15 words only South Africans use

Here are 15 words (of hundreds) that make us unique:

• Lekker

Meaning nice or good. This word is used in many different contexts, describing something good or pleasant and can mean well.

Example: “We got along lekker.” or “How is life?” – “It’s very lekker, thank you.”

• Isit?

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Really?

Example: “He came by last night with a box of chocolates and wine.” – “Isit??”

• Shot

Which means thank you in South Africa.

Example: “You dropped your keys, here you go.” – “Shot, man.”

• Bru

An endearing term, usually used by a male, to another male. Short from the Afrikaans word broer, meaning brother.

Example: “How’s it going, bru?”

• Now now

Used as a timing explanation.

Example: “Where are you?” – “I’ll be there now now.”

• Eish

This word is as diverse as the country we live in. Eish can be used to express surprise, shock, disappointment, sympathy etc.

Example: “Eish! The cars crashed!” or “Eish, that’s sad.” or “Eish, what do I do now?”

• Robot

Where other countries have boring traffic lights, South Africa has robots at almost every intersection. Yes, we are that cool.

Example: “You skipped a red robot!”

• Babalas

The aftermath of a night of heavy drinking, described by people as a hangover.

Example: “I’ve got a huge babalas this morning.”

• Ag shame

Many South Africans express condolences or show empathy by using this phrase.

Example: “He hit his head pretty hard.” – ”Ag shame, man.”

• Cherrie

Pronounced like the English berry fruit ‘cherry’, but this to South Africans, means girlfriend or girl.

Example: “This is my new cherrie, Candice.” or “Look at that cherrie.”

• Yebo

Yes. Yebo simply means, yes. But because we like to do things differently, we say yebo.

Example: “You said you are South African?” – “Yebo.”

• Jislaaik

This is an expression of surprise, disbelief or outrage.

Example: “Jislaaik! I just saw a shark!” or “Jislaaik, how is that possible?”

• Tsotsi

In South Africa, a tsotsi is a thief.

Example: “A tsotsi stole my rims!”

• Doek

A doek is a cloth South African women wear on their heads, which have different symbolic and cultural meanings.

Example: “I am going to wear my doek tomorrow.”

• Waslap

A waslap is a facecloth or a dish washing towel.

Example: “Please hand me my waslap.”

Springs residents commented on what some of their favourite South African words are:

Thulane Kgoari: “Eksê, is the word.”

Angelique Myburgh: “Ons like om te sê ‘gefix’.” (sic)

Marianne McDonald: “Ja-nee, lekker, brak, trommeldik geëet.”

Natalie Mackenzie: “Laat ons braai, pappi.” (sic)

Manuela de Villiers: “What surprised me when I went to Dubai, was that many people there did not know who Mandela was, but they knew who AB de Villiers is and they knew the word lekker. They learned it from the Protea cricket team.”

Joan Troskie: “Wateva.” (sic)

Read: Things South Africans share

Read: South Africans are not the world’s biggest alcohol consumers