"I scheme bru, we'll waai to that jol at the farm tonight. I heard that kiff chick you smaak will be there."
If you ever visit South Africa, appreciating our stupendous scenery, world famous wildlife and unbeatable food is only part of the experience. We are truly a melting pot of cultures and we have a slang vocabulary second to none! Let me translate:
scheme: think - origin: English
bru: (pronounced "broo") literally "brother", friend. Can also use bra (pronounced "brah") - origin: English/Afrikaans
waai: (pronounced "vye") go - origin: Afrikaans
jol: party, get together - origin: Afrikaans
kiff: cool - origin: Afrikaans
chick: girl - origin: English
smaak: like, from the Afrikaans word for "taste." If you really, really, really like that girl, you smaak haar stukkend, literally "taste her broken". Um yes, okay - origin: Afrikaans
Afrikaans people like a sokkie/sokkiejol which is a party where couples dance around a hall in circles. For most of these you bring your own basket of food and drinks. (Sokkie: Afrikaans word for "sock"???!!!)
Ja well no fine if that is not your thing you can always go to a braai.
ja well no fine: a common and specifically South African saying which means "yes, okay".
braai: our popular method of cooking meat (LOTS of it) over open coals. Usually late at night accompanied by LOTS of drinking (dopping) - origin Afrikaans
Meanwhile back in the location kwaito will be spilling out into the streets.
location: township, living areas where black people were formerly segregated under Apartheid
kwaito: a blend of hip hop and house beats (pretty damn fantastic!)
shebeen: a bar in the township, sometimes legal, not always
umqombothi: (pronounced oomkomboti) african home brewed beer made from maize. So admission time, I am a middle-aged white south african woman. I don't know if this traditional african beer, 3% alcohol, is sold in shebeens, but it is widely used in get togethers, and one of my staff members brings me some when she
There are colourful South African slang words/phrases to cover EVERY occasion. Our slang vocabulary has been influenced by English, Afrikaans, all the black languages, the Coloured and Indian people. Additionally some choice words originate from the Khoi San (Hottentot), Potuguese , Lebanese and Jewish languages.
PS: One of my favourite words came from one of my customers. On seeing me gain some weight, she pronounced that I had amadakwethu (chest of drawers), referring to my fat rolls! - origin Zulu
Thank you for reading! Please follow me @onetree
(images: wikipedia and pixabay)