The Dumelang Dictionary.
We write like South Africans, which means words like lekker, just now, and robot turn up and we expect you to keep up. Here's the cheat sheet — the vernacular you'll meet around the site, translated for the Americans.
- BakkieBUCK-ee
- A pickup truck. Hauls the firewood, the dog, the rugby team, and at least one uncle in the back.
- BiltongBIL-tong
- Air-dried, spiced cured meat. Like beef jerky, if jerky went to finishing school and came back with opinions.
- BoereworsBOO-ruh-vors
- A thick, coiled farmer's sausage, heavy on the coriander. The undisputed main character of any braai.
- Braaibr-EYE
- A barbecue — but also a verb, a social institution, and a national love language. You don't 'have' a braai, you braai.
- Bru / Boetbroo / boot
- 'Bro' / 'brother'. A friendly term for a mate, regardless of whether you're actually related.
- Dop
- A drink, usually alcoholic. 'Come for a dop' is an invitation, not a threat.
- Dumelangdoo-MEH-lahng
- A Setswana greeting — 'hello' to a group of people. Also, the name of this site. Hi!
- Eishaysh
- An all-purpose exclamation for frustration, surprise, or sympathy. Covers everything from a stubbed toe to load-shedding.
- Howzit
- 'Hello, how are you?' compressed into one word. Not actually a question — do not respond with a medical update.
- KoppieKOP-ee
- A small hill. Afrikaans for 'little head' — geology with a cute name.
- LekkerLEK-uh
- Nice, great, tasty, excellent — the all-purpose word of approval. Food, weather, weekends: all can be lekker.
- Mrs Ball's chutney
- A sweet, tangy fruit chutney that South Africans put on everything. Homesickness in a bottle.
- Now-now / Just now
- Soon-ish. 'Now-now' is sooner than 'just now', but neither means right now. Set expectations accordingly.
- Robot
- A traffic light. No, really — stop at the red robot. No androids involved.
- Sanibonanisah-nee-bo-NAH-nee
- 'Hello' to more than one person, in isiZulu. A warm way to greet a crowd.
- SarmieSAR-mee
- A sandwich. Best filled with cheese, polony, or leftover braai meat.
- Shame
- Said with affection, not scolding. 'Ag shame' means 'aw, how sweet' or 'poor thing' — context decides which.
- Spaza shopSPAH-zah
- A small, informal neighbourhood shop, often run from someone's home. Your corner store, but cosier.
- Springboks
- South Africa's national rugby team (the 'Boks'). Watching them is a legitimate reason to be awake at 6am.
- TakkiesTAK-eez
- Sneakers / trainers. The shoes, not the people who tattle.