South African Slang / South Africanisms
South Africa is not called the rainbow nation for nothing! With such a diverse cultural landscape, it was inevitable that the languages of South Africa would also become a hot pot of differences.
South Africans borrow heavily from all the different languages to build a diverse collection of local phrases and words.
Just Now
Sometime soon
now now
A little sooner than "just now"
Lift
Elevator
Boot
The trunk of a car
Howzit / (H)eita
"Hello", as in "How is it going?"
Koppie
Rocky Hill
Play play
Pretend
Bakkie
Pickup Truck
Robot
Traffic light
Bundu
Bushveld
Bundu Bashing
Driving through the Bushveld in a bakkie
Braai
Bar-b-que
Yebo
Yes
Amazi
Water
Hamba Kahle
Goodbye (go well)
411
Giving someone the latest news and gossip
Aitsa
Used to indicate agreement
Aweh/awe
Pronounced (aaah-where) - Said in excitement,
ex "Awe! My said I can go home early today!"
ex "Awe! My said I can go home early today!"
Ayoba
Expression of excitement
Baas
Boss
Babbelaas
Hangover
Bakgat
Cool
Bill
Cheque, ex "Can I have the bill please?", when asking for the cheque in
a restaurant
Blerrie/Bladdy
Damn
Bliksem
strike, hit, punch
Movies
The cinema
Boerewors
A spicy sausage
Boet
Male Friend
Bosberaad
A strategy meeting held outdoors
Bra / Bru
Male friend, similar to the American "dude"
Chaila
Time to go home (or "Chaila Time"
Cherry
When referring to a girlfriend
China / Chana
A friend, similar to "Dude"
Chommie / Chomma
A friend, similar to "Dude"
Chow
Eat
Dagga
Marijuana
Domkop / Doff
Idiot
Dop
Alchoholic beverage
Droe Wors
Dry sausage, similar to Biltong
Eish!
An interjection expressing resignation
Fong Kong
Cheap and fake products sold by streat vendors
Gogga
Bug
Graft
Hard work
Haw!
Expression of disbelief
Howzit
How is it going?
Izit / Isit
Is that so?
Jislaaik!
Expression of surprise
Jol
To have fun or party
Kiff, kif, kief
cool
Kwaai
cool
Laduma!
A popular cheer at soccer matches, meaning "he scores!"
Lekker
Nice or Good
Mamparra
Person doing something stupid
Mos
To indicate that what has been said is well known or self-evident. Somewhat similar
to the English "Duh!"
Mzansi
South Africa
Nê?
Oh really? Do you agree?
Nooit
No way, unbelievable, never
Packet
Plastic Bag
Pap
Traditional maize porridge
Pozzie
Home
Sharp
Goodbye, or It is fine/ok
Shebeen
Illegal drinking establishment
Sies
Expression of digust
Skollie
Gangster
Skyf
Cigarette
Slap tjips
Usually soft, oily french fries soaked in vinegar
Smaak
To like another person or thing
Soapie
Soap Opera
Sommer
For no particular reason, just because
Sosatie
a Kebab on a stick
Toyi-Toyi
Protest-dancing
Voetsek!
Go away!
Yoh!
Used to indicate surprise ex, "Yoh, you gave me a fright!"
Zaamie
Sandwich
Map of South African Attractions 
South African Attractions with GeoCaches