Slang Dictionary
I've been trying to get the hang of South African slang. Here are a few of the things I've figured out since I've been here:
"Braai" - Cook out or barbecue, always involving copious amounts of meat - this can be a noun, as in "We're having a braai on Friday," or a verb, as in "What should we braai?"
"Cheers" - Like aloha in Hawaii, this means both hello and goodbye, though it is most commonly used as an exclamation upon parting
"Howzit" - This is a greeting. Although it looks like a question, it is actually a statement and if you answer it with "fine" or a similar adverb, locals look at you like you're a martian.
"Is it?" - This, like howzit, isn't really a question. South Africans use this phrase to fill the space where Americans would say "Really?", "Seriously?" or "Go on."
"Just now" - This implies an ambiguous period of time. If someone says, "I'll be there just now," this could mean 5 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour, or even a few days.
"Now now" - A variation on "just now," this phrase implies more immediacy, but still bears no specificity about the interval of time.
"Petrol" - This is gasoline. If you say gas, people think you're talking about a bodily function.
"Roibos" - A type of tea available only here, which comes from a red bush (Roibos is Afrikaans for "red bush," how original!)
"Full stop" - Period, as in the punctuation mark, or a signal of finality or arrival at a destination.
"Boerworst" - This is a type of processed meat, much like a thin, spicy Bratwurst.
"As well" -(Note that "as" is stressed, rather than "well") - This phrase is tacked on at the end of sentences where Americans would say "too".
"Vac" - An abbreviation of the word "vacation", this is how students refer to breaks.
"Marks" - Grades
"College" - High school, or secondary school
"Varsity" - University - Using "college" to refer to "university" causes great confusion!
"Braai" - Cook out or barbecue, always involving copious amounts of meat - this can be a noun, as in "We're having a braai on Friday," or a verb, as in "What should we braai?"
"Cheers" - Like aloha in Hawaii, this means both hello and goodbye, though it is most commonly used as an exclamation upon parting
"Howzit" - This is a greeting. Although it looks like a question, it is actually a statement and if you answer it with "fine" or a similar adverb, locals look at you like you're a martian.
"Is it?" - This, like howzit, isn't really a question. South Africans use this phrase to fill the space where Americans would say "Really?", "Seriously?" or "Go on."
"Just now" - This implies an ambiguous period of time. If someone says, "I'll be there just now," this could mean 5 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour, or even a few days.
"Now now" - A variation on "just now," this phrase implies more immediacy, but still bears no specificity about the interval of time.
"Petrol" - This is gasoline. If you say gas, people think you're talking about a bodily function.
"Roibos" - A type of tea available only here, which comes from a red bush (Roibos is Afrikaans for "red bush," how original!)
"Full stop" - Period, as in the punctuation mark, or a signal of finality or arrival at a destination.
"Boerworst" - This is a type of processed meat, much like a thin, spicy Bratwurst.
"As well" -(Note that "as" is stressed, rather than "well") - This phrase is tacked on at the end of sentences where Americans would say "too".
"Vac" - An abbreviation of the word "vacation", this is how students refer to breaks.
"Marks" - Grades
"College" - High school, or secondary school
"Varsity" - University - Using "college" to refer to "university" causes great confusion!
posted by Lauren at
7:16 PM
3 Comments:
Great slang list. I often use "cheers" as a sign off for my emails, but never as a greeting or in verbal communication. I like the idea of "just now" -- so nice to feel like you're doing what you're supposed to without a specific timeline for doing so.
I continue to enjoy your journal and look forward to the next entry.
By
Anonymous, at 1:36 PM
Like Americans speaking to the English, we are separated by a common language.
By
Anonymous, at 10:49 AM
Um...I haven't posted in a while but...Lauren I miss you and you are still the shit. Have fun!
By
Unknown, at 5:36 PM
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