Those visiting South Africa for the first time are often left confused when speaking to South Africans for the first time. Plenty of “what did he say?”, blank stares, and a flurry of typing words into Google translate are no way to try and master the language of the Saffa. Brush up on your South Africanisms with our trusty Travel Dictionary.

• Awkward [ohrk-wid]

Meaning: This word can be used to describe anything strange or out of the norm, or an uneasy situation. It can also be shortened to awkies.

Usage: She tripped up the stairs in front of the whole class this morning. That’s so awkward!

• Big Five

Meaning: The African lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard. You may spot them on safari!

Usage: Keep an eye out for the Big Five when exploring the bushveld.

• Biltong [bil-tong]

Meaning: A tasty snack made out of dried and salted meat.

Usage: We must definitely pack some biltong to take along for our braai.

• Bliksem [blik-sim]

Meaning: To beat someone up. It can also be used interchangeably with donner.

Usage: That guy better not mess with you or I will bliksem him!

• Boerewors [boo-rah-vorrrs]

Meaning: A type of sausage that South Africans can’t live without. Make sure you pronounce that rolling “r”!

Usage: When you visit a friend’s braai, there’ll very likely be boerewors (or boerie) on the grid.

• Braai [br-eye]

Meaning: A South African barbeque.

Usage: Dop and braai are two words you need to learn if you’re visiting South Africa to have a jol!

• Bunny chow

Meaning: Curry served out of a loaf of bread.

Usage: Grab some bunny chow when visiting Durbs.

• Bushveld [bush-felt]

Meaning: A type of vegetation made up of low-growing thorn trees and bush.

Usage: Game drives are the best way to spot wildlife in the bushveld.

• Chommie [choh-mee]

Meaning: A friend or mate.

Usage: I invited all of my chommies to the braai.

•  Dodgy [dod-jee]

Meaning: Something dangerous or suspect.

Usage: Don’t walk around late at night in a dodgy area.

•  Dop [dohp]

Meaning: A drink. Not to be confused with dorp [doh-rp] which is a small village.

Usage: Let’s go out tonight and have a dop with the boys!

•  Durbs [derbz]

Meaning: Durban

Usage: Durbs has plenty of lovely beaches.

•  Eina! [ay-nah]

Meaning: Ouch!

Usage: Eina! That oke really donnered me.

• Eish [ay-sh]

Meaning: This isn’t so much a word as an expression, and can be used to express surprise or anger.

Usage: Eish! That was eina!

• Fundi [fuhn-dee]

Meaning: An expert.

Usage: He is a real fundi at blowing his vuvuzela.

• Fynbos [fayn-bos]

Meaning: Natural shrubland vegetation mainly found in the Western Cape.

Usage: Keep an eye out for fynbos on your hike.

• Gatvol [ghat-fohl]

Meaning: Fed up.

Usage: I am gatvol of all the traffic in Jozi this weekend.

• Gogga [ghor-gha]

Meaning: An insect.

Usage: You may see lots of goggas on your hikes through the fynbos.

• Is it [iz-it]

Meaning: Is that so/really?

Usage: Person 1: That jol last night was off the hook, my chomma. Person 2: Is it?

• Ja-nee [yar-near]

Meaning: Yes-no. It usually means the affirmative.

Usage: Person 1: Did you see the game on Friday? Person 2: Ja-nee, it was a hectic one hey!

• Jol [johl]

Meaning: A party or to party.

Usage: We are going to have a jol!

• Jozi [jo-zee]

Meaning: Johannesburg.

Usage: Jozi is the provincial capital of Gauteng.

• Just now

Meaning: If a South African tells you they will be ready “just now”, “soonish” or “now-now”, this could mean anytime in the foreseeable future (basically any time other than right now), and you may want to take a seat. You’ll be waiting a while.

Usage: I’ll be there now-now.

• Koeksister [kohk-sis-tah]

Meaning: A traditional sweet made from twisted dough, dipped in syrup.

Usage: Koeksisters make a lekker dessert

• Koppie [koh-pee]

Meaning: A small hill.

Usage: I’m hiking up that koppie to see some fynbos. 

• Kwaito [kw-eye-toe]

Meaning: A mixture of South African disco, hip hop, R&B, house, and reggae.

Usage: You may hear kwaito music when you visit a friend’s pozzie.

• Lekker [leh-kah]

Meaning: Used to show approval.

Usage: The boerewors  at the braai was really lekker!

• Oke [ohk], ou [oh]

Meaning: A man.

Usage: Do you think that oke will give us some of his boerewors? 

•  Madiba [muh-dee-bah]

Meaning: An affectionate nickname for South Africa’s former president, Nelson Mandela.

Usage: We will always honour Madiba for his inspirational legacy.

•  Maak n plan [mark-a-plun]

Meaning: To develop a strategy to overcome difficulties.

Usage: I’m not sure how to get there but don’t worry, we’ll maak n plan.

•  Malva pudding [mal-vah-pudding]

Meaning: A sweet pudding served with hot custard.

•  Melktert [mehlk-tahrt]

Meaning: A sweet pastry with a creamy milk filling.

•   Mzansi [m-zun-see]

Meaning: South Africa

Usage: Melktert, potjiekos, and malva pudding are the reasons we love Mzansi

•  Padkos [put-kors]

Meaning: This literally means “road food” – snacks you will take along on a road trip.

Usage: Don’t forget to pack some lekker snacks for our padkos.

•  Pasop [puh-s-ohp]

Meaning: Beware or be careful.

Usage: Pasop! That oke looks dodgy!

•  Pavement

Meaning: A sidewalk.

Usage: Eish! I just saw that oke trip and fall on the pavement.

•  Potjiekos [poy-kee-kors]

Meaning: A meal made in a large, 3-legged pot – almost like a witches brew.

Usage: There is nothing better than potjiekos cooked on a braai.

•  Pozzie [poh-zee]

Meaning: A person’s home.

Usage: You may be invited to a braai at a friend’s pozzie if you’re a lekker oke.

•  Rand

Meaning: The South African currency; 100 cents make up one rand (R1).

Usage: Will you spare me some rand to buy some biltong?

•  Robot [roh-bot]

Meaning: Traffic lights.

Usage: Turn left at the robot and park on the pavement outside my pozzie.

•  Rock up

Meaning: To arrive, usually in a care-free manner.

Usage: She rocked up at the jol late. Awkies!

•  Rooibos

Meaning: A sweet South African tea.

Usage: Would you like some rooibos tea with your sarmie?

•  Rubbish bin

Meaning: Trash or garbage can.

Usage: Make sure you throw all the dirt in the rubbish bin and not on the pavement.

•  Sangoma [san-goh-mah]

Meaning: A traditional healer.

Usage: If you’re visiting a township after a big jol, we recommend visiting a sangoma for a hangover remedy.

•  Sarmie [sar-mee]

Meaning: A sandwich.

Usage: Some okes like to have toasted sarmies at a braai.

•  Shebeen [sha-been]

Meaning: A township bar.

Usage: Lets go to the shebeen for a dop.

• Skinner [skin-nah]

Meaning: To gossip.

Usage: I don’t mean to skinner, but she’s wearing takkies with a dress.

•  Skelm [sk-el-em]

Meaning: A person who can’t be trusted. It can be used interchangeable with dodgy.

Usage: Passop, that oke looks like a skelm!

•  Skop, skiet, en donner [skohp-skeet-en-don-nah]

Meaning: Used to describe any action movie. It literally means “kick, shoot, and beat up”.

Usage: This film is not lekker. It’s just skop, skiet, en donner!

•  Slap chips [slup-chips]

Meaning: Soft, oily, and tasty fries, usually paired with fish (vis en tjips!). The word “chips” can also be used to describe crisps.

Usage: We’re going to get some slap chips for our padkos.

•  Takkies [tak-kees]

Meaning: Trainers or walking shoes.

Usage: Wear your takkies on a hike up the koppie.

•  Township

Meaning: Low-income housing where black, coloured, and Malay South Africans were confined during apartheid.

Usage: Don’t forget to do a township tour, visit a sangoma, and have a drink at a shebeen!

• Vuvuzela [voo-voo-zeh-la]

Meaning: A plastic trumpet used by supporters at soccer matches. The word comes from the Zulu language and means “making a noise”. You will soon realise why.

Usage: Tell that oke to stop playing his vuvuzela!

•  Yebo [yeh-bor]

Meaning: Yes, to agree, or show approval.

Usage: Person 1: Have you ever been to Jozi? Person 2: Yebo!

What other South Africanisms do you think we should include in our travel dictionary? If you’re visiting South Africa, book your affordable accommodation with LekkeSlaap.co.za!

Main image by celso (Flickr)