Instead of the normal moaning & 'bichin'
I decided to republish some information I found at
Africa Pictures which we can all benefit from :
Some typical South African words and phrases -
Zulu
1. Sawubona - Hello (I see you)
2. Ngiyabonga(yabonga) - Thank You
3. Unjani - How are you
4. Kunjani - How is it or how is it going.
5. Ninjani - How are you (plural)
6. Kubiza malini - How much is it
7. Kumnandi - its delicious (food), it sounds good (music)
8. i viki - a week
9. i langa - a day or the sun
10. unyaka - a year
11. Yebo - Yes
12. Cha - No
Afrikaans
1. Bokkie - Nickname for a young girl
2. SLAP Chips - French fries(soggy and sagging)
3. Tekkies - Sport Shoes
4. Bakkie - Pickup Truck
5. Braai - Barbecue
6. Eina - Ouch
7. Lekker - delicious, yummy, as in food taste(literally) - used to describe anything wonderful
8. Ach, sis man! - Oh my gosh! Usually when the person you're conversing with has said something distasteful.
9. Toots - drinks
10. Combie - VW minibus (doesn't apply to the minibus taxis)
11. Vaaley - Capetonian reference for person from Gauteng who goes to the Western Cape, usually for Christmas holidays.
12. Wors (Pronounced "Vors") - Sausage
13. Voetsek - Go Away
14. Waai (Pronounced "Vie")- Go!
15. Ag Sies Tog - Poor thing
16. Naught ekse - no way
17. Jussie - jeepers!!! (pronounced as Sussie in Afrikaans)
18. Here are some more Afrikaans sayings:
19. Smaak – to like something
20. Skeem – reckon (pronounced ‘skim’)
21. Bru – person (British equivalent is ‘mate’)
22. Howzit – hello
23. Nooit! – no way! (pronounced ‘noyt’)
24. Tune him Grief – give someone a hard time
25. Zola Budd – minibus taxi
26. Oke – person (pronounced ‘oak’)
27. Totsiens – good-bye (pronounced ‘taught-seens’ with short vowel sounds!)
28. Koppie – hill (pronounced ‘kawpee’ with short vowel sound on the ‘aw’)
29. Moenie worry – don’t worry (pronounced ‘mooney worry’)
South African English
South African English <---> American English
1. Tippex - whiteout
2. Jersey - sweater
3. Tracksuit top - Sweatshirt
4. Sport top - jersey
5. tracksuit - sweatsuit
6. plaits - braids
7. hairband - hairtie
8. petrol station - gas station
9. term - quarter
10. Ja/yes - yeah
11. scone - biscuit
12. biscuit - cookie
13. cookie - cupcake
14. pancake - crepe
15. crumpet/flapjack - pancakes
16. Ultramel - jello custard
17. jelly - jello
18. pudding - dessert
19. bushpig - warthog
20. gerkin - pickle
21. howzit - hello, how's things?
22. Hiding - Spanking (as a disciplinary action)
23. Trolley - Shopping Cart
24. Chap(noun) - Describing someone of the male gender
25. Vetted - To get expert appraisal
26. Okes / Okies - Blokes/Guys
27. Paraffin - Kerosene
28. Take up your seats - Sit Down
29. Pleasure - You're Welcome
30. Cheers - Goodbye
31. When Something Has "Gone Missing" - Lost Something
32. To "Fall Pregnant" - Get Pregnant
33. Swimming Costume - Bathing Suit(swimsuit)
34. Windscreen - Windshield
35. Tyre - Tire
36. Robot - Stop Light or Traffic Light
37. Stop Street - Stop Sign
38. Cubbie Hole - Glove Compartment
39. Gear Shaft - Gear Stick
40. Bonnet - Hood
41. Boot - Trunk
42. Hooter - Horn
43. Loo - Bathroom
44. Nappy - Diaper
45. Pram - Stroller
46. Dummy - Pacifier(binky) (a thing infants sucks on/or bites on when "cutting teeth")
Xhosa
1. Sana lwam - My babe
2. Thando lwam - My love
3. Molo (singular) & Molweni (plural) - Hello
4. Unjani (singular) & ninjani (plural) - How are you?
5. Ndiyaphila/ndiphilile - I'm fine (sometimes after the word include: akukho nto - there is no problem)
6. Enkosi/ndiyabulela - Thank you
7. Usale kakuhle (singular) & nisale kakuhle (plural) - Goodbye
8. Ewe - Yes
9. Hayi - No
10. Ndiyakuthanda - I love you
11. Ndiyakukhumbula - I miss you
12. Ubenosuku olumnandi - Have a good day
13. Mini emnandi kuwe - Happy Birthday
14. Mhlobo wam - My friend
15. Ugqirha - Doctor
16. Igqirha - Witchdoctor/Traditional healer
Northern Sotho
1. Dumelang - Hello (to a group)
2. Thobela - Hello (to one)
3. Le Kae? - How are you? (group, respectful)
4. Re gona - I'm/We're fine
5. O kae? - How are you? (one)
6. Re a legoga - Thank you
7. Ke a o rata - I love you
8. Ke tla o bona - I will see you
9. go sasa - tomorrow
10. maabane - yesterday
11. lehono - today
12. beke - week
13. kgwedi - month
14. ngwaga - year
15. beke/kgwedi/ngwaga e tlang - next week/month/year
Can you now understand the pronunciation problems our black folk face?
Let's have your ideas -
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