(also used as a verb, let’s jol). Human kindness. South African food is a style and language unto its own. late - A euphemism for dead/deceased; as in 'My daddy is 2 years late'. Dop: a drink (let’s go for a dop). EUR" literally meaning EUR[pounds sterling]it thundersEUR, used to celebrate a goal Lekker EUR" tastes good, as in EUR[pounds sterling]this steak tastes lekkerEUR Muti EUR" traditional African medicine Mampara EUR" someone behaving stupidly, as in EUR[pounds sterling]youEUROre such a mamparaEUR Now-now EUR" in a bit, as in EUR[pounds sterling]IEUROll be there now-nowEUR Oke EUR" a man … The most spoken language in South Africa is Zulu; Zulu is primarily spoken in the eastern part of the country. ‘Eish, my cell phone broke’. They call themselves the home of Lekker Biltong, Boerewors, and much, much more! Now that you know the common South African slang that you can use, no matter the language of the person you’re speaking to, here’s a few more phrases in each of South Africa’s 10 languages other than English. Robot: street light/traffic light (turn left at the robot). Sho’t left is derived from everyday South African ‘taxi lingo’. You can find additional phrases here. English is the most spoken language on the continent, but not in the country. EN: "This bread is very tasty." lusciousness definition: 1. the fact of having a pleasant sweet taste or containing a lot of juice: 2. the quality of being…. Venda is a Bantu language, spoken in South Africa as well as Zimbabwe. [izzit] is an expression frequently used in conversation meaning ‘Is that so?’ or ‘Really?’. Expect the back filled with people. Jol [jawl] is a widely-used term for ‘club’, ‘party’ or to ‘have fun’. What does mean? Dop is slang for an alcoholic drink. A commuter wanting a ride to a destination close by will say ‘Sho’t left, driver,’ meaning ‘I want to get off just around the corner.’, We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Available in a range of colours and styles for men, women, and everyone. anties – breasts, as in "check die lekker anties op… for a roadtrip). A braai is a popular social event in South Africa and even has its own dedicated public holiday, known as National Braai Day, which coincides with Heritage Day celebrated annually on September 24. It shares many words with Zulu and Ndebele. … The word slap means ‘limp’ in Afrikaans and is a perfect description for the oily potato chips which are larger than French fries. Eish(! I totally agree with what the man above wrote, But the combination lekker + ding ( ding = Thing ). Here are more phrases to learn. Generally used instead of … Lekker Meaning ‘good’, Lekker is a term used by South Africans when they are expressing satisfaction. How do you say this in Simplified Chinese (China)? 2. tasty. Thanks to the variety of languages spoken in South Africa, locals tend to borrow words from each language, resulting in slang words or phrases known as ‘South Africanisms’. Eg. Indaba [in-daa-bah] A conference or expo, from the Zulu word for ‘a matter for discussion’. ʼn Man van twaalf ambagte en dertien ongelukke; English: A man of twelve trades and thirteen accidents. Oh really? These languages are all spoken in such close proximity, so you will notice that there are a lot of similarities. Pap: traditional porridge made from maize. Contextual translation of "lekker" into English. Droewors: dried sausage, similar to biltong or bratwurst. Bliksem: hit, punch, strike. Lekker man (tasty! lakkaz – meaning lekker from the Afrikaans language. You sense your food as tasting good, you sense a massage as being good and say its’s lekker, you say somebody is ‘lekker’, because you’re imagining some next steps We South Africans love our filler words. 6 continents and 104 countries in. Shame is a typical South African expression for sympathy or admiration. Eg. You can learn more about the sounds of Xhosa here (as well as additional phrases). 3. local is lekker popular slogan promoting South African culture, produce, etc. slang (man: handsome or well-built) (informeel, voor mannen) lekker bn Sharp [shahp] is often doubled up for effect (sharp sharp!) Braai [br-eye] is a widely used noun and verb for an outdoor ‘barbecue’ where meat is cooked over a fire or coals. If you’re visiting South Africa any time soon, it’s useful to know a few turns of phrase to help you along the way. Slap chips [slup chips] is a slang phrase for deep-fried potato chips sold at takeaway seafood shops, grocery stores and restaurants. Ag | Oh man. What does the South African term lekker mean? The Lekker Shop is a South African shop and butcher in Hamilton, New Zealand. [C20: Afrikaans, from Dutch] Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014. Can also be used as “fail.”. There are three main versions of it: now, just now and now now. May also represent boredom (slang, snooze). : mean? ): An exclamation. You can find more phrases here. She has a BA in journalism and Master's in innovation and change, but her real skill is plugging in a USB in 2 or less tries (most of the time). and means ‘goodbye’ or that everything is great. Other British English words: Because of South Africa’s relation to the commonwealth, you can expect to hear British English more common than American English. late - A euphemism for dead/deceased; as in 'My daddy is 2 years late'. dude!) lekker bn : Even though there was no added sugar, the cake was quite flavorful. Biltong: Biltong is like beef jerky, but just not beef. Bo Kaap's history – what you need to know about Cape Town’s most Insta-famous neighborhood. Boerewors [boor-uh-vors] is an Afrikaans term for ‘farmer’s sausage’ — a traditional South African meat often enjoyed at a braai. Get a lekka mug for your fish Sarah. Less than 10% of South Africans speak English as their first language, though visitors will notice that most people they interact with speak it well. Eg. ‘We’re having a braai tomorrow.’ ‘We braaied the meat yesterday’. Jun 8 Word of the Day. Here are the most important you need to know.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'howdareshe_org-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_22',148,'0','0'])); Boerewors: farmer’s sausage (sometimes spicy) and one of the most common meats you’ll find on the braai. Ag — pronounced “Ach” — is a filler word. Eish [aysh] is a colloquial exclamation of surprise, disapproval, exasperation or regret derived from Xhosa. angry, mean) Very angry, but also great, nice. Eg. could be a sigh of approval when someone tells you something nice they are about to do, like a holiday. This does not mean they’ll do it immediately, but rather a bit later. Term comes from Irish, but came to South Africa during Apartheid, when black South Africans wanted a place to drink. good, pleasant; a type of custard; a temporary camp You will see it EVERYWHERE, but each one is different. Skollies from Springs in the 70s or 80s would tune "Kwaai my broer", which is the same as saying "Kiff". In South Africa, ag [agh] is not short for aggressive or agriculture — it’s a filler word to express irritation or resignation. Originally referred to food, but used widely to describe any excellent or pleasurable thing. Bru (bra): bro or dude.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'howdareshe_org-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_21',155,'0','0'])); Fong Kong: cheap/fake knockoffs or products sold on the street or in “China” (where the Chinese shops are in whichever city you’re in). The Lekker Shop is a South African shop and butcher in Hamilton, New Zealand. 1. pleasing or enjoyable. 私に〜してくださ … Padkos: food for the road (e.g. could be a sigh of approval when someone tells you something nice they are about to do, like a holiday. You scared me.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'howdareshe_org-banner-1','ezslot_17',145,'0','0'])); Now: Now and time are a flexible concept in South Africa, which is why “now” can be a bit confusing. Shap shap/sharp sharp: All good, everything’s in order. Here are the 18 South African words and phrases you will hear nearly every day.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'howdareshe_org-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',142,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'howdareshe_org-medrectangle-3','ezslot_6',142,'0','1'])); .medrectangle-3-multi-142{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:10px !important;margin-left:0px !important;margin-right:0px !important;margin-top:10px !important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;text-align:center !important;}. Lekker pik, is typically said among millennials in the Amsterdam/Rotterdam regions, that is more a greeting of sorts as well as approval (and means tasty dick). eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'howdareshe_org-leader-3','ezslot_13',157,'0','0']));South Africa’s population is nearly 56 million, and the country is known for the diversity of languages. Howzit? I would say is exclusively used to describe an attractive woman, Also Lekker Stuk ( Stuk = Piece) Lekker Brok ( Brok = Bit ) In Amsterdam where I live lekker ding is sometimes cynically. South African food. Below is the breakdown of South African languages spoken as a first language, according to the 2011 census.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'howdareshe_org-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',158,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'howdareshe_org-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',158,'0','1'])); .large-mobile-banner-1-multi-158{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:10px !important;margin-left:0px !important;margin-right:0px !important;margin-top:10px !important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;text-align:center !important;}. Find more Afrikaans phrases here (and an explanation of the differences between Dutch and Afrikaans. ‘Don’t skinner about me.’, Lekker [lek-uh] is a widely used term indicating that something is ‘great’ or ‘nice’. Most popular South African slang and phrases, More, less common, South African slang you’ll hear or see, South African languages as a first language, Northern Sotho (aka Sepedi) words and phrases, English is the most spoken language on the continent, baie dankie [pronounced like “buy a donkey”]. Eg. dude!) Xhosa is the language you probably associate with clicks. ‘Ag, shame man, poor girl!’ ‘Shame, he’s so cute.’. Forget spaces and extra syllables when asking someone how it’s going – smash it all into one word, howzit. Kief [kif], derived from Arabic (kayf), means cool, great, awesome or neat. Here’s an informal guide to our weirder words. South Africa has 11 official languages and it can be confusing to watch people switch between English, Xhosa, Zulu and more, seamlessly. Ndebele is separated into Northern and Southern. I am because of you. [Word used most often by Indians. Is it/izit? ), chicken and even fish. Lekker (pronounced lak-kerr): great, cool, nice e.g. lecker ( comparative leckerer or leckrer, superlative am leckersten ) yummy, tasty. Shebeen [sha-bean] is an illegal tavern derived from Irish (sibín). Shame: As in “what a shame.”eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'howdareshe_org-box-4','ezslot_18',144,'0','0'])); Braai: Braai is Afrikaans for barbecue. Lekker – great / tasty [lack-err] An Afrikaans word that has multiple meanings and which can be used in various contexts to describe many things from people to food to inanimate objects. (Lit. Some people pour their heart out and I feel it would be insulting to post some of those in public, even if it they're funny or obvious larps. She dares to see, taste, experience and meet the world as she goes. While English is spoken by less than 10% of the population as a first or home language, it is commonly spoken in official and commercial areas. Howzit? Kief. For example, ‘The food was lekker’, or ‘We had a lekker day.’, Kief [kif], derived from Arabic (kayf), means cool, great, awesome or neat. Lekker dan, would be used sarcastically as disapproval. Lekker in its original form refers to food and can be roughly translated as tasty or yummy. Most commonly, the word is used to describe food. snacks, etc. If someone says they’ll bliksem you, get outta there. Similar to lekker, leuk can mean nice or fun, and can be used for a wide range of things. Ubuntu: a philosophy of family. Emoji Meaning. Where’s the jol? Baie lekker Find more words! A yellow face with eyes closed and mouth letting out three, cartoon-styled Zzz’s overhead to indicate it's sound asleep. OUR ULTIMATE COVID BOOKING GUARANTEE. For example, ‘Pour me a dop,’ or ‘I’m gonna dop that test’. Tswana comes is spoken in the northern parts of South Africa and its origins are in Botswana. Then, you’ll find common phrases to keep handy in the 10 South African languages that aren’t English. It is used to convey the meaning of great, delicious, nice or fun. Baie lekker Find more words! Facebook calls it an "Ethnic Grocery Store". used as a mild term of dissaproval to someone's face if South Africa’s population is nearly 56 million, and the country is known for the diversity of languages. Learn more phrases here. lekker (comparative more lekker, superlative most lekker) ( South Africa ) Tasty , nice , fun , great . A South African slang word for nice ; good. Bobotie: a baked dish with minced meat, spice and egg custard topping; served with rice and raisins.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'howdareshe_org-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_19',152,'0','0'])); Bunny chow: a South African Indian (not traditional Indian) dish made with curry served in a large portion of bread (usually a half loaf of bread); typically spicy. Shop high-quality unique Afrikaans T-Shirts designed and sold by artists. Here are some more helpful phrases. Skyf: cigarette.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'howdareshe_org-leader-2','ezslot_11',156,'0','0'])); Sho’t left: comes from taxi lingo, meaning “just over there” or “around the corner.”. ( South Africa ) Good in a generic sense, worthy , functional . lekker. ‘We had a jol last night!’. Is that so? Lekker pik, is typically said among millennials in the Amsterdam/Rotterdam regions, that is more a greeting of sorts as well as approval (and means tasty dick). FIND OUT MORE. If you’re hurt or exasperated, or surprised as someone’s telling a story – eish!eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'howdareshe_org-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',143,'0','0'])); Lekker: Good, awesome, amazing, cool – basically any positive. Swati is the language of Swaziland (now known as Eswatini), a country enveloped by South Africa. A braai is a popular social event in South Africa and even has its own dedicated public holiday, known as National Braai Day, which coincides with Heritage Day celebrated annually on September 24. Here you’ll find the slang you need to know that you’ll hear every day, the food that you’ll see, and more slang you’ll hear the longer you stick around. South Africans speak English, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always understand us. Is it? ― This is a very tasty biscuit. Sesotho originates in Lesotho and is also spoken in Free State and Gauteng in South Africa. I would say is exclusively used to describe an attractive woman, Also Lekker Stuk ( Stuk = Piece) Lekker Brok ( Brok = Bit ) In Amsterdam where I live lekker ding is sometimes cynically. Boerewors: farmer’s sausage (sometimes spicy) and one of the most common meats you’ll find on the braai. Our “robots” are nothing like R2D2, “just now” doesn’t mean immediately, and “babbelas” is not a shampoo. Literally, "sweet" or " tasty ".) These are the 38 South African words and phrases you need to know when visiting the country plus basic phrases in the 10 official languages other than English.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'howdareshe_org-box-3','ezslot_2',141,'0','0'])); It doesn’t take long being in South Africa before you find yourself dropping shap shap into conversation or yebo to confirm something. Lekker man (tasty! The 11 languages spoken in South Africa are: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Venda, Tsonga, Swati and Ndebele. Meaning: You’re drunk. She believes daring isn't about being fearless, but choosing to opt in, in spite of fear. Eg. ‘We’re having a braai tomorrow.’ ‘We braaied the meat yesterday’. Read more about Ubuntu here.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'howdareshe_org-leader-1','ezslot_12',147,'0','0'])); South African food is a style and language unto its own. It refers to unlicensed bars that were set up in townships during apartheid and frequented mainly by black South Africans. Human translations with examples: shihaam, gorgeous, great bbq, nice tits, sleep well, sleep tight, sweet dreams. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Kwaai (Afrikaans – lit. For example, “That is a lekker presentation,” is what one would say if … One commonality among most (apart from some of the words) is that the words you use will be different if you are addressing a single person or a group (as well as males or females). Eg. Dutch It means “it is delicious” You also could say: “Dit is lekker (hoor)”. Your email address will not be published. ‘Ag, no man!’, or ‘Ag, let’s go.’, Skinner [skuhn-her] is Afrikaans slang for gossip. What does Yamete kudasai mean? Your email address will not be published. You’ll often hear South Africans mention that they will do something ‘just now’. ( ˈlɛkə) adj. ((Slang) Verb) Elegantly Satiating, used in the same context as "Wicked" or "Awesome" (Adjective) Elegantly Satiated. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'howdareshe_org-leader-4','ezslot_16',153,'0','0']));Zaamie/sarmie: sandwich. It has since become a mainstream word. Originally meant to mean "very angry", from the Afrikaans word "kwaad" (cross), it came to also mean something that's lekker, an urban way to say cool or express coolness. Learn more. But South African slang is understood, no matter which languages people speak. isiNdebele is heard mostly in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and, less commonly, Gauteng. Required fields are marked *. Tsonga is one of the later languages to arrive to South Africa, though the Bantu language is also spoken in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. noun A fruit-eating Hawaiian honeycreeper (bird) with a stout bill and green and yellow plumage. Kiff (kif/kief): Cool, awesome, good, nice.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'howdareshe_org-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_1',146,'0','0'])); Jol: A jol is a party (or to party). by Peanut Butter Jelly February 27, 2017. That's lekka man. Biltong: Biltong is like beef jerky, but just not beef. ‘That’s a kief car!’. It may sound illogical but makes complete sense in South Africa! Steak, choppies (pork or lamb chops) or boerewors. ‘Lekker’ does mean ‘tasty’ literaly, but can be used to anything that has to do with sensibility. Lekker bru! ‘ That’s a kief car!’ "It's a lekker day today", or "You look lekker in that dress". English is the most spoken language on the continent, but not in the country. Another word for Opposite of Meaning of Rhymes with Sentences with Find word forms Translate from English Translate to English Words With Friends Scrabble Crossword / Codeword Words starting with Words ending with Words containing exactly Words containing letters Pronounce Find conjugations Find names Compare larnie. (Unconnected with the idea of tardiness.) What’s on the braai? Or, let’s have a jol. (Unconnected with the idea of tardiness.) Yoh! hunky adj adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house." This means an elevator is a lift, a trunk if a boot, fries are chips, and chips are crisps. But traditional braai (as with barbecue) should be cooked with wood or coals, never propane! I totally agree with what the man above wrote, But the combination lekker + ding ( ding = Thing ). Find additional phrases here. While it “translates” to different exact wording, it is an important philosophy in South Africa. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK", Orlando Towers, Johannesburg © Adamina/Flickr, Zulu tribesman traditional dancing, South Africa, South African football fans at the World Cup. ), chicken and even fish. The Germans and Belgians still use lekker in this form, however, over time Dutch people have taken incredible liberties with the word and now essentially use it to describe, well, just about everything! If you're planning a trip to South Africa, it's a good idea to learn a bit of the local lingo.South Africa has 11 official languages, but the easiest place to start is with South African English.Given the country's rich linguistic heritage, South African slang borrows from a range … laanie - From the Afrikaans word meaning "fancy", but used by Indian people to mean "smart guy" ("Smart" as in "well-to-do") or, more frequently, "boss". I would, but they are private at the end of the day, and I don't want to make light of it. Shebeen: unlicensed tavern/bar. (Unconnected with the idea of tardiness.) Compare larnie. Das ist ein sehr leckerer Keks. Lekker Man! Founder of How Dare She, Jessica is on a mission to visit every country in the world, and bring you along with through photos, video and stories. Slap tjips (slap chips): fries, usually soft and oily (with vinegar). Here are a few Zulu words and phrases to use. Yebo! EN: "I very much enjoyed… Afrikaans is one of the, if not the, youngest languages in the world. You’ll notice South African English is similar to British English, but with its own unique features. It can be used as an adjective or as an adverb: NL: "Dit brood is erg lekker." Is that true? NL: "Ik heb lekker gegeten." They call themselves the home of Lekker Biltong, Boerewors, and much, much more! If you are in major cities, you can expect to communicate easily with English. 1k 10k 100k : ??? Meaning: Jack of all trades, master of none (regional, chiefly West Central German, sometimes uninflected, especially in the neuter) attractive (woman or man) Sie … Man, we had a lekker jorl last … If you want to learn more about South African languages, or any one of them in particular, SAlanguages.com is a good resource. Are you coming out tonight? Yoh: Expresses surprise. We call it "our store" because they brought a bit of South Africa to us when we were away from the continent. Biltong is dried meat, and can be beef, game (ostrich, kudu, etc. Eg. Eg. Lekker definition: pleasing or enjoyable | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Yebo: Yebo is “yes” in Zulu and commonly used for anything affirmative. On top of the food and the words you will hear daily, there are more that you’ll hear and see throughout your time in South Africa.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'howdareshe_org-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',154,'0','0'])); Bakkie (pronounced bucky): A pickup truck or ute. What does what is K mean? Braai [br-eye] is a widely used noun and verb for an outdoor ‘barbecue’ where meat is cooked over a fire or coals. 2. Northern Sotho is part of the Sotho language group and Sepedi is considered a dialect of Northern Sotho, though often used interchangeably as the name of the language. lakkaz - meaning lekker from the Afrikaans language. It has blended roots, but most recognizable is the Dutch roots. Facebook calls it an "Ethnic Grocery Store". What is the difference between stay safe and keep safe ? Another word for Opposite of Meaning of Rhymes with Sentences with Find word forms Translate from English Translate to English Words With Friends Scrabble Crossword / Codeword Words starting with Words ending with Words containing exactly Words containing letters Pronounce Find conjugations Find names Lekker Man! lakkaz - meaning lekker from the Afrikaans language. What is the difference between man and men ? 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".] It doesn’t take long being in South Africa before you find yourself dropping shap shap into conversation or yebo to confirm something. Meaning ‘good’, Lekker is a term used by South Africans when they are expressing satisfaction. "lekker" means tasty or pleasurable or very excellent. (South African) sweet, as in delicacy. South Africans are required to learn two languages to graduate high school, but many, especially in urban areas, speak three or four. This bread is very [lekker].) You can find more phrases here. Lekker dan, would be used sarcastically as disapproval. It can also mean ‘to fail an exam’. Google's free service instantly translates words, phrases, and web pages between English and over 100 other languages. laanie - From the Afrikaans word meaning "fancy", but used by Indian people to mean "smart guy" ("Smart" as in "well-to-do") or, more frequently, "boss". One way you’ll hear it very often is in response to something someone says: “ Leuk, man,” meaning “Nice, man!” You can also say “ Het was leuk u te ontmoeten ” – “It was nice to meet you.” used as a mild term of dissaproval to someone's face if The Zzz’s appear blue or purple across most platforms. late – A euphemism for dead/deceased; as in 'My daddy is two years late'.