South Africa has 11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swati, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu. Depending on where you are in the country, the dominant language will vary. Most South Africans are also able to speak more than one language.
South African Phrases and Slang
Below are 50 phrases and slang tourists may hear when visiting South Africa. This is by no means a complete list and popular phrases differ by region.
1. Ag man! [ach-man]
Oh man! Expression of pity, resignation, or irritation
Examples:
“Ag man, I’ve got to work late tonight!”
“Ag, shame man!”
2. Aweh/Awe [ah-weh]
Hello, greeting between close friends/mates.
Example: “Awe, my bru!”
3. Babbelas/Babelaas [buh-ba-las]
Hangover
Example: “I was out last night and now I’ve got such a babbelas”
4. Baie [bye-ya]
A lot, very much
Example: “It was baie lekker”
5. Bakkie [ba-kee]
Pick-up truck
6. Berg [berg]
From the Afrikaans word for ‘mountain’
Examples:
Pilanesberg
Magaliesberg
7. Biltong [bill-tong]
Dried, seasoned meat, similar to jerky
8. Bobotie [buh-boor-tea]
Spicy minced meat dish served with yellow rice and raisins, from Malay cooking
9. Boerewors [boor-uh-vors]
Traditional South African spiced sausage, usually cooked on a braai.
Boerewors is Afrikaans for ‘farmer’s sausage.’
10. Boet [boot]
Male friend, dude. From the word ‘broer’ which is Afrikaans for ‘brother.’
11. Bra/Bru [brah/brew]
Friend, buddy, pal
12. Braai [br-eye]
Both a noun and verb for an outdoor barbeque
Examples:
“We’re having a braai”
“We’re going to braai tonight”
13. Bunny chow [bunny chow]
Traditional South African Indian dish of a bread loaf filled with curry stew
14. China [china]
Friend, comes from Cockney rhyming slang: China plate – mate
15. Chow [chow]
Food or as a verb for to eat
Examples:
“Let’s chow!”
“This chow is delicious”
16. Cozzie [kaa-zee]
Swimsuit, bathing suit, swimming costume
17. Dop [dop]
Alcoholic drink
Example: “Pour me a dop”
18. Droëwors [droo-uh-vors]
Dried boerewors, similar to biltong.
Droëwors is Afrikaans for ‘dry sausage.’
19. Eina! [ay-na]
Ouch!
Example: “Eina! That hurt!”
20. Eish! [aysh]
Expression of surprise, disapproval, exasperation, or regret
Examples:
“Eish, traffic is bad”
“Eish, sorry about that bru!”
21. Gatvol [ghut-foll]
Fed up, annoyed
Example: “I’m gatvol of your nonsense”
22. Gogo [goh-goh]
Grandmother
23. Hayibo [hai-bo]
Wow! Really? An expression of surprise or disbelief.
Hayibo is Zulu for ‘definitely not.’
24. Hectic [hectic]
Extreme or expression of amazement/shock
Examples:
“That conversation was hectic”
A – “Someone stole my phone.” B – “Hectic bru!”
25. Howzit/Hoezit [hows-it]
Hello, how are you?, a greeting short for ‘How is it?’
26. Hundreds [hundreds]
Good, excellent, as in 100 percent
Example: A – “How are you?” B – “Hundreds, bru, hundreds.”
27. Isit? [izzit]
Conversation response filler for ‘Is that so?’ ‘Really?’ or ‘uh huh’
28. Ja [yah]
Yes, yeah.
Ja is Afrikaans for ‘yes.’
29. Ja, nee [yah nee-ah]
Agreement or confirmation
Example: “Ja, nee, I’m fine thanks”
30. Jol [jorl]
Party or to have fun
Examples:
“I’m going to a jol”
“I’m having a jol!”
31. Just now [just now]
Sometime, soonish, later, in the near future but not immediately
32. Lekker [lak-uh]
Tasty, great, awesome, delicious, nice. Lekker is Afrikaans for ‘tasty.’
Examples:
“It was lekker to see you again”
“That was a lekker braai!”
33. Mozzie [maa-zee]
Mosquito
34. Nè? or hey? [neh or hey]
Sentence addition meaning ‘Know what I mean?’ ‘do you agree?’ or ‘right?‘
Example: “Eish, its cold hey?”
35. Now now [now now]
Soon but not immediately, quicker than just now
36. Onetime [one time]
‘Of course’ or ‘definitely’ in response to a question
Example: A – “We’re going out tonight, you coming?” B – “Onetime”
37. Pap [pup]
Traditional maize porridge similar to grits
38. Pull in [pull in]
Invitation to join or come over
Example: “Pull in to my braai tonight”
39. Right now [right now]
Immediately, straight away
40. Robot [robot]
Traffic light
Examples:
“Left at the third robot”
“Robots are down”
41. Rooibos [roy-boss]
A type of herbal tea
42. Sarmie [saam-ie]
Sandwich
43. Shame [shame]
Expression of sympathy, pity, or admiration
Examples:
“Shame, the baby is so cute!”
A – “Her sister is in the hospital” B – “Shame”
44. Sharp [shahp]
Goodbye. It can also indicate that everything is good or in order. Often doubled when used – “sharp sharp!”
45. Sies [sis]
Expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance
Examples:
“Ag, sies, man!”
“That meal was sies”
46. Slap chips [slup chips]
Thick cut fries, usually soft and soaked in vinegar.
Slap is Afrikaans for ‘limp.’
47. Sommer [saw-mur]
No reason, just because
Example: A – “Why are you laughing?” B – “Sommer”
48. Tackies/Takkies [tah-keys]
Sneakers, tennis shoes, sports shoes
49. Wena [weh-nah]
You. Sometimes used to express anger or exasperation.
Wena is Xhosa and Zulu for ‘you.’
Examples:
“Haw wena!”
“Eish wena!”
“Hey wena, want a beer?”
50. Yebo [yeh-boh]
Yes, yeah. It is often used as a double positive “Yebo, Yes!”
Do you know any useful South African phrases? Comment below!
Brought back so many memories! Loved re-visiting the language.
So fun to recall hearing these and remembering certain people we met along the way!
Hundreds, hey?
Ja, nee ‘hundreds’ is one of my favorites!
Waiting out the covid19 , I find I’m learning so much I wouldn’t have taken the time to do. Not only have I learned so much about S. Africa, I have now discovered the language . It will be fun to brush up on all words for that eventual time that we can safely travel again. Thank you.
Thank you Liz! I’m so glad that you find these useful. I love learning a little bit of local language when I travel if I can.
Babbelas makes me giggle – something I can definitely relate to! Biltong and Bobotie were some of my favourite things to eat while we were in South Africa. I wish we could get it here (and have it taste the same!). What a fun post!!!
Thanks Sarah! I miss the braais and biltong. Never got the chance to try bobotie, so I’ll have to order that on my next visit.