South African Slang: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Now Now.jpg|thumb|624x624px|[https://www.goodthingsguy.com/fun/now-now-just-now/ South African Time explained]]] | |||
'''Braai''' - A barbeque but also a social gathering around a fire. Don't expect to eat before 11pm. | |||
'''Bru''' - Brother/friend. Similar to 'bro' but cooler. | |||
'''Eish''' - a slang word used to indicate surprise, sudden disapproval, exasperation or regret. For example, “Eish, I was just in an accident.” | |||
'''Eina!''' - Meaning "Ouch!" Used when expressing immediate pain or sympathizing with someone else who is experiencing pain or got hurt in some way. | |||
'''Gees''' - Afrikaans word for “spirit” but is often used to describe a great vibe in Afrikaans. | |||
'''Hectic''' - Meaning crazy, used when expressing amazement. For example, “That R355 is pretty hectic bru…” | |||
'''Howzit''' - (9 out of 10 times the person is from Joburg) It means "Hello and how are you?" | |||
'''Izit''' - An expression frequently used in conversation and equivalent to, “Is that so?” | |||
'''Jol''' - meaning to go partying, clubbing or to just have fun in general. For example, “We had a jol last night at Afrikaburn." | |||
'''Lekker''' - Nice, good, great and means ‘tasty’ in Afrikaans | |||
The phrases "now", "now now", "just now" and "right now" all mean different things in terms of immediacy and differs from person to person | '''Mal''' - crazy or mad in Afrikaans. BTW "the people are going mal at the party" is not a negative sentence | ||
'''Moerse''' - Means "really big" or numerous in Afrikaas. | |||
'''Nca''' - meaning everything is cool or things are good. For example, “the food was nca my friend.” “How are you? I am nca.” | |||
'''"Now"''' - The phrases "now", [https://www.goodthingsguy.com/fun/now-now-just-now/ "now now"], "just now" and "right now" all mean different things in terms of immediacy and differs from person to person. You may need a follow up question to determine the timeframe. Good luck with this one! | |||
'''Shebeen''' - A tavern or bar in South Africa especially in the townships. For example, “let’s go visit the Shebeen in the township this weekend.” | |||
'''Yebo''' - Means "Yes" in Zulu. | |||
- Words via the [https://newsletter.afrikaburn.com/w/wX2ljS9Zc8929c1BLj0VF3jw?fbclid=IwAR0XNUABjMVmpUW4M9QoI9EnOigWXemdZa-mZ4ycl5Qzo24u1f9bMcyLjR8 Afrikaburn Rangers] and [https://www.khayavolunteer.com/news/305-18-slang-words-for-your-volunteer-trip-to-south-africa#:~:text=3.,complete%20sense%20in%20South%20Africa. Khaya]:-) |
Revision as of 12:37, 15 February 2023

Braai - A barbeque but also a social gathering around a fire. Don't expect to eat before 11pm.
Bru - Brother/friend. Similar to 'bro' but cooler.
Eish - a slang word used to indicate surprise, sudden disapproval, exasperation or regret. For example, “Eish, I was just in an accident.”
Eina! - Meaning "Ouch!" Used when expressing immediate pain or sympathizing with someone else who is experiencing pain or got hurt in some way.
Gees - Afrikaans word for “spirit” but is often used to describe a great vibe in Afrikaans.
Hectic - Meaning crazy, used when expressing amazement. For example, “That R355 is pretty hectic bru…”
Howzit - (9 out of 10 times the person is from Joburg) It means "Hello and how are you?"
Izit - An expression frequently used in conversation and equivalent to, “Is that so?”
Jol - meaning to go partying, clubbing or to just have fun in general. For example, “We had a jol last night at Afrikaburn."
Lekker - Nice, good, great and means ‘tasty’ in Afrikaans
Mal - crazy or mad in Afrikaans. BTW "the people are going mal at the party" is not a negative sentence
Moerse - Means "really big" or numerous in Afrikaas.
Nca - meaning everything is cool or things are good. For example, “the food was nca my friend.” “How are you? I am nca.”
"Now" - The phrases "now", "now now", "just now" and "right now" all mean different things in terms of immediacy and differs from person to person. You may need a follow up question to determine the timeframe. Good luck with this one!
Shebeen - A tavern or bar in South Africa especially in the townships. For example, “let’s go visit the Shebeen in the township this weekend.”
Yebo - Means "Yes" in Zulu.
- Words via the Afrikaburn Rangers and Khaya:-)