Typical South African Phrases!

[James Yang]

Hey Guys,

Was playing around on the net and came across these typical South African sayings!!! They made me laugh! Amber and Believer think you guys will really enjoy this! Hope the rest of you will too, give you some insight into South Afican Culture! Aaaah I miss it soooooooooooooo much!

Ag

Pronounced like the ach in German, but with a 'g' on the end. Roll that 'g'! "Ag, no man" - sign of irritation. Many purposes.

Aikona

Never, not on your life.

Aita! ('ai-tah')

A greeting: "Aita brah!" - Originated in the townships among the youth, and is still used.

Babbelas ('Bub-be-las')

A hangover. Normally a pretty damn bad hangover!


Blind
Embarrassing

Bakkie ('Buk-ky')

Pickup truck

Barnie

Fight, punch-up.

Befok,

Wild, crazy, excellent, great! This is used two ways: "he went befok" (he lost it completely!) or that's awesome!

Bergie

A hobo who hangs out on the streets of Cape Town. The term Bergie originates from the Berg (Mountain), and has connotations, according to prejudice, that Bergies are members of inbred hillbilly clans. This is not really so. It has more to do with alcoholism and tragic social circumstances such as poverty and homelessness.

Biltong

Jerky in the US, only much better!. This is specially prepared dried raw meat, made from beef, venison or ostrich.

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Bliksem

Strike, hit, punch: "I'm going to bliksem you!" Can also be used as follows: "Bliksem! (Damn!) That was a befokde game of rugby!"




Boerewors

Farmstyle sausage or "wors". (Literally, "Farmers Sausage"). It is consumed in vast quantities on braais all over the country.

Bokkie

Used mostly in the Afrikaans circles - a young, pretty lady; or girlfriend.

Bos

The bush; a term that became especially popular during the period of "bush-warefare" during the Angolan war.

Bossies or Bosbefok

Going totally whacko, going bush crazy - "He went bossies after spending 3 months in Angola".

Boykie

Little boy, or can be used as in: "He's quite a boykie" - (he's quite the guy!)"

Braai

Barbecue (US) or Barbie (Aus). Extremely popular SA occupation. Men take great pride in preparing this event; and is probably the only time the average South African does something around the house!


Brah

Buddy, associate, peer, colleague, friend, etc... Most often used amongst the "rookers" (pot-smokers) - "Hoesit, my brah!"

Catch a Tan

To suntan.

Check

Nothing to do with money! Look, do you see? - "You check?" or "Check this, china!!" - Look at this, dude!.

Chick

Yet another typically South African sexist term for a woman!

Chips

Means 'look out!' A warning.

Chuck

Depart, leave, go

Crash

Go to sleep - "Do you want to crash out at my place? - Do you want sleep over at my place?"

Dankie

Thank you

Dinges ('Din-gus')

Thingamabob, a wotzit or a whatchamacallit.

Dit ruk

It's happening!.

Doff

Stupid, idiot. It can also be used as a noun. "You doffie"

Dop

Alcohol, or to fail school.

Duidelik

Means it's cool. Eg: Hoesit my brah. Naai, is duidelik!!!

Dwaal

The blank, state a person gets into sometimes, walking around like a zombie.

Eina(aynah)

Ouch! Widely used. Derived from Afrikaans.

Flip

(Expletive) "Flip!" Oh no!

Moffie
Gay / Lesbian

Gesuip ('Ge-sayp')

Drunk

Graunch

Make out - "during the film, my boyfriend and I graunched in the back row" - during the movie we french kissed

Graze

Unfortunately a pretty common word that means to "eat"!. "Let's go get something to graz

 

[Cahir]

LMAO!! Good one Leigh...

They missed my fav one: - Jislaaik - meaning the same as geeeeeeees!

Snot-kop - Young and inexperienced

And I miss cricket season - 'Hier kommie manne!!!!' lol same as 'Here come the boys / men'

Laaitjie (lie-chie) - same as laddie

 

[capone_italia]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the Jislaaik expression!!! LOL!!!

There were a few more in there but they were a bit below the belt so I thought I had better leave them out...

Anyway, glad you liked it!