Phrases and Words

Phrases and Words

“Where can I find a nice restaurant?” “Go to the second robot, turn left and it is in the building on the right. Then take the lift to the first floor.” “Where?” To find out read the list below. South African English South African Dictionary Afrikaans

South African English

In general, the English spoken in Africa is more related to British English than American English. Over the centuries some words from native and other languages also became part of the South African English vocabulary. This list highlights some of the phrases and words used in southern Africa that can be confusing and may even have the opposite meaning to American English.

SA EnglishAmerican
Phrases
Come and fetch meCan you pick me up?
How is it? or What is going on?What’s up?
It is a (my) pleasureYou’re welcome
Just jokingJust kidding
Just nowSoon, or in a minute, or in a second, or in a short while. Also a minute ago or a short while ago
Are you finished?Are you done?
I am finishedI am done. I am set
Make a planDevise a way of accomplishing something, even if it means to bend the rules
Now-nowA moment ago; In a moment; Just now
Travel
HolidayVacation
RucksackBackpack
TorchFlashlight
Passport/Visa
Dates are written as Day – Month – Year
SurnameLast name
Clothes
CostumeBathing (swimming) suit
Jersey or pulloverSweater
Nappie (similar sounding to Napkin)Diaper
TakkiesSneakers
Housing
Bungalow or rondavelRound cabin-type accommodation
ChaletCabin
CupboardCloset (also known as a toilet)
DustbinTrashcan
FlatApartment
GeyserWater heater
LodgeTypically exclusive, expensive chalet type of accommodation. Not to be confused with chain hotels found in the USA
RubbishGarbage, Trash
TapFaucet, spicket
ToiletsRestroom
Toilet paperBathroom tissue
Food/Shopping
BiltongJerky
BiscuitCookie
BoereworsBBQ sausage (direct translation means farmers sausage)
Braai or BraaivleisBBQ
ChipsFrench Fries or chips
Cooldrinks or ColddrinksSoda or soft drinks e.g. Coke, Pepsi etc. Also juice
Pap (pronounced pup) or porridgeGrits
PiePastry with meat (e.g. Cornish pie, Steak & Kidney pie)
Dessert or puddingDessert
RuskLarge, dried cookie similar to Italian biscotti
SconeBiscuit
SweetsCandy
Take-AwayTake-Out
TartPie
TinCan
Trolley (shopping)Cart (shopping)
Restaurant
BillCheck
EntréeAppetizer
ServietteNapkin (a similar sounding word, Nappie is a Diaper)
Building
LiftElevator or giving someone a ride
Ground floorFirst floor
First floorUsually second floor, but sometimes third floor
Second floorUsually third floor, but sometimes fourth floor
Roads
Gravel roadUnpaved road
PavementSidewalk
RobotTraffic light
Tar roadPaved road
Vehicles
Bakkie (pronounce buck-key)Truck (small)
BonnetHood
BootTrunk
GarageGarage or auto repair shop
Hoot(ing)Honk(ing)
LorrieTruck (large)
MudguardFender
PetrolGas
Petrol StationGas Station
QuadbikeFour Wheeler ATV
TaxiMinibus for mass transportation, but can also be a commonly known taxi (car)
TowbarHitch
Administrative/Political
DistrictCounty
MunicipalityCity Council
ProvinceState
State or governmentGovernment
Academic
AssignmentPaper
Average %GPA (Grade Percentage Average)
BSc3 year BS
BSc (Hons)4 year BS
BTech4 year technology BS. Similar to BSc (Hons)
BursaryScholarship
CollegeCommunity college
CourseProgram
Diploma (national)3 year associate degree
FacultyCollege e.g. College of Natural Resources
Graduatefrom a university, not a high school
Hand in a paperTurn in a paper
HostelDormitory
Lecturer (Academic staff)Faculty or Professor
Lecturing (at university)Teaching (at university or school)
MatricGrade 12 certificate or a senior at high school
MarkingGrading
Marks or PointsGrades
ProgrammeItinerary
ScholarStudent at high school
Student (at university only)Student (at university or high school)
SubjectCourse
TechnikonTechnical college, polytechnic or technical university
UniversityCollege or university
Agricultural
Game ranch (farm)Ranch used for farming and hunting wild animals, typically antelope
LucerneAlfalfa
Maize or MieliesCorn
Plot or Small holdingSmall farm of a few acres
Other
AutumnFall
BushLike “in the woods” or a bush
LipiceChap stick or Lip balm
Post a letterMail a letter
Postal codeZip code
Queue (stand in a queue)Line (stand in line)

South African Dictionary

These words are used both in English and Afrikaans

BiltongSalted and spicy dried meat; Jerky
BoereworsBBQ sausage (direct translation means farmers sausage). Popular traditional South African sausage, usually a coarsely-ground mixture of beef and pork, seasoned with various spices.
Braai or BraaivleisBBQ; To grill over a fire, to hold a barbecue, an outdoor gathering where meat and boerewors is grilled over an open fire.
DongaDeep gully formed by erosion, usually dry with steep, bare sides
HeyImpolite way of calling someone; Sometimes used aggressively; A request for an utterance to be repeated; Added to a statement or a question to give it emphasis or retain the attention of the addressed, through an implied request for reply; A request for confirmation of what has been said
IndabaMeeting or discussion
KraalTraditional African village comprised of a cluster of huts; Enclosure or pen for livestock
MutiTraditional medicine concocted from plant and animal products
RondavelRound chalet or cabin
SangomaWitch doctor
SjambokShort (about 4 feet long) whip made of skin, leather or plastic
Tannie“Aunt”, used particularly for Afrikaner women which are not necessarily a blood-relation; a respectful and affectionate title for a older woman
VeldNatural vegetation in savanna landscape
VleiLow-lying grassland inundated with water during the rainy season; Marshy area; Shallow natural pool of water
VoetsekGo away! Get lost! A rough command typically used to chase a dog away; Also an expression of disgust or rejection used towards people (very aggressive and rude); An indeterminate time of long ago
VoortrekkerAfrikaner pioneers who migrated (trekked) from the Cape Colony to the interior of southern Africa to escape British rule
YeboYes, I agree, I heard you, A general term of agreement or acknowledgement used mainly as slang

AFRIKAANS

The first word “aardvark” and the last word “Zoeloe or Zulu” in the English dictionary are Afrikaans words. Afrikaans originated from the old Dutch language, mixed with some German, French, English and native languages. It is spoken mainly in South Africa and Namibia. These are some basic and typical Afrikaans phrases and words used, that will facilitate your communication skills while visiting these countries. The “G” is pronounced as a guteral gggg The “R” is pronounced as rrrr, with the front of the tongue vibrating

EnglishAfrikaans
PhrasesUitdrukkings (Frases)
Can I …Kan ek …
Don’t worryMoenie worry nie (used in slang)
Good byeTotsiens
Good morningGoeie more
Good nightGoeie nag
Have a good sleepSlaap lekker
Have a good sleep or Sleep wellLekker slaap or Slaap lekker
How are youHoe gaan dit
How far is it?Hoe vêr is dit?
How much does it cost?Hoeveel kos dit?
I am …Ek is …
I am going to bedEk gaan bed toe
I am going to sleepEk gaan slaap
I am looking for …Ek soek die …
I want to …Ek wil …
It’s my pleasure (You are welcome)Dit is my plesier
Putting up a tentTent opslaan
Thank youDankie or Baie dankie
When are we …Wanner is ons …
When are we going?Wanneer gaan ons?
Where are the others?Waar is die ander?
Where are they?Waar is hulle?
Where are we going?Waarnatoe gaan ons?
Where is the …Waar is die …
Personal PronounPersoonlike Voornaamwoord
IEk
HeHy
MeMy
MineMyne
SheSy
TheyHulle
WeOns
YouJy (for friends or acquaintances) and U for an adult unfamiliar person
Food/EatingKos/Eet
BBQBraai or braaivleis
ButterBotter
CanBlik
EatEet (pronounce first “E” like in eat, second “E” like in elephant)
FoodKos
Food for on the roadPadkos (literally means road food)
ForkVurk
HungryHonger
KnifeMes
Maize or cornMielie
MeatVleis
PanPan
PlateBord
Porridge usually made of maize (corn)Pap
PotPot
SausageWors
SpoonLepel
ThirstyDors
WaterWater
ClothesKlere
HatHoed
Pants(Lang) Broek
ShirtHemp
ShoesSkoene
Shorts(Kort) Broek
CampingKampeer
BlanketKombers
ChairStoel
ColdKoud
FireVuur
Freezing coldYskoud
HotWarm
MattressMatrass
Pack or packingPak
PillowKussing
RestroomBadkamer or Toilet
ShowerStort
Sleep(ing)Slaap
Sleeping bagSlaapsak
StickStok
TableTafel
TentTent
TiredMoeg
WoodHout
Landscape Features
Gorge or ravineKloof
Hill or hillock, prominent or smallKoppie
Natural depression, often with a deposit of salt that remained after rain water has evaporated; Shallow periodic lakePan
Natural vegetation in savanna landscapeVeld
RidgeRant
Stream or watercourse, small, usually containing little or no water except during the rainy seasonSpruit or Sloot
WaterholeWatergat
Low-lying grassland inundated with water during the rainy season; Marshy area; Shallow natural pool of waterVlei
OtherAnder
Angry, cross, strictKwaai
AnimalsDiere
Beautiful, wonderful, great, niceMooi
Be careful! Beware! Look out!Pas op! Oppas!
DriveRy
Finished; Done; Ready; ExhaustedKlaar
GrassGras
HelpHelp
Just, Simply, For no specific reasonSommer
Nice, Good, FineLekker
PhoningBel
Pull; Migration of animals; Relocation or Exodus; A long arduous journey or trip; To leave an area; To go away; Move off; To travel constantly from place to placeTrek
TreeBoom
Verandah or porch