This will be very helpful for any of you coming to the World Cup… or, coming to visit me, which ten times more lekker.
A
Ag shame!
To express anything from sympathy to sarcasm to irritation to cuteness. The "Ag" is one of the most useful South African words and is pronounced like the "ach" in the German "achtung." "Ag Shame, she didn't deserve that". "You are too tired to shop? Ag shame man, you really have it tough" or "My friend's husband really made an effort with Valentine's day. Ag Shame man, how cute is that!"
Aikona!
No way, I can't believe it!
Amazi
A popular Zulu drink of thick sour milk. Also called "maas." They love it… and I have yet to have the guts to try it [I don't even like milk, so what are the chances that I would like sour milk?!].
B
Bakkie
The SA version of a truck. A very guy-thing in South Africa, all the "manne" drive bakkies. If it's a 4×4, all the better. By the way, it is pronounced "buck-ee." It is Afrikaans… and none of their vowels really make sense to me… and what we call trucks [i.e. the Ford pick-up], they call vans. Only the big diesels are considered "trucks." Go figure.
Biltong
Dried and salted (raw) meat… we know it as "jerky." Beef jerky, turkey jerky… here they have those, plus springbok, kudu, impala, ostrich… those African animals that I get to see at the nature reserves.
Biscuit
This is a cookie. When I talk about the warm Pillsbury biscuits, I get blank stares. Apparently, those don't really exist here. When I say "cookie," I also get blank stares. It's a biscuit.
Bobotie
A dish of Malay origin. Minced meat, raisins, yellow rice, egg on top. It is quite delicious. Don't worry friends, I am bringing home the recipe!
Boerewors
South African sausage, usually eaten at a braai or at breakfast. It literally means "farmers sausage." I can't really tell if it is different from the sausage at home, but they swear it is because it is better, along with their biltong. "Better."
Braai
A barbeque (social event). It is the first thing you will be invited to when you visit South Africa and it will take place whatever the weather. They do it all the time – during the week or weekends and they braai anything. Once again, I am not allowed to compare this to an American barbeque because a braai is "so much better." I honestly do not see the difference.
Bru
A brother (not necessarily family). "Hey bru, howzit hangin'?" Used much more than the "Bro" trend happening on college campuses [especially with lacrosse teams], and slightly less annoying.
Bunny Chow
A hollowed-out half loaf of bread filled with curry. You haven't lived until you've had a bunny. I can get one for R4.50, which is $0.62… it is filling, too! I love love love the bunny chow.
C
Cakalaka
Cockroaches. Ughhh. Don't get me started.
Chips
French fries. And it also means potato chips. I haven't the slightest idea as to how you know which one they are talking about.
China
To most people China is the country with the largest population in the world, but to a South African it can mean something entirely different. China means good friend, as in "Thisoke's my china". It's one of the few Cockney rhyming slang words to survive in the country, coming from "china plate" = "mate". I learned about rhyming slang from an Australian volunteer who always referred to tomato sauce as "dead horse," claiming that it rhymes in Australia.
Cooldrink/Colddrink
This is the common term for a soda, such as Coca-Cola. Ask for a soda in Michigan and they may laugh; Ask for a soda in South Africa and you will receive a club soda. I just can't win.
Costume
This is their word for swimsuit. I know they say this in some other countries too, but it seriously drives me mad. "Swim costume." "Bathing costume." Really?! It just sounds like a Halloween party in the pool/tub. Yuck. Please stop.
French fries. And it also means potato chips. I haven't the slightest idea as to how you know which one they are talking about.
China
To most people China is the country with the largest population in the world, but to a South African it can mean something entirely different. China means good friend, as in "Thisoke's my china". It's one of the few Cockney rhyming slang words to survive in the country, coming from "china plate" = "mate". I learned about rhyming slang from an Australian volunteer who always referred to tomato sauce as "dead horse," claiming that it rhymes in Australia.
Cooldrink/Colddrink
This is the common term for a soda, such as Coca-Cola. Ask for a soda in Michigan and they may laugh; Ask for a soda in South Africa and you will receive a club soda. I just can't win.
Costume
This is their word for swimsuit. I know they say this in some other countries too, but it seriously drives me mad. "Swim costume." "Bathing costume." Really?! It just sounds like a Halloween party in the pool/tub. Yuck. Please stop.
D
Dodge
Someone that is dodgy or dodge is not to be trusted. "Chips, that guy on the corner looks dodge. Hide your stuff." Dody is not a new word to me, but I usually use the word "sketchy" or "sketch."
Dof
Not very bright. It is mostly used to describe someone being stupid in the moment: "Zuma, who?" Answer: "Nooit, bru, if you don't know who Jacob Zuma is you're seriously dof". This sounds amazing with a South African accent.
Durbs
The city of Durban, which is about an hour away from me… or much less, depending on who is driving.
Dutchman
Boer ["brother" in Afrikaans]. Boertjie. Afrikaans person.
E
Eish
This is so South African it's not even funny. It's a Zulu expression used in response to surprise, disbelief, shock, wonder, outrage, frustration. "Eish, it's hot today" or "Can you believe she took that wall out on her way down the driveway! ..Eish." I've even started using this South Africanism… it fits into my sentences so well. I need to stop… eish.
G
Gogo
Zulu word for grandmother or elderly woman. I use this word a lot when talking about the caregivers for the orphans we serve in the townships.
H
Haibo!
I am not sure if this is primarily Zulu thing, maybe Xhosa too… but it is their exclamation for "Oh my goodness!" When something is surprising, or difficult.
Hectic
To express/describe anything radical. "I've heard there is some kind of issue with the water in South Africa… imagine not having drinking water!" Answer: "Hectic, bru". They say hectic a lot. How was the camp? Hectic. How are the kids? Hectic. How is the weather? Hectic. How is the government?... hectic.
Hey
Often used at the end of a sentence to emphasize the importance of what has just been said, like an affirmation or agreement, as in "You're only going to get donnered [beat up] if you come in late again, hey?" It can also stand alone as a question. Instead of saying "excuse me?" or "pardon me?" when you have not heard something directed at you, you can always say: "Hey?" The frequency in which some people put this word at the end of their sentences drives me nuts.
Howzit
A combination of "hell, how are you" and "what's up?" I always think of it as "How is it?" but it really is kind of like saying Hello. Try not to answer: "I'm fine thank you, yourself?" I do that all the time. I am soooo not cool.
I
Isit/Izit?
This is my FAVORITE ONE! It is used instead of "really??" This is a great word to use in conversations. Derived from the two words "is" and "it", it doesn't quite make sense all the time according to American grammar standards. Example: "I went to the pool yesterday and it was soo cold!" "Isit?!" [see, it makes no sense] "I was sitting next to Amanda and you know what, you wouldn't frikkin believe it, she was like all over that guy next to her while Johan was right there, as in next to her." Answer: "Isit?" (Really?) Or in a more cheeky way: "I suggest you have an attitude adjustment real soon or we're going to have a problem." Answer: " Isit?" (You reckon? Whatcha gonna do?). It can also be used when you have nothing to contribute if someone tells you something at a braai. For instance, if someone would say: "The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership." It is quite appropriate to respond by saying: "Izit?" I say this a little too often for it to be healthy.
J
Jozi
Nickname for the city of Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, which is also known as Joburg or Joeys.
Just now
Not right now, but in a little while: "Chill bru, I know what I said – I'll be there just now. I'm almost finished with the Prison Break series, two more to go, I'll see you just now, ok." There is a big difference between "just now" and "now now."
K
Khaya
Home. From the Nguni group of languages [Zulu, Xhosa, etc].
Kiff / Kief
If something is nice. Lekker. "That was such a kiff wave, bru".
Koeksisters
Traditional Malay/Afrikaans dessert: A sticky, twisted, deep-fried, syrup-coated "doughnut" that is frozen. Chad made them for our Bible study Thanksgiving…Delicious.
Kwaito
The music of South Africa's urban black youth, a mixture of South African disco, hip hop, R&B, reggae, and a heavy dose of house music beats. The taxis ["kombis"] blare this music as they drive down the street.
Kwela
A popular form of township music from the 1950s, based on the pennywhistle - a cheap and simple instrument taken up by street performers. The term kwela comes from the isiZulu for "get up", though in township slang it also referred to the police vans, the kwela-kwela. It is said that the young men who played the pennywhistle on street corners also acted as lookouts to warn those drinking in illegal shebeens of the arrival of the cops.
L
Laduma!
A popular cheer celebrating goals scored at soccer matches, Zulu for it thunders. I am totally going to yell this at a World Cup game.
Lekker
This Afrikaans word is used by everyone, everywhere to describe anything nice / pleasant. "I've got such a lekker job." I see it on some of the products made in South Africa as a motto to boost the economy through buying domestically-made products: "Local is Lekker." If you enjoyed a braai thoroughly, you can say: "Now that was lekk-errrrrrr!" while drawing out the last syllable. Yes, you have to roll your "R"s a bit. Like Spanish.
N
Now now
A nice way of saying that it can happen at any time, no pressure. Almost the same as "just now", the only difference is that "now now" is even more flexible. In much of the outside world, this is a comforting phrase: "Now now, it's really not so bad." But remember in South Africa , this phrase is used in the following manner: "Just wait, I'll be there now now," meaning "a little after now". Or sometimes I hear it used to mean immediately. Don't you just love South African time? This is why I never have any clue as to when anything is going to happen. It will get done eventually.
M
Madiba
An affectionate name for former President Nelson Mandela, and the name of his clan.
Marmite
Trade name of a dark-coloured spread made from vegetable extract and used on bread or toast. So nasty. Like putting soy sauce on your bread [I am not a huge fan of soy sauce or salty things, so I am biased].
Mealie
Maize or corn. A mealie is a maize cob, and mealie meal is maize meal, the staple diet of South Africa, which is mostly cooked into pap. From the Afrikaans mielie.
Mileage
It means the same thing that is means in the United States, but tell me: Why do these say mileage if they measure their distance in kilometers???
Muesli
Granola. It was the biggest confusion of my first shopping trip when I was trying to find the granola.
Muti
Medicine, typically traditional African medicine, from the Zulu umuthi. You can get "magic muti" for anything… really, anything… from an upset stomach to cancer to impotence to winning the lottery to making someone fall in love with you. Like I said, Anything.
Mzansi
A popular word for South Africa. The catchphrase to one of the TV channels is "Mzanzi fo' sho'."
N
Naartjie
Pronounced "nar-chee." The South African word for tangerine, Citrus reticulata. I have had many an argument over trying to figure out what member of the citrus family this fruit was.
Nappy
A baby's diaper. "I need a huge nappy" doesn't mean the person wants to take a rest, but rather is taking care of a baby with a big bum.
O
Oke/Ou
Guy. Bloke. Can be used interchangeably with Ou ["oh"]. "That oke's checking out my mother!"
P
Pap
Prounouned "pup". Traditional South African starchy dish, made out of corn meal and cooked with water and salt… basically the staple food of South Africa. Also called Phuthu. Often served with sous (pronounced "sauce": gravy/chakalaka). I tried to make this and failed miserably.
Phuthu
"Stiff" Pap… so it is pap, but thicker.
Polony
What we call bologna, although I think their way of spelling it is a little easier to follow. Except theirs doesn't come pre-sliced and you get these giant cylinders of bright pink mystery "meat."
Potjie / Potjiekos
Almost like a stew made outside on a fire using a 3-legged cast iron pot. It literally means "little pot stew" in Afrikaans. You just throw all the vegetables you can think of in there, the slower cooking ones on the bottom and the quick ones on the top. Then you cook it for hours, never mixing it. The only time it is mixed is when you are spooning it out. And, it is pronounced "poi-kee." I was pronouncing it "pot-jee" at the hostel in Cape Town and that reaffirmed the stereotype that Americans are ignorant. Oops.
R
Rand
The South African currency, which is made up of 100 cents. The name comes from the Witwatersrand (Dutch for "white waters ridge"), the region in Gauteng province in which most of the country's gold deposits are found. Their bills have the "South African Big 5" on them, so when I use the money I get to stare at pictures of lions and elephants and whatnot. Cool.
Robots
Traffic lights. My first day here someone told me to go outside and wait by the robot. So I went outside and wandered around looking for… well, looking for a robot, perhaps R2D2. You know, a man made out of metal. And I was wondering why South Africa had robots walking around the street. They don't—just traffic lights.
Rock up
To rock up is to just, sort of arrive. You don't make an appointment or tell anyone you are coming - you just rock up. I actually heard this use in the sermon at church this week. Friends can rock up but you have to be selective about it. For example, you can't just rock up for a job interview.
Rooibos
Afrikaans for red bush, this popular South African tea made from the Cyclopia genistoides bush is gaining worldwide popularity for its health benefits. This herbal tea is basically the only alternative to black tea. Black and Rooibos, for the most part these are the only choices you have, besides coffee.
Rooinek
English-speaking South African, from the Afrikaans for red neck, but without the connotations given the term in the US. It was first coined by Afrikaners decades ago to refer to immigrant Englishmen, whose white necks were particularly prone to sunburn.
S
Saffa
A South African (referred to as a "Saffa" in other countries)
Samoosa
Indian snack in the form of a triangle pastry with tasty fillings (deep fried in oil). Not for wussies / naffies as most of them are quite hot. I love them. I win by coming to South Africa and still having so much access to Indian food. Yum.
Samp
A relative to pap and phuthu, but I think made out of whole kernel corn instead of corn meal. I don't really know, but it is another popular Zulu dish.
Sangoma
A traditional healer or diviner who calls upon the ancestors for help. I live next door to one, so at least once a week I have the privilege of trying to sleep through the beating of loud drums, singing, and smoke blowing into my window. Apparently, the sangoma can fix anything... even help you win the lottery.
Sarmie
Sandwich. I just figured this one out.
Serviettes
Napkins. I only figured this out because of the Spanish word for napkins is "servietas." My years of Spanish class has paid off!
Shame
They say this a lot. About everything that could be remotely sad. Refer to "Ag shame" under the A section.
Sharp, sharp
To say that things are going well. "Howzit?" "Sharp, sharp." Used as a greeting, a farewell, for agreement or just to express enthusiasm. When they say this they often do this handshake type thing where you press your thumbs together and flick them off. It is like a thumbs-up, but your thumbs touch. I can't explain it, but it is kind of the equivalent of our fist bump. Apparently this is uniquely South African. It took me a while to know what they are saying because it sounds like "Shop, shop."
Shebeen
A township tavern, illegal under the apartheid regime, often set up in a private house and frequented by black South Africans. The word is originally Gaelic [I learned this from reading a St. Patrick's edition of a 2007 Reader's Digest I found].
Shongololo
Large brown millipede, from the Zulu ukushonga, meaning "to roll up". I stepped on one walking to my kitchen once and it sure gave me a fright! Rolled up right under my foot.
Skebenga
Zulu for ganster or crook. "Watch out bru, that guy checking out your wheels looks like a real skebenga".
Slap chips
Almost like fries but not. It's like fries but just bigger and not crispy, rather "slap" (limp), and served in a small brown paper bag. To be eaten with loads of salt, vinegar and tomato sauce [aka ketchup].
Slip slops
Sandals (or slops) with a strap between the big toe and the one next to it. We call them "flip flops." I was introduced to this word when someone said, "Whoa, how did you get a slops tan?!" pointing to my feet. They were oddly impressed.
Sorry
Not always used in an apologetic way, but used a lot. Context: Excuse me? Or when you want to pass someone but they are standing in your way, you go "sorry". Or something like this: Person 1: "Do you know that scientific method refers to bodies of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge." Answer: "Sorry?" (say again?) Or if anything remotely unhappy happens, like you dropped your pen on the ground or you spilt some water on yourself. Feel free to read my blog post on this one.
T
Takkies
Trainers. Sneakers. The shoes that you run in, if you chose to run with shoes on. The word is also used to describe automobile or truck tyres [or as we say, "tires"]. "Fat tackies" are really wide tyres, as in: "You've got lekker fat tackies on your Vôlla, hey?"
Taxi
Not a metered car with a single occupant, but a minibus used to transport a large number of people, and the most common way of getting around in South Africa. They are called "kombis" where I live. The taxi drivers are absolutely crazy on the roads.
Townships
Low-income dormitory suburbs outside cities and towns - effectively ghettos - to which black South Africans were confined during the apartheid era.
U
Ubuntu
Southern African humanist philosophy that holds as its central tenet that a person is a person through other persons. "Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu." It is the title of my blog.
V
Voertsek
Go away, bugger off, voertsek! It is pronounced foot-sak, and I can't tell if it is a bad word or not. Maybe if you are coming to South Africa you shouldn't say it until we have it appropriateness confirmed.
Vrot
Pronounced - "frot". Rotton (anything that's spoiled or "off") or to describe someone that's totally wasted (that had too much to drink). "I was still having a dop and the next moment I found myself dossing on the floor..eish I was vrot, hey". Also a rugby player who misses important kicks or
tackles can be said to have played a vrot game - opposite to a "lekker" game.
Vuvuzela
The Vuvuzela is as much a part of South African soccer as the "GOOOOOOOOOOO…OOOOL!" is to Mexican soccer. If you have ever watched a South Africa soccer game, you may have noticed the weird buzzing sound in the background… that is the sound of hundreds of fans with their vuvuzelas. A large, colourful plastic trumpet with the sound of a foghorn, blown enthusiastically by virtually everyone in the crowd at soccer matches. According to some, the word comes from the isiZulu for "making noise." They look just like the one Angel Moroni holds on top of LDS temples, except these are plastic. They are so noisy that other countries asked for them to be banned for the World Cup as they would be a distraction. The answer was no.
W
Waitron
They don't want to be sexist by saying "waitress" or "waiter," so the new politically correct word is "waitron." Sounds like a robot to me.
Y
Yebo
It means "yes" in Zulu but can also be used as a "hello" greeting, like when you answer the phone.
Dodge
Someone that is dodgy or dodge is not to be trusted. "Chips, that guy on the corner looks dodge. Hide your stuff." Dody is not a new word to me, but I usually use the word "sketchy" or "sketch."
Dof
Not very bright. It is mostly used to describe someone being stupid in the moment: "Zuma, who?" Answer: "Nooit, bru, if you don't know who Jacob Zuma is you're seriously dof". This sounds amazing with a South African accent.
Durbs
The city of Durban, which is about an hour away from me… or much less, depending on who is driving.
Dutchman
Boer ["brother" in Afrikaans]. Boertjie. Afrikaans person.
E
Eish
This is so South African it's not even funny. It's a Zulu expression used in response to surprise, disbelief, shock, wonder, outrage, frustration. "Eish, it's hot today" or "Can you believe she took that wall out on her way down the driveway! ..Eish." I've even started using this South Africanism… it fits into my sentences so well. I need to stop… eish.
G
Gogo
Zulu word for grandmother or elderly woman. I use this word a lot when talking about the caregivers for the orphans we serve in the townships.
H
Haibo!
I am not sure if this is primarily Zulu thing, maybe Xhosa too… but it is their exclamation for "Oh my goodness!" When something is surprising, or difficult.
Hectic
To express/describe anything radical. "I've heard there is some kind of issue with the water in South Africa… imagine not having drinking water!" Answer: "Hectic, bru". They say hectic a lot. How was the camp? Hectic. How are the kids? Hectic. How is the weather? Hectic. How is the government?... hectic.
Hey
Often used at the end of a sentence to emphasize the importance of what has just been said, like an affirmation or agreement, as in "You're only going to get donnered [beat up] if you come in late again, hey?" It can also stand alone as a question. Instead of saying "excuse me?" or "pardon me?" when you have not heard something directed at you, you can always say: "Hey?" The frequency in which some people put this word at the end of their sentences drives me nuts.
Howzit
A combination of "hell, how are you" and "what's up?" I always think of it as "How is it?" but it really is kind of like saying Hello. Try not to answer: "I'm fine thank you, yourself?" I do that all the time. I am soooo not cool.
I
Isit/Izit?
This is my FAVORITE ONE! It is used instead of "really??" This is a great word to use in conversations. Derived from the two words "is" and "it", it doesn't quite make sense all the time according to American grammar standards. Example: "I went to the pool yesterday and it was soo cold!" "Isit?!" [see, it makes no sense] "I was sitting next to Amanda and you know what, you wouldn't frikkin believe it, she was like all over that guy next to her while Johan was right there, as in next to her." Answer: "Isit?" (Really?) Or in a more cheeky way: "I suggest you have an attitude adjustment real soon or we're going to have a problem." Answer: " Isit?" (You reckon? Whatcha gonna do?). It can also be used when you have nothing to contribute if someone tells you something at a braai. For instance, if someone would say: "The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership." It is quite appropriate to respond by saying: "Izit?" I say this a little too often for it to be healthy.
J
Jozi
Nickname for the city of Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, which is also known as Joburg or Joeys.
Just now
Not right now, but in a little while: "Chill bru, I know what I said – I'll be there just now. I'm almost finished with the Prison Break series, two more to go, I'll see you just now, ok." There is a big difference between "just now" and "now now."
K
Khaya
Home. From the Nguni group of languages [Zulu, Xhosa, etc].
Kiff / Kief
If something is nice. Lekker. "That was such a kiff wave, bru".
Koeksisters
Traditional Malay/Afrikaans dessert: A sticky, twisted, deep-fried, syrup-coated "doughnut" that is frozen. Chad made them for our Bible study Thanksgiving…Delicious.
Kwaito
The music of South Africa's urban black youth, a mixture of South African disco, hip hop, R&B, reggae, and a heavy dose of house music beats. The taxis ["kombis"] blare this music as they drive down the street.
Kwela
A popular form of township music from the 1950s, based on the pennywhistle - a cheap and simple instrument taken up by street performers. The term kwela comes from the isiZulu for "get up", though in township slang it also referred to the police vans, the kwela-kwela. It is said that the young men who played the pennywhistle on street corners also acted as lookouts to warn those drinking in illegal shebeens of the arrival of the cops.
L
Laduma!
A popular cheer celebrating goals scored at soccer matches, Zulu for it thunders. I am totally going to yell this at a World Cup game.
Lekker
This Afrikaans word is used by everyone, everywhere to describe anything nice / pleasant. "I've got such a lekker job." I see it on some of the products made in South Africa as a motto to boost the economy through buying domestically-made products: "Local is Lekker." If you enjoyed a braai thoroughly, you can say: "Now that was lekk-errrrrrr!" while drawing out the last syllable. Yes, you have to roll your "R"s a bit. Like Spanish.
N
Now now
A nice way of saying that it can happen at any time, no pressure. Almost the same as "just now", the only difference is that "now now" is even more flexible. In much of the outside world, this is a comforting phrase: "Now now, it's really not so bad." But remember in South Africa , this phrase is used in the following manner: "Just wait, I'll be there now now," meaning "a little after now". Or sometimes I hear it used to mean immediately. Don't you just love South African time? This is why I never have any clue as to when anything is going to happen. It will get done eventually.
M
Madiba
An affectionate name for former President Nelson Mandela, and the name of his clan.
Marmite
Trade name of a dark-coloured spread made from vegetable extract and used on bread or toast. So nasty. Like putting soy sauce on your bread [I am not a huge fan of soy sauce or salty things, so I am biased].
Mealie
Maize or corn. A mealie is a maize cob, and mealie meal is maize meal, the staple diet of South Africa, which is mostly cooked into pap. From the Afrikaans mielie.
Mileage
It means the same thing that is means in the United States, but tell me: Why do these say mileage if they measure their distance in kilometers???
Muesli
Granola. It was the biggest confusion of my first shopping trip when I was trying to find the granola.
Muti
Medicine, typically traditional African medicine, from the Zulu umuthi. You can get "magic muti" for anything… really, anything… from an upset stomach to cancer to impotence to winning the lottery to making someone fall in love with you. Like I said, Anything.
Mzansi
A popular word for South Africa. The catchphrase to one of the TV channels is "Mzanzi fo' sho'."
N
Naartjie
Pronounced "nar-chee." The South African word for tangerine, Citrus reticulata. I have had many an argument over trying to figure out what member of the citrus family this fruit was.
Nappy
A baby's diaper. "I need a huge nappy" doesn't mean the person wants to take a rest, but rather is taking care of a baby with a big bum.
O
Oke/Ou
Guy. Bloke. Can be used interchangeably with Ou ["oh"]. "That oke's checking out my mother!"
P
Pap
Prounouned "pup". Traditional South African starchy dish, made out of corn meal and cooked with water and salt… basically the staple food of South Africa. Also called Phuthu. Often served with sous (pronounced "sauce": gravy/chakalaka). I tried to make this and failed miserably.
Phuthu
"Stiff" Pap… so it is pap, but thicker.
Polony
What we call bologna, although I think their way of spelling it is a little easier to follow. Except theirs doesn't come pre-sliced and you get these giant cylinders of bright pink mystery "meat."
Potjie / Potjiekos
Almost like a stew made outside on a fire using a 3-legged cast iron pot. It literally means "little pot stew" in Afrikaans. You just throw all the vegetables you can think of in there, the slower cooking ones on the bottom and the quick ones on the top. Then you cook it for hours, never mixing it. The only time it is mixed is when you are spooning it out. And, it is pronounced "poi-kee." I was pronouncing it "pot-jee" at the hostel in Cape Town and that reaffirmed the stereotype that Americans are ignorant. Oops.
R
Rand
The South African currency, which is made up of 100 cents. The name comes from the Witwatersrand (Dutch for "white waters ridge"), the region in Gauteng province in which most of the country's gold deposits are found. Their bills have the "South African Big 5" on them, so when I use the money I get to stare at pictures of lions and elephants and whatnot. Cool.
Robots
Traffic lights. My first day here someone told me to go outside and wait by the robot. So I went outside and wandered around looking for… well, looking for a robot, perhaps R2D2. You know, a man made out of metal. And I was wondering why South Africa had robots walking around the street. They don't—just traffic lights.
Rock up
To rock up is to just, sort of arrive. You don't make an appointment or tell anyone you are coming - you just rock up. I actually heard this use in the sermon at church this week. Friends can rock up but you have to be selective about it. For example, you can't just rock up for a job interview.
Rooibos
Afrikaans for red bush, this popular South African tea made from the Cyclopia genistoides bush is gaining worldwide popularity for its health benefits. This herbal tea is basically the only alternative to black tea. Black and Rooibos, for the most part these are the only choices you have, besides coffee.
Rooinek
English-speaking South African, from the Afrikaans for red neck, but without the connotations given the term in the US. It was first coined by Afrikaners decades ago to refer to immigrant Englishmen, whose white necks were particularly prone to sunburn.
S
Saffa
A South African (referred to as a "Saffa" in other countries)
Samoosa
Indian snack in the form of a triangle pastry with tasty fillings (deep fried in oil). Not for wussies / naffies as most of them are quite hot. I love them. I win by coming to South Africa and still having so much access to Indian food. Yum.
Samp
A relative to pap and phuthu, but I think made out of whole kernel corn instead of corn meal. I don't really know, but it is another popular Zulu dish.
Sangoma
A traditional healer or diviner who calls upon the ancestors for help. I live next door to one, so at least once a week I have the privilege of trying to sleep through the beating of loud drums, singing, and smoke blowing into my window. Apparently, the sangoma can fix anything... even help you win the lottery.
Sarmie
Sandwich. I just figured this one out.
Serviettes
Napkins. I only figured this out because of the Spanish word for napkins is "servietas." My years of Spanish class has paid off!
Shame
They say this a lot. About everything that could be remotely sad. Refer to "Ag shame" under the A section.
Sharp, sharp
To say that things are going well. "Howzit?" "Sharp, sharp." Used as a greeting, a farewell, for agreement or just to express enthusiasm. When they say this they often do this handshake type thing where you press your thumbs together and flick them off. It is like a thumbs-up, but your thumbs touch. I can't explain it, but it is kind of the equivalent of our fist bump. Apparently this is uniquely South African. It took me a while to know what they are saying because it sounds like "Shop, shop."
Shebeen
A township tavern, illegal under the apartheid regime, often set up in a private house and frequented by black South Africans. The word is originally Gaelic [I learned this from reading a St. Patrick's edition of a 2007 Reader's Digest I found].
Shongololo
Large brown millipede, from the Zulu ukushonga, meaning "to roll up". I stepped on one walking to my kitchen once and it sure gave me a fright! Rolled up right under my foot.
Skebenga
Zulu for ganster or crook. "Watch out bru, that guy checking out your wheels looks like a real skebenga".
Slap chips
Almost like fries but not. It's like fries but just bigger and not crispy, rather "slap" (limp), and served in a small brown paper bag. To be eaten with loads of salt, vinegar and tomato sauce [aka ketchup].
Slip slops
Sandals (or slops) with a strap between the big toe and the one next to it. We call them "flip flops." I was introduced to this word when someone said, "Whoa, how did you get a slops tan?!" pointing to my feet. They were oddly impressed.
Sorry
Not always used in an apologetic way, but used a lot. Context: Excuse me? Or when you want to pass someone but they are standing in your way, you go "sorry". Or something like this: Person 1: "Do you know that scientific method refers to bodies of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge." Answer: "Sorry?" (say again?) Or if anything remotely unhappy happens, like you dropped your pen on the ground or you spilt some water on yourself. Feel free to read my blog post on this one.
T
Takkies
Trainers. Sneakers. The shoes that you run in, if you chose to run with shoes on. The word is also used to describe automobile or truck tyres [or as we say, "tires"]. "Fat tackies" are really wide tyres, as in: "You've got lekker fat tackies on your Vôlla, hey?"
Taxi
Not a metered car with a single occupant, but a minibus used to transport a large number of people, and the most common way of getting around in South Africa. They are called "kombis" where I live. The taxi drivers are absolutely crazy on the roads.
Townships
Low-income dormitory suburbs outside cities and towns - effectively ghettos - to which black South Africans were confined during the apartheid era.
U
Ubuntu
Southern African humanist philosophy that holds as its central tenet that a person is a person through other persons. "Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu." It is the title of my blog.
V
Voertsek
Go away, bugger off, voertsek! It is pronounced foot-sak, and I can't tell if it is a bad word or not. Maybe if you are coming to South Africa you shouldn't say it until we have it appropriateness confirmed.
Vrot
Pronounced - "frot". Rotton (anything that's spoiled or "off") or to describe someone that's totally wasted (that had too much to drink). "I was still having a dop and the next moment I found myself dossing on the floor..eish I was vrot, hey". Also a rugby player who misses important kicks or
tackles can be said to have played a vrot game - opposite to a "lekker" game.
Vuvuzela
The Vuvuzela is as much a part of South African soccer as the "GOOOOOOOOOOO…OOOOL!" is to Mexican soccer. If you have ever watched a South Africa soccer game, you may have noticed the weird buzzing sound in the background… that is the sound of hundreds of fans with their vuvuzelas. A large, colourful plastic trumpet with the sound of a foghorn, blown enthusiastically by virtually everyone in the crowd at soccer matches. According to some, the word comes from the isiZulu for "making noise." They look just like the one Angel Moroni holds on top of LDS temples, except these are plastic. They are so noisy that other countries asked for them to be banned for the World Cup as they would be a distraction. The answer was no.
W
Waitron
They don't want to be sexist by saying "waitress" or "waiter," so the new politically correct word is "waitron." Sounds like a robot to me.
Y
Yebo
It means "yes" in Zulu but can also be used as a "hello" greeting, like when you answer the phone.
Experts have talked about this before. How many times have you read about the importance of ‘adding value’ for your audience? How many times have you read about ‘building trust’ with your readers/prospects?
ReplyDeleteMany, many times. You know it well. Every marketing guru has spoken about this topic. I’m sick of hearing it. But it STILL bears repeating.
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