afrikkans slang

7/23/2019 Afrikkans Slang

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List of South African slang wordsFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

1 Afrikanerisms 2 Words from Khoi San languages Words from !hosa, "ulu and the other #guni Languages $ Words from Sesotho and Setswana Languages % Words from &ortuguese ' (riginal South African )nglish coinages * Slang originating from other countries + Slang terms originating from ethnic minorities +1 South African slang +2 South African &ortuguese slang + South African -ndian slang +$ South African .ewish slang +% South African Le/anese slang 0 Specialuse slang

01 Kasi township slang 02 3ay slang also called 4gayle4 15 See also 11 )6ample 12 7eferences 1 )6ternal links

Afrikanerisms

8his list of 9Afrikanerisms9 comprises slang words and phrases influenced /y Afrikaans and otherAfrican languages 8ypical users include people with Afrikaans as their first language /ut whospeak )nglish as a second language: and people li;ing in areas where the population speaks/oth )nglish and Afrikaans from /ak;is, a fish too small to /e kept and thrown /ack intothe water? /ale = >8I? used to signify annoyance >pronounced /arlee? /efok = really good, e6citing, cool: as in 98he rockshow was /efok9 Do not confuse withgefokE Can also mean 9craHy9 in a ;ery strong sense, as in 9Are you /efokJ9 derogatory Can


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also mean 9to ha;e se6 with9 /ek = derogatory term for mouth >AfrikaansG an animal4s mouth?: Bou ou /ekM = 9shut upM9 ,9Shut your trapM9 >literallyG 9hold your animal4sE mouth9? 8his translates well into Nritish )nglish as9Shut your go/9 /ergie = from Afrikaans /erg, which translates to 9mountain9, originally referring to ;agrantswho sheltered in the forests of 8a/le a mainstream word? /lerrie/laddy hell = damndamnit /liksem = strike, hit, punch: also used as an e6pression of surpriseemphasis -t deri;es fromthe Dutch word for 9lightning9, and often occurs in conunction with donner Osed as a curse in

AfrikaansG 9.ou /liksemM9 >Pou /astardM? /ioscope, /io = cinema, mo;ie theatre >now dated?, originally an international )nglish word that/ecame defunct elsewhere, it has sur;i;ed longer in South Africa1E as a result of the influence ofthe Afrikaans cognate /ioskoop Also related to the Dutch word 9/ioscoop9, which still means9cinema9 in #etherlands usage /lou = /eing sad, as in the )nglish language feeling /lue /loutrein = literally 9/lue train9, referring to methylated spirits, sometimes used for drinking

>filtered through a loaf of white /read? Also refers to the Nlue 8rain >two words?, a lu6ury train thattra;els from &retoria to Cape 8own /oer = literally 9farmer9 in Afrikaans )nglishspeaking people use the word to indicate an

Afrikaans farmer, especially in a derogatory way, like 9country /umpkin9, 9/oorish9: /ut Afrikanersuse it with much pride, indicating a person with a deep lo;e of the soil of Africa, a pro;ider of food/oere >the plural form? can also refer to the police 9Noer9 does not only refer to an Afrikaansfarmer, /ut also to a proudly Afrikaans person, whether he farms for a li;ing or not /oerewors = popular type of sausage in South Afric -n Afrikaans, literally 9farmersausage9,used as a mainstream word in South African )nglish /oet = male friend >from /oetie, informal form of /roer meaning /rother, see also /ru and /ra/elow?: compare American )nglishG 9dude9 /okkie = >diminuti;e of /ok, literally meaning 9little /uck9 or 9doe9? a popular term ofendearment, compara/le to 9sweetheart9, 9honey9, etc

/oom = Literal translation is 9tree9 /ut is commonly used to refer to mariuana /os/eraad = strategy meeting held outdoors, for e6ample in a game reser;e /ossies, or /os/efok = craHy, whacko, mad Also a term for one who has shell shock 7efers tothe time of the South African Norder War where soldiers spent time in the /ush >9/os/osse9? andwould return home suffering /attle flash/acks >&ost 8raumatic Stress Disorder? /radley ;agina /rak = mongrel dog, can also refer to /rackish water /roekie = panties or ladies underwear From AfrikaansG /roek, meaning 9trousers9 CommonusageG 9Don4t get your /roekies in a knot9 which means 9Calm down9 /roekie lace = ornate ironwork found on Iictorian /uildings >lit 4pantie lace4?, the tie that youfind on /oard shorts /ra = male friend /ru = A term of affection >see also 9/ra9 and 9/oet9? Shortened from Afrikaans /roer, meaning

9/rother9 An e6ample would /e 9Bey, my /ru, howHitJ9 /uk = &ut your head down @uickly, as in 9Nuk when you go in the door, it4s really low9 /utton = mandra6 ta/let >Slang (nly? /raai = a /ar/ecue, to /ar/ecue >from /raai;leis grilled meat?, used as a mainstream word inSouth African )nglish cheekyprawn = a term of foul a/use cherry = 9meddie9, see terrie chinachine = a friend: as in the greeting BowHit my chinaJ Likely originG Cockney rhymingslang 9China plate9 >meaning 9my mate9?: from early Nritish immigrants chan = a derogatory term for an o;erweight, metrose6ual South African >likely originG deri;ed


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from the slang term chinachine? Also used as a ;ariation to /ru and /ra chommiechomma = a friend >similar to )nglish 9chum9?: also refers to the perineum area/etween ;agina and anus Also spelled tommie choty goty = /eautiful girl chrisco = a partydisco where Christian music mainly features A com/ination of the words4Christian4 and 4Disco4 Chwee chweereekeys= getting high cuiter = some/ody one has a strong dislike for -t has a similar meaning to the word cunt in the)nglish language cullis = young girl who is e6tremely lead dagga = most commonly used word for mariuana dik/ek = grumpy, in a huff >literallyG 9thick mouth9 >pout?, with an image of puffedout cheekslike a /ullfrog? dinges = thingama/o/, a wotHit or a whatchamacallit Dutch dinges doos = literally the Afrikaans translation for 9/o69 Depending on conte6t, the slangderogatory;ersion can mean prat, twat or idiot domkop = idiot >lit Dum/head?, same as 3erman 9Dummkopf9 or Dutch 9domkop9 donner = to /eat up Osed together with 9/liksem9 Deri;ed from 9donder9 >thunder, related to8hor? Amounts to an ancient curse Like 9#ick i4m going to donner you9 dof = stupid or slow to understand

dop = alcohol, to drink alcohol, to fail For e6ampleG 9Come and drink a dop >a drink? with me9or 9-4m gonna dop that test9 (riginally refers to a tot >measure? dorpie = small town doss, dorse, dossing = Sleep or nap DroQwors = >Afrikaans? 4dry sausage4, similar to /iltong dronkie = drunkard druk = to em/race or s@ueeHe, hug >noun? 93ee my 4n drukkie,9 93i;e me a hug9 >notnecessary se6ually? dwankie = someone or something that is lame, stupid, uncool, or generally undesira/le3enerally used as an insult or in a derogatory way "ef slangE Can /e used as /oth a nounG 9Lookat those dwankies o;er thereM9 and an adecti;eG 9egG 8ipp)6, Wite(ut? comes from flater >mistake? and water>water?E flou = an unfunny >weak? oke >from the Afrikaans word for weak?, can also refer to weak coffeeor tea or weak alkoholic drink A person that is weak >Die man is te flou 98he man is too weak9? fok = Afrikaans for 9fuck9, can /e used in most ways it is used in )nglish Fokken fucking,gefok fucked Dutch Fokken /reeding >animals? goffel = Ogly girlwoman For e6ample,9What a 3M9 Also a degrading term for a person ofcoloured origin gomgat = /umpkin, redneck >in the OS sense, not to /e confused with rooinek, the literaltranslation of redneck?

goof, ghoef = swim, take a dip gooi = throw, chuck or to 9tune9 >see /elow? someone goose = also chick, cherry G a young woman or girlfriend >used mainly during the 10%5s, nowdated? also famous line /y South African comedian Narry Bilton houding = character or style heita = 9hello9 or 9hi9 -t was from this that telecommunications company 8elkom got the name+ta for their mo/ile addition hoesit, hoeHit, howHit = deri;ed from 9Bow is it goingJ = contracted to how4s itJT-n )nglish SAconte6t, howHit is more a greeting of 9hello9 rather than 9how are youJ9, similar to SA /lackslang4s 9eta9 or 9ola9


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in sy moer = /adly damaged, destroyed >rude, often considered profanity due to 4moer4 to /eatup? a = yeah >literally 9yes9 in Afrikaans? u6uksags = 9-t4s hot today9? G .anee >9-ndeed9? islaaikM = e6pression of surprise, can /e positi;e or negati;e (ften used when you get a fright,/ut e@ually often during particularly e6citing parts of a rug/y game o = an e6pression of surprise eg, 9.o, that was rude9 9.o, you ga;e me a frightM9 pron yo as in#ew Pork? ol = to ha;e fun, to party, can also refer to a disco or party, to commit adultery or e;en datingor courting kak = Literal translation G shit crap, ru//ish, nonsense >;ulgar?, of ;ery wide usage Also usedas a way of further e6pressing one4s feeling in language, for e6ample, instead of 9that girl ispretty9 one can say emphatically 9that girl is kak prettyM9 katkop = half a loaf of /read hollowed out and filled with chips >ie French fries, not crisps(ften regarded as /asic prison food >Literal translation from Afrikaans cat head or cat4s head?-n South Africa French fries refers to thinly cut fried potato chips, whereas slap tips >lit limpchips? refers to the thicker Nritishstyle chip Crispy potato chips are known as potato crisps

khaki = from the colour worn /y Nritish troopsE derogatory term for an )nglish person kRrels = police >original Afrikaans meaningG guys, chaps? 98he kRrels are coming, watch outM9>Dated? adecti;e? wicked, cool, neat, great, wonderful 8he word deri;es from the Ara/icword 4kif4 meaning pleasure or mariuana 8his may also /e related to the Afrikaans word forpoisonG gif Coastal potsmokers used the term to refer to Dur/an &oisonG 93ifs9 locallygrownmariuanaE 8he word e;ol;ed into kiff, an adecti;e or e6clamation meaning 9cool9, amongst)nglishspeaking people on the east coast klankie = unpleasant smell Also said as ust 9Klank9 &ronounced as in 9Clunk9 klap = to smack >From Afrikaans? 9Be got klapped in the /ar9 Like a 9/itchslap9 koffiemoffie = a camp male waiter or air steward See 9moffie9 kont = same as 4Cunt4 in )nglish >profanity?

krimpie = old person kwaai = cool, e6cellent >AfrikaansG 9angry9 Compare the OS slang word phat? kydaar Iisitor from northern pro;inces, especially 3auteng, to Cape 8own: from 9kyk daarM9 9ust look at thatM9 see also 9soppiekoppie9 lag = to laugh For e6ampleG 8hey lag at the oke laaitie, lighty = a younger person, esp a younger male such as a younger /rother or son lank = lotsa lot laanie, larny = >n? /oss, used in a deferent tone >ad? fancy las = 1 an act that is undesira/le to commit, a /urden 2 8o tell someone or suggest to stopdoing an act >originG something that is slowing you or an o/ect down: for e6ample, 94n Las in diepad9, meaning 9An o/ect as in a stone in the road9? lus = to ha;e a cra;ing for 9- lus for a cigarette9 >Also see 9smaak9? lekker = nice, good, great >lit tasty?, for e6ample 9tik, tik is lekker9

loskind = a really slutty girl, usually wears re;ealing clothes and is easy to get with >fore6ampleG 9Sarah is 4n fokken loskindM9? loskop = air head, literally a 9lost head9 refers to someone whose head is in the clouds, clumsy,forgetful maaifoedie = motherfucker, as in 9 .ou maaifoedie 9 maat = friend >()D?, also your partner >wife, girlfriend? mal = mad, craHy, insane mallie = mother mamparra = idiot mmchakawally = Cigarettes


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mugwaai Cigarette entie Cigarette 3e/ruiker Cigarette mielie = millet corn >Am)? maiHe >Nr)?, staple diet muggie = /ug, especially a little flying gnat moegoe = stupid person, coward, or weakling moffie = male homose6ual >derogatory? Can /e compared to 9fairy9 From 9mofskaap9,castrated sheep moertoe = stuffed up or destroyed >my car is moertoe? moerse /ig, e6G 9thats a moerse house9 moer to hit to fight with, e6G 9he is gonna moer you9 mompie = retard >9Liesl, you are such a mompieM9? morne = /oring, sterile, une6citing >98his is more morne than watching Saracens playM9? mos = Afrikaans, implies that what has /een said is well known or selfe;ident >a formal part ofgrammar, the closest )nglish e@ui;alent would /e 9duhM9? 9)k drink mos tee9 >9- drink tea, duhM9?Osed at the end of a sentence, as in 9.y weet mos9 >9(/;iously, as you know 9? moti;ate >)nglish? from Afrikaans 9to ustify or pro;ide reasons for a suggestion or proposal9,as opposed to )nglish 9inspire9 naai >Afrikaans? copulate: /ut strictly speaking 9sew9 from action of sewing machine needle naartie >Afrikaans? = tangerine, mandarin, satsuma = any peela/le orangecoloured citrus fruit

with neat segments: used as a mainstream word in South African )nglish, and a dietary staple(ften thrown at 8I when frustrated with referee decisions #AAF- = >pronounced #AAF-? acronym forG 9#o Am/ition and Fuckall -nterest9: >originatedfrom the >still e6isting? Nritish military 9#a;y, Army and Air Force -nstitute9? referring to a laHyperson Osed e6tensi;ely during the days of #ational Ser;ice nUJ = do you know what - meanagreeJ, oh reallyJ, is it not soJ or Nritish )nglish 9innitJ9 Fromthe French 9n4estce pas9 meaning 9-sn4t itJ9 eg 9.y hou ;an tee, nUJ9 >9Pou like tea, not soJ9?>informal? 8he South African )nglish e@ui;alent is 9hey9, for e6ample 9)ish, its cold heyJ9 nogal = of all things 8erm e6pressing a measure of surprise nooit = ne;er, no way, un/elie;a/leM oom = an older man of authority, commonly in reference to an older Afrikaans man >Afrikaansfor uncle? ou >plural ouens? man, guy, /loke >also oke? >literally 9old9?

ou/allie = old man, dad: as inG 9shaft me, ou/allie9 9father, dad? will /e homesoon9 ousie = 8erm used to refer to a maid, usually a /lack female: Also used /y /lack females tocallrefer to each other pap = traditional maiHe porridge similar to grits: can also mean 9deflated9 paraat = disciplined Some/ody who is paraat, generally has 9houding9ie style character plaas = lit G farm Also, when someone falls down G &laas gekoop platteland = rural area, country >as in li;ing in the country, as opposed to li;ing in the city? piel = derogatory term for a male genitalia >9cock9 or 9dick9? poepol >from poephol, arse?an idiot lit an arsehole, /ut not as derogatory poes = derogatory term for a female genitalia >9pussy9 or 9cunt9? pommie, pom = derogatory term for an )nglish person >/orrowed from Australia? rooinek = >9red neck9? Afrikaner derogatory term for )nglish person or )nglishspeaking South

African Deri;ed in the 10th century due to nati;e Nritish not /eing used to the hot African sun andgetting sun/urnt, especially on the neck Almost the e6act opposite to the American usage of9redneck9 Alternati;e e6planation, reference to the fact that Nritish officers during the two NoerWars had red collars sat = tired, dead = 9)k is siek en sat ;an sy nonsens9 -4m sick and tired of his nonsense9, see4;rek4 /elow >pronounced as sut in )nglish? sies, 9sis9 = e6pression of disgust, disappointment, annoyance, as inG Ag, sies, man Siesah e6pression of 3oodness, or of disgust, depending on conte6t scrompie = slang for 9ho/o9 or /ergie >Liesl told her *yearold son, Karl, to walk away fromthe scrompie walking towards them?


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skapie = someone who might /e referred to as a 9pussy9 Literally 9little sheep9 skeef = skewed, gay, as inG hy het 4n /ietie skeef ;oorgekom >he seemed a /it gay? skief = to glare at someone >rootG Afrikaans 4skeef4, skew? skop, skiet en /oomklim = literally 9kicking, shooting and clim/ing trees9 A collo@uialdescription of an action film, usually of the lighter, more humorous kind >8hink .ackie Chan? skop, skiet en donner = literally 9kicking, shooting and /eating people up9 A collo@uialdescription of an action mo;ie of the more ;iolent kind >8hink .eanClaude Ian Damme? skelm = >pronouncedG Skellem? crook or trou/lemaker, mistress, secret lo;er, on the sly skinner, skinder = gossip skop = kick skort = watch out, /e careful or something is wrong here skraal = ;ery hungry >Dur/an region, from Afrikaans for 9thin9 or 9emaciated9? skrik = fright skyf = cigarette, a puff, and also less commonly mariuana or dagga slapgat = )nglish translation 9laHy arse9, also can refer to something /adly put together, 9Byhet dit slapgat gemaak9 >he put it together haphaHardly? slaptips = >pronounced as 9slup chips9? similar to thickcut Nritish chips: usually soft, oily andsoaked in ;inegar, usually /ought in a /rown paper /ag Slap is Afrikaans for 9limp9 French friesrefers to thinly cut chips Crispy potato chips are referred to as 4crisps4 smaak = to like another person or thing 9Seems9 as in 9smaak my 9 - get the impression

that smaak stukkend = to like ;ery much or to lo;e to pieces >literal meaning of stukkend? 9- smaakyou stukkend9 9- lo;e you madly9 smeerlaken = Afrikaans lit 9spread9 V 9sheet9 ie an )6cel or Lotus worksheet sneeudier = old person soek = to look for trou/le with someoneto antagoniseto stir up trou/le 9you soeking withmeJ9 = AfrikaansG 9to seek or look for9 sommer = for no particular reason, ust /ecause soppiekoppie derogatory term for upcountry ;isitor to Cape 8own, from 9pasop die koppie9>9careful of your little headM9?from the ha/it of fathers carrying their small children on theirshoulders and warning them of the low doorframes in old /uildings in Cape 8own sosatie = a ke/a/ on a skewer, used as mainstream word in South African )nglish soutpielsoutie = derogatory term for )nglish person, literally salty penis Someone with one

foot in )ngland, the other in South Africa and their penis hanging in the Atlantic (cean steek = sta/, poke >with knife? 9Beshe steeked herhim9 9Beshe poked herhim9 Also see9naai9 #ick steeked me stukkend stukkie, stekkie = a woman >from the Afrikaans meaning 9a piece9? = mostly used whenreferring to a woman that you ha;eha;e casual encounters with, girlfriend stoep = porch, ;erandah, like American )nglish stoop, /ut pronounced with a shorter ;owel stompie = a cigarette /utt, a short person or impolite term to refer to the remainingarmlegfinger after an amputation stukkend = >Afrikaans? /roken, a lot Also commonly used when someone is hungo;er Fore6ample, 9- am so stukkend9 swak = /roke (riginal AfrikaansG weak 9-4m swak, ek sR9 Also used to suggest that someone4s/eha;iour was harsh >with ;arying degrees of seriousness, depending on tone and conte6t?, fore6ampleG 9-t4s swak that - failed the test9

tekkies = sneakers >8he Anglicised pronunciation tackies has /ecome mainstream in SouthAfrican )nglish? tiet = )nglish e@ui;alent Noo/ or Nreast >from 4teat4? tet = /reast or /oo/ toppie, ou toppie = father = see ou/allie trek = to mo;e or pull >8he word has /ecome international with the meaning of 9making apioneering ourney9: the slang usage more closely resem/les the standard Afrikaans meaning? tuin/ooi = 8erm used to refer to a gardener, usually a /lack gardener 8I& >tiener ;elpro/leem? = Acne pro/lems ;aalie = mildly derogatory term used /y people on the coast for a tourist from inland >7ootG (ld


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8rans;aal pro;ince? ;ellies = ;eldskoene, traditional Afrikaans outdoors shoes made from hide ;erkramp = politically conser;ati;e or pessimistic, the opposite of ;erlig, or enlightened ;oertsek, ;oetsek = get lost, /uHH off, go away, run, scram, stuff off, /ugger off >it can /econsidered rude, depending on the conte6t? = usually used when referring to an animal From theDutch 9;ort, Heg ik9 used with animals, meaning 93o awayM9 or 93et mo;ing9 ;rek = Afrikaans meaning for an animal dying &ossi/ly from Dutch 9;errekken9 to dislocateJ ;rot = /ad, rotten, putrid, sometimes drunk ;rot/ek = someone who swears a lot or is swearing a lot at the moment ;ry = to make out or courting >e@ui;alent to American 9necking9, Nritish 9snogging9 or Australian9pashing9? Irystaat ;ernier = Shifting spanner waai = slang for 9to go9 Dur/anites like to say 9Bey, let4s waai poHHy9 Let4s go home woes = wild, untidy, unkempt or irre;erent A general term pertaining to either a person,/eha;iour or situation wys multiple meanings to insult>see tune? or to say eg 9Poh, .ohn wys me after - told him toshut upM9 yoh = an e6pression of surprise eg, 9Poh, that was rude9 9Poh, you ga;e me a frightM9, >&olicechief talking a/out the poor physi@ue of his policemen? 98hey should look at our men and say9yohM9

Hef = from Ford "ephyr car, cheap to tuneup: cool, rough guy: common person: kitsch Hol = a homemade cigarette rolled with old newspaper or riHlas >likely mariuanafilled? oint>e@ui;alent to American 9doo/ie9? Hamalek = Nlack La/el Lager, locally /rewed under licence >deri;ed from the )gyptian foot/allteam of the same name /ecause of the team colors? A ;ery popular local /eer /ecause of thehigh alcohol content

Words from Khoi San languages

aitsa = is usually used when e6claiming agreement like you would when saying 9sweetM9,9niceM9, 9lekkerM9, and 9got itM9 /uchu name applied to a range of medicinal plantsE dagga = mariuana >has /ecome a mainstream word in South African )nglish?>from Khoe da6a

/ for Leonotis plant?E eina e6clamation of pain, as in ouch >from Khoekhoe e6clamation of pain or surprise?E gogga = /ug >from Khoe 6o6o, creeping things, here the g is pronounced like ch in Scottishloch?E kaross garment made of animal skin >from Khoe meaning skin /lanket?E

Words from !hosa, "ulu and the other #guni Languages

8he following lists slang /orrowings from the #guni Nantu languages >which include "ulu and!hosa? 8hey typically occur in use in South Africa4s townships, /ut some ha;e /ecomeincreasingly popular amongst white youth Onless otherwise noted these words do not occur informal South African )nglish

taila9=>pronouncedG chaila? time to go home 9ca;9 the c is pronounced as a dental click? -t can /e used meaning /oth 9tosee9 or 9to understand9 as in 9Did you ca; that /irdJ9 or as in 9Do you ca; what - am sayingJ9 cocopan = small tip truck on rails used in mines >from #guni n@ukum/ana, Scotch cart?E donga = ditch of the type found in South African topography >From "ulu, 9wall9: this has/ecome a mainstream word for such a feature? eishM = an interection e6pressing resignation fundi = e6pert >from #guni 4umfundisi4 meaning teacher or preacher? = used in mainstreamSouth African )nglish 9faka9 to put >pronounced as fuhguh? from the common #guni word meaning the same thing


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faka gogo = grandmother, elderly woman >from "ulu, ugogo? hawM = e6pression of dis/elief, surprise &ronounced like )nglish 9howM9 From the "ulu 9hawu9 hayi/oM = wowM >from "ulu, 4definitely not4? inda/a = conference >from "ulu, 4a matter for discussion4?: has /ecome a mainstream word inSouth African )nglish inyanga = traditional her/alist and healer >compare with sangoma? o;a = inection, to inect >from "ulu? ladumaM = a popular cheer at soccer matches, 9he scoresM9 >literallyG 9it thunders9, in "ulu? muti = medicine >from "ulu umuthi? = typically traditional African ualso spelt shongalolo? = millipede >from "ulu and !hosa, ukushonga, 4to roll up4? spaHa = an informal tradingpostcon;enience store found in townships and remote areas >alsoa term referring to something cheap and nasty ie of poor @uality? tokolos = a dwarflike water sprite, taken from tokoloshe toyitoyi = >more commonly spelt toitoi? protestdancing: used in mainstream South African)nglish tsotsi = gangster, laya/out, no gooder u/untu = compassion or kindness, humanity

ye/o = "ulu meaning yes wena = "ulu meaning 9you9 Commonly used in a sentence 9Baw wenaM9

Words from Sesotho and Setswana Languages

lekgotla or kgotla = planning session, or strategy >used mostly in official go;ernment papers,/ut e;en in papers written in )nglish? >from Sesotho >le?kgotla = courtyard?E #yatsi and the independence

wars in Angola and &ortuguese pork sausage? catem/a = a drink made /y mi6ing red wine and a soft drink, usually cola chourio = traditional &ortuguese pork sausage espetada = a typical &ortuguese dish made usually of large chunks of /eef ru//ed in salt,skewered onto a /ay leaf stick kraal = enclosure for li;estock from Afrik ;ia &ort 9curral9E erepigo = a usually red hea;y dessert wine from &ort 9geropiga9E mielies or mealies = maiHe from &ort 9milho9E padece = derogatory word for Afrikaners used /y South African&ortuguese padrXo = a large stone cross inscri/ed with the coat of arms of &ortugal that was placed aspart of a land claim /y numerous &ortuguese maritime e6plorers in South Africa and elsewhere periperi = chili pepper from &ort 9piripiri9E

pikinini = a child from &ort 9pe@uenino9E prego roll = steak sandwich made with piripiri >chili? sauce and ser;ed on a &ortuguese rollfrom &ort 9prego9E trinchado = a popular spicy meat dish of Angolan and


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meaning little /aff = Fart /ra = male friend >shortening of /rother, see also /ru a/o;e? canyon cra/ = derogatory term for Afrikaner$E chase = lea;e, go: analogous to 9/low9 or 9duck9, as in 9Nru, let4s chase9: 98his place is dof:-4m gonna chase, /oet9 cherps or chips = 9Watch out9 or 9distinct from the food or snack? Also often used when something gets thrown, or toask someone to step out the way Compare 9heads upM9 chop = idiot chot = a ;ery offensi;e term for a se6ually acti;e female clutchplate = derogatory term for Afrikaner$E connection = a friend, mate, chommie coHHie = a swimsuit, short for swimming costume%E crunchie = derogatory term for Afrikaner$E%E diss to intentionally disregard some/ody else 8hat oke is totally dissing me dof = stupid 9Are you dofJ9 dop = Drink or to drink, primarily when talking a/out alcohol, from the Afrikaans 9dop9 >shell,referring to a small glass for alcohol? force when someone does something unnecessarily, too many times for the gi;en situation or

adds something to a con;ersation that is not necessary >-t is a noun and ;er/? gi;e rocks = to /e indifferent For e6ampleG - gi;e rocks a/out your concernsM >- couldn4t carea/out your concernsM? Can also /e a//re;iated to 93i;e rocks9, and the negati;e ;ersion 9- don4tgi;e rocks9 means e6actly the same thing giyn = a homose6ual male graHe = a term used in reference to food 9-4m star;ing, let4s go get some graHe9 higher grade = a /it too complicated >from the South African matric di;ision of e6ams intostandard grade and higher grade 8he system of di;iding su/ects into higher and standard gradehas /ecome none6istent as of 255+? hundreds = good, fine >As in 155 percent: for e6ampleG .ohnG 9Bey /ru, howHit goingJ9DominicG 9-4m hundreds /oet9? ukka = a laHy person or a loser ust now, sometime in the near future or the near past, not necessarily immediately )6presses

an intention to act soon, /ut not necessarily immediately, or e6presses something that happenedin the near past &ro/a/ly from the Afikaans netnou with the same meaning now now = an immediate /ut not literal declaration of impending action, may /e past or futuretense From the Afrikaans e6pression 9nou nou9 Dutchman = derogatory term for Afrikaner$E isit = >pronouncedG iHit? the words 9is9 and 9it9 put together Short term for 9-s that soJ9 >Fore6ampleG .ohnG 9Nra, - ust found out - ha;e a million dollarsM9 CharlesG 9-sitJ9: orG .ohnG 9Nru, youwould not /elie;e how amaHing it felt to footskate in front of all those people9 CharlesG 9-sitJ9?

Also, it can mean 9reallyJ9 lift = ele;ator location = a Nantu township naai = derogatory for ha;ing se6 with a girl >9Last night she ga;e me a lekker naai9?, Nritish)nglish 4fuck4, or from the Afrikaans 9naai9 >same meaning, from the Afrikaans term for 9to sew9,

from the mo;ement of the needle on a sewing machine? 9nca9 meaning something is nice >the nc is a nasalised dental click? packet or 9checkers9= a plastic /ag penalty it refers to someone tripping >usually shouted if someone almost trips? pull through = come or arri;e, especially to a placee;ent that is amena/leG 9We4re ha;ing agreat ol here, /oet Pou should pull through9 ro/ot = trafficlight%E rockspider = derogatory term for Afrikaner$E rop = nice, radical >eg 98hat was such a rop wa;e9? Also used as a ;er/ meaning 4to steal4>eg 9- will rop you of that kief watch9?


10/20

rounda/out traffic circle >road? scheme = to think that >eg 9- scheme we should go home now9: usage e;ol;ed from thehyper/ole 9What are you schemingJ9 asked of a person deep in thought? siff = if something is gross or disgusting or ugly 9Did you see her oufitJ -t was totally siffM9 slops = flipflops speak goat = derogatory term for speaking Afrikaans soapie = a soap opera swak = see 9swat9 swat = carrying out an action resulting in an undesira/le or negati;e outcome: 9when youchaffed my cherrie the other day, it was swat oke 8otally swat9: 9draadtrek? = to mastur/ate, from Afrikaans takkies sports shoes tickey = 8hruppence or pennies, eg 9Pou could get a tickey for returning a coke /ottle andthree tickeys would /uy you an eskimo pie9 Dated, tickey/o6 is more recently used tune = to gi;e someone lip >9Are you tuning meJ9? ;oetsek = impolite way to say 9go away9, commonly used with animals or as derogatory term>from Dutch ;oort seg ik ;ia Afrikaans? saamie = a sandwich%E

Slang originating from other countries

8he following slang words used in South African originated in other parts of the Commonwealth of#ations and su/se@uently came to South Africa

/int = a girl, from Ara/ic Osually seen as derogatory /uck = the main unit of currencyG in South Africa the rand china = friend, mate >from Cockney rhyming slang china plateE 9mate9?, alternati;ely, asa/o;e coming from the Nantu word umshana chow = to eat coaster = a state of affairs that surpasses cool

Kaffir = 1*05, from Ara/ic 9kYfir9 Z[\] _ , literally 9one who does not admit the /lessings of 3od9,

from kafara Z_ `_^_9to co;er up, conceal, deny9 #on Nelie;er -n a purely religious sense would referto an atheist not /elie;ing in any creator or creati;eforce, /ut in (ttoman times it came to refer

almost e6clusi;ely to 9Christians9 Osed as a term of disdain referring to Dutch Colonists in-ndonesia1*02?, from which use it camegenerally to mean 9South African /lack9 regardless of ethnicity, and /ecame a term of a/use atleast as early as 10$ racial slur forE a /lack person >Osage now actiona/le on account ofhistorical ties to apartheid and incitement to racial hatred? pom = name for an )nglish person originating from )ngland sha/ short for she/een -n common usage she/een = illegal drinkingesta/lishment >from -rish si/n?, synonymous with speakeasy -nSouth Africa it refers in particular to unlicensed /ars in the townships, and has /ecome amainstream word During the apartheid era laws prohi/ited nonwhites from consuming any

alcohol e6cept traditional sorghum /eer, and ta;erns selling 4hardtack4 /ecame the centre ofsocial acti;ity tom = money or cash, as in 9- must earn some tom9 From Cockney rhyming slang where 9tom9comes from 9tomfoolery9 >9ewellery9? whenwe = a nostalgic white migrant from other parts of Africa, especially "im/a/weG 9when wewere in 7hodesia9

Slang terms originating from ethnic minoritiesSouth African slang


11/20

8he maority of Coloureds in South Africa speak Afrikaans 8hose who speak )nglish use thee@ui;alent )nglish words as slang (riginated from Afrikaans slang /ot? /ushie = derogatory term for a 9Coloured9 person Deri;ed from the word /ushman Nushmanare predominantly light in comple6ion guy = similar to the American )nglish word 9dude9 /oltone out = used e6tensi;ely in K"# idiot? chup = 9tattoo9 = 9cool chup e6se9 chow = 9eat9 or food chuck = 9lea;e9 )@ui;alent of American 9to /ounce9 )6amplesG 9Come /ru lets chuck9 or9sorry can4t go to the /raai i gotta chuck9 -f you are funny you might say, 9/oet, - ha;e to makelike #orris and Chuck9 crownkroon = 9money9: can also refer to ;irginity do//el = 9gam/le9 dasifouti no &ro/lem, lit>9there is no fault9? duidelik = direct from Afrikaans, meaning 9clear9: used to e6press clarity on something ore6citement a/out something eksR = from Afrikaans, translated it means 9- say9 Osed in greeting ie 9Whakind eksR9 or ingeneral speech

gaam = dodgygangster ie 8hat person is gaam >Be is a gangster?8hat place is gaam >it isdodgy? gam = derogatory term for Coloured Coloured people in South Africa Deri;ed from 93ham9 or9Bam9 referring to Bam in the (ld 8estament -t is a reference to the children of #oah4s son Bamwho were illegitimate and cursed into sla;ery /y 3od'E*E gammie = diminuti;e of 43am4, derogatory term for coloured people in South Africa, particularlyin Cape 8own gats/y = large chip roll with meat and lekker sauces >Cape 8own? gully = 9area9 or 9corner9 >K"#? hard up = 9in lo;e9 Bosh = 9Bello9: also used /efore com/at )6ample in com/atG Bosh, y raak wys >9Bello, showme what you made of9? 8his gangrelated word occurs inside as well as outside of prisonG use atown discretion

as = 9horny9 8he first form occurs in Cape 8own: the second predominates on the east coastof South Africa


12/20

min = to /e ;ery interested or e6cited in something, or for something For e6ample, 9so min forthat ol9 or 9when you4re min you win9 mineral = pronounced 4min ral4: used /y -ndians as well 9FiHHy drink9 such as Coke, Fanta,Sprite, etc >K"#? 9motie9 = wifewoman 9/ok9 girlfriend naai = 9se69 >Western Cape? Also used as a noun 9.ou ou naai9 >literally 9Pou screw9? and usedin the pluralG 9naaie9 >literally more than one 9screw9?, meaning an undesira/le person rather thanthe se6ual act Definitely not polite language oweh = pronounced ow where, a way of saying 9oh yes9 or e6pressing delight posiepoHHie = 9home9 Afrikaansspeakers tend to use the first for: )nglishspeakers thesecond press = 9se69, as inG 9- want to press my young one tonight9 >K"#? shot = 9good9 or 9correct9 or 9thanks9 >depending on conte6t? )6ample for the meaning 9good9

= &erson AG What is VJ &erson NG si6 &erson AG shot )6ample for the meaning 9thanks9G =&ersonG A - ha;e /ought you a sweet &erson NG Shot sunno = -nitially an insult, /ut now used amongst friends as a greeting, as inG Whakind son Stukkie = 9girl9 or possi/ly 9girlfriend9 8annie = 9aunt9, used /y Afrikaansspeakers 8aahnie9 9from Afrikaans 4/ang4 to /e scared? to /e afraid of someone crown = money condai = /us conductor graft = meaning work 9hey kaHHie, im grafting at coconut gro;e, lakkaH ekse9 kRrel = police man /oyfiend hit a luck = e6pression, to ha;e met with good fortune as in, 4hey my /ru hit a luck, eee gotgraft at the Casino4 Also often noted in the form hit such a luck choontune = to tell someone something clips =


13/20

guy9 >9Smart9 as in 9welltodo9? or, more fre@uently, 9/oss9 Compare larnie lakkaH = meaning lekker from the Afrikaans language late = A euphemism for deaddeceased: as in 4Onconnected with theidea of tardiness? lets waai4 = lets go: >waai pronounced as ;uy same like /uy? >From Afrikaans, 9kom ons waai9?Osed mostly /y Dur/an -ndians maader = e6cellent, ;ery good >used especially /y Dur/an -ndians? minrill = from the )nglish word 9mineral9, meaning mineral water: taken to mean any fiHHydrink in a /ottle, normally Coke, Fanta, etc plot = pursue romantically, courting poke = sta/ poHHy = house or home: place where one li;es or hangs out perrie paranoid: 9Be is moerse perrie9 pehrer = a fight >(ften heard as 9Who4s gunning a pehrerJ9 meaning 9Who4s looking for afightJ9? slaan = wear >as in clothes?, e6 9Be is ge>prefi6? slat>slaan? clothingwise9: meaning 9Be4sdressed well9 Irou = my wife, as in 4)k sR, - must first ask my Irou4: from the Afrikaans word for4wife99woman9 ;ying going, as in we ;ying to the soccer

;riete 9food9 from the Afrikaans word 9Ireet9 9to eat like an animal9 Osed as a noun, e6G Bemust kyk>look? sy>his? eie>own? ;riete>food? translatedG Be must find his own food dite food>noun?, e6G 9i smaak>like to? a dite>food? kry>to get?9 dite food>;er/?, e6G 9ek>i? gaan>to go? eers >firstly? dite>to eat?9 speech = an argument stekie = girlgirlfriend swaai = to dance >For e6ampleG 9Lets ;aai >go? swaai9? swak = /ad, e6ampleG 9 what kind = 3reeting, similar to BowHit what what = mostly used in arguments, meaning 9this and that9 (ften heard as what you saywhat what spiet = to fight slow /oat = Splif.oint = #ormally related to marauana

&ara&areh = to fightargument pulling mo;es = related to doing some sort of crime or fraud 1554s Bundreds = 7elating to /eing ok, for e6ampleG 9- am hundreds today after last nights ol9 /ust up = Nig party in;ol;ing lots of drugs and /ooHe pull in = literally means to in;ite )6ampleG 9&ull in to my poHHy tonight, gona ha;e a /ust up9 /enou = >pronounce N)7#(W? = mariuana or dagga Commonly used /y -ndians in3auteng 9no /enou thereJ9do you ha;e any daggaJ koe6 = drink >9what you koe6ingJ9 = what are you drinkingJ? sharp = good/ye, >9shap im out9 = good/ye -4m lea;ing? aspriss >pron arsepriss? = to intentionally do something >9- closed the door on him aspriss9? gusheshe = N


14/20

padece slang for a white Afrikaans person, usually derogatory /ut sometimes usedaffectionately depending on conte6t eh p a cry of e6clamation >9hey manM9?

South African -ndian slang

in Dur/an? and let4s waai

an4 all = >from 4and all4: like the )nglish 4et cetera, et cetera4? aks = mispronounced ask /oardedoff = declared medically unfit to work, and in receipt of a disa/ility pension, As inG 4or tea?

coat = meaning 9@uote9, mispronounced, with a completely inaudi/le KW sound as in Bey,can you gi;e me a coat to fi6 my carJ co;er = an insurance policy: as inG Bey laanie, can you organise me a co;er for my grannieJ eeuww manM = an informal way of greeting 8he South African -ndian e@ui;alent of 9Bey dudeM9 filim = mispronounced film guHHie = friend >from the "ulu guH4lam? .aa;er = an Afrikaner person kassam = serious, not oking From -slamic meaning 9oath9 mooing = to flirt From the Afrikaans word mooi meaning 9nice99pretty9 nana = grandfather >#ot a slang words, /ut a Bindi and Ordu word meaning maternalgrandfather? ou = person 7oti (u Nread (u Bindi person

Wit (u = a White person paining = ha;ing pain pano = money, from the 8amil word for 9money9 Commonly used /y all South African -ndianlinguistic groups as a euphemism for money >#ot Slang? patla, flouie = usually refers to poor >unfunny? okes &atla can also refer to any kind of damps@ui/ &atla &atla often refers o/li@uely to ha;ing se6: imitating the sound of two /odies meeting pottermarie = means a dum/ass >Bindu language roots? right = an affirmation, mostly used while gi;ing traffic directions, as in 93o straight, 7ight 8urnLeft, 7ight9 sheila = an ugly woman slaat = action like hit For e6ampleG Don4t choon me what what an4 all, - slaat you one timelaanie this thing9dis ting9 = watchamacallit

toppie = an older male authorityfigure (ften used /y -ndians /ut also /y workingclass whitesFrom an -ndian word for 9hat9 tannie = female ;ersion of toppie, from the Afrikaans word for 9Aunty9 tum/lahh = from the )nglish word 9tum/ler9, meaning a hea;y glass As inG 4hey /oy, run andget a 8um/lah for the larnie to ha;e some plural chatteisim, khateisim PiddishG 9a sinner9?G appro6imately e@ui;alent to9white trash9 8he word refers particularly to poor, white, Afrikaansspeaking communities with


15/20

endemic social pro/lems Sometimes used as an ethnic slur against Afrikaners in general From8almudic phrase )yn /or yerey khet = a /or = >uncouth ignoramus? is not afraid of sin 8he /orNoer assonance gi;es a case for @ui//leG if not afraid of sin must /e therefore a sinner+E kugelG an o;erly groomed, materialistic woman >from the Piddish word for a plain puddinggarnished as a delicacy? (ldergeneration .ews coined this usage as a derogatory la/el for.ewish women who aspired to /ecome part of the pri;ileged )nglishspeaking white communityCurrent usage, often humorously intended, applies the word to any nou;eau riche women inSouth African society who appear o;erly groomed and materialistic Nagel and /agel/oy occuras la/els for the male counterpart of the kugel >Compare the American)nglish term .ewish

American princess which has su/tly differing connotations? &eru;ian &eru;nikG a lowclass, unmannered and unsophisticated person regardless ofwealth, usually .ewish 8he etymology is unclear 2E >8heoriesG >a? Piddish corruption of&ar;enuE: >/? deri;es from an acronym for 9&olish and 7ussian Onion9, supposedly a .ewishclu/ founded in Kim/erley in the 1+*5s, according to Nradford4s Dictionary of South African)nglish $E? 8he more assimilated and esta/lished .ews from 3ermany and )ngland lookeddown on this group, and their descendants remain stigmatised SchwarHerG Piddish 3erman for 9/lack9 a /lack person shiksaG as in other .ewish communities, this means 9non.ewish girl9 8raditionally 9sla;egirl9,from the Piddish ;ersion of the Be/rew word for 9dirty, unclean, loathsome90E -n South Africa,howe;er, it has the additional meaning of a 9female domestic worker9

weisserG Piddish for 9white9 = a white person

South African Le/anese slang

/int G from the Le/anese word for 9girl9: used in reference to women in general >as in 9checkout that hot /int o;er there9? dri/ G from the Le/anese word for 9hit9 >as in 9hey ghey if you don4t stop talking gara, - mayha;e to dri/ youM9? gara G from the Le/anese word for 9faeces9 or 9dung9: refers to something that is crap >as in9that guy is talking garaM9? ghey G literally translated from the Le/anese word for 9/rother9: in collo@uial South Africanrefers to 9a tintedwindows, lotsofewellery9 kinda guy >pronounced like 9gay9 /ut with a 6, like aguttural 9g9 or the 9ch9 in Scottish loch?

stiffle G so whatG 9if you don4t like it stiffleM9 uh/ed G from the Ara/ic word for 9sla;e9 >Ara/icG ? = a /lack person

Specialuse slangKasi township slang

$11 = gi;ing someone the latest news and gossip % 8iger = 7%5 note 2 No/ 25 cent coin 21 >two si6? = lies or lying 1%5 = Ladysmith)mnam/ithi >K"#? '0 >Si6 nine? = -t is to pee 0 >nine? = 3irlfriend as in a lo;e relationship

$% >Four Fi;e? = &enis ' no 0 = 9same difference9 Like 9potato, potatoe9 00 >nine nine?4 = 9for real9 ayo/a = )6pression of e6citement /okgata or No $ = 9the police9 cakeikuku = Iagina choc = 725 note chommie =


16/20

doing a /afana = demanding more smeka >money? for /eing mediocre doing a /enni = (riginG the saying comes from the formerly muchlauded Nafana Nafanastriker Nenni


17/20

/elinda = /lind /ella = to hit or slap 9- will /ella you if you don4t stop staring at that /eulah9 /ertha hilda4s /ig sister >really, really ugly?, after Nig Nertha, the giant cannon /eulah = /eautiful, usually referring to good looking man cilla = cigarette /etty /angles = policeman carol = cry chlora = coloured person connie = come cora = common diana disgusting dora = a drink: drunk elsie geselsie = chatter/o6 erica = erection esterie = ecstasy ethel old person fiona you can guess frieda = se6ually frustrated fuella = furious gail = chat

gayle = the name for this slang gonda = a ;agina graHelda e6tremely ugly harriet = hairy man hilda = ugly >or horri/le?, usually referring to a notso good looking guy iona -ndian enny = mastur/ate essica = ealous ulia = ewellery lana penis >from alliteration Lana Lunch? laura = lo;er lettie = les/ian lisa = male model

lulu = laugh marie = mad marorie = margarine mary = o/;ious homose6ual mathilda = migraine maureen = murder ma;is = effeminate @ueen mildred = mentally deranged milly = craHy >mad? = milder than mildred mitHi = small monica = money nancy = no natalie nati;e person

nelly = neurotic nora = stupid or nai;e olga = old and ugly pandora = in@uisiti;e @ueen patsy dance, party polly = &ortuguese homose6ual priscilla = policeman ree;a re;olting rita = rent /oy sally suck


18/20

sheila = shit >action or insult? stella = steal trudy = someone that4s /eyond help ursula understandunderstanding ;ast ;ery >9She4s ;ast nora, my dearM9? ;era = ;omit wendy white >caucasian? lodge house prem car

See also

List of le6ical differences in South African )nglish List of collo@uial South African place names South African )nglish

)6ample

South African )nglishsecond language speaker?&ro/lems playing this fileJ See media help

.inne man, ust put on your tekkies and your costume, don4t /e dofM We4re going to walk to the/each and then go for a goof, if you want to come with you /etter wikkel china Ag nee, - steppedon a shongololo, - ust /ought new tekkies the other dayM Pou know what, lets ust forget a/out the/each and ha;e /raai instead, all we need is some meat, mealiepap, some cool drinks, may/e a/rinal and some other ;eggies And if someone can /ring some /iscuits for a /anofi pie thatwould /e great Bey /ru, it4s lekker day today for a ol ek sRM -4m warning you my dad won4ttolerate any gesuipery, he4ll klap you stukkendM -s itJ .a, he4s kwaaiM Be was tuning me ust nowfrom his /akkie my /okkie is a soutie and a rooinek )ishM Well at least he4s duidelik7eferences

8he (6ford )nglish Dictionary notes the special usage of the word 9/ioscope9 in South AfricaKromhout, .an >2551? Afrikaans=)nglish, )nglish=Afrikaans dictionary #ew Pork, #PGBippocrene Nooks p '* -SN# 0*+5*+1+5+$'5 7etrie;ed 1' (cto/er 251$Nranford, . Nranford, W 1001 A Dictionary of South African )nglish9Woorde/ook9 7oekeloos I7& 7etrie;ed 1 August 251$.ean Nranford >10+5? A Dictionary of South African )nglish (6ford Oni;ersity &ress -SN# 510%*51**1 7etrie;ed 255+5%25


19/20

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20/20

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