South African English - American English Dictionary
Now you can speak like a South African too! :)
South African English Word - American English Equivalent
* jersey - sweater - "Its cold out today, can you borrow me a jersey?"
* robot - traffic light - "Make a left at the robot."
* lekker - good, great - "That butternut was lekker."
* takkies - sneakers/tennis shoes - "Wear your takkies, we're going for a jog."
* varsity - university/college - "He's away at varsity in Pretoria."
* matriculate (aka matric) - to graduate (from high school), exams taken to gain entrance to varsity - "I got a high grade on all my matric exams. I matric'd in 1999."
* torch - flashlight - "Don't forget to check the batteries in the torch."
* pudding - dessert - "Do we have any pudding? Yes, there are peaches in the fridge."
* curve- sidewalk - "Don't trip on the uneven curve."
* post - mail/letter - "I'm going to go check my post."
* petrol - gas - "I need to go put petrol in my car."
* queue - line - "I had to stand in a terribly long queue today at the store."
* windscreen - windshield (of a car) - "My windscreen has a huge crack in it."
* advert - commercial, ad in the paper - "Did you see that great advert for the new cell service?"
* dustbin - garbage can - "Can you put this wrapper in the dustbin?"
* air con - AC/Air conditioner - "We need to get an air con in this house. Its too hot."
* festive season - Christmas holidays - "Enjoy the festive season."
* holiday - vacation/trip - "I'm going down to Durban on holiday!"
* lift - elevator - "We took the lift up to the 12th floor."
* mum - mother/mom - "Don't forget to call your mum."
* flat - apartment - "Welcome to my flat."
* boot - trunk of the car - "The groceries are in my boot."
* deep freeze - freezer - "Put the chicken in the deep freeze."
* sweeties - candy - "Don't forget to give all the kids some sweeties."
* bakkie - pickup truck - "Want to take a ride in the back of the bakki?"
* swimming costume - bathing suit - "Go put on your swimming costume so we can go swimming."
* stiffy - floppy disk - "Where did you put my stiffy with the donor file on it?"
* braai - bbq - "You must come to our braai this weekend!"
* chips - french fries - "Let's get cheese pie and some chips for lunch!"
* Gala - swim meet - "They always seem to host a Gala when its pouring rain."
* Dagga - marijuana/ganja/pot - "Dagga isn't legal here, but everyone smokes it."
* hooter - car horn - "My hooter doesn't work."
* mozzi - mosquito - "Mozzis are bad around dusk, make sure you close your windows."
* biltong - like beef jerky (apparently better?) - "The biltong is excellent this time of year."
* smart- looking good - "Your outfit is really smart today!"
* Boer - means farmer in Afrikaans, typically signified by white socks pulled up to the knees and shorts ending well above the knee - I can't think of a sentence to put this in, calling someone a Boer has become somewhat derogatory.
* coombi - 12-15 passenger vans used as public transport, usually barely road worthy, but they get us around, not really used by white folks, unless you're a PCV :) - "We're taking the coombi into town, it'll only cost R3."
Phrases you hear often:
- It's too hot!
- Awck, no man!
- That is so lekker.
- I'm coming now now. (this is only said wwhen someone is leaving you.)
- Can you borrow me your (insert word of cchoice)?
- Oh shame!
- Ay batho! (means what the heck, most commmonly heard on a taxi, or in my office.)
