• duidelik – direct from Afrikaans, meaning "clear"; used to express clarity on something or excitement about something.
• eksê – from Afrikaans, translated it means "I say". Used in greeting i.e. "Whakind eksê" or in general speech.
• gaam – dodgy/gangster i.e. That person is gaam. (He is a gangster.)That place is gaam. (it is dodgy.)
• gam – derogatory term for Coloured Coloured people in South Africa. Derived from "Gham" or "Ham" referring to Ham in the Old Testament. It is a reference to the children of Noah's son Ham who were illegitimate and cursed into slavery by God.^[6][7]
• gammie – diminutive of 'Gam', derogatory term for coloured people in South Africa, particularly in Cape Town.
• gatsby – large chip roll with meat and lekker sauces (Cape Town)
• gully – "area" or "corner" (KZN)
• hard up – "in love"
• Hosh – "Hello"; also used before combat. Example in combat: Hosh, jy raak wys ("Hello, show me what you made of"). This gang-related word occurs inside as well as outside of prison: use at own discretion.
• jas – "horny". The first form occurs in Cape Town; the second predominates on the east coast of South Africa. May also mean "crazy" or "mad". Examples: Person A: I want to get robbed Person B: Are you jas? or Person A: Ek wil my werk verloor Person B: Is jy jas?.
• lekker/lukka – "nice" [from Afrikaans]. The first form occurs more commonly; the second predominates in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
• lappie(pronounced *luppee*) – "cloth", "dish towel" "face cloth"
• maader – "the best", "excellent"
• meet up – Used in the Kwa-Zulu Natal region, a term usually used when saying "goodbye". For example: Lukka meet up ekse.
• miff – "gross", "disgusting". "That's completely miff!" "Oh my god it was so miff"
• min – to be very interested or excited in something, or for something. For example, "so min for that jol" or "when you're min you win"
• mineral – pronounced 'min ral'; used by Indians as well. "Fizzy drink" such as Coke, Fanta, Sprite, etc. (KZN)
• motjie – wife/woman
• naai – "sex" (Western Cape) Also used as a noun "Jou ou naai" (literally "You screw") and used in the plural: "naaie" (literally more than one "screw"), meaning an undesirable person rather than the sexual act. Definitely not polite language.
• oweh – pronounced \ow where\, a way of saying "oh yes" or expressing delight.
• posie/pozzie – "home". Afrikaans-speakers tend to use the first for; English-speakers the second.
• press – "sex", as in: "I want to press my young one tonight" (KZN)
• shot – "good" or "correct" or "thanks" (depending on context). Example for the meaning "good" – Person A: What is 3+3? Person B: six Person A: shot. Example for the meaning "thanks": – Person: A I have bought you a sweet Person B: Shot.
• sunno – initially an insult, but now used amongst friends as a greeting, as in: Whakind son
• Stukkie – "girl" or possibly "girlfriend"
• Tannie – "aunt", used by Afrikaans-speakers
• Taah-nie" – "Mother", used by some Cape Townians
• tops – "excellent", "the best"
• Toppie – "old man", used by Afrikaans-speakers, can also mean 'dad', ex: 'My friend recently became a Toppie'
• Whakind – a greeting, usually used amongst guys only, and frowned upon when used in greeting women. This word can also express an enquiry about something, especially when used outside the Kwa-Zulu Natal region.
• What say/What you say/Wat sê jy – alternative for Whakind in the greeting-sense. English-speakers use the first and second forms; Afrikaans-speakers the third.
• Young one – Refer to "Stekkie"
• Skommel – masturbate
• onetime – of course, without delay; often used as a positive reply to a question
• operate – lets perform or to have sex
• ou – a boy/man/guy, homo sapiens
  • Charr Ou/Charou/charo – Charr is from charring from the sun like charcoal(burnt wood) derogatory word for a dark Indian person
  • Bruin Ou – a Coloured person – mixed race
  • Wit(pronounced as vit) Ou – a White person
  • Correct Ou – a good guy
  • Gorra Ou – a White person (insulting usage)
  • Darkie ou/ darky ou – an African/black person
  • Pekkie Ou – a Black African person (derogatory; from the Zulu word for "cook")
  • Slum Ou – a Muslim person (derived from the words Islam/Muslim)
  • Exploding Ou – a Muslim person (insulting usage)
• boss – a salute to an unfamiliar person, or person in authority (usually to a male), as in 'you know what it is boss'.
• bra – a way of addressing a friend, as in 'Howzit my bra'. 'bra' derived from 'brother'
• bung – (from Afrikaans 'bang' — to be scared) to be afraid of someone.
• condai – bus conductor.
• graft – meaning work... "hey kazzie, im grafting at coconut grove, lakkaz ekse"
• kêrel – police man / boyfiend
• hit a luck – expression, to have met with good fortune. as in, 'hey my bru hit a luck, eee got graft at the Casino'. Also often noted in the form hit such a luck.
• choon/tune – to tell someone something.
• clips – Money, 1 clip = R100
• laanie – From the Afrikaans word meaning "fancy", but used by Indian people to mean "smart guy" ("Smart" as in "well-to-do") or, more frequently, "boss". Compare larnie.
• lakkaz – meaning lekker from the Afrikaans language.
• late – A euphemism for dead/deceased; as in 'My daddy is 2 years late'. (Unconnected with the idea of tardiness.)
• lets waai – lets go; (waai pronounced as vuy same like buy) (From Afrikaans, "kom ons waai") Used mostly by Durban Indians.
• maader – excellent, very good (used especially by Durban Indians)
• min-rill – from the English word "mineral", meaning mineral water; taken to mean any fizzy drink in a bottle, normally Coke, Fanta, etc.
• plot – pursue romantically, courting
• poke – stab
• pozzy – house or home; place where one lives or hangs out.
• perrie – paranoid; "He is moerse perrie"
• pehrer – a fight. (Often heard as "Who's gunning a pehrer?" meaning "Who's looking for a fight?")
• slaan – wear (as in clothes), ex "He is ge(prefix) slat(slaan) clothingwise"; meaning "He's dressed well"
• Vrou – my wife, as in 'Ek sê, I must first ask my Vrou'; from the Afrikaans word for 'wife"/"woman".
• vying – going, as in we vying to the soccer
• vriete – "food" from the Afrikaans word "Vreet" – "to eat like an animal". Used as a noun, ex: He must kyk(look) sy(his) eie(own) vriete(food) translated: He must find his own food
• dite – food(noun), ex: "i smaak(like to) a dite(food) kry(to get)"
• dite – food(verb), ex: "ek(i) gaan(to go) eers (firstly) dite(to eat)"
• speech – an argument
• stekie – girl/girlfriend
• swaai – to dance. (For example: "Lets vaai (go) swaai.")
• swak – bad, example: "
• what kind – Greeting, similar to Howzit
• what what – mostly used in arguments, meaning "this and that". Often heard as what you say what what
• spiet – to fight
• slow boat – Splif/joint – normally related to marajuana
• para/pareh – to fight/argument
• pulling moves – related to doing some sort of crime or fraud
• 100's / hundreds – relating to being ok, for example: "I am hundreds today after last night's jol"
• bust up – big party involving lots of drugs and booze
• pull in – literally means to invite; example: "Pull in to my pozzy tonight, gona have a bust up"
• benou – (pronounce BER-NOW) – marijuana or dagga. Commonly used by Indians in Gauteng. "no benou there?"-do you have any dagga?
• koex – drink ("what you koexing?" – what are you drinking?)
• sharp – goodbye, ("shap im out" – goodbye I'm leaving)
• aspriss (pron. arse-priss) – to intentionally do something ("I closed the door on him aspriss")
• gusheshe – BMW 325is
• g-string – BMW 3 Series E46 models. This car was believed to be a "woman getter" for any man driving it and therefore it was said to be a "g-string dropper".
• arrawise – greeting, derived from the English word 'otherwise' ("arrawise bra watse?")
• Wyfie – woman
• Salut – Hello, hi, as in a greeting, or "dis (it's) salut (good) my brah (friend/brother)"
• Ben 10 – someone dating a woman who is 1–10 years older than him or a young male partner of a cougar
• Blesser – This is a high level sugar daddy, but with a lot more money. He's filthy rich, and can set a lady up with clothing accounts, overseas holidays and sometimes even a car in exchange for sex benefits. The lady is expected to be readily available at all times when the Blesser needs her.
• Blessee – a lady who dates a Blesser

South African Portuguese slang

• maburro – slang for a white Afrikaans person, usually derogatory but sometimes used affectionately depending on context.
• padece – slang for a white Afrikaans person, usually derogatory but sometimes used affectionately depending on context.
• eh pá – a cry of exclamation. ("hey man!")

South African Indian slang

Many of these terms occur in the Cape Town and Durban areas, and few in Indian areas in Gauteng. Some words are shared with Coloured slang, such as pozzie (in Durban) and let's waai.

• an' all – (from 'and all'; like the English 'et cetera, et cetera').
• aks – mispronounced ask...
• boarded-off – declared medically unfit to work, and in receipt of a disability pension, As in: 'My daddy was so lucky to have been BOARDED OFF by the corporation'
• bring and come – an expression normally denoting some type of unspecified invitation to come and perform a particular task at a given location, i.e. 'I told dat TV repair balie to Bring and Come and fix da TV'
• bunny chow – type of food, made with a loaf of bread filled with a curry stew.
• cake – idiot
• cameway – to go with someone, like come with me. Used in Durban.
• Charo – a person of Indian origin. From the word "curry" (or tea).
• coat – meaning "quote", mis-pronounced, with a completely inaudible KW sound. as in Hey, can you give me a coat to fix my car?
• cover – an insurance policy; as in: Hey laanie, can you organise me a cover for my grannie?
• eeuww man! – an informal way of greeting. The South African Indian equivalent of "Hey dude!"
• filim. – mispronounced film
• guzzie – friend (from the Zulu guz'lam)
• Jaaver – an Afrikaner person
• kassam – serious, not joking. From Islamic meaning "oath".
• mooing – to flirt. From the Afrikaans word mooi meaning "nice"/"pretty".
• nana – grandfather (Not a slang words, but a Hindi and Urdu word meaning maternal grandfather)
• ou – person
  • Roti Ou / Bread Ou Hindi person
  • Wit Ou – a White person
• paining – having pain
• pano – money, from the Tamil word for "money". Commonly used by all South African Indian linguistic groups as a euphemism for money (Not Slang)
• patla, flouie – usually refers to poor (unfunny) jokes. Patla can also refer to any kind of damp squib. Patla Patla often refers obliquely to having sex; imitating the sound of two bodies meeting.
• potter-marie – means a dumbass (Hindu language roots)
• right – an affirmation, mostly used while giving traffic directions, as in "Go straight, Right. Turn Left, Right."
• sheila – an ugly woman
• slaat – action like hit. For example: Don't choon me what what an' all, I slaat you one time laanie.
• this thing/"dis ting" – watchamacallit
• toppie – an older male authority-figure. Often used by Indians but also by working-class whites. From an Indian word for "hat".
• tannie – female version of toppie, from the Afrikaans word for "Aunty".
• tum-blahh – from the English word "tumbler", meaning a heavy glass. As in: 'hey boy, run and get a Tum-blah for the larnie to have some Min-rill'

South African Jewish slang

• chattis, khateis (plural chatteisim, khateisim. Yiddish: "a sinner"): approximately equivalent to "white trash". The word refers particularly to poor, white, Afrikaans-speaking communities with endemic social problems. Sometimes used as an ethnic slur against Afrikaners in general. From Talmudic phrase Eyn bor yerey khet – a bor – (uncouth ignoramus) is not afraid of sin. The bor-Boer assonance gives a case for quibble: if not afraid of sin must be therefore a sinner.^[8]
• kugel: an overly groomed, materialistic woman (from the Yiddish word for a plain pudding garnished as a delicacy). Older-generation Jews coined this usage as a derogatory label for Jewish women who aspired to become part of the privileged English-speaking white community. Current usage, often humorously intended, applies the word to any nouveau riche women in South African society who appear overly groomed and materialistic. Bagel and bagel-boy occur as labels for the male counterpart of the kugel. (Compare the American-English term Jewish-American princess which has subtly differing connotations.)
• Peruvian / Peruvnik: a low-class, unmannered and unsophisticated person regardless of wealth, usually Jewish. The etymology is unclear. (Theories: (a) Yiddish corruption of Parvenu; (b) derives from an acronym for "Polish and Russian Union", supposedly a Jewish club founded in Kimberley in the 1870s, according to Bradford's Dictionary of South African English. ) The more assimilated and established Jews from Germany and England looked down on this group, and their descendants remain stigmatised.
• Schwarzer: Yiddish / German for "black" – a black person
• shiksa: as in other Jewish communities, this means "non-Jewish girl". Traditionally "slave-girl", from the Yiddish version of the Hebrew word for "dirty, unclean, loathsome"^[9] In South Africa, however, it has the additional meaning of a "female domestic worker".
• weisser: Yiddish for "white" – a white person

South African Lebanese slang

• bint : from the Lebanese word for "girl"; used in reference to women in general (as in "check out that hot bint over there.")
• drib : from the Lebanese word for "hit" (as in "hey ghey ... if you don't stop talking gara, I may have to drib you!")
• gara : from the Lebanese word for "faeces" or "dung"; refers to something that is crap (as in "that guy is talking gara!")
• ghey : literally translated from the Lebanese word for "brother"; in colloquial South African refers to "a tinted-windows, lots-of-jewellery" kinda guy (pronounced like "gay" but with a /x/, like a guttural "g" or the "ch" in Scottish loch)
• stiffle : so what: "if you don't like it stiffle!"
• uhbed : from the Arabic word for "slave" (Arabic: عبد) – a black person

Special-use slang

Kasi / township slang

• 411 – giving someone the latest news and gossip.
• 5 Tiger – R50 note
• 2 Bob – 20-cent coin
• 21 (two six) – lies or lying.
• 150 – Ladysmith/Emnambithi (KZN)
• 69 (Six nine) – It is to pee.
• 9 (nine) – Girlfriend as in a love relationship.
• 45 (Four Five) – Penis.
• 6 no 9 – "same difference". Like "potato, potatoe".
• 99 (nine nine)' – "for real".
• ayoba – Expression of excitement
• bokgata or Bo 4 – "the police"
• cake/ikuku – Vagina
• choc – R20 note
• chommie – More likely to be used by young girls than guys, the word refers to a friend. A music artist goes by this name.
• clipper' – R100 note
• doing a bafana – demanding more smeka (money) for being mediocre
• doing a benni – [Origin: the saying comes from the formerly much-lauded Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy's "uncharitable habit of turning his back on his country"^[10] following many instances of failing to turn up to play for South Africa's national football squad.] Meaning "showing disloyalty / being irresponsible".
• eish – [compare Bantu usage above] (pronounced like /aysh/ but also, less often, as /ish/) – Used to express everything ranging from frustration to surprise to disapproval, but also just everyday acknowledgement of things you can't change like "Eish, the traffic is bad today". Heard frequently each and every day! Also used to indicate displeasure. For example: 'At the time I was the only black guy and I used to ask myself "Eish , what am I doing here?"'
• fong kong – cheap and fake products that one can buy from vendors on the streets. .
• Tiger (from the word Jacket) – R10 note
• juish (pronounced /Joowish/) – refers to nice and flashy clothes that someone has on.
• kwaito – popular genre of music, a mixture of South African disco, hip hop, R&B, ragga, and a heavy dose of house-music beats.
• moegoe – a fool, idiot or simpleton. For example: "moegoe of the week". Related to the Nigerian term 'mugu', fool, fraud victim.
• mzansi – [from the isiXhosa words, Mzantsi Afrika] .) A common term which means South Africa. [Mzansi] List of colloquial South African place names first published in Y magazine.
• Pinkies – R50 note, because of its colour
• pulling a jabu pule – performing a disappearing act. For example: "Are you pulling a Jabu Pule on me?" (Are you performing a disappearing act on me?); or: "I will never pull a Jabu Pule on you" (I will never disappear or go awol).
• roogie – R50 note
• Ova – To talk
• skoon – Kaal voël steek (without a condom). Generally unprotected sex
• starter pack – (Origins: Terminology first used by mobile-phone companies but quickly adapted by car thieves and car hijackers.) Refers to entry-level cars , especially vehicle-makes occurring commonly on the road and therefore less easy to spot as stolen. Thieves can "chop up" the parts at an illegal "chop shop" and used them for repairs on more expensive vehicles.
• Stene( from the Afrikaans word for brick) – A stack of money amounting to R1000
• umlungu – white South African or the Boss (Bass) of the company; isiXhosa word for the white foam that is left on the beach sand, once a wave has retreated back into the sea. (foam is for unprofitable use).
• vinegar – [Origin: Port Elizabeth] Denoting insecurity; especially used of people who behave nastily to others because of their own complexes. "He's full of vinegar" – meaning he's got so many chips on his shoulder.
• yebo – a Zulu word which means "yes".
• Z3 – refers to HIV and AIDS, because of its speed. This is a reference to the BMW Z3.
• Coconut – Referring to an African black person who is dualistic in their nature. Black on the outside and White on the inside. (derogatory term used amongst city dwelling Black South Africans).

Gay slang also called 'gayle'

Entrance to "Beaulah Bar" and "Progressive Edge" gym (both upstairs), Somerset Road (between Cobern and Napier Streets), De Waterkant, Cape Town.Beaulah Bar takes its name from the local gay slang word for "beautiful"

Slang developed in the 1970s to allow the speakers to converse in public without drawing attention – usually referring to girls' names often with the first letter in common with the intended meaning:^[11]

• abigail – abortion
• ada – backside
• agatha – a gossip
• aida – AIDS
• amanda – amazing
• annie – anus
• barbara – straight man
• belinda – blind
• bella – to hit or slap "I will bella you if you don't stop staring at that beulah."
• bertha – hilda's big sister (really, really ugly), after Big Bertha, the giant cannon
• beulah – beautiful, usually referring to good looking man
• cilla – cigarette
• betty bangles – policeman
• carol – cry
• chlora – coloured person
• connie – come
• cora – common
• diana – disgusting or dead
• dora – a drink; drunk
• elsie geselsie – chatterbox
• erica – erection
• esterjie – ecstasy
• ethel – old person
• fiona – you can guess
• frieda – sexually frustrated
• fuella – furious
• gail – chat
• gayle – the name for this slang
• gonda – a vagina
• grazelda – extremely ugly
• harriet – hairy man
• hilda – ugly (or horrible), usually referring to a not-so good looking guy
• iona – Indian
• jenny – masturbate
• jessica – jealous
• julia – jewellery
• lana – penis (from alliteration Lana Lunch)
• laura – lover
• lettie – lesbian
• lisa – male model
• lulu – laugh
• marie – mad
• marjorie – margarine
• mary – obvious homosexual
• mathilda – migraine
• maureen – murder
• mavis – effeminate queen
• mildred – mentally deranged
• milly – crazy (mad) – milder than mildred
• mitzi – small
• monica – money
• nancy – no
• natalie – native person
• nelly – neurotic
• nora – stupid or naive
• olga – old and ugly
• pandora – inquisitive queen
• patsy – dance, party
• polly – Portuguese homosexual
• priscilla – policeman
• reeva – revolting
• rita – rent boy
• sally – suck
• sheila – shit (action or insult)
• stella – steal
• trudy – someone that's beyond help
• ursula – understand/understanding
• vast – very ("She's vast nora, my dear!")
• vera – vomit
• wendy – white (caucasian)
• lodge – house
• pram – car

See also

• List of lexical differences in South African English
• List of colloquial South African place names
• South African English

Example

	South African English An example of South African English regionalisms/slang (second language speaker)
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Jinne man, just put on your tekkies and your costume, don't be dof! We're going to walk to the beach and then go for a goof, if you want to come with you better wikkel china. Ag nee, I stepped on a shongololo, I just bought new tekkies the other day! You know what, lets just forget about the beach and have braai instead, all we need is some meat, mealiepap, some cool drinks, maybe a brinjal and some other veggies. And if someone can bring some biscuits for a banofi pie that would be great. Hey bru, it's lekker day today for a jol ek sê! I'm warning you my dad won't tolerate any gesuipery, he'll klap you stukkend! Is it? Ja, he's kwaai! He was tuning me just now from his bakkie my bokkie is a soutie and a rooinek. Eish! Well at least he's duidelik.

References

1. The Oxford English Dictionary notes the special usage of the word "bioscope" in South Africa
2. Kromhout, Jan (2001). Afrikaans–English, English–Afrikaans dictionary. New York, N.Y.: Hippocrene Books. p. 67. ISBN 9780781808460. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
3. Branford, J. & Branford, W. 1991 A Dictionary of South African English
4. "Woordebook". Roekeloos. QVRP. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
5. Jean Branford (1980). A Dictionary of South African English. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-570177-1. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
6. Mellet, Patrick. "What is meant by the term 'GHAM' when directed at 'Coloured' people". Retrieved 9 February 2012.
7. Wicomb, Zoë (1998). "Shame and identity; the case of the coloured in South Africa". In Derek Attridge, Rosemary Jane Jolly. Writing South Africa: literature, apartheid, and democracy 1970–1995. Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780521597685.
8. Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All of Its moods by Michael Wex p.88 ISBN 978-0-312-30741-7
9. Compare "Semitic roots" in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
10. "Benni and the boot". The Sowetan. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2008. Only 31.55% of the SMS poll respondents said McCarthy should not be booted out for doing the Benni, his uncharitable habit of turning his back on his country.
11. http://www.health24.com/experts/archive/default.asp?postid=1339278

External links

• SA English is lekker, bru!, southafrica.info
• South African slang, virtualtourist.com
• African surfing slang
• South African Slang words, newfusion.co.za