Now updated for CSW19. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.
aardvark | a nocturnal, insectivorous, badger-sized mammal, native to sub-Saharan Africa. [Afk. aardvark(en) (now erdvark), f. aarde earth + varken pig.] |
aardwolf | a hyena-like African mammal, aka EARTHWOLF. |
aasvogel | a S. African vulture. [Dutch = 'carrion bird']. |
agterskot | the final payment to a farmer for crops. |
apartheid | segregation and separate development (of races). |
baas | boss. |
baaskaap baasskap baaskap | the condition in which one section of the population is treated as the master race, esp. the policy of domination of white people in South Africa. |
backveld | country remote from towns. |
backvelder | one who lives in the country remote from towns. |
berg | a hill or mountain in S. Africa. |
bakgat | fine, excellent. |
bakkie | a small open truck. |
banket | a gold-bearing pebbly conglomerate. [Dutch banketje, almond rock]. |
berghaan | the bateleur eagle. [Afrik. berg, mountain, + haan, cock]. |
bijwoner bywoner | the sub-tenant of a farm; an agricultural labourer. [Dutch bijwonen, to be present]. |
biltong | a kind of dried meat. |
blaubok bloubok | a South African antelope, the bluebuck. |
blesbok blesbuck | a South African antelope, having a large white spot on the forehead. |
bliksem | an interjection expressing shock and surprise. |
bobbejaan | a baboon; a large black spider. |
boerewors | a traditional S. African sausage > BOEREWORSES. |
boep | a protruding belly. |
boerbul boerbull | a crossbred mastiff used esp as a watchdog. |
boet boertjie | a friend. |
bok | a goat or antelope. |
bokmakerie | a large yellow shrike. |
bontebok | the pied antelope of South Africa, aka BLESBOK. |
boomslang | a highly venomous southern African tree-snake. [Du. boom, tree, + slang, snake]. |
bosberaad | a meeting in an isolated place to break a political deadlock. |
bosbok boschbok boshbok | a kind of antelope, a bush-buck. |
boschveld bushveld | veld made up largely of woodland. |
boykie | a chap or fellow. |
braai | to grill or roast meat over open coals > BRAAIS, BRAAIING, BRAAIED. | braaivleis | a barbecue party. |
brak | brackish, salty; (noun) a mongrel dog. |
bredie | a meat and vegetable stew. |
brei brey | to speak with uvular r, especially in Afrikaans. |
broekies | underpants. |
brommer brummer | the bluebottle. |
bru | a friend. |
casspir | in S. Africa, an armoured military vehicle. |
chakalaka | a relish of tomatoes, onions and spices. |
chommie | a friend, chum. |
chorrie | a dilapidated old car. |
couzin | a friend. |
craal kraal | a pen for cattle; (verb) to enclose in such a pen. |
crunchie | an offensive word for an Afrikaaner. |
dassie | a small mammal, the hyrax. [Dutch dasje, dim. of das, badger]. |
dikkop | the stone curlew. |
dinges dingus | an indefinite name for any person or thing whose name one cannot remember. |
disselboom | the single shaft of an ox-wagon or other cart. |
doek | a square cloth for tying round the head, worn by African women. |
dof | stupid. |
dolos | the knucklebone of a sheep used by diviners > DOLOSSE. |
donder | to beat up, thrash. |
doorn | a thorn. |
doornboom | a kind of acacia tree. |
dop | to fail to reach the required standard in an examination. |
doppie | a cartridge-case. [Dutch dop, shell, case]. |
dorp | a S. African village or small town. |
dronklap | a drunkard. |
dronkverdriet | depressed after the consumption of alchohol. |
drostdy | the house and office of a LANDDROST > DROSTDYS or DROSTDIES. |
drummy | a drum majorette. |
dumela | hello, good morning. |
duiker duyker | a small S. African antelope. |
eina | an interjection expressing sudden pain. |
dwaal | a state of befuddlement. |
eish | interjection expressing surprise, dismay. |
flatstick | with great speed or effort. |
foefie | as in foefie slide, a rope, fixed at an incline, along which a person suspended on a pulley may traverse a space, esp across a river. |
fricadel frikkadel | a fried ball of mincemeat. |
fynbos | in South Africa, an area of low shrubs > FYNBOSES. [Dutch fijn, fine + bosch, bush]. |
gatvol | fed up. |
geelbek | a yellow-jawed fish |
gemsbok gemsbuck | a South African antelope, having long, sharp, nearly straight horns. |
gemclip | a paperclip. |
gogga | an insect, a creepy-crawly. |
grysbok | a small South African antelope, speckled with gray and chestnut. [Dutch 'grey buck']. |
haanepoot hanepoot honeypot | a kind of grape. [Dutch haane-poot, cockfoot]. |
hadedah | a lare greyish-green ibis. |
hairyback | an offensive name for an Afrikaaner. |
hamba | go away. |
hammerkop | a bird of the heron family. [Dutch 'hammer-head']. |
handlanger | an unskilled assistant to a tradesman. |
hartbees hartebeest hartbeest | a large S. African antelope. |
highveld | a high altitude grassland region of E. S. Africa. |
howzit | a greeting, how is it going. |
inspan | to yoke e.g. oxen to a vehicle. |
isit | an expression used in response to a statement, sometimes to seek confirmation but often merely to show that one is listening. |
jaap | a simpleton or country bumpkin. |
jambok sjambok | a rhinoceros-hide whip; (verb) to beat with this. N.B. SJAMBOKED/SJAMBOKING and SJAMBOKKED/SJAMBOKKING, but only JAMBOKKED/JAMBOKKING. |
jinne+ jirre | an exclamation indicating surprise, shock etc. |
jol | to have a good time > JOLS, JOLLING, JOLLED |
joller | one who JOLS, has a good time |
jong | a friend, esp. as an address |
jukskei | an outdoor game similar to quoits. [Afrik. yuk, yoke + skei, pin]. |
kaal | naked. |
kabeljou kabeljouw | a large S. African fish. |
jaap | a simpleton or country bumpkin. |
jackroll | to rob a drunken or sleeping person. |
kak | faeces, rubbish. |
kaross | A S. African garment of animal skins. |
kerel | a chap or fellow |
kiaat | a tropical leguminous tree |
kiff | excellent. |
kingklip | any of several marine food fishes. |
klap | to slap or smack. |
kleinhuisie | an outside lavatory. |
klipdas | the Cape HYRAX, an African mammal, like a woodchuck but more closely related to ungulates. [Dutch = 'rock badger']. |
klipspringer | a small, hoofed African antelope. |
kloof | a deep ravine in South Africa. |
konfyt | a preserve of fruit, in syrup or candied. |
kop | a hill. |
kopje koppie | a low hill. |
kotch | to vomit. |
krans krantz kranz | a crown of rock on a mountain-top. [Dutch krans, a wreath]. |
kurvey | to transport goods by wagon. [Dutch karwei, work]. |
kurveyor | a carrier of goods by wagon. [Dutch karwei, work]. |
laager | a defensive ring of ox-wagons; (verb) to arrange wagons in such a ring. |
laer | = LAAGER, a camp; (verb) to make camp. |
landdros landdrost | in South Africa, a district magistrate or sheriff. |
lapje lappie | a rag or piece of cloth. |
larney | a white person. |
lekker | pleasing, tasty |
loslyf | a promiscuous female. |
lowveld | the lower altitude areas of the eastern Transvaal. |
mampara | a foolish person. |
mampoer | home-made brandy distilled from peaches, prickly pear etc. |
marabi | a kind of music popular in townships in the 1930s. |
mealie mealy mielie | an ear of maize. |
mebos | salted or sugared dried apricots. |
meneer | a title of respect for a man |
mevrou | a title of respect for a woman |
middelmannetjie | a ridge between the ruts made by wheels in a dirt road. |
middelskot | in S. Africa, an intermediate payment to a farmer for a crop or wool-clip. |
moer | a despicable person; (verb) to attack someone |
mooi | fine. |
mosbolletjie | in S. Africa, a sweet bun made of dough leavened with grape must. |
moskonfyt | a thick syrup made from grapes. |
naartje nartjie naartjie | a small sweet orange like the mandarin. [Afk. f. Tamil narattai citrus]. |
nachtmaal | an older form of NAGMAAL, a Dutch Reformed Church Sacrament, the Lord's Supper. |
nadors | thirst brought on by excessive consumption of alcohol. |
nagapie | the bush-baby or nocturnal lemur. [Dutch 'night ape']. |
nagmaal | a Dutch Reformed Church Sacrament, the Lord's Supper. [= 'night meal']. |
necklacing | the punishment of having a petrol-soaked tyre placed round the neck or shoulders and set alight, traditionally used by black people on those thought to be government sympathizer. |
nek | a COL, a pass over mountains. |
nkosi | a term of address to a superior. |
nooit | an interjection expressing surprise. |
oke | a man. |
oom | uncle. |
opgefok | damaged, bungled. |
oribi ourebi | a small South African antelope. |
oubaas | someone senior to oneself |
ouma | a grandmother |
oupa | a grandfather |
outspan | to unharness a draft animal. |
padkos | snacks and provisions for a journey. |
palmiet | a S. African aloe-like riverside plant of the rush family. |
pampoen | a pumpkin. |
perlemoen | a sea creature with a shell lined with mother-of-pearl |
plaas | a farm |
platanna | the African clawed frog. |
platteland | rural districts. |
poep | a fart, a despicable person; (verb) to break wind |
poepol | a slang word for the anus. |
pondok pondokkie | a crudely built hut made of tin sheet |
poort | a mountain pass. |
potjie | a three-legged iron pot used for cooking over a wood fire. |
pronk | of a springbok, to leap in the air. [Du. pronken, to show off]. |
randlord | in S. Africa, a 19th century mining magnate. |
ratel | an African badger, aka honey-badger. |
reebok rhebok | a S. African antelope. |
regmaker | a drink taken to counterct the effect of a hangover |
reitbok | the reedbuck. |
renosterveld | an area of high altitude in S. Africa, having fertile ground. |
riem | a raw-hide thong. |
riempie | a long RIEM about the width of a shoelace, used as string. |
ringhals rinkhals | an African snake that spits its venom > RINGHALSES, RINKHALSES. |
roadworthy | in S. Africa, a certificate for a roadworthy vehicle. |
rondavel | in S. Africa, a round hut with a grass roof. [Afrik. rondawel]. |
rooibos | a kind of tea prepared from the dried leaves of an African plant > ROOIBOSES |
rooikat | a S. African lynx |
rooinek | an Afrikaans nickname for an English-speaking person. [Afrikaans = 'red neck']. |
sammy | an Indian fruit and vegetable seller who goes from house to house. |
samp | a coarsely ground maize. |
sarmie | a sandwich. |
scamto | the argot of S. African blacks. |
schanse schantze schanze | a heap of stones used as protection against rifle-fire. |
schelm skelm | a rascal. |
schimmel | a roan-coloured horse. |
shweshwe | an African cotton print fabric. |
sies | an interjection expressing disgust. |
sif | syphilitic, nasty. |
sitkamer | a sitting-room |
sjoe | an interjection expressing surprirse, admiration etc. |
skeef | at an oblique angle |
skollie skolly | a coloured hooligan. |
skrik | a fright. |
skyf | a cigarette or substance for smoking; (verb) to smoke > SKYFS, SKYFING, SKYFED. |
sloot sluit | in S. Africa, a narrow water-channel. |
smaak | to like or love. |
smouser | in S. Africa, a pedlar. |
snoep | tight-fisted. |
sosatie | a skewer of curried meat pieces. |
sourveld | in S. Africa, a type of grazing characterised by long coarse grass. |
soutie soutpiel | derogatory for an English-speaking S. African. |
spekboom | a South African succulent shrub of the purslane family. [Dutch 'bacon tree']. |
spanspek | a tough-skinned melon |
spaza | as in spaza shop, a small shop in a township. No —S. |
springbok | a S. African antelope, that moves in leaps when alarmed. |
springhaas springhase | a S. African nocturnal rodent. |
spruit | a small stream flowing only in the wet season. |
staffrider | a person who illegally rides on the outside of a suburban train. |
steenbras | an edible estuarine S. African fish. [Dutch = 'stone bream']. |
steenbok steinbok steenbuck | a small S. African antelope. [Du. steen, stone + bok, buck]. |
stokvel | in S. Africa, an informal savings pool or syndicate. |
stompie | a cigarette butt; a short man. |
stukkend | broken or wretched. |
suiplap | a drunkard. |
sweetveld | a type of grazing characterised by sweet grass. |
taal | language, usu. by implication Afrikaans. |
tannie | aunt, a title of respect for older woman. |
takky | a tennis shoe or plimsoll. |
tik | slang term for the drug methamphetamine in crystal form. |
toebie | a sandwich. |
toktokkie | a large S. African beetle. |
tripple | a horse's ambling canter, between a fast walk and a trot; (verb) to proceed at this pace. |
trippler | a horse that tripples. |
tronk | jail. |
tsotsitaal | street slang. |
ubuntu | a quality of humanity and compassion. |
uitlander | a foreigner, esp. a Briton in the Transvaal. |
veld veldt | open grassland. [Afrikaans veld, from Dutch veld, field]. |
veldschoen veldskoen velskoen | a shoe made of rawhide. |
verkramp | in South Africa, narrow-minded and illiberal esp. towards black and coloured people. Cf. VERKRAMPTE. |
verkrampte | in South Africa, (one who is) narrow-minded and illiberal esp. towards black and coloured people. Cf. VERKRAMP, but VERKRAMPTE can be a noun with plural VERKRAMPTES. |
verlig | politically liberal. Cf. VERLIGTE. |
verligte | in South Africa, (one who is) liberal, politically enlightened. Cf. VERLIG, but VERLIGTE can be a noun with plural VERLIGTES. |
vetkoek | a deep-fried cake. |
vlei vly | low-lying ground where a shallow lake forms in the wet season. |
voema | vigour. |
voertsak voertsek voetsak voetsek | an offensive expression of rejection. |
volk | the Afrikaner people. |
volksraad | a legislative assembly, esp. (with cap.) that of the Transvaal or Orange Free State. |
voorkamer | a front room, esp. of a farmhouse |
voorskot | advance payment made to a farmer for crops |
voortrekker | one of the Dutch farmers from Cape Colony who took part in the Great Trek into the Transvaal in 1836. |
vrot | rotten, putrid |
vrou | a woman, esp. a married woman |
vrystater | a native inhabitant of the Free State, esp one who is White. |
waboom wagenboom | a South African proteaceous tree; also, its tough wood, used for making wagon wheels. [Dutch = 'wagon-tree']. |
wena | you. |
whenwe | a white immigrant from Zimbabwe. |
witblits | a strong home-distilled alcoholic spirit. [Afr. wit, white + blits, lightning]. |
witgat witgatboom | a South African evergreen tree with edible roots used as a coffee substitute when roasted. [Afk., f. wit, white + gat, hole]. |
yebo | yes, I agree. |
zol | a cannabis cigarette. |