What is this?

This is only a collection of some but not all of the slang used in South Africa. Some are outdated and some are no longer used in the new South Africa.

Keys for pronunciation

â - short, sharp sound as in "buck", "luck"
ê - short, sharp sound as in "bad", "sad"
*g - gutteral sound in the back of the throat, as in the German ch in "ach"
õ - long-sounding vowel, as in English "lore"

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A

Ag ('A*g')
A multi-purpose word, pronounced like the ach in German. "Ag, no man" (sign of irritation). Can precede any sentence for various effects, such as the more neutral, "Ag, I don't know." Used by some people as a stand-alone expletive.
Aggro
(Aggressive)
Aikona (Aikõna)
(No way, absolutely not). From indigenous Nguni language meaning "No". Sometimes pronounced "Haikõna"
Amped
(Full of energy) Usually induced by adrenaline, feeling wired or high on fear, either before paddling into a huge ocean, or the sheer stoke of being alive afterwards.
As well (Accent on 'as')
(Also, Me too) A person who says, "Jees, I'm kished bru." (Gee, I'm tired bro) might get this reply, "Ja, I am as well."
Avo
Abbreviation for Avocado

B

Babalaas ('Bub-ba-lars')
The hangover from hell, fondly called a "Barbie". The Babalas is no mythical beast. But look at yourself in the mirror and you'll wonder as you examine that furry tongue slithering in a mumbling, parched mouth, puffy eyelids scraping bloodshot eyeballs. Comes from the Zulu word ibhabhalazi.
Bakkie (Like "lucky")
(Pickup truck in US) Many people own bakkies in South Africa, particularly in the rural areas. "That bokkie and her ballie parked off on the back of the bakkie." (That pretty girl and her father sat on the back of the pickup truck)
Barnie
(Fight, punchup) "Bill and I had such a barnie after he slept with Bert." - When I was in high school and there would be a fight going down, you'd here the kids surrounding the fight, shouting and chanting out, "Barnie! Barnie! Barnie! ..."
Befok, befuck
(From Afrikaans - Wild, crazy, excellent) This is used two ways. "He went befok." (He lost his cool, threw his toys out of the cot, went ballistic or totally crazy) or "That's befuck!" (That's great!)
Biltong
Afrikaans - from original "bul tong" - bull's tongue. Known as beef jerky in the US. This is specially prepared dried raw meat, made from beef, venison or Ostrich. Different farmers and hunters have different recipes and processes for their biltong. Their speciality might be Springbok, Blesbok or Eland. Ostrich is very tasty. The basic ingredient is salt, and often pepper corns.
Biscuit
(Cookie, twit) Yes, would you believe. Where else but in South Africa, where a word can mean a small crunchy cake leavened with baking powder or an insult aimed at a twit or a fool. In America, a biscuit is a scone with no sugar. In South Africa, a biscuit is actually a cookie. Some favourites are Marie, Romany Creams, Nuttikrust and Eet Sum Mor. "John, you biscuit!"
Bliksem
(Afrikaans - Strike, hit, punch) In Afrikaans, a "bliksemstraal" is a bolt of lightning. "I'm going to bliksem that doos!" (I am going to hit that cunt!)
Boer
Afrikaans - "farmer". Used to refer to any (conservative) Afrikaans speaking person.
Boerewors (vorse)
Farmstyle sausage or "wors". (Literally, "Farmers Sausage"). It is a spicy sausage made from hundreds of secret recipes all over the Platteland and beyond. It is consumed in vast quantities on braais all over the country. Boerewors is even sold in places like Australia, Canada and New Zealand to homesick expats who have done the "chicken run", ie, emigrated for fear of compromised lifestyle.
Boerie
1. Boerewors
2. Penis. "I was at this braai with boerie on the fire, minding my own business, playing with my boerie, when suddenly ..."
Bok (bôck, as in "jock")
(Afrikaans - "buck") To be keen. "Bok for the jol" (Keen to party). Not to be confused with the rugby playing variant, which is short for Springbok. The diminutive version is bokkie, referring to a girlfriend or girl.
Bounce
(Depart, leave, go, split, waai) "Let's bounce."
Boykie
(Diminutive of "boy", having used the Afrikaans method to indicate "small") Macho types or rugger buggers call their mates this, particularly if their friend is a man's man. When a man's team members are impressed, you will hear "What a boykie!"
Braai (as in "High")
(Afrikaans - Barbecue (US) or Barbie (Aus))Probably the biggest semantic gift given to the world by South Africa. You make a braai with wood in a metal drum or between bricks. You cook your boerewors, steak, lamb chops and sosaties on it. With your meal you eat mielie pap, salads, rolls and other stuff. You drink a Castle beer, or maybe a spook and diesel. Sometimes, if you have got some kreef (crayfish), you will have a crayfish braai.
Brah
(Surf brother, associate, peer, colleague, friend in liquid solidarity) In fact, anyone on this planet. See bru, broer, bro, brahdeen.
Bru('Broo'), broer , brah, bro, bree, brahdeen
(Brother, friend, mate, china, buddy) This is another famous, popular South African word. Variations include brah, bru, broer, bror, bro, bra, brra and brah. It's from the Afrikaans word for brother (broer), which is pronounced 'broor' with a roll of the 'r' at the end. That's why lazy English speakers adopted only the 'broo' sound. Variations in tone emanate from all over South Africa. It is now spelt bru by most South Africans. In the Eastern Cape, a semantic hotbed of slang, it's often pronounced 'brorr', 'bree', 'bra' (same as underwear) and 'braaah', with a drawn out vowel.
Bust
When you get caught. Another meaning is to "bust" a pipe, ie, be the first to smoke the pipe.

C

Charf
(Tease, joke, make fun of, flirt with) Charf also means "spadework", or the attempt to "score" with a member of the opposite sex. "Axel was charfing that chick lank hey?" You also say "I was just charfing you." (I was only joking)
Check
(Look, do you see?) "You check" (See what I mean? Do you follow? Are you with me?) or "Check this out" (Look at this) or "Are you checking me skeef?" (Are you looking at me crooked - do you want to fight me?)
Cherrie
(Woman) "Check that cherrie China." (Did you see that woman over there friend?) Old word.
China
(A friend) And a colleague or acquaintance, or someone you don't know at all. It can be used aggressively. "Are you tuning me kak China?" (Are you giving me shit, mate?)
Chips
1. Warning. "Look out!" Someone will yell it just before the lip at Cave Rock renders you senseless, the bouncer's fist greets your jaw or the "boere come and bust you for smoking dagga" (the cops catch you smoking dope). If a school boy is smoking a cigarette in the toilet, his friend will "keep chips" for him. In other words, keep a lookout for the teacher.
2. French Fries (also referred to as "slap chips" (with "slap" as in "pup" - Afrikaans for "soft", "not stiff".
3. Potato Crisps
Tjommie ("chômmy")
(Originally Afrikaans - Mate, friend, bru) Slightly old fashioned Afrikaans word that originates from the quaint Victorian word "Chum". Not to be confused with chumming, when you throw gore into the water to attract sharks. That's not a lekker way to treat your chinas, especially if they are surf "tjommies".
Choon, tchoon
(Talk, communicate with) It's the correct way to pronounce tune! "I choon you bru, she digs me lank!" (I tell you what mate, she is really into me!)
Chop
(Idiot, twit, dolt) "Yissus bru, you pulled a blind move dropping that bottle of Tassies. You are such a chop!"
Come short
(Taken out, get into trouble, die, fail) "Bru, if you look at my old lady like that again, you're going to come short." (Mate, if you look at my mum like that again, I might have to take you out)
Cool
Like kiff and lekker, it's also a universal word that refers to all things hip, okay, good, and nice. He is cool because he wears funky shades (fashion). That's cool (affirmation). We had such a cool time at Jay Bay (enjoyment). The latest variation is kewl, pronounced koo-el, which comes from Internet chat groups.
Coolie
(A cooldrink) South Africans are too dof (stupid) to realise that racist terms (coolie is a derogatory term for someone from India) shouldn't be used to describe other things.
Crash
(Go to sleep) "Do you want to crash at my porsie?" (Do you want sleep at my place?)
Cuz
(Cousin, mate, friend) This is Durban slang, and another way of saying "bru".

D

Dagga ('Dag-gah')
(Marijuana, dope) South African word for dope. Originates from the Khoikhoi word dachab.
Deck
(Flatten, punch) "I decked him after he dropped in on my wave."
Dinges ('Ding-us')
(Afrikaans - Thingamabob, wotzit, whatchamacallit) In any rural town in South Africa, you might overhear the mechanic say to his colleague, "Johannes, pass me the dinges wot you screw on the top of the carburettor."
Dodgy, dodge
(Suspicious) "That oke is lank dodgy" (That guy is very suspicious). "His comments about being super hot are a bit dodge" Dof ('Dorf')
(Afrikaans - "not bright", "dull") Stupid. Dunce. Someone who is dof, is not necessarily that way all the time. It is often used to describe a temporary loss of brain cells. "Don't be dof, you stupid doos." (Don't be a complete moron, you stupid cunt). It can also be used as a noun. "You doffie." (You stupid person)
Doos ('Doo-ers')
(Afrikaans - Female genitalia, cunt) "You are such a doos." This means you are a complete idiot. Not to be confused with another Afrikaans word, dosie (box)
Dop ('Dorp')
1. Booze, drink (Afrikaans) "One dop too many" (One drink too many). The word dop is used in its most common context when referring to drinking, the national pastime in South Africa next to soccer and rugby. In the bad days of Apartheid, many wine farmers used the Dop System, whereby labourers were paid in cheap wine. This created a generation of winos, of which the Bergie may well be a sad consequence, in part. "Dop" may have come from "doppie", which is the cap of a screw-top bottle (one tot).
2. Fail, flunk (Afrikaans) - "I dopped 2 standards at school"
Dorp ('Dorrrp')
(Afrikaans - small town) Don't be confused when someone says, "Let's go for a dop in that dorp."
Duck
(Leave, departe) "I'm gonna duck." (I'm going to leave.)
Durbs
(Durban) Affectionate name for the surf capital of KwaZulu Natal, home of bananas, sugar cane and classic beach breaks.

E

Eina (Ay-nah)
(Afrikaans - Ouch) Widely used. You can shout "Eina!" in sympathy when a shark haps your buddies' buttocks while surfing in the Kei.
Eish ('Aysh')
(Zulu expression) Surprise, bewilderment, shock. "Eish. Voetsek! I am not sleeping with you!"
Ek sê ('Eck sair')
(Afrikaans - "I say") "I tell you". An affirmative phrase to add impact to what you are communicating. Used in a fascinating variety of contexts all over the country. "Let's hit the jol ek sê."

F

Flip
(Expletive) "Flip!" (Oh no! or Shit!). Probably a more acceptable substitute for "Fuck!"
Flook (Fluke)
(To cuss, swear) "Don't flook man!" (Don't swear man!)
Folks
(Parents) "My folks won't let me go to the jorl."
Fudge Packer , Fudge Nudger
(Graphic description of someone who engages in anal sex)
Full on
(Absolutely, right on, to the limit) This is affirmation or agreement, but also refers to an act or person that is extreme in some way. It could be used in this context: "That was a full-on drop-in." (That was definitely a drop-in) or "That oke is full-on."

G

Gatvol ('G*at-fawl')
(Afrikaans - Fed up) Literally, "Hole full" (filled to the brim). "He was gatvol of the crowds at Jay Bay."
Gesuip ('G*esayp')
(Afrikaans - Drunk). Humans "drink", animals "suip" - to be gesuip is to be drunk to the point of aversion.
Goose
(Girlfriend, women)
Got off with
(Get lucky with the opposite sex) "John got off with Jackie in the backseat."
Grief
(Aggravation) Usually used in this context: "Don't tune me grief." (Don't aggravate me, or talk irritating nonsense to me)
Gwai, gwa
(From Zulu - Cigarette)

H

Hap ('Hup')
(Afrikaans - Bite) This Afrikaans word is commonly used by English speakers. "Do you want a hap of my biscuit?"
Hectic
(Radical, extreme, over the top) "That footage of the oke frying on the electric chair was hectic bru."
Hey
Used for emphasis. "It's cold today, hey?" or on its own as a way of saying "excuse me?" or "pardon?"
Hose
(Laugh) "He was hosing himself when she fell in the pool."
How's your mind?
(Are you mad?!) This question, often in exasperation or irritation, refers to the mental stability of the subject, who has probably done something stupid, idiotic or irritating.
Howzit
The famous South African greeting. Short for "How is it?" Try and refrain from saying, "It's fine, thanks". This will only lead to a funny look. A suitable reply is: "No, fine", which actually means "Yes, I am fine". The word "no" is often taken to mean "yes". A real Afrikaner might reply to a "Howzit", with this bewildering response: "Ja, well, no fine". This is merely a more emphatic but long-winded version of "No, fine". Also aweh, yooit, hoesit, yo.
Hundreds
(Good, excellent, enjoyable) "Hey bru, I skeem the jorl was kiff. What do you skeem?" Answer: "Ja, bru, it was hundreds."

I

Insane
(Absolute, excellent, superlative) "Ag, it was insane bru!"
Is it? (Izzit?)
This conversational word is used widely and in response to just about anything. Derived perhaps from the English way of saying "Is it really?" If you don't feel like participating in a conversation with a dik ou at a braai, but don't wish to appear rude, just say "Is it" at appropiate gaps in his description of how he decapitated a Kudu with his bare hands.

J

Ja (yaaa)
Yes
Jags (ye-ag*s)
(Afrikaans - Horny) "Checking Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee on the Internet made me so jags."
Jammie
(Car) "You have a kief jammie, broer" (You have a nice car, brah)
Jay Bay
Does this need explanation? Jeffreys Bay, the mecca of surfing in South Africa. The town is similar to Torquay in Australia, also home to big name surf brands, and near a world-class wave. The only difference is the consistency of Super Tubes, which ranks as one of the best five waves on Planet Earth.
Jislaaik
(Afrikaans exclamation) Gee whizz!
Jol ('Jawl'), jorl
The word jol, like the word kief, is a generic South African word. It refers to having a good time and is used in any context. "I am going on a jol (party)." "I am having a jol (good time)." "That spectacular wipeout at Super Tubes was a jol (rush)."
Just now
(In a little bit) Universally used in South Africa, it means that the action will get done "eventually", but it might mean "never". If someone says he will do it "just now", be warned. It might be in 10 minutes, 10 hours or never. "I'll clean my room just now, Ma." If someone says "now now", you're making progress. It won't be done immediately, or instantly, but probably less than 10 minutes, barring distractions that relegate it back to "just now".

K

Kaalgat (Kaal-g*at)
(Afrikaans - In the nude) When you are caught running around your girlfriend's house with no clothes on, you are kaalgat.
Kaffir ('Kuffir')
Racial slur for a black person.
Kak ('Kuk')
(Afrikaans expletive - Shit) This is used in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways, in exactly the same way as the word "shit". Hence, "Don't talk kak" or "Don't give me kak" or "You're so full of kak" or "Having a kak day" or "He is in the kak"
Kief ('Keef'), keef, kiff
(Something that's nice.) Like the all-encompassing "nice", used by semi-literate English speakers the world over, it can be used in any context, and is a convenient way to express a limited vocabulary. "This chow is kief ek sê." (This food is delicious I tell you). "I just had such a kief wave." Can be spelled keef (drawing on the syllable emphatically) or kiff, a shorter, sharper version.
Klap ('Klup')
(Afrikaans - lit. to hit, slap) Slap, partake in, peform an act) "Ek sal jou a snotklap gee" (I will hit you hard enough to make the snot fly). But also, "let's klap another klippies." (Let's have another brandy.)
Klippies and coke
(Brandy and Coke) Named after Klipdrift, a popular, cheap brandy.
Knob, knobber
(Idiot, dolt, dickhead) "Don't be a knob by dropping in on me bru."
Kotch
Vomit, park a tiger, bark the dog, spew, puke, make a technicoloured yawn.
Kussed, kished
(Exhausted, tired) "Jissus, my broer, I am totally kussed" (Gee, man, I am exhausted) or "I am kished out."
Kwaai
(Afrikaans - lit. angry, mean) Very angry, but also great, nice. Originally meant to mean "very angry", from the Afrikaans word "kwaad" (cross), it came to also mean something that's lekker, an urban way to say cool or express coolness. Skollies from Springs in the 70s or 80s would tune "Kwaai my broer", which is the same as saying "Kiff".

L

Lank
(A lot, much, many) Originates from the Afrikaans word lank ('lunk'), which means "long". Now it's used as an all-encompassing South African adjective to boost the size of things, whether objects, emotions, or whatever. "There are lank people in the water.", "I dig her lank." or "He's lank horny."
Larny
(Fancy, designer clothes, snob, friend) 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. The clothes can be larney as in "Jees, you are wearing larney clothes." or "Why are you dressed so larney?" or a high-class dinner do as in "We went to a larney party that had caviar for pudding." For coloured people in the Cape, it means "Friend". "Hoesit my larnie!" (Hello there my friend!)
Las ('Lus')
(Cancel, hard work) Two known meanings here. Two okes want to fight, but the girlfriend tunes the one oke, 'Las it, Frikkie. He's not worth losing your teeth over.' From the Afrikaans word los, which means 'lose'. Same thing, 'los it', 'las it'. But it can also mean "a big mission", "too much like hard work" or "too much PT (physical training)". For instance, "getting ready for the fancy dress is such a las."
Lekker
(Afrikaans - Nice, pleasant, stoned, fun, lovely, good, pretty) It is used by all language groups to express approval, often to cover up a limited vocab. If you see someone of the opposite sex who is good-looking, you can exclaim: "Lekkerrr!" while drawing out the last syllable. Cars can be lekker. You can have a lekker time. You can feel lekker. Holidays are lekker. It's lekker when the Springboks occasionally win a match. And of course, you can have a lekker boerie on the braai.
Lightey ('laai-tie')
(Youngster) "That lightey is a pretty good surfer, for a grommet." (That boy surfs well, considering he belongs to a lower caste) Also laaitie.
Loskop
(Afrikaans: "Loose Head") Absent minded, forgetful . Someone with plenty of space between the ears for the brain to rattle around in.
Lammie ('lummy')
(Afrikaans - from "lam" paralysed, lame) Welt. A lammie is a particular kind of welt caused by hitting someone with the middle knuckle of your middle finger. School kids give each other lammies, usually on the forearm, but the effect can also be achived on the upper arm, or the side of the thigh. A proper lammie becomes a bump immediately.

M

Mif
(Horrible, gross, yucky)
Mission
(a hassle, a schlep) "School is such a mission." (School is too much like hard work.)
Moer ('Moor-r')
(Afrikaans - Hit, punch) Another Afrikaans word meaning to hit someone. "I will moer you if you touch my goose again!"
Moffie ('Moffee')
(Afrikaans - Gay, queer) A derogeratory term for a gay person.
Moose
(Female genitalia) 'I had Mildred's moose for desert.'
Mozzie
(Mosquito) "That mozzie is powered by a lawnmower engine."
Mullet
Never mind the oke with the funny haircut, this goes beyond short on the top and long at the back. Neither does it refer to the fish used as bait. It's someone who is crazy, or whacky, or weird, maybe someone a few beers short of a sixpack. "That ou is a mullet." He doesn't have to be insane, just eccentric or strange. He doesn't have to have a mullet hairstyle either.

N

Naai
(Afrikaans - lit to stitch, do needlework, to fuck.)Pomp, bonk. "Ek wil jou naai." (I want to fuck you.)
Naught, naughtus ('Naw-tiss')
(No, Oh no!) Used like "nooit". "Naught bru! Don't drop in on me again or I'll moer you with a pole." (No mate! Don't try and steal my wave or I will beat you with a pole.)
Nooit ('Noy-t')
(Afrikaans - never) No way, oh no!)Another way of saying no, but also a sign of incredulous response. If you have just heard that a South African won the world surfing champs, you would say, "Nooit! Are you serious?"
Now Now
(In a little while) "We're going surfing now now." (We're about to go surfing. Exactly when? Well, that depends on how long we take to finish watching the video and putting on the roofracks). The good thing about Now Now is that it is probably going to happen quicker than the even more flexi-time "Just now."
Numb
(Extremely out of it) "I got so numb after making a fat number at Numbers disco last night." (I got so stoned after smoking a big joint at Numbers disco last night)

O

Oke ('Oak'), ou, o (as in "owe)
(Guy, chap, bloke) Despite being low on letters, oke or ou are huge words. This word, or its variant, is one of South Africa's most common words for a male human. Probably comes from the Afrikaans "Ou pel" (Old mate), but the adjective became the noun after the "pel" was dropped. Only a male can be an "oke" or an "ou", pronounced "Oh." "That ou says he can paddle around Seal Island with one leg."
On a mission
(A quest to complete a task) When you're determined to complete a task, you are "on a mission". If you try and persuade your "bru" to "pull in" to the "jorl" with you, he might say, "Nooit bru, it's exam time, I'm on a mission."
Only
(Utility adjective) It is not used to paint a picture of "uniqueness", but rather as an extra adjective meaning "lank" or "kiff". When you say "She was only charfing him!", you are NOT saying "She was charfing only him", or "Only she was charfing him." You are actually saying "She was charfing him vigorously."

P

Padkos ('put-koss')
(Afrikaans - lit. "road food") Food for the journey. Padkos is usually a few sarmies (sandwiches), some cooldrinks, chips, fruit and maybe a lekker stukkie biltong.
Pallas
(The palace) Let's chillout/parkoff in the pallas.
Pap ('Pup')
(Afrikaans - porridge) Boiled corn meal. It is the staple diet of many South Africans. Eaten mostly in the townships, it is often found at braais. It has the appearance of wet plaster or drying cement, but is delicious when scooped through gravy (known as "Pap-en-Sous". Pap is versatile. It's eaten as sweet porridge, or as part of a main course.
Park off
(Chill out) When you park off, you sit down and relax. "Shall we park off and watch the Rip Curl Search video for the 40th time?" It can also mean to sit down, as in, "Donovan, why don't you park here?"
Pavement
What Americans call a sidewalk, we call a pavement.
Plak ("pluck")
(Afrikaans - origin uncertain.) While the literal Afrikaans meaning is "to stick" (with glue), this context refers to mindset. This is an interesting word. For instance, you say to someone who has just delivered obscure reasoning for doing something, "How's your plak?" (Where are you coming from?) The variation to this is, "How's your mind?" Plak refers to a distracted, even deranged, state of mind. "He was on a plak when he dived off the roof." (He was on some kind of weird trip when he dived off the roof.)
Poes
(Afrikaans) Cunt, pussy, nasty person. This word has a number of different meanings. It is a swear word, mostly used to berate someone. "You stupid poes". Also used to describe a thoroughly nasty, unlikeable person; someone who has "pulled an action", or ripped someone off perhaps. 'That ou is a poes'.
Poepol ('Poo-pawl')
(Afrikaans.) Idiot, twit, "poop hole") Enough said. "Don't be a poepol".
Pomp ('Pormp')
(Afrikaans - lit. to pump) Bonk, have sex. The crude, but popular, description of the carnal act.
Pull
(Taking a drag) "Can I have a pull on that pipe bru." (Can I have a hit, drag, toke on that pipe mate)
Pull my wire
Masturbate, have a wank, jerk off.

R

Robot
(Traffic light) Peculiar way of describing a traffic light. But then, we only got TV in the mid 1970s.
Rock Up
(To arrive) You don't tell anyone you're on the way, you just rock up.
Rooibos
(Red bush tea) This tannin-free herb tea comes mostly from the Clanwilliam area of the Western Cape. It is made from the Aspalathus linearis bush. Homesick South Africans buy it from gourmet stores around the world, even if they don't like it.

S

Samoosa
(Deep-fried triangular curried pie) Made to a Malay recipe, samoosas can be found in cafes around the country. The best are in Cape Town, cultural home of the Malay community. This rich culture has had an enormous influence on the country's culinary tradition.
Samp
An African food made from rough corn. It is starchy and is often eaten with haricot or red beans, dunked in gravy stew. Delicious.
Sarmie
(Sandwich) Kids sometimes take a sarmie to school in the morning.
Scale
To scale something is to steal it. A person who is "scaly" is a scumbag or sleazy type. See also skate.
Score
When you go and buy something, usually drugs. "Hey bru, check this bankie I scored from my mert!" (Hey mate, take a look at this plastic packet of marijuana that I just bought from my dealer." Or when you get something for nothing, as in "I scored a luck with Marie last night", or "My mom scored me R20 for condoms".
Shame
(Expression of sympathy) "These piles are lank sore." "Ag shame man!"
Sif ('Suf')
(Disgusting thing, see mif) A shortened version of syphillus, sif doesn't necessarily refer to disease, but could refer to a gangrenous coral wound, an overused long drop toilet, a car accident or a chorb.
Sis ('Sus')
(Yuck) "Sis, man, you just kotched on my wetsuit." (Yuck, man, you just vomited on my wetsuit)
Sjoe ('Shoe')
(Afrikaans expletive) "Sjoe broer, that wave was awesome." Also shew and shewee.
Skaam
(Afrikaans - Shame, embarassed) "Pieter pulled out his penis in a Pretoria petshop. That oke has no skaam." (That guy has no shame) "When you fondle my ringpiece, I feel skaam (embarrassed, ashamed)."
Skeem ('Skeem')
(Think, opinion) "You skeem?" (You think so?) "What do you skeem?" (What do you think?) "I'm skeeming we just pull another neck" (I think we should smoke another pipe) From "scheme".
Skelm ('Skellum')
(Afrikaans) A crook or thief. A street-wise operator who deals in petty crime.
Skinner
(Afrikaans - "skiner" - Gossip, news) The kind of gossip that goes on behind your back. Can mean news.
Skop
(Afrikaans - Kick) Can also be used as in "My girlfriend skopped me out for surfing too much."
Skrik ('Skruk')
(Afrikaans - A fright, frighteningly ugly) After being held down for 30 seconds in the kelp at Crayfish Factory, you might get a bit of a "skrik". Or when your buddies try and give you a skrik as you walk past the cemetery. Alternatively, your lover might be called a 'skrik', but that's not so lekker.
Skyf ('Skayf')
(Spliff, to smoke, a piece of something, a French Fry) "Let's make a skyf" refers to the first.
Skyfie ('Skay-fee')
(Afrikaans - slice) A piece of something, such as fruit.
Slap chips ('Slup chips')
When French Fries are thick and long and don't go crispy in the oil. They are soft and stodgy, ideal for mixing in mounds of tomato sauce or vinegar, or both. Slap is Afrikaans for limp.
Slip Slops
Mostly called "slops", they are what Australians call thongs, or sandals. The proper slops are made from rubber and have a strap between your big toe and its partner.
Sluk
(Afrikaans, lit. "to swallow") .
1. To swallow, to have a drink. Have a sluk of someone's drink (sip).
2. To steal.
"I was slukking a dop when that oke caught a klap for slukking his zol." (That guys will catch a punch for stealing my dope)
Smaak
(Afrikaans - lit. "taste of") Like, enjoy, have hots for. "I smaak Sam stukkend." (I have the total hots for Sam.)
Sorry
(Excuse me) While used for its global meaning, as an apology, South Africans have managed to mutate it further. "Sorry, can I just get past." Perhaps it has psychotic roots in the Apartheid days, when travelling white South Africans were programmed to say sorry wherever they went.
Sosatie
(Kebab) Made from either chicken, lamb or beef, this is often interspersed with pieces of tomato, green pepper, onion and sometimes fruit, especially apricot.
Squeeze
(Girlfriend)
Squirt, the squirts
(Diarrhoea)
Squirting the snozzle
(Blowing your nose)
Staunch
(Dik, big, strong) "That prop forward is a staunch ou." (That rugby player is built like a brick shithouse)
Stoep
Verandah
Stukkie
(Afrikaans - Little piece) Sexist term for a woman, or man. This time derived from the Afrikaans word stuk, which means "piece". A stukkie is a "little piece".

T

Takkies
(Sneakers, trainers, running shoes) Often refers to the cheap, hip kind bought in a mass clothing chain called Pep Stores. This word is also used to describe car tires. If someone has "Fat takkies" they have a souped up car with wide-brim tyres.
That time
(Nostalgic glimpse into the ast) We hadn't chooned each other since that time! (We haven't spoken for years!)
Tune ('Choon')
(To tell, to talk, to provoke) For instance, "Don't tune me grief" (Don't give me your bullshit) or "Are you tuning me kak?" (Are you giving me shit?). "Tune me the ages" (Tell me the time)

V

Vloek ('Flook')
(Afrikaans - "to swear") Swear at, intimidate. "I vloeked Harry and he vloeked me back." (I swore at Harry and he swore back). Not to be confused with fluke, also pronounced "flook" by South Africans, meaning something happening by accident.
Voetsek
(Afrikaans) Bugger off, fuck off, go away!) "Voetsek!
Vrot ('Frort')
(Afrikaans - Rotten, putrid) Used by all language groups to describe something highly undesirable, or smelly, or rotten. It can also mean drunk to the point of being completely paralytic. "I was vrot last night"
Vry ('Fr-eh')
Similar to graunch - to kiss, pet, court...

W

What what
(Yada yada, blah blah) "That oke tuned me 'what what'."
Woes ('V-oos')
(Afrikaans - vicious, wild) Wound up, aggressive, feeling strong. "Skay bru, that baboon looks woes." (Watch out mate, that baboon looks like it's going to attack.) This is the Afrikaans pronunciation of the word, which turns "W" into "V".

Credits to them.