South Africa Local Phrases

While English is widely spoken, learning a few South Africa local phrases will help you get by on your South African travels.

Even English-speaking South Africans have words that are only used in South Africa: A traffic light is known locally as a "robot" and a barbecue is called by the Afrikaans word "braai".  If something is really nice the Afrikaans word "lekker" is used, usually pronounced as "lekka". A common greeting is "Howzit?" and if something is going to be done fairly soon, it'll be done "now now" while "just now" is a little later on.

Another word often used in South Africa is "shame" which can mean anything from "oh cute' - usually said "ag shame", to "you poor thing" to "I feel sorry for you".

An elevator is called a "lift" and  "sms" are used instead of a "text"

 An ethnic word being used by many and really great to say is "eish", it means lots of things usually when you would like to say "oh no...." or "goodness me" or something to that effect. "eish but the traffic is bad today"!

A flash light is known as a torch, your best friend is refferred to as your brah, or broe,( pronounced brew ).A good meal is known as a "lekka chow."

Afrikaans

• Yes - Ja   pronounced  Yah
• No - Nee   pronounced  kneer
• Thank you - Dankie  pronounced dunkey
• Please - Asseblief   pronounced asserbleef
• Goodbye – Totsiens  pronounced  totseens

Zulu

• Hamba Kahle - go well, good bye; see you ( Kahle is pronounced kashle)
• Sawubona - Hello
• Ukudla - food
• Isiphuzo - drink
• thenga - buy
• thank - bonga

Slang

AG: An exclamation of irritation

BILTONG: Dried meat

BOER: Farmer

BOEREWORS: The traditional sausage

BOTTLE STORE: A retail outlet selling liquor

BUNDU: Wild remote country

BUSHVELD: Lowveld, usually Mpumalanga or northern Province

CAPE DOCTOR: A South East wind - Cape Region

CAPE DUTCH: Architecture of the early Western cape

EGOLI: A common name for Johannessburg

FUNDI: Expert

GOGGA: An insect

HAMBA KAHLE: Farewell or goodbye

HOEZIT: A greeting

KOPPIE: A small hill

LEKKER: Pleasant

MEALIE: Maize-mealie pap when cooked

MUTI: African medicine

ROOIBOS: A herbal tea

SAFARI: A long distance journey

SAMOOSA: A triangular Indian curried delicacy

SANGOMA: A witchdoctor

SAWUBONA: Hello-a universal South African greeting

SIS: An exclamation of disgust

SPOOR: The track or footprint of man or animal

STOEP: The verandah of a house

TOY! TOY!: A militant dance

TSOTSI: A criminal gang member

VELD: South African countryside