South African Slang...
July 1, 2006
After reading one of the books that I got from the Tourism Office, I saw that there are some terms that they use
out here that could leave someone from other parts of the world a bit confused. I thought I would share a few of
these...
Aikona – No way or absolutely not.
Braai – Barbeque
Cooldrink – A soda. Can also be called a ‘colddrink’. If you ask for a soda, you will get a club soda.
Eish – Surprise or shock
Howzit – How are you? How are things?
Just now – In the near future (but it won’t be done immediately and it might never get done)
Now now - Not right now, but sooner than just now
Now - At this moment
Dop - Alcoholic drink
Jol - A party or good time
Hoot - honking a car horn
My China - endearing term for a friend or mate
Lekker – Nice, cool or great. An Afrikaans word. (The ‘r’ is rolled.)
Pavement – Sidewalks (Cars drive on a ‘road’, not the ‘pavement’)
Robots – Traffic lights
Sharp Sharp – Affirmation. Everything is cool.
Tackies – Running shoes
Hectic (good) - 'Man, that party was hectic.'
Hectic (bad) - 'Man, she dumped you. That's hectic.'
After reading one of the books that I got from the Tourism Office, I saw that there are some terms that they use
out here that could leave someone from other parts of the world a bit confused. I thought I would share a few of
these...
Aikona – No way or absolutely not.
Braai – Barbeque
Cooldrink – A soda. Can also be called a ‘colddrink’. If you ask for a soda, you will get a club soda.
Eish – Surprise or shock
Howzit – How are you? How are things?
Just now – In the near future (but it won’t be done immediately and it might never get done)
Now now - Not right now, but sooner than just now
Now - At this moment
Dop - Alcoholic drink
Jol - A party or good time
Hoot - honking a car horn
My China - endearing term for a friend or mate
Lekker – Nice, cool or great. An Afrikaans word. (The ‘r’ is rolled.)
Pavement – Sidewalks (Cars drive on a ‘road’, not the ‘pavement’)
Robots – Traffic lights
Sharp Sharp – Affirmation. Everything is cool.
Tackies – Running shoes
Hectic (good) - 'Man, that party was hectic.'
Hectic (bad) - 'Man, she dumped you. That's hectic.'
