Ja. As with most other countries, South Africa has its own slang. This eye-popping number brings with it its own collection of South African slang words that have evolved and metamorphosed from decades of diversity within our borders. from Xhosa, Zulu or Afrikaans), there are many standard English words which have taken on different meanings in South Africa. South Africa has 11 official languages: English, Afrikaans (similar to Dutch), Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda and Swati. Y Y ou certainly won’t ever go hungry in South Africa if you aren’t familiar with colloquialisms associated with cultural cuisine, but it certainly helps to know what’s about to be served for supper… We help you demystify some of the country's more popular dishes. Shame! 14 February 2018 . This is a guide to South African slang that appears on South African music lyrics. If I couldn’t find my dream home, he said, “come to my pozzie and kip here. South African slang vs South Africanisms. Surfing for Slang: the World's Cool Slang Link Bank. SLANG PORTAL. As a South African publishing house, we delight in expressing our lekker local culture... although sometimes it can be difficult for others to understand just what we're saying. 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”. "doos" is not acceptable in standard language and hence is slang. There are so many slang and general linguistic differences between American English and South African English. Used to express a non-committal, resigned, or ironic attitude. Buddy – Friend or fellow platoon member. South African Slang. Ja well no fine. Most people in the urban areas understand and can speak basic English so, if your English is … Buffel – South African made 4X4 mine-resistant armoured personnel carrier (APC ) Burger Sake – Civic Action – “hearts and minds” campaign. Impress your friends, family and teacher with the popular South African slang words or try out the following expressions. 1. For example, a lift is an elevator and traffic lights are referred to as robots (it’s true! It’s the place where you can get authentic travel information from women just like you. I received an email from a South African friend in New York yesterday in which he asked what was “potting” and said that he was “holding thumbs” for me to find a new house. Aweh – A South African slang word used to acknowledge something or greet someone and is mainly used in the coloured community. Best Looking race of people out! South Africans say the darndest things, but is that really a surprise when the country is home to a whopping 11 official languages? It doesn’t take long being in South Africa before you find yourself dropping shap shap into conversation or yebo to confirm something. Some of these languages that have attributed to the slang words are English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Ndebele, Xhosa, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Venda, Tswana and Swazi. China means “good friend”, as in, “This oke’s my china”. Below is a list of South African slang that everyone should know—words often used in the vocabulary of people from and in South … Yes. Quintessential South African greeting. ). This speaks true for the various slang words that almost every South African knows and loves. South African slang. Budgie – The cap badge of the South African Air Force. As such, this article highlights some 15 slang phrases you should know in South Africa, so you do not get embarrassed by misinterpreting a word or statement a South African habitually utters. Another Afrikaner name for an english speaking South African - comes from the image of the "English" having one foot in South Africa, the other in England, with something hanging in the middle (in the saltwater, sout = salt, soutpiel = saltpr*ck)! Mastering South African English is a great challenge for any advanced learner of English. ". Many South African slang words have their origins in English, others have their origins in Afrikaans, others in Zulu, others in Xhosa, whilst a few have their origins in many other languages. South African Slang South Africa English Researching Grokking the kluge – ? South African surfers talk funny – mostly because they’re surfers, but also because they’re South African. South Africa has a very rich cultural population, which embodies the meaning of “diversity”. Every country has its peculiar turns of phrase – quirks that give local languages flavour, colour and character. There seems to be some South African terminology that has taken on a life of its own, these phrases seem to have spread overseas to folks who’ve never even set foot in South Africa. Budgie Club – South African Air Force members. Pink Pangea is the community of women who love to travel. Our local slang is a strange mixture of words and phrases from the languages of settlers from Europe and Asia, as well … Known to the rest of the world as a barbeque, The Braai is so much a part of the South African culture that we even have a national BRAAI day. This is an endearing term that is used by South Africans in just about every social situation. South African Slangs (10) Boet: Boet is a South African slang that literally translates to a male friend or brother. South African slang dictionary & glossary resources, street slang terms, SA local lingo, Afrikaans expressions, Zambian, Rhodesian/Zimbabwe, Botswana alternative slang terms, curses, street talk, idioms, phrases, colloquialisms. Feel free to make contributions and edit the annotations if you have more information. Not slang … 3. South African food slang . South African English is quite unique, isn’t it? 4. South African slang has some of the coolest, weirdest and down right confusing slang words of any language I’ve ever seen!. china: To most people, China is the world’s most populous country, but to a South African it can mean something entirely different. I thought it would be fun to look at some examples of South African slang today, focussing on the Nguni Bantu Languages (eg: Zulu, Xhosa) rather than the same old-same old well known SAffa slang words like 'lekker' and 'howzit'. Fifteen slang phrases that are not only useful if you’re visiting South Africa, but also if you happen to have befriended, married, employed (or been employed by) a South African overseas! South African conversational English is littered with words and phrases from its seductive menu of official languages, so don’t be shy to mix it up. or "LOSER!" For instance, the popular South African slang words are derived from the eleven official languages in the country. Seriously, when in doubt, just say […] Good example: "ja" is a totally acceptable Afrikaans word, and is not slang (substandard language). The nation that consistently battles it out with Colombia in a little game called "Who's The World's Murder Capital? You ask a local for directions and they ask you to repeat yourself a few times because they can’t understand what you are saying. From awê to zamalek: slang every self-respecting South African should know Check your fluency in the kiffest language there is with this A to Z guide to Saffaisms 28 June 2020 - … Speaking South African – Slang Dictionary Have you arrived in South Africa and feel as if you are not fitting in because of your accent? First of all, South Africans are a fun loving bunch and love to kuier (socialize) and chow (eat) and we do it around a fire with a couple of dops (beverages). While most South African slang is made up of adopted non-English words (e.g. What a wally – what an idiot! When you hurt yourself, you say: 'Eina' When you are not sure what to answer, simply use: 'Ja nee' (actually this means 'yes-no':-) … Because saying how are you is just too many words, guys. South African slang and phrases. South African slang Thanks to its melting pot of 11 official languages, South African’s tend to use a lot of slang or ‘South Africanisms’ drawn from the various languages. Thu, 21 September 2017. In American English, the word “Boet” can be compared with the word “dude.” So, if you’re African, instead of referring to your male friends as dudes, call them boets to promote an African slang. Much of a muchness – it makes no difference. In South African Slang, second skins is swimwear which protects from the suns damaging rays and are looking like nylon T-shirts with long or short sleeves or pants looking like cycling shorts or short leggings. South African Slang. A term coined by Donald Trump on his show "The Apprentice" even though bosses used it all the time before.Now anyone who watched five minutes of it thinks it's THE ABSOLUTE SHIT and uses it to say "YOU SUCK!" My opinion is that many of the words listed here are not slang, but rather South Africanisms. Template:Refimprove South African slang, reflects many different linguistic traditions found in South Africa. 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 … We call this a braai . It’s one of the few Cockney rhyming slang words to survive in the country, coming from “china plate” = “mate”. If you plan on travelling to South Africa, be sure to study up on these words and phrases! 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