SafariKZN Glossary
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Safari Glossary
Even English-speaking South Africans have words that are only used in South Africa. The common greeting of "Howzit?" or if something is going to be done fairly soon, it'll be done "now now" while "just now" is a little later on, are all commonly used expressions in Kwa Zulu Natal and across South Africa.
| Word | Description |
|---|---|
| ag | an exclamation of irritation |
| amarula | cream liquor made from fruit of the marula tree |
| ayoba | expression of excitement |
| babbelas | hangover (zulu origin) |
| bakgat | cool; expression of appreciation |
| bakkie | a utility truck, pick-up truck |
| berg | mountains |
| bill | used to ask for the cheque |
| biltong | dried meat, similar to jerky |
| boerewors | traditional south african sausage |
| bottle store | a retail outlet selling liquor |
| braai | afrikaans word for a barbecue |
| bundu | wild remote country |
| bunny chow | type of food, made with a loaf of bread filled with a curry stew |
| bushveld | lowveld, usually mpumalanga or northern province |
| cozzie | a swimsuit, short for swimming costume |
| donga | ditch of the type found in south african topography (zulu) |
| dop | alcohol, to drink alcohol |
| droë wors | 'dry sausage' traditional dry cured sausage , similar to biltong |
| eina! | ouch! used as a mainstream word in south african english |
| eish! | an interjection expressing resignation |
| eksê | from afrikaans, translated it means "I say" |
| fundi | expert |
| gogga | insect, bug, (khoesan) |
| gogo | grandmother, elderly woman (from zulu, ugogo) |
| highway | motorway |
| howzit | how’s it going? how are you? |
| indaba | conference (zulu, 'a matter for discussion'); become mainstream |
| izit | (pronounced: \izit\) the words "is" and "it", short term for "is that so?" |
| jislaaik! | wow |
| jova | injection, to inject (zulu) |
| just now | sometime in the near future, not necessarily immediately |
| Kms | kilometres |
| koppie | a small hill |
| kraal | an enclosure traditionally used for fencing in animals or fish |
| kwaito | popular genre of music |
| laaitie | a younger person, esp. a younger male |
| laduma! | popular cheer at soccer matches, "he scores!" (literally: "it thunders", in zulu) |
| lekker | tasty, nice, good, great |
| lift | elevator |
| location | a bantu township |
| mealie | maize, corn on the cob |
| muggie | bug, especially a little flying gnat |
| muti | medicine (zulu - umuthi), typically traditional african |
| naartjie | tangerine, mandarin |
| now now | an immediate but not literal declaration of impending action |
| oom | an older man of authority |
| ou | a person, homo sapiens |
| pap | traditional maize porridge similar to grits |
| plaas | farm |
| province | equivalent of an english county |
| robot | traffic-light |
| rondavel | a traditional round hut |
| rooibos | a herbal tea |
| sangoma | traditional healer or diviner |
| shebeen | illegal drinking-establishment (irish - sibín) |
| shongololo | millipede (zulu and xhosa, ukushonga, 'to roll up') |
| shot | "good" or "correct" or "thanks" (depending on context) |
| sies | expression of disgust, disappointment, annoyance |
| sosatie | a kebab on a stick |
| spaza | an informal trading-post/convenience store found in townships and remote areas |
| spoor | the track or footprint of man or animal |
| stoep | the verandah of a house |
| tannie | an older female authority figure |
| tekkies | sneakers |
| trail | either guided or self guided walk |
| trek | to move or pull, become international for the meaning of "making a pioneering journey" |
| tsotsi | a criminal gang member |
| ubuntu | compassion or kindness, humanity |
| veld | varied grassland including bushveld, highveld & lowveld |
| vellies | traditional afrikaans outdoors shoes made from hide |