A Guide to South Africanisms: Speak the Local Language at Kruger Park Hostel

South African sayings are as diverse and vibrant as the country itself, reflecting the humor, resilience, and warmth of its people. When you find yourself in South Africa, try sprinkling some of these phrases into your conversations; you'll be sure to receive smiles in return. Due to the rich tapestry of languages spoken here, locals often borrow words from different languages, creating a unique slang known as ‘South Africanisms’. If you're visiting South Africa soon, it's handy to know a few of these phrases to help you along the way.

At Kruger Park Hostel, we love using these colorful expressions. They bring a unique flavor to our daily interactions and make every conversation a bit more fun. Here are some of our favorites:

"Just Now"

Meaning: Just now or now-now means anything but “now”. It could be a minute from now or it could be next year. Just now could never come at all. One thing is certain: there is no guarantee that it will happen immediately.

Example:

“Honey, will you mow the lawn for me?”

“Yes liefie, I’ll do it just now.”

"Yes No"

Meaning: The phrase yes no, or ja nee, can be used to confirm something. It conveys a similar feeling to “okay”.

Example:

“I heard you had the flu, how are you feeling today?”

“Yes no, I’m feeling much better thanks.”

"Shame"

Meaning: Variations include ag shame, shame man, hai shame and shêm. This term is used in response to something cute or something unfortunate. It’s often used by South Africans to fill a gap or a silence in the conversation. It can also be used sarcastically.

Example:

“I was stuck in traffic for an hour this morning.”

“Shame man. Here, check this video of a kitten trying to climb onto a couch.”

“Ag shame!”

"Sharp"

Meaning: Sharp or sharp-sharp can be used to express a range of different things such as agreement, enthusiasm, and greeting. It could also mean “thank you”, “okay”, “sure”, “yes”, “good” or “goodbye”.

Example:

“I brought you back some curry from Caelyn’s place.”

“Sharp, brah.”

“Okay, see you later.”

“Sharp.”

"Dice"

Meaning: This word does not always refer to what you find in board games. Dice or dicing can also refer to street-racing. Dicing often takes place in an environment of boosted cars, chrome rims, and dropped suspensions.

Example:

“My Sentra VVL is ready to go.”

“Now can we dice?”

"Tune/Tjoon"

Meaning: Tune/tjoon or tuning/tjooning means telling somebody something. In certain contexts, it can also mean to provoke or aggravate someone.

Example:

“That guy was tuning me nonsense.”

“Ja, he’s an idiot.”

"A Short Dictionary"

Food and Drink:

Bunny chow: Curry inside a half-loaf of bread

Dop: Alcohol; an alcoholic drink

Dumpie: 340ml beer in brown bottle

Gatsby: Foot-long (minimum) roll including your choice of filling (slap chips, masala steak, calamari, polony, curry etc.)

Slap chips: Soft, thick potato fries

Smiley: Cooked sheep’s head

Things Related to Food and Drink:

Babbelas: Hangover

Braai: Barbecue

Shabeen: Tavern, often unlicensed

Boet: Short for boetie, or buddy.

Jol: A party. Both a noun and a verb.

Bliksem [bluhk–sim]: A derogative term, meaning to hit someone, but often used as an expression of surprise too.

Eina! [ay-na]: An expression for when someone experiences pain.

Jislaaik [yis-like]: This is said when trying to express shock.

Ubuntu [oo-boon-too]: It literally means “I am because we are”. It is an ancient African word that describes a common philosophical feeling of humanity and family. There is no single word to translate it as.

Open-Ended Words:

Aweh: A greeting or an expression of agreement or excitement

Dingis: Thingy; could refer to anything

Eish: An expression of exasperation, surprise, frustration, or disbelief

Izzit?: Really? (can be used sarcastically)

Ubuntu: Humanity, compassion, and interconnectedness; “I am, because of you”

Yebo: Zulu for “yes.” Can be a greeting or a sendoff. YEH-bo!

"Ag man!: Oh man!"

This Afrikaans expression is the go-to phrase for pity, resignation, or irritation. It’s versatile and can be used in various situations, whether you\’ve just missed your bus or you\’re sympathizing with a friend’s bad day.

"Gatvol: Fed up"

When you’re so over it that you can’t take any more, you’re gatvol. It\’s the phrase you use when you’re tired of the same old nonsense happening over and over again.

"Howzit: How’s it going"

A common greeting that’s much more efficient than saying "hello" and "how are you?" separately. It\’s the perfect way to greet someone while saving time for more important things, like a lekker ice-cold Zamalek or cup of Rooibos tea.

"Lekker: Great, delicious, nice, or fun"

An Afrikaans word that’s become a staple in South African English. It\’s used to describe anything from a tasty meal to a fun day out. Just remember to roll the "r" when you say it. In essence, it\’s pronounced "lekkkerrrrrr".

"Robo’: Traffic light"

Don’t be alarmed if someone tells you to turn left at the robot; they’re not talking about a sci-fi movie. In South Africa, a robot is what you might call a traffic light. Yes, it’s weird and we know it.

"Voetsek!: Get lost!"

When you need to tell someone (or something, like a pesky baboon) to scram, voetsek is your word. It’s the equivalent of saying ‘shoo’ or ‘get out of here’ with a bit more oomph.

So there you have it! A crash course in South Africanisms to help you navigate the local lingo. Whether you’re having a lekker braai, feeling a bit gatvol, or just tuning someone, these phrases will have you sounding like a local in no time. And remember, at Kruger Park Hostel, we’re always here to help you understand the local slang – just don’t ask us to do it “just now”!