Capetonians have an amusing array of colloquial terms. Become one of us and throw in some South African slang:
- Braai: –What you would know as a barbecue, and probably one of the first things you will be invited to do on arriving in Cape Town. We even celebrate national Braai Day on 24 September every year!
- Cooldrink or colddrink –This is the common term for a soda. Ask for a soda in South Africa and you will receive a club soda.
- Eish (‘Aysh’) –Zulu expression of surprise, bewilderment or shock.
- Howzit! –A traditional South African greeting that translates roughly as “How are you?” or “How are things?”
- Just now! –If a South African tells you they will do something “just now” they mean they will do it in the near future but not immediately and possibly not ever.
- Jawelnofine –Pronounced “yar well no fine”) Made up of four words “yes”, “well”, “no” and “fine”, this saying can express surprise and a sense that things aren’t really fine but there’s not much you can do about it. For example, having been caught speeding, your reaction on seeing the size of your traffic fine might be: “Jawellnofine.”
- Lekker! –(Pronounced “lekk-irr” with a rolling ‘r’) Afrikaans word meaning nice. Also cool, good, great. Probably the most famous of South African words, so make sure you learn this one.
- Pavement –South Africans walk on pavements and drive cars on the road. The pavement is the sidewalk.
- Robot –South Africans tend to refer to traffic lights as robots. Sci-fi fans are out of luck – R2D2 and C3PO are not hanging about on every street corner. Rooibos Pronounced ‘roy-borrs’)
- A popular South African tea made from the Cyclopia genistoides bush. Rooibos is Afrikaans word meaning ‘red bush’. Come and try a Red Cappuccino made from Rooibos at the Cape Town Tourism City Centre Visitor Information Centre.
Here are some local phrases to get you started: ENGLISH AFRIKAANS isiXHOSA
- Cape Town
- Good morning Goodbye Thank you Yes No How much? ENGLISH
- Kaapstad Goeie môre Totsiens Dankie Ja Nee Hoeveel?AFRIKAANS
- eKapa Molo/Molweni (pl.) Hambe kahle/ Enkosi /Ewe /Hayi Yimalini le? ISXHOSA
- Expensive Hot /Cold/ Friend /Good/OK /Excuse me /How are you? ENGLISH
- Duur /Warm Koud Vriend Lekker Skuus Hoe gaan dit? AFRIKAANS
- iDhulu /Shushu Banda /Umhlobo Kulungile/ Uxolo Uphilile? ISXHOSA