Lost in Translation

How to chirp laaik a South Efrican indeed!

You really don't need to know any language besides English in South Africa - it is widely spoken throughout the country regardless of a person's first language. However, there are some commonly used English words and expressions you won't be familiar with. So here's a little insight into the ones you'll hear the most.

You'll no doubt be greeted with "howzit" over and over again. It's way to say hello, but can also mean "how are you?" so feel free to reply with either hello or fine thanks. You'll probably want to pack some takkies (sneakers), but don't confuse them with fat takkies (extra large tires on a car). When we arrive, we'll put our bags into the boot (trunk). We'd use a spanner (wrench) to fix a problem under the bonnet (hood). Cars and bakkies (pick-up trucks) will stop at a red robot (traffic light). If you'd rather avoid the stairs, you're more likely to take the lift (elevator).

You're already familiar with the great outdoor activity of a braai instead of a barbecue and you're well aware that you'll all need to try some boerewors (sausage) while we're there. It's a good idea to wear your costume (swimsuit) to a braai. Some fruit you'll be familiar with include naartjies (tangerines) and spanspek (cantaloupe). But don't forget you're on holiday (vacation), so indulge a little and try some slap chips (fat, soft, limp fries drenched in oil and vinegar). A word that has been adopted from Zulu is "yebo," which means yes. It's such a pleasant and enthusiastic way to agree with someone. However, you're far more likely to hear the Afrikaans "ja." Lots of sentences, statements and questions are ended with the word "hey?" It's a way of encouraging a response to what you just said. A good reply would be "is it?" I might tell you I'll do something "just now" which means I'll do it soon but not immediately. Which means that you'll be "busy waiting" while I get around to it.

There are some British activities that are still observed in the former British colony, such as afternoon tea and biscuits (cookies). If you'd rather, you can have a colddrink or cooldrink (soda), but if you ask for a soda, you'll probably get club soda. Just throw the can away in the rubbish (trash) when you're done. Should you need directions to a neighborhood convenience store, ask for a café. You'll need to walk down the pavement (sidewalk) to get to it. In almost every restaurant you'll see Dom Pedro on the menu. That's a delicious after-dinner drink, a mix of vanilla ice-cream and whisky... I highly recommend it.

Whether you understand the locals or not, we're bound to have a jol (good time). South African English is lekker!