| South African English | |
Our version of the English language is a rich and often confusing mixture of standard UK English, Afrikaans (a direct descendent of the Dutch language of early settlers), Australian English, and the various languages of the indigenous South African peoples. But these words and phrases, from any language, have arrived in the English that we speak here. We make no apologies for what follows. This is how is it is ... so that you will understand during your visit. Or will you? Words derived from other languages may not be pronounced as they are spelled. We do offer some hints ...
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| AG ! | An exclamation of irritation |
| BAKKIE | Pick-up truck / small lorry |
| The BIG FIVE | The five Big Game animals - African Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Lion, and Rhinoceros |
| BILTONG | Dried meat, mostly beef. Similar to North American Beef Jerky |
| BLACK JACK | A plant, the thin black seeds of which attach to clothing - plant leaf juice may repel insects |
| BLUE TRAIN | Luxury train service - Pretoria to Cape Town |
| BOER | A farmer. Or, if used in a historical context, a 19th century Dutch settler |
| BOEREWORS | The national sausage (Afrikaans for farmer's sausage). |
| BOTTLE STORE | A retail outlet selling liquor / spirits. Also BOTTLE SHOP |
| BRAAI | An open air barbecue / barbeque / bar-b-q, traditionally fired with wood charcoal |
| BUNDU | Wild, remote country |
| CAPE DUTCH | Architecture of the early Western Cape |
| CAPE DOCTOR | A south-east wind of the Cape region |
| COMBI | A 16 seater minibus - also sometimes called a 'Zola Budd' |
| DAGGA | Marijuana, the possession of which is illegal in South Africa |
| DRIFT | A shallow river crossing |
| DUST DEVIL | A small whirlwind that raises a pillar of dust |
| EGOLI | Alternatively IGOLI . A colloquial name for Johannesburg. Also JO'BURG. |
| FUNDI | An expert |
| GOGGA | An insect. We have many species of them ... it's the heat! But this word is often used instead as a very affectionate pet name for another person. Never pronounced as it is spelled in English as 'GOG-AH,' but as the Afrikaans 'HAW-HA' with a very 'throaty' sound for the aspirant 'H' |
| HAMBA KAHLE | Goodbye to somebody who is leaving, or SALA KAHLE if you are the person leaving. |
| HOEZIT? | A greeting ( "How is it?" contracted with a South African accent) |
| JA | Yes ( "Ya" as this is how it is said ) |
| Karoo | The arid plateau of the Western Cape |
| KLOOF | A deep valley |
| KLAAR | Finished or done with ( "Clear" with a South African accent) |
| KOPPIE | A small hill. A KOP is a big hill |
| KRAAL | A livestock enclosure (not so different from the western US "Corral") |
| KRANS | A sheer cliff |
| LEKKER | Delicious (usually) or pleasant. May be used when describing food, drink, people or... |
| MEALIE | Maize / Corn - when cooked into a mash, similar to creamed corn or southern US Grits |
| MUTI | African community traditional medicines |
| PLATTELAND | Country farming areas |
| ROBOT | Traffic / Stop light |
| RONDAVEL | A circular hut, usually thatched |
| ROOIBOS | A lekker herbal tea. An acquired taste, as is beer or Coca-Cola™. Try it at least once ... |
| SAFARI | A long distance journey - not necessarily just to look at or hunt "The Big Five' |
| SANGOMA | A witch doctor |
| SAWUBONA | Hello - a universal South African greeting. Also KOJANI . |
| SHAME | An exclamation in response to either good or bad news. Look for the facial expression ... |
| SIS ! | An exclamation of disgust |
| SNOEK | The favourite fish of the Western Cape. Genus: Thyrsites atun . A saltwater cousin of the Pike. We have 1001 ways of preparing it, from smoked, to paté, to bread even [Snoekbrood]! |
| SPOOR | The track or footprint of a person or animal |
| SPRUIT | A water course |
| STOEP | The verandah / veranda / porch / front deck of a house |
| TAKKIE | Tennis-type shoe / sneaker / runner / trainer |
| TREK | To make a long journey, or the journey itself, but usually on foot or horseback |
| VELD | The South African countryside (pronounced 'felt', from the same word origin as 'field.') |
| VLEI | Swamp / wet ground / marsh |
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