pattern

Geographical & Cultural English - South African English

Here you will find slang from South African English, highlighting regional expressions, accents, and cultural terms used across South Africa.

Review

Flashcards

Spelling

Quiz

Start learning
Geographical & Cultural English
dop
dop
[noun]

(South African) a drink, especially alcoholic

Ex: He ordered a dop at the counter. 
Close
Sign in
boet
boet
[noun]

(South African) a close friend or brother

Ex: How's it going, boet? 
Close
Sign in
gatvol
gatvol
[Adjective]

(South African) completely fed up or very upset

Ex: I'm absolutely gatvol with this nonsense. 
Close
Sign in
sarmie
sarmie
[noun]

(South African) a sandwich

Ex: I packed a sarmie for lunch. 
Close
Sign in
babalaas
babalaas
[noun]

(South African) a severe hangover

Ex: I had a terrible babalaas after the party. 
Close
Sign in
bakgat
bakgat
[Adjective]

(South African) great, excellent, or very good

Ex: The party was absolutely bakgat! 
Close
Sign in
blesser
blesser
[noun]

(South African) a wealthy man who supports a younger female companion, often in exchange for favors

Ex: She said her blesser bought her a car. 
Close
Sign in
to chow
to chow
[Verb]

(South African) to eat

Ex: We chowed down on burgers at the braai. 
Close
Sign in
dankie
dankie
[interjection]

(South African) used to say thank someone

Ex: Dankie for helping me with the groceries. 
Close
Sign in
to donner
to donner
[Verb]

(South African) to beat up or thrash someone

Ex: He donnered him after the argument. 
Close
Sign in
entjie
entjie
[noun]

(South African) a cigarette

Ex: He asked for an entjie after lunch. 
Close
Sign in
gwaai
gwaai
[noun]

(South African) a cigarette

Ex: He stepped outside for a gwaai. 
Close
Sign in
haibo
haibo
[interjection]

(South African) an expression of surprise, shock, or disbelief

Ex: Haibo! I can't believe they won! 
Close
Sign in
ja
ja
[interjection]

(South African) used to affirm or agree

Ex: Ja, I'll help you with that. 
Close
Sign in
jol
jol
[noun]

(South African) a party or social gathering

Ex: We went to a jol last night. 
Close
Sign in
to klap
to klap
[Verb]

(South African) to strike, hit, or smack someone or something

Ex: He klapped the ball across the field. 
Close
Sign in
kwaai
kwaai
[Adjective]

(South African) great, fantastic, cool, or excellent

Ex: That new song is kwaai! 
Close
Sign in
heita
heita
[interjection]

(South African) a casual greeting

Ex: Heita! How's it going? 
Close
Sign in
laaitie
laaitie
[noun]

(South African) a young person or youth, especially a boy

Ex: That laaitie is very talented. 
Close
Sign in
laanie
laanie
[noun]

(South African) a smart, well-off, or stylish person

Ex: He's a real laanie with his designer clothes. 
Close
Sign in
maat
maat
[noun]

(South African) a friend, buddy, or companion

Ex: He's my best maat. 
Close
Sign in
mampara
mampara
[noun]

(South African) someone who behaves in a foolish or ridiculous way

Ex: He acted like a real mampara during the meeting. 
Close
Sign in
pap
pap
[Adjective]

(South African) weak or lacking substance

Ex: The argument was pap and didn't change anyone's mind. 
Close
Sign in
sif
sif
[Adjective]

(South African) foul, disgusting, or unpleasant

Ex: The food smelled sif and I couldn't eat it. 
Close
Sign in
skollie
skollie
[noun]

(South African) someone who engages in minor criminal or antisocial behavior

Ex: That skollie tried to steal my bike. 
Close
Sign in
skyf
skyf
[noun]

(South African) a cigarette

Ex: He stepped outside for a skyf. 
Close
Sign in
to smaak
to smaak
[Verb]

(South African) to like someone or something

Ex: I really smaak that new song. 
Close
Sign in
stukkie
stukkie
[noun]

(South African) a girlfriend or female romantic partner

Ex: He took his stukkie out for dinner. 
Close
Sign in
zak
zak
[noun]

(South African) money

Ex: I'm a bit short on zak this month. 
Close
Sign in
tackie
tackie
[noun]

(South African) a casual or sports shoe

Ex: I need to buy new tackies for the gym. 
Close
Sign in
LanGeek
Download LanGeek app