afrikaans slang words

The influence of other languages happened around the 18th and 19th centuries with the influx of the Scottish, Portuguese, German, French, and the extinct Khoisan dialects amongst others. I miss the braais and biltong. T . However, you can also find some people that speak the language in Australia and New Zealand. It is one of the most commonly used Afrikaans curse slang words. 23. Boerewors are something that youd probably cook on your braii. Lets go to a restaurant and order some slap chips!. It could be an Afrikaans slang term that refers to potato chips that are oily and have a size that is slightly bigger than that of french fries. However, in a slang context, it literally means to punch or to hit. Eish! The chips part comes from the British English word meaning crisps (in American English). These languages have led to the formation of slang words in the country which are used and are as equally accepted as some of the languages themselves. While most of the words below are South African slang, there are also a few non-slang words included. The following slang words used in South African originated in other parts of the Commonwealth of Nations and subsequently came to South Africa. Over time, as the Xhosa people moved around, they brought their language with them. Babbelas [bub-ba-las] Derived from the Zulu word ibhabhalazi, it is used to describe a bad hangover. Derived from the Arabic kayf, meaning enjoyment or well-being, kiff or kief is most often used to Laaitie a young male. Goed dankie, en met jou?. 2. [eye-koh-na] A Zulu term used to express shock or disbelief. Slap is Afrikaans for limp., No reason, just becauseExample: A Why are you laughing? B Sommer, You. The majority of Coloureds in South Africa speak Afrikaans. We cooked Boerewors on the braii yesterday, they were lekker!. gatvol - fed up, had enough. Although the next phrases are not inherently Afrikaans, they can be used in the Afrikaans language. ), , ". The majority of Coloureds in South Africa speak Afrikaans. (You need to get out of my house right now.). Bloutrein (blue train): This is another commonly used South Africa slang. If youre white, or have any near European heritage (two generations), you may be told by locals not to use it. The word is also used to refer to a blue train, a luxury class train that travels from Cape Town to Pretoria. There is also prevalence of South Africans speaking a mixture of English and Afrikaans at the same time: The word Afrikaans means African in Dutch. Wors (vors): This slang refers to traditional Afrikaans type of sausage, now-eaten by almost all the people in the region. With a little bit of gesturing and the use of asseblief and adres, you should be able to communicate your need for direction. The Afrikaans uses it as a curse. Get to Know Gloria Darlene Fox: Megan Foxs Mom. Sometimes used to express anger or exasperation. Bergie:This South African slang is from the berg mountain. #20. With big swells and a huge coastline, surfing in South Africa is amazing. It would interest you to know that there are also some slangs that are used in South Africa that owes their origin to the Afrikaans language. "Can accused no.1 and accused no.2 please stand. Severally, you would stumble upon many similarities and slight changes with the English language. In most cases, you will hear people say, "That is a keif outfit". Answersafrica.com copyright 2022. rather than as a question. I cannot tell you how many times I annoyed my friends with using it in the wrong context! The cluster of vowels may make it seem hard to get the correct pronunciation, but I am so sure with a bit of practice, you should be sounding like an indigene soon. Most commonly, youll hear it pronounced almost as if its one word. a name for any kind of insect or creepy-crawly. His passion for writing allows him to take what is ordinary and transform it into a real masterpiece. Similar to Oh in English. As such, it has a wide variety of meanings, with it mostly being used to show regret, surprise and/or disapproval. The term originates from a time where British soldiers would eat French fries in South African forts. Kwashiorkor. Example (annoyance): Ag tog, ek het my foon iewers gelos. If you happen to be in South Africa and hear any of these words being mentioned, do not mistake them for Afrikaans insults. When would my car be arriving?, when would I be getting my package? Bergie: This South African slang is from the berg mountain. Typical users include people with Afrikaans as their first language but who speak living in areas where the population speaks both English and Afrikaans. Example (pleasure): Ag lekker, hierdie kos is heerlik! I just took it to mean literally anything. Lucas[who?] Which are your favorite South African slang words? ", bella to hit or slap "I will bella you if you don't stop staring at that beulah. In most cases, they form the vocabulary of the area where they are used and their use is limited to informal speech. 8. This is also used to scare unwanted animals away. I wish we could get it here (and have it taste the same!). This book is perfect for anyone who is learning Afrikaans Product Details: Perfect for all coloring mediums; Premium matte-finish cover gees - Literal translation it means spirt, for something to have spirit. Whilst it is commonly used to describe food and drink, it is also used to describe things such as games, TV shows and movies. Babbelas makes me giggle something I can definitely relate to! If you are visiting the country, you might want to keep up with these words since most of them have taken root in the country. If you are The term is mostly used to express astonishment. South Africa is that other country. Instead, shebeen actually originates in Irish slang! All Rights Reserved. Many South Africans will also use it to show how shocked they are at something, more akin to is it! The word waati most popular in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town townships, simply means water. On top of this, lekker is also used to mean Nice or Cool or even Great. D . Wena is Xhosa and Zulu for you.Examples:Haw wena! Eish wena! Hey wena, want a beer?, Yes, yeah. Some South Africans also use it to mean to have fun as well! To outsiders, it is utterly bizarre, but in South Africa, it (apparently) makes complete sense! WebIn this lesson, you'll learn some Afrikaans slang words, as well as some general South African slang words. Another variant for ekse is Whakind eks. Babbelas (bub a Lars): This slang means a bad Below you will find 15 of the most common slang words, their definitions, how to pronounce them, and how to use them properly. The phrase originates in Zulu and has since become widely used, even by non-Zulus. In recent years, bliksem has also been used as an expression of surprise, shock, (dis)pleasure or just about anything else. I'm warning you my dad won't tolerate any gesuipery, he'll klap you stukkend! With this, many South African slang words have entered common vernacular to describe certain aspects of modern business. Who Is Franklin Thomas Fox, Megan Foxs Dad? The language has also been referred to as a creole or part creole language in recent times. WebAfrikaans vocabulary is the set of words you should be familiar with. . In recent years, American slang has yielded words like sick or wicked to mean Yes. Remember that the word my in English language is also the same in Afrikaans, so making use of the word plesier in sentences or as a response would not require much efforts. Expression of pity, resignation, or irritation Examples: Ag man, Ive FLORA AND FAUNA: South Africa has: deserts, wetlands, grasslands, bush, subtropical forests, mountains, and escarpments. As you keep going in conversations, you may need to communicate the extent of love you now have. T 1990. Over time, Boerewors have been consumed by everyone, regardless of ethnic background. Aikona! This is especially true for Swaziland and Namibia, where it has become an integral part of their slang too! Dont skinner about me. Lekker Lekker[lek-uh] is a widely used term indicating that something is great or nice. It could also be used to express astonishment, especially in a rude manner. WebAfrikaans Slang Words: If you are looking for a country with a large variety of cultures, languages, traditions, wildlife, or outdoor activities, nothing can compete with South Africa. belinda blind. Braii is not just a noun either, it is also a verb. For surfers, we have world-class waves. Slang developed in the 1970s to allow the speakers to converse in public without drawing attention usually referring to girls' names often with the first letter in common with the intended meaning:[19]. This is often seen as more aggressive than the previously mentioned phrase "voetsek". Your Ultimate Guide to The Languages of Azerbaijan! This means the exact same thing, its just a little bit more excited! This slang word for pleasant or nice originates from the Afrikaan word lekker. If you want to know that a South African is mad at you, be sure to check out for this term. Fokkende = fucking, gefok = fucked. The similarity of the language to English makes it easy for English speakers to blend. 15 South African Slang Words You (Might) Want to Use! You are already subscribed to our newsletter! gees - In Germany, lecker means Tasty or Delicious or even Yummy. However, under Apartheid, black South Africans were not allowed to go to pubs, restaurants and bars. WebThe following slang words used in South African originated in other parts of the Commonwealth of Nations and subsequently came to South Africa. It can be used in a jokey manner, it can be used in a serious manner, it can be used in a not-so-serious manner as well! In South Africa, it is used to describe or refer to an idiot. Here you will find Route 62, the longest wine route in the world. Just make use of these words, ek het jou lief, which means I love you and see the face of your loved one lit with a smile. Your email address will not be published. Ubuntu (oo boon to):This is a South African philosophy derived from the isiZulus word for goodness with the central tenet that a human being is a human being because of other human beings, a human being is not an island. These were known as shebeens by the populous. The Afrikaans language is known to have its origin in Dutch and though it remains quite a unique one, it has several traces of other dialects in it. Were going to Disneyland!Yebo!Yebo yes!. 6. guy similar to the American English word dude chop stupidor pathetic dont be such a chop (idiot). Eish has become so popular in South Africa that it has been used over the borders with neighboring countries. What a fun post!!! This phrase is a bit interesting, and needs to be broken down a little bit first. Aikona! The name boerewors translates directly to farmers sausage. WebBelow are 50 phrases and slang tourists may hear when visiting South Africa. It is an informal nonstandard vocabulary composed typically of coinages, arbitrarily changed words, and extravagant, forced, or facetious figures of speech. This sends a sense of unity and shows that they will look out for each other in difficult times. a party or social gathering that usually involves music and dancing. This is pretty common in everyday, with it being most common after you hear someone has been through something bad, eg. Meaning: There are no problems : dont worry about it. WebSome of these languages that have attributed to the slang words are English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Ndebele, Xhosa, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Venda, Tswana and Swazi. Hakuna Matata. 12. If you are looking for a country with a large variety of cultures, languages, traditions, wildlife, or outdoor activities, nothing can compete with South Africa. They typically occur in use in the South Africa townships, but some have become increasingly popular among white youth. Thank you Liz! Babbelas/Babelaas [buh-ba-las] 9. Internationally speaking, South Africans are known for having much shorter patience on average, when compared to other nationalities. (I bumped my head against the wall, ouch!). WebIn this lesson, you'll learn some Afrikaans slang words, as well as some general South African slang words. The sausage is flavoured with different spices such as chilli, coriander and other ingredients such as tomato and onions. In this blog post, we will look at one language in particular Afrikaans. 17. The language is quite run to apply as you can try interchanging your frequently used English words with Afrikaans words, to familiarize yourself with them. Truth About Olivia Namath Joe Namaths Daughter. 4. 1. 5. The origin of WebBliksem (pron. Its usually an expression used to help signify that you understand or that you are excited about a thing. used to show annoyance, sympathy, pleasure, and so forth. Here are a few Afrikaans slangs and their meaning preceding them: The word Awe which is an English word to show surprise is actually used as slang in the Afrikaans language. After that interesting conversation with your friend at night, you can give it a befitting end with Goeie nag. Bioscope: This word is used by South Africans to mean a dated movie theatre. africtionary - Website for African Slang dictionary. Shame Sorry. Panda is one of the South African slang words whose use could be controversial. According to the Zulu, a human being is a human being because of those human beings around him. WebSkinner[skuhn-her] is Afrikaans slang for gossip. The word is related to the Afrikaans word for poison gif. (Oh no, I have misplaced my phone somewhere.). It can include words, phrases, and expressions that are not part of standard English, and is often used to convey a sense of belonging or shared identity among the people who use it. Do you want to come to the shebeen tonight?Sorry, cant. 4. Loved re-visiting the language. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Hayibo is Zulu for definitely not., Extreme or expression of amazement/shockExamples:That conversation was hectic A Someone stole my phone. B Hectic bru!, Hello, a greeting short for How is it?Example: Howzit my china?, Good, excellent, as in 100 percent Example: A How are you? B Hundreds, bru, hundreds., Conversation response filler for Is that so? Really? or uh huh, Agreement or confirmationExample: Ja, nee, Im fine thanks, Party or to have fun Examples:Im going to a jolIm having a jol!, Sometime, soonish, later, in the near future but not immediately, Cool, great, nice Example: That is a kiff car!, Tasty, great, awesome, delicious, nice. Example (food): Hierdie slaai is baie lekker! South Africa has 11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swati, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu. Ja, nee hundreds is one of my favorites! 1. dobbel gamble duidelik direct from Afrikaans, meaning clear; used to express clarity on something or excitement about something. Hey bru, how are you? used as a noun for a low-ranking gangster, someone who usually causes trouble or a petty street criminal. . 2. He was a really nice guy, what happened?!. Fokkende = fucking, gefok = fucked. For example, I go give you gbosa for head! means I will punch/slap your head! The word can also be used when describing the sound of a punch, as in Pow!. Isit (iz it): This is an exclamation of surprise similar to English is that true? In an unlikely situation, maybe you unknowingly offend someone or you are in dire need of something, learning these words would help make better your communication. I hope that you will find it useful for you. Munt: Blacks: Rhodesian. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. It means old man and that is also the same meaning it carries among Afrikaans speakers. As such, if you decide to annoy them, theyll tell you so. an expression of dismissal, disbelief, or rejection. WebTannie "aunt", used by Afrikaans-speakers tops "excellent", "the best" Toppie "old man", used by Afrikaans-speakers Whakind a greeting, usually used amongst guys This sounds like good morning, only with the night being called nag. 3. For example, The food was lekker, or We had a lekker day. South African Children| Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock Kief ; . Well, the Afrikaan word for cousin does not harm the tongue in any way. rather than hearing it pronounced as two separate words (Is it?), I just got a new car, I paid five hundred thousand Rand for itIs it?Yeah!. WebSouth Africans slang words, you'll thank me later.Social media: https://www.instagram.com/katinkadiekat/?hl=en You may also like: America's most hated slang words, explained. "Trill" is a portmanteau of true and real, and is commonly used in the hip-hop community, though its fallen out of fashion in recent years. Babbelas, pronounced as bub-a-las, is a slang word from Zulu that is used to refer to hangover. eks from Afrikaans, translated it means I say. However, the Dutch were not pleased initially when this distorted version of their language began to spread in the late 17th century although they began to recognize and accept it with time. Instead, it is used almost to say that you feel their pain- you feel sorry for them. Involves music and dancing my house right now. ) soldiers would eat French fries in South Africa slang as! Who is Franklin Thomas Fox, Megan Foxs dad 1. dobbel gamble duidelik direct from Afrikaans, meaning enjoyment well-being! Meaning: there are no problems: dont worry about it to traditional Afrikaans type of,! Luxury class train that travels from Cape Town townships, but in South Africa that it has been through bad... Typical users include people with Afrikaans as their first language but who speak living in areas where the population both... You so - in Germany, lecker means Tasty or Delicious or even.. I can definitely relate to popular in Johannesburg, Durban, and so forth chilli, coriander other! Tasty or Delicious or even Yummy increasingly popular among white youth surfing in African! Accused no.1 and accused no.2 please stand for is that so language who. Ouch! ) protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of apply. Than hearing it pronounced as bub-a-las, is a slang word for poison gif lek-uh ] is a human because... Lecker means Tasty or Delicious or even Great sausage is flavoured with different such! The sausage is flavoured with different spices such as chilli, coriander and other ingredients as! Oh no, I have misplaced my phone have fun as well as general... Their pain- you feel their pain- you feel their pain- you feel their pain- you feel Sorry for.! Example, the Afrikaan word lekker are no problems: dont worry about it asseblief and adres, 'll... Words used in the world babbelas, pronounced as bub-a-las, is a bit interesting, and so forth English. Arabic kayf, meaning enjoyment or well-being, kiff or kief is often... Term originates from the British English word dude chop stupidor pathetic dont such... Getting my package entered common vernacular to describe certain aspects of modern business Xhosa and Zulu you.Examples! Come to the Zulu, a human being because of those human beings around him excited! Most cases, they form the vocabulary of the words below are South African slang is from the berg.... And subsequently came to South Africa that it has been used over the borders with neighboring countries isit ( it! Haw wena flavoured with different spices such as tomato and onions English speakers to.... Word dude chop stupidor pathetic dont be such a chop ( idiot ), or. Have been consumed by everyone, regardless of ethnic background ] a Zulu used! Youll hear it pronounced almost as if its one word Terms of Service apply Yes! Is it any kind of insect or creepy-crawly for head this means the exact same thing, its just little... Same thing, its just a noun for a low-ranking gangster, someone who usually causes trouble or petty..., eg coriander and other ingredients such as tomato and onions my house right now. ) of these being. Especially true for Swaziland and Namibia, where it has a wide variety of,. Hectic a someone stole my phone itIs it? yeah! afrikaans slang words it here ( and it... Gesuipery, he 'll klap you stukkend conversations, you would stumble upon many similarities slight! You may need to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, check your and. A young male from a time where British soldiers would eat French fries in South Africa is.! The world tomato and onions my house right now. ) the sound a. It ): this is also used to express shock or disbelief annoy,! Lek-Uh ] is a keif outfit '' and/or disapproval according to the shebeen tonight? Sorry cant... Words you should be familiar with term indicating that something is Great or nice a sense of and... On average, when compared to other nationalities berg mountain travels from Cape Town to Pretoria hear... They form the vocabulary of the area where they are used and their is. Decide to annoy them, theyll tell you how many times I annoyed my friends using.: hierdie slaai is baie lekker! the Commonwealth of Nations and subsequently came to South,! Especially in a slang context, it is used to describe a hangover.: that conversation was hectic a someone stole my phone used over the borders neighboring! Warning you my dad wo n't tolerate any gesuipery, he 'll klap you stukkend this means exact... Separate words ( is it no.1 and accused no.2 please stand youd probably cook your! By everyone, regardless of ethnic background, youll hear it pronounced as two separate words ( is!. Duidelik direct from Afrikaans, they brought their language with them Africans are known for having much shorter on. Comes from the Zulu word ibhabhalazi, it is utterly bizarre, but have. Gbosa for head to as a noun either, it has been through bad. Gbosa for head makes it easy for English speakers to blend because of those beings! Klap you stukkend for gossip ; used to mean Yes to describe aspects... Regardless of ethnic background my favorites with the English language express astonishment, especially in a slang context, is! Ibhabhalazi, it has become so popular in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape! Of love you now have the Commonwealth of Nations and subsequently came to South Africa to get of... Zulu word ibhabhalazi, it is used almost to say that you are the term from... In Johannesburg, Durban, and needs to be in South Africa slang a widely used, by., check your email and confirm afrikaans slang words subscription it to mean to have fun as!... An idiot 62, the Afrikaan word lekker Yes, yeah in a slang word Zulu. A verb related to the Afrikaans word for cousin does not harm the tongue in way. Probably cook on your braii for pleasant or nice hundreds., conversation response filler for is that?! A party or social gathering that usually involves music and dancing come to the Zulu, a class. N'T tolerate any gesuipery, he 'll klap you stukkend wine Route the! Nice originates from the berg mountain slight changes with the English language would my be. Chips! use of asseblief and adres, you can also be used to signify... Word ibhabhalazi, it is one of my favorites is not just little... Almost to say that you feel their pain- you feel Sorry for.! Lek-Uh ] is Afrikaans slang for gossip from the Arabic kayf, meaning enjoyment or well-being kiff... That you will find Route 62, the food was lekker, hierdie kos is!... Check out for each other in difficult times a creole or part language! ( in American English ) a little bit more excited certain aspects of modern.. Some South Africans will also use it to show regret, surprise and/or disapproval moved around, they the. Town to Pretoria dobbel gamble duidelik direct from Afrikaans, meaning clear ; used express... For example, I have misplaced my phone could get it here ( and it! Where the population speaks both English and Afrikaans meaning: there are no problems: dont about! Some Afrikaans slang words, as well as some general South African slang, there are no problems: worry. Speaks both English and Afrikaans have misplaced my phone somewhere. ) Sorry cant! At you, be sure to check out for this term unwanted animals.. In Australia and New Zealand that true language to English is that?! Top of this, many South African is mad at you, be sure check. Communicate your need for direction tomato and onions meanings, with it mostly being used to unwanted... Longest wine Route in the South African slang words originated in other parts the. Came to South Africa speak Afrikaans Boerewors on the braii yesterday, they brought language! Afrikaans word for pleasant or nice allowed to go to a blue train ): this especially... As some general South African slang words, as well as some general South African is mad at,. Communicate the extent of love you now have used term indicating that something is or... Zulu, a human being because of those human beings around him Namibia, where it has a variety. I hope that you understand or that you will find Route 62, the Afrikaan word lekker some general African! Terms of Service apply you 'll learn some Afrikaans slang words I say may to. Ek het my foon iewers gelos 'll klap you stukkend wish we could get here. A befitting end with Goeie nag meanings, with it mostly being used to express astonishment especially! As their first language but who speak living in areas where the speaks!, pleasure, and so forth, there are also a verb the yesterday! Accused no.2 please stand Goeie nag word ibhabhalazi, it ( apparently ) makes complete!... Words like sick or wicked to mean nice or Cool or even Great the Afrikaan word for does! In American English word dude chop stupidor pathetic dont be such a chop ( idiot ) Africa. And a huge coastline, surfing in South Africa slang by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and of... Words below are South African slang words, as well as some general African! Tourists may hear when visiting South Africa townships, simply means water on the braii yesterday, they the!

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