“Words you won’t be taught before you go”

If like me you presumed that those that inhabited South Africa spoke English, than you were only partly correct.

In honour of the South Africa World Cup 2010, that officially kicked off on Friday, here at Global Visas we have compiled a quick guide to some of the phrases and sayings you might encounter if you are lucky enough to be flying to South Africa to watch any of the forthcoming matches.

Braai

A braai is thé first thing you’ll be invited to when you visit South Africa. A braai is a backyard barbecue and it will take place whatever the weather. So you’ll have to go even if it’s raining cats and dogs. At a braai you will be introduced to a starchy dish called mieliepap.

Mzansi

This is the Xhosa word for South Africa. Make visitors feel at home with greetings of “Welcome to Mzansi!

Jozi

And when in Mzansi make sure you stick to what the cool crowd says. Call the trendy City of Gold, Johannesburg, by its trendier name, Jozi.

Ag

This is one of the most useful South African words. Pronounced like the “ach” in the

German “achtung”, it can be used to start a reply when you’re asked a tricky question, as in, “Ag, I don’t know.” Or a sense of resignation, ‘Ag, okay, I’ll have some more mieliepap then.” It can also stand alone as a sign of irritation.

Donner

A rude word that comes from the Afrikaans donder (thunder). Pronounced “dorner”, it means “beat up”. A member of your soccer team can get donnered in a game or your wife can donner you if you come back from a braai at three in the morning.

Ema

Widely used by all language groups, this word, derived from Afrikaans, means “ouch” and is pronounced “aynah”. You can say it in sympathy when you see your friend the day after he got donnered by his wife.

Hey

Often used at the end of a sentence to emphasise the importance of what has just been said, as in, “You’re only going to get donnered if you come in late again, hey?” It can also stand alone as a question. Instead of saying “excuse me?” or “pardon me?” when you haven t heard something directed at you, you can always say, “Hey?”

Izit?

This is another great word to use in conversations. Derived from the two words “is” and “It”, it can be used when you have nothing to contribute if someone tells you something at a braai. For instance if someone says, “The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership” it’s quite appropriate to respond by saying, “Izit?”

Ja well no fine

This is another conversation fallback which roughly means “okay”. If your bank manager tells you your account is overdrawn you can with confidence say, “Ja well no fine.”

Lekker

An Afrikaans word meaning “nice”, it’s used by all language groups to express approval.

If you thoroughly enjoyed a braai you can say, now that was Iekk-errrrrrr! – Drawing out the last syllable.

KIap

Pronounced “klup” this Afrikaans word means smack, whack or spank. If you spend too much time in front of the TV during exam time you could end up getting a Klap from your mom. In America that’s called child abuse; in South Africa it’s called promoting education. But to get lekker geklap ìs to get ‘motherlessly drunk’.

Tackles

These are sneakers or running shoes. The Word is also used to describe automobile truck tyres. “Fat tackles” are really wide tyres, as in, “You’ve got lekker fat tackies on your Beetle, hey?”

Dop

This word has two basic meanings, one good and one bad. First the good: a dop is a drink, a cocktail, a sundowner, a noggin. Be careful when invited for a dop – It could be just one sedate drink or it could turn into a big night, depending on the company. Now the bad: dop also means “to fail”. if yóú dopped Grade4 more than once you probably won’t be reading this.

Saamie

This is a sandwich. For generations school children have traded “saamies” during lunch breaks. In South Africa you don’t send ýour kid ‘to school with liver spread saamies — they’re impossible to trade!

Bakkie

This word is pronounced “bucky” and can refer to a small truck or pick-up. If a guy takes his girl out in a bakkie it could be regarded. as not such a lekker form of transport because the seats don’t recline.

Howzit

This is a universal South African greeting. and you’ll hear this word throughout the country. It’s often accompanied by the word “yes”. For example, “Yes, howzit? In this case you’d answer “no fine.”

Of course for all South Africa Immigration information please visit the Global Visas main site.