List of South African Slang Words

Afrikanerisms

This list of "Afrikanerisms" (referred to as "funakalo" – not to be confused with the created language (lingua franca) Fanagalo which was used in the mines of South Africa to ensure workers from various language backgrounds could communicate) comprises slang words and phrases influenced by Afrikaans and other African languages. Typical users include people with Afrikaans as their first language but who speak English as a second language; and people living in areas where the population speaks both English and Afrikaans. Many of these terms also occur widely amongst South African Coloureds. These terms do not occur in formal South African English. Fanakalo also refers to when people of non Zulu origin attempt to speak Zulu without the proper pronunciation and throat sounds. Fanakalo in Zulu literally means "same as this" – (fana – same, ka – as, lo – this)

ag man – oh man; ag as the Afrikaans equivalent to "oh", man pronounced as in English
antie – an older female authority figure. . Derived from the nonstandard Afrikaans word which is in term derived from the English "aunt".]
anties – breasts, as in "check die lekker anties op daai girl!"
aweh/awe (pronounced \AAAH-WHERE\ --> not rolling the "R") – said in excitement, as in: Aweh; my boss said I can go home early today.. The word has many meanings or uses: "hello", "goodbye", "yes". Also associated with prison use. (Greeting) "Aweh, my bru" (Hello my friend). Compare: howzit, yooit, hoesit, yo.
baas – boss
babelaas babbelas – hangover (of Zulu origin)
bakgat – cool; expression of appreciation for something very well accomplished
bakkie – a utility truck, pick-up truck, now a mainstream word in South African English. Can also refer to a small container.
bakvissie – a giggly teenage girl (from bakvis, a fish too small to be kept and thrown back into the water).
bale – (TV) used to signify annoyance (pronounced barlee)
befok – really good, exciting, cool; as in "The rock-show was befok." Can also mean "crazy" in a very strong sense, as in "Are you befok?" — derogatory(err:definitely not a polite enquiry). "Ek het daai ou befok" – meaning I cheated that guy in a transaction. Profanity – the base 'fok' meaning to have sex.
bek – derogatory term for mouth (Afrikaans: an animal's mouth); hou jou bek – "shut up, shut your trap" (literally" "hold your mouth"). This translates well into British English as "Shut your gob."
bergie – from berg, mountain, originally referring to vagrants who sheltered in the forests of Table Mountain; now a mainstream word for a particular subculture of vagrants, or homeless persons, especially in Cape Town. When used as slang refers to anyone down-and-out
bill – used to ask for the cheque; as in: "Can I have the bill, please?", identical to British English
biltong – dried meat, similar to jerky (a mainstream word)
blerrie/bladdy hell – damn
bliksem – strike, hit, punch; also used as an expression of surprise/emphasis (rude). It derives from the Dutch word for "lightning", and often occurs in conjunction with donner. Used as a curse in Afrikaans: Jou bliksem! (You bastard!) Used to curse that Bliksem Taxi.
bioscope, bio – cinema, movie theatre (now dated), originally an international English word that became defunct elsewhere, it has survived longer in South Africa as a result of the influence of the Afrikaans cognate bioskoop. Also related to the Dutch word "bioscoop", which still means "cinema" in Netherlands usage.
blou – being sad as in the English language feeling blue
bloutrein – literally "blue train", referring to methylated spirits, sometimes used for drinking (filtered through a loaf of white bread). Also refers to the Blue Train (two words), a luxury train that travels from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
boer – literally "farmer" in Afrikaans. English-speaking people use the word to indicate an Afrikaans farmer, especially in a derogatory way, like "country bumpkin", "boorish"; but Afrikaners use it with much pride, indicating a person with a deep love of the soil of Africa, a provider of food. boere (the plural form) can also refer to the police.
boerewors – spicy sausage (Afrikaans) farmer-sausage, used as a mainstream word in South African English
boet – male friend (from boetie, informal form of broer meaning brother, see also bru and bra below); compare American English: "dude"
bokkie – (diminutive of bok, literally meaning "little buck" or "doe") a popular term of endearment, comparable to "sweetheart", "honey", etc.
boom – Literal translation is "tree" but is commonly used to refer to marijuana
bosberaad – strategy meeting held outdoors, for example in a game reserve
bossies, or bosbefok – crazy, whacko, mad. Also a term for one who has shell shock. Refers to the time of the South African Border War where soldiers spent time in the bush ("bos/bosse") and would return home suffering battle flash-backs (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
brak – mongrel dog, can also refer to brackish water.
broekie – panties or ladies underwear. From Afrikaans: broek, meaning "trousers". Common usage: "Don't get your broekies in a knot" = "Calm down".
broekie lace – ornate ironwork found on Victorian buildings (lit. 'pantie lace')
bra – male friend compare American English: "dude"
bru – A term of affection see also "bra" and "boet", shortened from Afrikaans broer, meaning "brother". An example would be "Hey, my bru, howzit?"
button – mandrax tablet (Slang Only)
braai – a barbecue, to barbecue (from braaivleis grilled meat), used as a mainstream word in South African English
cheekyprawn – a term of foul abuse
cherry – "meddie", see tjerrie
china/chine – a friend; as in the greeting howzit my china (likely origin: Cockney rhyming slang "China plate" (meaning "my mate"); from early British immigrants.
chan – a derogatory term for an overweight, metrosexual South African. (likely origin: derived from the slang term china/chine). Also used as a variation to bru and bra.
chommie/chomma – a friend (compare English "chum"); also refers to the perineum area between vagina and anus. Also spelled tjommie
choty goty – beautiful girl
chrisco – a party/disco where Christian music mainly features. A combination of the words 'Christian' and 'Disco'
Chwee chweereekeys– getting high
cuiter – somebody one has a strong dislike for. It has a similar meaning to the word cunt in the English language e.g. daai cuiter pronk toe nog so lekker toe donner ek hom
cullis – young girl who is extremely lead.
dagga – most common word for marijuana.
dikbek – grumpy, in a huff (literally: "thick mouth" (pout), with an image of puffed-out cheeks like a bullfrog)
dinges – thingamabob, a wotzit or a whatchamacallit
doos – literally the Afrikaans translation for " box " Depending on context, the slang / derogatory version can mean " prat, twat, idiot, dumb cunt "
domkop – idiot (lit. Dumbhead), same as German "Dummkopf"
donner – to beat up. Used together with "bliksem". Derived from "donder" (thunder, related to Thor). Amounts to an ancient curse. Like "Nick i'm gonna donder jou poes"
dof – stupid or slow to understand.
dop – alcohol, to drink alcohol, to fail. For example: "Come and drink a dop (a drink) with me" or "I'm gonna dop that test." Originally refers to a tot (measure).
dorpie – small town
doss, dossing – Sleep or nap.
Droëwors – (Afrikaans) 'dry sausage', similar to biltong
dronkie – drunkard
druk – to embrace or squeeze, hug (noun) "Gee my 'n drukkie," "Give me a hug." (not necessary sexually)
eina! – ouch! used as a mainstream word in South African English.
ek sê – I say!
entjie – Cigarette. For example, "Awe ou. Steek 'n ent!"
flaterwater – correction fluid (e.g.: Tipp-Ex, Wite-Out)
flou – an unfunny (weak) joke (from the Afrikaans word for weak), can also refer to weak coffee or tea or weak alkoholic drink. A person that is weak. (Die man is te flou "The man is too weak").
fok – Afrikaans for "fuck", can be used in most ways it is used in English. Fokken = fucking, gefok = fucked.
gatvol – fed up, had enough. (Afrikaans – asshole-full).
gees – Literal translation it means spirit, for something to have spirit. ( daai bra het nou groot gees gevang)
gesuip – very drunk, intoxicated, plastered. Original Afrikaans meaning for an animal drinking (water) – of course.
goffel – Ugly girl/woman. For example,"What a G!". Also a degrading term for a person of coloured origin.
gomgat – bumpkin, redneck. (in the US sense, not to be confused with rooinek, the literal translation of redneck.)
goof, ghoef – swim, take a dip
gooi – throw, chuck or to "tune" (see below) someone.
goose – also chick, cherry : a young woman or girlfriend (used mainly during the 50s, now dated) also famous line by South African comedian Barry Hilton
houding – character or style
"heita" – heita, meaning "hello" or "hi". It was from this that telecommunications company 'Telkom' got the name '8.ta' for their mobile addition
hoesit, hoezit, howzit – derived from "How is it going? – contracted to how's it?_In English SA context, howzit is more a greeting of "hello" rather than "how are you?", similar to SA black slang's "eta" or "ola"
in sy moer – badly damaged, destroyed (rude, often considered profanity due to 'moer' to beat up)
ja – yeah (literally "yes" in Afrikaans)
jux/juks/jags – Meaning "horny". For example, "Jinne meisie, jy maak my nou sommer lekker jags."
ja-nee – Literal translation : Yes No. Example : Dis warm vandag. (It's hot today) : Ja-Nee. Agreement, but not enthusiastically so.
jislaaik! – expression of surprise, can be positive or negative. Often used when you get a fright, but equally often during particularly exciting parts of a rugby game.
jo – an expression of surprise e.g., "Jo, that was rude" "Jo, you gave me a fright!" pron. yo as in yonder)
jol – to have fun, to party, can also refer to a disco or party, to commit adultery or even dating or courting
kak – Literal translation : shit. crap, rubbish, nonsense (vulgar), of very wide usage. Also used as a way of further expressing one's feeling in language, for example, instead of "that girl is pretty" one can say emphatically "that girl is kak pretty!"
katkop – half a loaf of bread hollowed out and filled with chips (i.e. French fries, not crisps) (Literal translation from Afrikaans = cat head or cat's head). In South Africa French fries refers to thinly cut fried potato chips, whereas slap tjips (lit. limp chips) refers to the thicker British-style chip. Crispy potato chips are known as potato crisps.
khaki – derogatory term for an English person
kêrels – police (original Afrikaans meaning: guys, chaps). "The kêrels are coming, watch out!" (Dated). More commonly referring to boyfriend or literal translation : Guy or young man.
kiff, kif, kief – (adjective) wicked, cool, neat, great, wonderful. The word derives from the Arabic word 'kif' meaning pleasure or marijuana. This may also be related to the Afrikaans word for poison: gif. Coastal pot-smokers used the term to refer to Durban Poison: "Gifs" . The word evolved into kiff, an adjective or exclamation meaning "cool", amongst English-speaking people on the east coast.
klankie – unpleasant smell. Also said as just "Klank". Pronounced as in "Clunk"
klap – to smack. (From Afrikaans). "He got klapped in the bar". Like a "bitch-slap".
koffie-moffie – a camp male waiter or air steward. See "moffie".
kont – same as 'Cunt' in English (profanity)
krimpie – old person
kwaai – cool, excellent (Afrikaans: "angry". Compare the US slang word phat.)
lag – to laugh. For example: They lag at the joke.
laaitie, lighty – a younger person, esp. a younger male such as a younger brother or son
lank – lots/a lot
laanie, larny – (n) boss, used in a deferent tone. (adj) fancy
las – 1. an act that is undesirable to commit, a burden. 2. To tell someone or suggest to stop doing an act. (origin. something that is slowing you or an object down e.g. 'n Las in die pad. (An object as in a stone in the road.)
lus – cigarette. "Give us a lus china". See also; smaak
lekker – nice, good, great (lit. tasty) Like "tik, tik is lekker"
loskind – a really slutty girl, usually wears revealing clothes and is easy to get with (For example: "Nicola is 'n fokken loskind!")
loskop – air head, literally a "lost head" refers to someone who's head is in the clouds, clumsy, forgetful.
maafoedi – motherfucker, as in " Jou maaifoedi "
maat – friend (OED), also your partner (wife, girlfriend)
mal – mad, crazy, insane
mallie – mother
mamparra – cheeky, mischievous
mmchakawally – cigarettes
mielie – millet corn (AmE) / maize (BrE), staple diet
muggie – bug, especially a little flying gnat
moegoe – stupid person, coward, or weakling
moffie – male homosexual (derogatory). Can be compared to "fairy".
moer-toe – stuffed up or destroyed (my car is moer-toe)
mompie – retard. ("Liesl, you are such a mompie!")
morne – boring, sterile, unexciting. ("This is more morne than watching Saracens play!")
mos – Afrikaans, implies that what has been said is well known or self-evident (a formal part of grammar, the closest English equivalent would be "duh!"). "Ek drink mos tee." ("I drink tea, duh!"). Used at the end of a sentence, as in "...Jy weet mos." ("...You know then.")
naartjie (Afrikaans) – tangerine, mandarin, satsuma – any pealable orange-coloured citrus fruit with neat segments; used as a mainstream word in South African English, and a dietary staple. Often thrown at T.V. when frustrated with referee decisions.
N.A.A.F.I. – (pronounced NAAFI) acronym for: "No Ambition and Fuck-all Interest"; (originated from the (still existing) British military "Navy, Army and Air Force Institute") referring to a lazy person. Used extensively during the days of National Service.
nè? – do you know what I mean/agree?, oh really?, is it not so?, e.g. "Jy hou van tee, nè?" ("You like tea, don't you?") (informal)
nogal – of all things. Term expressing a measure of surprise
nooit – never, no way, unbelievable!
oom – an older man of authority, commonly in reference to an older Afrikaans man (Afrikaans for uncle)
ou (plural ouens) man, guy, bloke (also oke) (literally "old")
ouballie – old man, dad; as in: "shaft me, ouballie" "My ouballie (father, dad) will be home soon".
ousie – Term used to refer to a maid, usually a black female; Also used by black females to call/refer to each other
pap – traditional maize porridge similar to grits; can also mean "deflated".
paraat – disciplined. Somebody who is paraat, generally has "houding"i.e style / character
plaas – lit. : farm. Also, when someone falls down : Plaas gekoop.
platteland – rural area, country (as in living in the country, as opposed to living in the city)
piel – derogatory term for a male genitalia ("cock" or "dick")
poes – derogatory term for a female genitalia ("pussy" or "cunt")
poesgesig – derogatory term for an English-speaking South African ("cuntface")
pommie, pom – derogatory term for an English person (borrowed from Australia)
rooinek – ("red neck") Afrikaner derogatory term for English person or English-speaking South African. Derived in 19th century due to native British not being used to the hot African sun and getting sunburnt, especially on the neck. Almost the exact opposite to the American usage of "redneck".
sat – tired, dead – "Ek is siek en sat van sy nonsens" I'm sick and tired of his nonsense", see 'vrek' below (pronounced as sut in English)
sies, "sis" – expression of disgust, disappointment, annoyance, as in: Ag, sies, man.
scrompie – slang for "hobo" or bergie. (Liesl told her 7-year-old son, Karl, to walk away from the scrompie walking towards them.)
skaapie – someone who might be referred to as a "pussy"
skeef – crooked, gay, as in: hy het 'n bietjie skeef voorgekom (he seemed a bit gay)
skief – to glare at someone (root: Afrikaans 'skeef', skew)
skop, skiet en boom klim – literally "kicking, shooting and climbing trees". A colloquial description of an action film, usually of the lighter, more humorous kind. (Think Jackie Chan.)
skop, skiet en donner – literally "kicking, shooting and beating people up". A colloquial description of an action movie of the more violent kind. (Think Jean-Claude Van Damme.)
skelm – (prounounced: Skellem) crook or trouble-maker, mistress, secret lover
skinner, skinder – gossip
skop – kick
skort – watch out, be careful or something is wrong here.
skraal – very hungry. (Durban region, from Afrikaans for "thin" or "emaciated".)
skrik – fright
skyf – cigarette, a puff, and also less commonly marijuana or dagga.
slap gat – English translation "lazy arse"
slap tjips – (pronounced as "slup chips") similar to thick-cut British chips; usually soft, oily and soaked in vinegar, usually bought in a brown paper bag. Slap is Afrikaans for "limp". French fries refers to thinly cut chips. Crispy potato chips are referred to as 'crisps'.
smaak – to like another person or thing
smaak stukkend – to like very much or to love to pieces (literal meaning of stukkend). "I smaak you stukkend" = "I love you madly".
smeerlaken – Afrikaans lit. "spread" + "sheet" i.e. an Excel or Lotus worksheet
sneeudier – old person
soek – to look for trouble with someone/to antagonise/to stir up trouble = "you soeking with me?" – Afrikaans: "to seek or look for".
sommer – for no particular reason, just because
sosatie – a kebab on a skewer, used as mainstream word in South African English.
soutpiel/soutie – derogatory term for English person, literally salty penis. Someone with one foot in England, the other in South Africa and their penis hanging in the Atlantic Ocean
steek – stab, poke (with knife). "He/she steeked her/him" = "He/she poked her/him". Also see "naai" = Nick steeked me stukkend.
stukkie, stekkie – a woman (from the Afrikaans meaning "a piece") – mostly used when referring to a woman that you have/have casual encounters with
stoep – porch, verandah, like American English stoop, but pronounced with a shorter vowel
stompie – a cigarette butt, a short person or impolite term to refer to the remaining arm/leg/finger after an amputation.
stukkend – (Afrikaans) broken, a lot. Also commonly used when someone is hungover. For example, "I am so stukkend".
swak – broke. Original Afrikaans: weak. "I'm swak, ek sê". Also used to suggest that someone's behaviour was harsh (with varying degrees of seriousness, depending on tone and context), for example: "It's swak that I failed the test"
tekkies – sneakers. (The Anglicised pronunciation tackies has become mainstream in South African English.\.)
tiet – English equivalent Boob or Breast (from 'teat')
tet – breast or boob
toppie ou toppie – father – see ouballie
trek – to move or pull. (The word has become international with the meaning of "making a pioneering journey"; the slang usage more closely resembles the standard Afrikaans meaning.)
tuinbooi – Term used to refer to a gardener, usually a black gardener
TVP (tiener velprobleem) – Acne problems
vaalie – mildly derogatory term used by people on the coast for a tourist from inland (Root: Old Transvaal province)
vellies – veldskoens, traditional Afrikaans outdoors shoes made from hide
verkramp – politically conservative or pessimistic, the opposite of verlig, or enlightened
voertsek – get lost, buzz off, go away, run, scram, stuff off, bugger off (it can be considered rude, depending on the context) – usually used when referring to an animal.
vrek – Afrikaans meaning for an animal dying.
vrot – bad, rotten, putrid, sometimes drunk
vrotbek – someone who swears a lot or is swearing a lot at the moment.
vry – to make out or courting (equivalent to American "necking", British "snogging" or Australian "pashing")
Vrystaat vineyard – Shifting spanner
woes – wild, untidy, unkempt or irreverent. A general term pertaining to either a person, behaviour or situation
wys - multiple meanings - to insult(see tune) or to say e.g. "Yoh, John wys me after I told him to shut up!"
yoh – an expression of surprise e.g., "Yoh, that was rude" "Yoh, you gave me a fright!", (Police-chief talking about the poor physique of his policemen) "They should look at our men and say "yoh!".
zef – from Ford Zephyr car, cheap to tune-up; cool, rough guy; common person; ultimate South African style; kitsch.
zol – a homemade cigarette rolled with old newspaper or rizlas (likely marijuana-filled) joint (equivalent to American "doobie")
zamalek – Black Label, a typical US-style lager, locally brewed under licence

Read more about this topic: List Of South African Slang Words

List of South African Slang Words - Afrikanerisms