southafricaslang

South African Slang
related: language, slang, south africa, afrikaans flickrgroup: [|Ecotourism Africa] slideshare: [|South Africa Slang] (5,000+ views) editing: [|South Africa]

Here we translate **South African English** and a bit of Afrikaans to American English and Spanish.

Howzit, my China! Don't check me skeef

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Ag Shame - I feel sorry for you (often sarcastically used); also: how sweet! (e.g. in reference to a child, or a young animal) - Lo siento por ti (usado frequentamente con sarcasmo) Arvie - Afternoon - Tarde Avo - Avocado - Aguacate Ayoba - Great/awesome (especially 'lekker' in a South African way) Bafana Bafana - South Africa national football team (literally: the boys) - Equipo de futbol sudafricano (literalmente: los jovenes / los muchachos) Biltong - Beef jerky - Carne seca Bliksem - To beat someone up as in 'I will bliksem you' - Golpear Bobotie - Local food consisting of spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping - Comida local con carne horneada Boep - A protruding or distended belly: see beer boep - Panzon Bok - Keen, willing; also 'darling' (as in 'My bok.' Diminutive - 'My bokkie') - Listo, capaz Bokke - the Springboks (the South African national Rugby Team: always spelled with capital R & T!) Braai - Barbecue - Parrillada Braaivleis Brinjal - Eggplant Bru (or brah) - Mate, buddy - Cuate Buskers - street performers Cafe - convenience store (don't expect a hot cup of coffee here) - La tiendita de la esquina Catch a tan - Get a suntan - Broncear Catch a wake-up - get with the programme Cool-cool - fine, good Crash - to sleep (Can I crash at your pozzie tonight. bru?) Donner - To beat up - Madrear Dop - a drink (alcoholic drink) - Un tragito Dorp - Town/village = Pueblo Enkosi - Thank You ([|Xhosa]) Graze - To eat - Comer Hola - what's up, cool, thanks Hol rug gery - literally 'hollow back ridden' - when an issue has been overworked, or something has been done to death (as in - when a horse's back has become hollowed from being ridden too often). That Lady Gaga song? Hol rug gery. Howzit - Hello - Hola I'm burning - ? Indaba - Gathering - Encuentro Izit - Is that so? = De veras? = No me digas Ja-nee - Yes, no - Yes, I understand you/hear you, and no (often used as a vague confirmation of agreement) - Si y no (pero más si!) Jol (have a jol) - A party or having a good time - Una gran fiesta Jozi (pronounced: ‘Joe-zee’) - Johannesburg, also Jo'burg - Johannesburg Just now - Soon (usually a bit later than now now) - Ahora (más o menos pronto) Kief - Cool, awesome - Chido (That's a kief shirt bro) Kuier - to visit. Pronounced kay-er (Nooit, brah, I can't come jolling, the toppies are kuiering) Laduma (laduuuuuuuuuma) - Loud, long cheer when a goal is scored- Goooooooool Lapa - Thatched outdoor shelter, usually for entertainment - Palapa Lekker - Awesome, cool (local is lekker!) - Chido [|Load shedding] = Interruption of the electricity supply Makoya - Authentic, the real McCoy - Autentico Mzansi - South - Sur (Zulu) Masihambeni! - Let's go! - Vamos! (Xhosa) Mealies - Corn - Maíz Meisie - missy or little girl - Chica Nooit - Never. Pronounced noyt Now now - Soon - Ahorita Nyama - Beef or game meat Oraait - All right - Esta bien Outeniqua rust - everything takes longer when you're in the Outeniqua region (the Southern Cape - around Knysna and George. You know: the Garden Route). A little like the concept of mañana - although without quite the same sense of urgency. Padkos = Road food Plakkies (pronounced: ‘pluck-keys’) = Flip-flops or Thongs or Double Pluggers (Australia), Jandals (New Zealand) = Chanclas Pozzie = Home Robot = Traffic light = Semaforo Rock up - To arrive, to turn up somewhere - Llegar Saffa - South African - Sudafrikaner (audio cue: [|Saffastuff.com]) [|Sawubona] = Hello (Zulu) Sharp - Cool, thanks, see you later (also 'sharp sharp') - Chido, todo bien Skinner - to gossip (only more so) Smaaklike ete - enjoy your meal (bon appetit) - Sabroso Swak = weak Tekkies = Sneakers - Zapatillas de deporte Toppie (or old toppie) = father Toppies (or old toppies) - parents Ubuntu - Human kindness ([|wikipedia]) Vasbyt - Hang in there - Aguanta Veld = Wide open rural spaces = Planicias o sabana Voetsek - Go away (usually said to dogs) - Vete / largate Vuvuzela - Stadium horn - Trompeta Watertand lekker - Lip-smackingly good! Yebo - yes (Zulu) - Si

Editing
Nya (said with wink) Eissshhh

Misc
Padkos http://www.southafrica.net/blog/en/blog/en/posts/entry/padkos-then-and-now

Videos
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media type="youtube" key="80_BugBDym4" width="560" height="315" Anthem Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo, Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo. || God [Lord] bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions God bless us, Your children || Dios [Señor] bendiga a África Que su gloria sea levantado en alto Escuche nuestras peticiones Dios nos bendiga, tus hijos || O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho, O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso, Setjhaba sa, South Afrika - South Afrika. || God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation, South Africa - South Africa || Dios, te pedimos que protejas a nuestra nación Intervengas y pongas fin a todos los conflictos Protegenos, protege a nuestra nación, nuestra nación, Sudáfrica - Sudáfrica || Uit die diepte van ons see, Oor ons ewige gebergtes, Waar die kranse antwoord gee, || Ringing out from our blue heavens, From our deep seas breaking round, Over everlasting mountains, Where the echoing crags resound, || De llamada desde nuestro cielo azul, De nuestros mares profundos romper todo, Sobre las montañas eternas, Cuando de las peñas eco resuena, || And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land. || Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land. || Suena la llamada para ir juntos, Y unidos vamos a pie, Vamos a vivir y luchar por la libertad, En Sudáfrica nuestra tierra. ||
 * || **English** || **Spanish** ||
 * **(Xhosa)** Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
 * (Zulu)** Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
 * **(Sesotho)** Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
 * **(Afrikaans)** Uit die blou van onse hemel,
 * **(English)** Sounds the call to come together,

Elsewhere on the Web
[|South African slang; a comprehensive look] http://www.stcommunications.com/a-travellers-guide-to-south-african-slang

Facebook
[|South Africanisms]

Youtube
[|Playlist of Cape Town Accents]

Wiki
Afrikaans

Wikipedia
[|National anthem] [|South African Slang] [|South Africa English]

Researching
Grokking the kluge - ? What a wally - __what an idiot!__ Much of a muchness - it makes no difference


 * Traveler Tip** - If you are uncertain about a particular expression or word, just say, '...'

Oke - guy, bloke. We also say ‘ou’, pronounced ‘oh’. "That lightey (youngster) is a good ou." outjie which literally means aprox a very young old guy

**Words that are pronounced differently in South Africa and the USA**
innovative aluminium herb (it's got an 'H' at the beginning!)

Editing
[|South Africa]

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media type="youtube" key="NY09gs-LY80" width="560" height="315" Skinner: to gossip (only more so)