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Common Expressions and Vocabulary heard in South Africa
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Zulu
  1. Sawubona - Hello (I see you)
  2. Ngiyabonga(yabonga) - Thank You
  3. Unjani - How are you
  4. Kunjani - How is it or how is it going.
  5. Ninjani - How are you (plural)
  6. Kubiza malini - How much is it
  7. Kumnandi - its delicious (food), it sounds good (music)
  8. i viki - a week
  9. i langa - a day or the sun
  10. unyaka - a year
  11. Yebo - Yes
  12. Cha - No
Afrikaans
Afrika Photos!
  1. Bokkie - Nickname for a young girl
  2. SLAP Chips - French fries(soggy and sagging)
  3. Tekkies - Sport Shoes
  4. Bakkie - Pickup Truck
  5. Braai - Barbecue
  6. Eina - Ouch
  7. Lekker - delicious, yummy, as in food taste(literally) - used to describe anything wonderful
  8. Ach, sis man! - Oh my gosh! Usually when the person you're conversing with has said something distasteful.
  9. Toots - drinks
  10. Combie - VW minibus (doesn't apply to the minibus taxis)
  11. Vaaley - Capetonian reference for person from Gauteng who goes to the Western Cape, usually for Christmas holidays.
  12. Wors (Pronounced "Vors") - Sausage
  13. Voetsek - Go Away
  14. Waai (Pronounced "Vie")- Go!
  15. Ag Sies Tog - Poor thing
  16. Naught ekse - no way
  17. Jussie - jeepers!!! (pronounced as Sussie in Afrikaans)
  18. Here are some more Afrikaans sayings:
  19. Smaak - to like something
  20. Skeem - reckon (pronounced "skim")
  21. Bru - person (British equivalent is "mate")
  22. Howzit - hello
  23. Nooit! - no way! (pronounced "noyt")
  24. Tune him Grief - give someone a hard time
  25. Zola Budd - minibus taxi
  26. Oke - person (pronounced "oak")
  27. Totsiens - good-bye (pronounced "taught-seens" with short vowel sounds)
  28. Koppie - hill (pronounced "kawpee" with short vowel sound on the "aw")
  29. Moenie worry - don't worry (pronounced "mooney worry")
South African English
South African English <---> American English
  1. Tippex - whiteout
  2. Jersey - sweater
  3. Tracksuit top - Sweatshirt
  4. Sport top - jersey
  5. tracksuit - sweatsuit
  6. plaits - braids
  7. hairband - hairtie
  8. petrol station - gas station
  9. term - quarter
  10. Ja/yes - yeah
  11. scone - biscuit
  12. biscuit - cookie
  13. cookie - cupcake
  14. pancake - crepe
  15. crumpet/flapjack - pancakes
  16. Ultramel - jello custard
  17. jelly - jello
  18. pudding - dessert
  19. bushpig - warthog
  20. gerkin - pickle
  21. howzit - hello, how's things?
  22. Hiding - Spanking (as a disciplinary action)
  23. Trolley - Shopping Cart
  24. Chap(noun) - Describing someone of the male gender
  25. Vetted - To get expert appraisal
  26. Okes / Okies - Blokes/Guys
  27. Paraffin - Kerosene
  28. Take up your seats - Sit Down
  29. Pleasure - You're Welcome
  30. Cheers - Goodbye
  31. When Something Has "Gone Missing" - Lost Something
  32. To "Fall Pregnant" - Get Pregnant
  33. Swimming Costume - Bathing Suit(swimsuit)
  34. Windscreen - Windshield
  35. Tyre - Tire
  36. Robot - Stop Light or Traffic Light
  37. Stop Street - Stop Sign
  38. Cubbie Hole - Glove Compartment
  39. Gear Shaft - Gear Stick
  40. Bonnet - Hood
  41. Boot - Trunk
  42. Hooter - Horn
  43. Loo - Bathroom
  44. Nappy - Diaper
  45. Pram - Stroller
  46. Dummy - Pacifier (a thing infants sucks on/or bites on when "cutting teeth")
Xhosa
  1. Sana lwam - My babe
  2. Thando lwam - My love
  3. Molo (singular) & Molweni (plural) - Hello
  4. Unjani (singular) & ninjani (plural) - How are you?
  5. Ndiyaphila/ndiphilile - I'm fine (sometimes after the word include: akukho nto - there is no problem)
  6. Enkosi/ndiyabulela - Thank you
  7. Usale kakuhle (singular) & nisale kakuhle (plural) - Goodbye
  8. Ewe - Yes
  9. Hayi - No
  10. Ndiyakuthanda - I love you
  11. Ndiyakukhumbula - I miss you
  12. Ubenosuku olumnandi - Have a good day
  13. Mini emnandi kuwe - Happy Birthday
  14. Mhlobo wam - My friend
  15. Ugqirha - Doctor
  16. Igqirha - Witchdoctor/Traditional healer
Northern Sotho
  1. Dumelang - Hello (to a group)
  2. Thobela - Hello (to one)
  3. Le Kae? - How are you? (group, respectful)
  4. Re gona - I'm/We're fine
  5. O kae? - How are you? (one)
  6. Re a legoga - Thank you
  7. Ke a o rata - I love you
  8. Ke tla o bona - I will see you
  9. go sasa - tomorrow
  10. maabane - yesterday
  11. lehono - today
  12. beke - week
  13. kgwedi - month
  14. ngwaga - year
  15. beke/kgwedi/ngwaga e tlang - next week/month/year
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