The genie allowed each person to bring one thing. Sho’t left is derived from everyday South African ‘taxi lingo’. You’ll often hear South Africans mention that they will do something ‘just now’. In general, the English spoken in Africa is more related to British English than American English. A term derived from the Nguni tribe, used to describe someone who is an expert at something. Make sure you roll the ‘r’ when pronouncing this word. ‘Don’t skinner about me.’, Lekker [lek-uh] is a widely used term indicating that something is ‘great’ or ‘nice’. For the vast majority of South African blacks, those are second or third languages. Southern accents are different in many different parts of the South. I was born in SA but I'm 18 now. Because the English spoken in South Africa is derived from the British Settlers who immigrated to the country en mass in the 1820s, schools teach the language based on the British grammatical system. Indian South African English includes a " basilect ", " mesolect ", and " acrolect ". If you’re feeling confident in your command of the South African accent, try testing out your skills with our ‘That’s a kief car!’. South African accents are notoriously varied, with a panoply of ethno- and sociolects befitting a country with eleven official languages. It is usually made from beef, game and even ostrich. A common greeting which is often used instead of “hello” and “how are you?” It combines the two phrases into a simple, “Howzit”, thereby saving time. An Afrikaans word meaning limp and describing soft, fat French fries. Often used in succession, these two words are used to express agreement or confirmation with someone or something. The KIT vowel tends to be "split" so that there is a clear allophonic variation between the front [ɪ] and central [ɪ̈] or [ə]. ‘We had a jol last night!’. South Africa has 11 different national languages - English is the most commonly spoken language in official and commercial public life but only the sixth most spoken language in terms of numbers. South Africa’s most common word for a man or guy and is similar in meaning to ‘china’, ‘bru’ or ‘boet’. Similar to the German “dummkopf” or Dutch “domkop”, this term literally translates to “dumb head” and is a derogatory term used to describe someone who you think is stupid. This is a traditional South African Indian dish and usually consists of curry served in a hollowed-out half-loaf of unsliced white bread. Extend any of the syllables for full effect. Example: “Last week we went on a game drive! Is it because of the cultural diversity, the 11 different languages we have or other influences? With 11 different languages being spoken throughout South Africa, having a translation guide on hand will not only make it easier to understand what you’re hearing, but will also make mingling with the locals a lot more fun. The vast majority of South African whites grew up speaking either Afrikaans or English as their first language. There are dozens of different dialects and 100s of different accents in South Africa. Your email address will not be published. Aweh – A South African slang word used to acknowledge something or greet someone and is mainly used in the coloured community. Enjoy! ‘Ag, shame man, poor girl!’ ‘Shame, he’s so cute.’. 5 Pleasure. Example: “I’m gatvol with that nonsense.” / “I’m gatvol that they keep losing all the time.”. Example: “We’re going to the beach now now!” (But first we have to pack our swimming gear, stop at gas station and maybe get some snacks…). South Africa is a unique place, and its quirks and idiosyncrasies manifest themselves in the unmistakable South African English dialect. Shame is a typical South African expression for sympathy or admiration. For example, ‘Pour me a dop,’ or ‘I’m gonna dop that test’. Sho my bru! Meaning ‘filled to the brim’ and is used to describe someone who is very angry or tired of the same thing happening over and over again. Thanks to the variety of languages spoken in South Africa, locals tend to borrow words from each language, resulting in slang words or phrases known as ‘South Africanisms’. Here is all about the annual South African Reed Dance ceremony. Eg. South Africans have made it a slang word to mean 'really'. Sharp [shahp] is often doubled up for effect (sharp sharp!) Ha! South Africa has 11 official languages: English, Afrikaans (similar to Dutch), Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda and Swati. While I still sometimes confuse it with an Aussie accent when I only hear someone say a few words, a longer listen reveals some of the same guttural sounds that are common in Afrikaans, a Dutch rooted language. Sawubona (First person singular) – If you meet a South African and you would like to greet them in isiZulu, you can say “Sawubona” meaning “greetings”. Some vowels transcribed as /e/ may sound longer, or some transcribed as /eɪ/ sound more steady (a sound like /eː/). Make sure to roll the ‘r’ when pronouncing the word. By translating Afrikaans to English, these Afrikaans idioms will definitely make you giggle. South African Accents. As a language practitioner, I know that slang has nothing to do with accent. Jol [jawl] is a widely-used term for ‘club’, ‘party’ or to ‘have fun’. I can’t believe that!”. Usually said with an angry tone when telling someone to go away or get lost. Eg. What were your impressions? Most grew up speaking languages like Xhosa or Zulu at home. Pink Pangea Writing Workshops | Online Workshops, Amp Up Your Blog & Website: An Online Workshop, Tips for Women Travelers in the Philippines, Czech Republic Travel Tips: Tansu’s Take on Health Safety & Romance, Tips for Women Travelers in American Samoa, Tips for Women Travelers in Solomon Islands. Quagga is pronounced as Kwa-gh-uh is another South African slang word. Email us at editor@pinkpangea.com for information about sharing your experience and advice with the Pink Pangea community. Eg. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Shalinee Naidoo is an environmental microbiologist, artist, writer and traveler from Durban, South Africa. It is used to refer to a particular species of zebra that became extinct in the 1800s. Usually expressed with respect. A Zulu term used to express shock or disbelief when talking to friends or family. A term used to describe a large brown millipede. An Afrikaans word that has multiple meanings and which can be used in various contexts to describe many things from people to food to inanimate objects. The word slap means ‘limp’ in Afrikaans and is a perfect description for the oily potato chips which are larger than French fries. For example, ‘The food was lekker’, or ‘We had a lekker day.’, Kief [kif], derived from Arabic (kayf), means cool, great, awesome or neat. Also known as a barbecue where steak, lamb chops and of course ‘boerewors’ is cooked on a grid over wood and flames. Any party, get-together or fun activity is a jol. A term used to describe a dried sausage, very similar to biltong or the German bratwurst or mettwurst. One of South Africa’s most popular desserts consisting of a sweet pastry crust and a creamy milk filling, topped with cinnamon powder. This term is usually used in reference to a male friend or companion. Slap chips [slup chips] is a slang phrase for deep-fried potato chips sold at takeaway seafood shops, grocery stores and restaurants. We saw loads of antelope!” “Is it, hey!”. A Khoi term usually expressed when someone experiences surprise or shock. 10 South African Slang Words And Phrases You Should Know If you’re visiting South Africa any time soon, it’s useful to know a few turns of phrase to help you along the way. The slow Southern Drawl is more common in the past and in rural areas than in metropolitan areas like Atlanta or Birmingham. It’s best when the bread is soft and fresh and the curry is extra spicy. If you’re visiting South Africa any time soon, it’s useful to know a few turns of phrase to help you along the way. Geniet dit! Jol | A party. ‘Eish, my cell phone broke’. Ha! Boerewors is usually ‘braaied’ and eaten on a hot dog roll with tomato sauce and mustard. It is derived from the isiZulu word ‘ukushonga’, meaning to roll up. Absolutely delicious! Over the centuries some words from native and other languages also became part of the South African English vocabulary. Example: “Hayibo! ), this is the spicy, cured snack eaten at rugby matches. Add some salads, rolls and ‘melktert’ for dessert and you are set for a traditional South African braai. Example: “Jislaaik, you gave me a fright!”. South Africa– Blue Sky Publications (Pty) Ltd T/A TheSouthAfrican Number: 2005/028472/07. A confusing phrase for non-locals meaning sometime soon – sooner than just now but quicker than right now. Here you’ll find the slang you need to know that you’ll hear every day, the food that you’ll see, and more slang you’ll hear the longer you stick around. Braai [br-eye] is a widely used noun and verb for an outdoor ‘barbecue’ where meat is cooked over a fire or coals. Here are a few useful South African slang words and phrases to help you during your travels. A commuter wanting a ride to a destination close by will say ‘Sho’t left, driver,’ meaning ‘I want to get off just around the corner.’, We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Example: “That was a lekker braai bru!” 10. Boerewors. Example: “Ag, man!” / “Ag, no man!” / “Ag, shame man!”. South Africa 40 female, 65, 1952, Indian, Brits (North West Province, or Western Transvaal) South Africa 41 male, 70, 1947, White/South African/Lithuanian/Jewish, Bloemfontein South Africa 42 female, 52, 1965, (Cape) Malay/Syrian/British, Cape Town (Wynberg) South Africa 43 male, 36, 1980, Black (Tsonga), Mokopane (Limpopo Province) Eg. Food that you will pack and take on the road – some sandwiches, drinks, chips, fruit and biltong and you have your padkos! How could I get my accent back For example, in some words the /ɪ/ vowel will sound closer to /ə/ whilst still being in a stressed syllable. A commuter wanting a ride to a destination close by will say ‘Sho’t left, driver,’ meaning ‘I want to get off just around the corner.’ This term is used to describe a male in his teens or early twenties. Zulu is normally spoken in the Durban area whilst Xhosa is spoken by the locals in Cape Town. Is it? Shebeen [sha-bean] is an illegal tavern derived from Irish (sibín). Usually expressed when someone experiences a sharp pain of some sort. Required fields are marked *. [izzit] is an expression frequently used in conversation meaning ‘Is that so?’ or ‘Really?’. This term is commonly used to call a friend, pal or buddy. Used in reference to an older uncle or even someone who is not your uncle but in an authority position. We can’t wait to hear from you. Phrases and accents were different in Georgia in 1800s as opposed to modern day New Orleans. This word is derived from the Zulu ‘ibhabhalazi’ and is used to describe a really bad hangover. It is used to convey the meaning of great, delicious, nice or fun. That said, it’s still foreign sounding, and exotic is exotic when it comes to this American’s ears. ‘We’re having a braai tomorrow.’ ‘We braaied the meat yesterday’. We’d love to know if there’s any important information you recommend adding to this list. Alles van die beste. 5. Useful South African Phrases. All the best. However, as a spoken language, English has taken on several peculiarities as it has become mixed with a variety of accents and words taken from other languages. and means ‘goodbye’ or that everything is great. The ‘g’ is pronounced as ‘ch’ in the back of the throat (think Scottish “Loch”) and is used to describe a bug or insect. 4. Your email address will not be published. With a South African accent you may hear more of an aw sound. Further, it’s also many South Africans’ second or even third language. I had a lekker day today guys! Example: “Sounds like they are having a real jol next door.” 12. This is the Afrikaans equivalent to “Oh man!” and is often used at the beginning of a sentence to express pity, resignation or irritation. After you have invariably enjoyed whatever you’ve eaten, drunk or experienced in South Africa, you thank the person responsible, and almost without exception, will be told that it was a pleasure. The symbols used for several of the South African vowels are less precise than their use in other varieties. Quagga. 5. 3. These are unlicensed bars usually found in low-income suburbs located outside of the major towns and cities, more commonly known as ‘the townships’. If you're planning a trip to South Africa, it's a good idea to learn a bit of the local lingo.South Africa has 11 official languages, but the easiest place to start is with South African English.Given the country's rich linguistic heritage, South African slang borrows from a range … To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK", Orlando Towers, Johannesburg © Adamina/Flickr, Zulu tribesman traditional dancing, South Africa, South African football fans at the World Cup. The pronunciation features which survive are mainly those from south-east England with distinct Cockney associations. It’s more a form of broken Afrikaans with a strong accent. This term is usually screamed out when a soccer team scores a goal. Kif – fun/good/cool. An Afrikaans phrase meaning ‘bitter cold’, often used to describe the cold weather during winter. Eg. Some vowels reflected as /ɒ/ may sound similar to /ɔː/ but significantly shorter. Often expressed as a double positive by combining it with the English “yes” in “Yebo, Yes!” or as an extremely expressive “Yeeebo!” This Zulu word is used regularly in South Africa to show agreement or approval with something or someone. Take backstreets so that you don’t get stuck at that robot on 7th Avenue.” Often used when talking about food, this term can be used as a verb, meaning to eat, or when talking about the food itself. In Australian and Kiwi accents, the a sound is pretty rounded. You broke my cell phone!”. What is it that people like so much and just why is it so sexy? Unfortunately, African Afrikaans is … I can now understand South African English thanks to @abaenglish. Example: “Oh, my gosh! It doesn’t take long being in South Africa before you find yourself dropping shap shap into conversation or yebo to confirm something. In some words, /ʌ/ and /æ/ may also sound very similar to each other. Boerewors [boor-uh-vors] is an Afrikaans term for ‘farmer’s sausage’ — a traditional South African meat often enjoyed at a braai. Even South Africans themselves do not always understand if the phrase should mean a short moment, or soon. The South African brought a car door, because if it got too hot she could just roll down the window! South African English . These terms describe varieties of a given language on a spectrum of similarity to the colonial version of that language: the "acrolect" being the most similar. It refers to unlicensed bars that were set up in townships during apartheid and frequented mainly by black South Africans. Example: “That new movie is lekker!” / “That bunny chow was lekker!” / “I’m lekker, bru!”. This delicious dish originated in Malay cooking and is made with spicy minced meat, baked in the oven with an egg custard topping. It can also mean ‘to fail an exam’. Sign up for a FREE online writing workshop here. Eg. Example: “Ag! A basic conversational word that can be inserted at various points in any conversation, meaning “oh, wow!” or “Is that so?” It can also be used when you don’t really feel like talking and don’t want to be rude but want to seem as if you’re listening. A Vegetarian Goes Fishing in South Africa, How Volunteering in Zimbabwe Changed Me for Life, Why We Overshare: Social Media, Voyeurism, and Travel, South African Wine Tasting: A Vine Romance, Why South Africa is Perfect for Solo Travel, What I Learned About Myself on My Return to Cape Town, Packing Tips for the Bridge to Nowhere Hike, Visit Sri Lanka: The Real Deal with Jordan McMullen. In South Africa, ag [agh] is not short for aggressive or agriculture — it’s a filler word to express irritation or resignation. Eish [aysh] is a colloquial exclamation of surprise, disapproval, exasperation or regret derived from Xhosa. This is usually said when trying to express surprise or wonder. It’s bitter koud outside!”. Example: I had a lekker day today guys! I moved 6 years ago. Derived from the Arabic kayf, meaning enjoyment or well-being, kiff or kief is most often used to convey similar feelings of nice, cool, great. For your free infographic, scroll down to the bottom of this article. An evil genie captured a South African and her two friends and banished them to the desert for a week. Now, it’s time to take a look at some essential Afrikaans phrases and Afrikaans greetings to use in your travels around South Africa or Namibia. 43 South African Slang Expressions You Need to Know. South African diphthongs are pretty different as well. Indaba [in-daa-bah] A conference or expo, from the Zulu word for ‘a matter for discussion’. South African slang and phrases. Let’s have a look at some common expressions you’ll hear when you land in Jo’burg: Lekker/lekka – cool or great. “I’ll meet you at school in 20 minutes. Similar to beef jerky (but much tastier! !” / “Haikona, when?! This is a derogative term meaning to hit or punch someone. Click To Tweet. This does not mean they’ll do it immediately, but rather a bit later. Example: The two main phonological features that mark South African English as distinct are the behaviour of the vowels in KIT and PALM. The South African accent was recently voted one of the top 50 in the world, so we wanted to delve a little deeper into the accent. And what is a South African accent really? There are few ways that a South African can better portray their satisfaction than with a passionate “lekker”. A braai is a popular social event in South Africa and even has its own dedicated public holiday, known as National Braai Day, which coincides with Heritage Day celebrated annually on September 24. Most people in the urban areas understand and can speak basic English so, if your English is OK, it is not totally essential to learn any of these languages to get by as a tourist. Example: “Ag, man!” / “Ag, no man!” / “Ag, shame man!”. The PALM vowel is characteristically back in the General and Broad varieties of SAE. © Copyright 2009-2020 Pink Pangea, All Rights Reserved. ‘Ag, no man!’, or ‘Ag, let’s go.’, Skinner [skuhn-her] is Afrikaans slang for gossip. South African English South African Dictionary Afrikaans. This cake really was a pleasure…. Is it the Afrikaans-English accent or the Bantu-English accent? It is one of the most commonly used phrases in the country. An ancient African word used to describe common philosophical feeling of humanity and family, meaning “I am because we are”. Example: “Hey my boet, see you at the game tonight!”. Now, you know what a “dorp” is, as well as it means when somebody says “now now”. Similar to ‘kiff’ or ‘kief’, jol can be used in any context to express having a good time. The first friend brought a canteen so he wouldn’t die of thirst. Babelaas | hangover 11. It has since become a mainstream word. It is usually served with yellow rice and raisins. One of the first things you’ll need to understand is that it isn’t just one single accent. This one is closely related to South African saying No. The African and English population of South Africa also speaks Afrikaans differently, but it’s not defined as a dialect. The second friend brought an umbrella to keep the sun off. Otherwise, let’s jump straight into some basic Afrikaans words. This is the Afrikaans equivalent to “Oh man!” and is often used at the beginning of a sentence to express pity, resignation or irritation. Example: “Aikona, why did she do that? You don’t want to be saying this to a local or worse, if a local says this to you – you’ve really angered them! Turns out, South Africa’s Afrikaans accent is the “key to hearts” in other parts of the world. Usually, they are grouped into categories by region. Example: “Let’s chow my bru!” / “This chow is spicy!”. 6. We can imagine this phrase would be very confusing for someone not from South Africa. Meaning ‘farmer’s sausage’, this term describes a savory sausage that was developed by the Afrikaners approximately 200 years ago. With only three tenses, Afrikaans is not only one of the easiest languages to learn, but it’s full of hilarious phrases that should exist in English. She currently holds a Master of Science in Environmental Microbiology but has chosen a life on the road – teaching English and Science to young students whilst documenting her traveling escapades on her blog: Life, Love & Travel. The first truly African, native English accent in South Africa evolved in the speech of the children of the 1820 Settlers who came to the Eastern Cape with parents who spoke many English dialects. How?!”. But don't you think the way in which some slang words are said contributes to our unique South African accent? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Derived from the Zulu word meaning “definitely not!” This word is usually expressed on its own, at the start or end of a sentence when something seems unbelievable. Related: Find out about all of the resources you’ll want to know about to fund your next trip here and here. These are usually mixed with tomato sauce and vinegar. It may sound illogical but makes complete sense in South Africa! Sho’t left is derived from everyday South African ‘taxi lingo’. Thanks to the variety of languages spoken in South Africa, locals tend to borrow words from each language, resulting in slang words or phrases known as ‘South Africanisms’. In fact pronunciation of certain words may even sound a little more like a Southern United States drawl. Example: “I’m going to a jol tonight!” / “I’m having a jol!” / “It was such a jol!”. Have you traveled to South Africa? Biltong is a favorite South African snack made from dried and salted meat, similar to beef jerky. You domkop! Dop is slang for an alcoholic drink. Eg. Bantu-English accent sense in South Africa conference or expo, from the isiZulu word ‘ ukushonga ’, this a! Is one of the South those are second or even third language African blacks, those are or., cured snack eaten at rugby matches this term is usually made from beef, game and even.! Conversation or yebo to confirm something in Georgia in 1800s as opposed modern... Sometime soon – sooner than just now but quicker than right now meet you at game. /Ɪ/ vowel will sound closer to /ə/ whilst still being in a hollowed-out half-loaf of white. Soft, fat French fries slang word used to describe a dried,. Someone to go away or get lost speaking either Afrikaans or English as distinct are the behaviour of the in. Surprise, disapproval, exasperation or regret derived from everyday South African expression for or. 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