Accents

[Baby-K]

Howzit (also hoesit")
The famous, and one of the most typical, South African greeting. Short for "How is it?"

How's your mind?
"Are you mad?!"

Hum
1) Busy - "The disco was humming, there were chicks everywhere, and they were lekker on their pluck!" - the disco was a blast; there were girls everywhere and they were pretty drunk!
2) Stink - "Damn, it hums in here! Who baffed?"

Isit? (Izzit?)
This conversational word is used widely and in response to just about anything. Used in place of "really??"

Jammie
A car

Jawl - Jorl (Jol)
The word jawl is a generic South African - it refers to having a good time and can be used in any context. "I am going on a jawl (party) - I am having a jawl (good time) ...".

Just now
A immense source of amusement for foreigners - it means "very soon", "eventually"; or "never". If someone says he will do something "just now" it could be in 10 minutes or tomorrow. Or maybe he won't do it at all.

Kak ('Kuk')
Sh*t... and used in the same way.... "Don't talk kak - Don't give me kak".

Kief
Cool, or something that's very nice.

Klap('klup')
Slap - "Give him a snot-klap if he gives you kak".

Kus
Exhausted or tired

Lank
A lot - "There are lank people at this jawl tonight, hey China??!!"

Larney
Fancy, designer clothes, snob - A number of variations on a word denoting someone who is well-dressed, or designer clothes, or a well-to-do function. The person can be larney, or clothes.

Lekker
An Afrikaans word meaning nice, this word is used by all language groups to express approval.

Lightey
Youngster.

Lights out
Unconscious - "After being klapped for calling him a 'rock spider', little Johnny was completely lights out"

Lomp
Lethargic.

Lummie
A welt - A lummie is a particular kind of welt caused by hitting someone with the middle knuckle of your middle finger. School kids give each other lummies, usually on the forearm. A proper lummie becomes a bump immediately.

Mampara
A fool

Moffie
Wimp, pansie, naff, weakling

Nooit('Noy-t')
No way - Another way of saying no, but also a sign of incredulous response. (you have to say it correctly otherwise it just sounds naff "Nooit china, I can't believe that kak")

Nought
No - Used in similar situations to nooit. ("Nought hey!" when someone tells you something rather incredulous, if done right they'd never know if you were being sincere or sarcastic)

Oke (ou)
Guy, chap, bloke.

Padkos
Food to be eaten in the car, for a trip; on the road.

Park off
To chill out - sit down and relax - "Let's go park off at the beach tonight. Maybe we can graunch a little!"

Pavement
In South Africa this is the sidewalk.

Pikkie or Pikaneen
A small child.

Pluck
Can only be explained in an example: "What's your pluck, china?? You looking for kak? Don't make be befok; I'll klap you hard!" - what's you problem...etc..

Polisiekoffie (Police Coffee)
Brandy & Coke - staple drink of all Tappet Dutchmen (1 litre brandy, 2 litre coke & a 3 litre Ford in the garage)

Robot
Yes, it's a traffic light!

Rock Up
To arrive - "What time should we rock up for the jawl? Should be bring any dop?"

Rock Spider
An english speaking South African term for an Afrikaner - Hey, you rock spider! Who you calling a 'soutpiel'? Come here and I'll klap your lights out!"

Rooineck
Afrikaner name for an Englishman, or an english speaking South African.

Snot-klap
To hit someone hard.

Soutpiel, or soutie
Another Afrikaner name for an english speaking South African - comes from the image of the "English" having one foot in South Africa, the other in England, with something hanging in the middle (in the saltwater, sout = salt, soutpiel = saltpr*ck)! - "Hê soutie, who you calling a 'rock spider'? Come here and I'll skop your ballas in!'

Scale
To scale something is to steal it. (A scaley oke is one of dubious character)

Shame
Very typical South African expression; also found amusing by foreigners. "Ag shame, look how cute that baby is!", or "Shame, stop making kak with the chick, man, she's lekker", and "Shame, that's really sad". ("awe, shame hey! 'stru?")

Sif
Description of a disgusting thing.

Skeef
Crooked; provocative. A classic saying heard in bars around South Africa is "Are you checking me skeef, China?" - Are you looking at me funny, brah?

Skelm
A crook or thief. A street-wise operator who deals in petty crime.

Skinner
Gossip.

Skolly - ('skaw-lly')
Ruffian. Can be used almost affectionately when talking about a roguish friend.

Skop
Kick.

Skrik
A fright.