South African vs American ENGLISH | South African Slang | How to Speak English in South Africa
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- There are SO MANY differences between South African English and American English! In this video, I share with you all the South African English and SLANG words I found to be the most confusing as an American living in South Africa. Leave me a comment below and let me know if I forgot anything :)
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South African vs American ENGLISH | South African Slang | How to Speak English in South Africa
Just wanna add that slang changes in different provences
Hey William, yea that makes sense! I've only lived in KZN, so these have been the words that I hear the most 😊
Aweh
Thats duidlik my bra awje.
@@TheGlobalExpats in Durban?
As do the potholes! But not a braai.
It's the braai that binds us, as a nation.. braai-brootjies, that is!
The background looks so South African ,especially with the Castle Lite😂
And black label cap
Lol
I didn't notice until you pointed it out.
"Yoh" - can also be used in different context. Same for "Eish"
Haha I can't believe I forgot about those 2! 😂 Thanks for the comment Ron! 😊
And "awe" - hello/I agree
ruclips.net/video/0qEFn8iwqsI/видео.html before you come here
5:47 we don't usually dress up cos Halloween isn't actually celebrated here but if you do dress up for whatever reason, we do call it a costume.
When we were kids we would have a FANCY DRESS PARTY where the kids came wearing their FANCY DRESS not their "costumes" lol
Technically, French fries are called "slap chips". So if someone asks me if I want chips, I'll say "chip chips, or slap chips?" :D
That is incorrect.
French fries are what McDonalds chips look like.
Yes slap chips= 🍟
I'm with you on this one
@@stefanvanveenendaal5741 who are u with stefan?
Slap Chips (slap = "wobbly" in Afrikaans) for French Fries & chips for crisps...
A lot of "South African English" is based on loan words from Afrikaans or some other indigenous languages. "Bru" is from "Broer" or "Broeder" which means Brother. "Bro","Bru" or "Bra" are all used extensively and interchangeably although english speakers would be more likely to use "Bru" and Afrikaans speakers would be more likely to use "Bra". "Lekker" is an Afrikaans word meaning pretty much anything enjoyable from having a good time to approving of something but mainly refers to tasty food. There is wine, and alcohol free beer available in grocery stores, but they don't have a licence to sell hard liquor. "Right now" means Immediately. "Just now" means soon. "Now-now" means later, and now means at this moment. "Shame"(in South Africa) could literally mean it's a shame, I feel sorry, or I am amused depending on context. It could also be a taunt. "Pissed" could also mean that someone is angry, although they would most likely say "Pissed off". "Howsit" is litterally how is it, in other words how are things going, how are you, what's up. "Bok" is the Afrikaans word for Goat, Antelope, Deer and certain Bovidae species. "Bokke" is the plural form and "Bokkie" is the diminutive. "Bokke" is most commonly used to refer to the Springbok team (Springbok being an antelope species). "Bokkie" a term of endearment like "baby" (mostly used to refer to a female partner, but sometimes used by female persons to refer to their male partner) is derived from the term for a juvenile antelope. Men are also sometimes referred to as a "Bok"(goat) as in " 'n man is 'n bok, en 'n bok is 'n bliksem". Bakkie, as in pick up truck, is Afrikaans and refers to the loading space as containers from bowls to lunch boxes are called a "Bak" in Afrikaans. I didn't know that the term "shot" was still in use, but it is more likely that someone would say "sharp", which has the same meaning. "Trolley", "Till", and "Tomato sauce" are probably from British English. We also have opera theatre and theatre shows. "Dof" is an Afrikaans word meaning dim, or unclear. The slang version means "stupid" as in a person who is dim-witted. As for the letter Z, as far as I know, the only english speaking country to ever pronounce it as "Zee" is the United States of America. Everyone else pronounces it as "Zet". It is not peculiar to South Africa.
Now can also mean "when I get the time" or " as soon as I can"
"I'm just busy, I'll do it now"
@@gymbrojoesef which is the only "now" meaning my ten year old understands. In fact, with him, now can mean never.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Are you jas
Most of them are Afrikaans slang words, not English 🙄
I believe it's no longer English, Zulu and Sotho uses Afrikaans slang, but is no longer recognised as Zulu or Sotho
In Afrikaans we say Bra instead of Bru and we dont use Kiff alot but siff most definitely. This is by far the best video on RUclips that explains South African slang. Well done!
Thanks so much Pollie! 😊
Yah, siff is more for like a sies smell from like dirty laundry or off food, but I think we use sies more often... well I know I do
No, surgery is an operation, like I'm going to do surgery/operation on my abdomen, but the surgery is performed in theatre... theatre is the actual room where the surgery is gonna be performed
I'm South African, and a Dr. You could say: "I'm back from theatre, and am doing well". In other words: I've recently had an operation, and am doing well.
Also, it is better to say: I'm going to HAVE SURGERY DONE on my abdomen.
Actually some of the words you mentioned are not English but Afrikaans like 'Lekker - Nice/yummy'.
Nice content,I enjoyed it ☺
Thanks Mzabantu! 😊
Yeah but English speakers use it too, so it fits into what's called south African English as a loan word
We speak British English in South Africa. Which is the correct English.
Ja, laaik too true my bru😜😂
Love how well you have acclimatised... Slang varies from region to region... You must be in the North of the country... Cape Town is another experience.
She's not. She's in KZN.
If my assumptions are correct, they live like less than 5 KM away from my folks actually xD.
My point, slang varies from region to region as well as intra-region and intra-race.
@@Venolin1 As ex-Natal, now living in Pretoria, it looks like Durban area. ....durbs eksê/esse ;)
@@gysgijsbers4202 nope, not Durban. I would say, but I don't want any weirdos on here to go stalking them xD. On the other hand, it is possible that they only visited the area in this video - it is a tourist attraction in the KZN region.
Your slang represents one social group in RSA it changes depending on where you are.
you have such a great (and animated) personality ☺️
Aww thank you so much Sam! 😊
Kak, voetsek, nooit, heita, let's waai, eish wena, sies, chop n dop :)
What a cool video. Just made me realise how unique our slang is. Keep up the great content
Thanks so much Morne! 😊
Suid Afrika is net awesome my bra, onse mense is spesiminaal lol spesiminaal is n slang woord wat sommige van oms gebruik lol
Well the thing with South Africa is, the English we formally use UK English and not American English. Although a lot of our entertainment on tv that we are exposed to is American, which is probably why we understand Americans and your accent as well. Then we have local influences such as local languages and cultures that add texture to the way we say and do things.
That makes a lot of sense Lelam, thanks for your comment! 😊
Doctors all over the world call it a theatre. That's the older English word for it lol
Absolutely brilliant thank you for taking the time to make these clips
That's English from an Afrikaana's perspective. There's also English from vernacular perspective
And English from a Coloured perspective even a Indian one
What in the world is vernacular? But English from any one of the many languages POV is gonna be different and nevermind the different POV's from the different provinces.
@@carlagaskinsa6357 Vernacular is "local" way of speaking eg. Durban will differ from Cape Town, to Pretoria & Jo'burg.
Im in cape town and i dont know of anyone that calls a swim suit a costume... we say bather wether its a one piece or bikini
I’m South African and you’ve taught me two slang words I didn’t know like “Kiff and siff” 😅. Most of the slang you learned is suburban, there’s hood slang too from the townships and some transcend the two worlds.
Same facts never heard those before😂😅
I've heard of siff a few times when I was young and my parents had a shop in Pretoria CBD but I never used it tbh
She meant to say "sies"
i thought she was going to say Jhuss and sies
@@duncanmbombi2652 no, "siff" means it is disgusting
Enjoyed the general play, but really depends on your demographic and province.
I love you. I love how you talk and hearing you speak about my country is so satisfying. I'm sad this is pretty much the same as the culture shock video 😂💔
Just stumbled upon your channel. I am moving to SA from California in the next year. So I'm loving all your tips and info. Thank you
Ahhh that’s so exciting!! 😍 Wishing you the best of luck Harmony! ☺️
You guys should hook up!
WTF are coming from Cali to this of all places for?
@@zackbarrow1927 Hi Jack!!!
@@ochrechap 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Holy crap - you had me in stitches 😂😂😂
Hahah happy to hear it Van! ☺️
This is definitely not cape town slang😂
not at all🤣😂
I legit just commented that. I thought maybe it's more Afrikaans slang since me and my english friends definitely don't use half of these words.
@@carlagaskinsa6357 i am Afrikaans but we in Cape Town don't use that words😂😂😂 some of them is so cringe
@@carlagaskinsa6357 It's more Natal-slang...
Is it just me or does her American accent sound exaggerated and strained
In the Gauteng area a friend is a "chom"or "chommy" Sometimes used in the same context Americans use for "buddy" Like: "Thanks Chom"(Bud) or Chommy (buddy)
Ahh I can’t believe I forgot that one, I hear it all the time! 😅
You’re clearly hanging out in bars dominated by Afrikaans culture. 😂 I enjoyed watching your video 😌 But I do hope you get to experience the multitude of other cultures and slangs that make up South African culture.
I agree with this 👍👍
Couldn't agree more.
I wanted to say this , just could not dind the right words.
Other countries : South Africa so difficult to understand..
Me : (laughs)
As jy Afrikaans is my bru, dan is al die goed Maklik om te verstaan.
Waarheid
Feite
I love this channel .....you had me in stitches ......try and and understand coloured slang....most unique and interesting.....its a mix of most traditions ....give it a go...'sharp ma se kind'
What is colored slang? I dont use it
Just to note that most American English words are different to what the world uses in general. For example, UK and Australia also call the trunk a boot.
Bottle stores are always separate from grocery stores because kids under 18 are not allowed to go in the bottle store.
Noooo braces are braces in SA I don’t know who is miss leading you
You are so gorgeous and funny! Love your expressions! Lost of British influence... bollocks! blimey, nackerd
Aww thank you so much Robert! 😊
I laughed so much at your Afrikaans Slang examples! Its amazing how much you where able to assimilate! I had an American colleauge (from Phoenix, Arizona) over in RSA in 2010, gave him one piece of biltong and saw his heart fall in love! By the way: in the south of Joburg the okes klap it in the gym, boet! (klap = work out) Thankyou for your videos!
Ahh yessss Biltong is the best! 😍 thanks for your comment Johann! 🤗
Klap means slap
Love the videos😂leka vibe
Really well done! :) ...and funny!
Thanks Melvine! 😅
Oh my... Lol, in your "Piss Off" explanation I got an ad for "Speaking more clearly". I mean how much clearer can it get. Ha ha ha
Another word that's really versatile we also use a lot mainly amongst the youth slang is "Aweh"
Could be :
Greeting Hello: Aweh brah howzit going
Agreeing (yes): Aweh brah lets dala (dala meaning do that or do it)
saying Goodbye: Aweh see you later
saying something is Cool/that's nice: "Aweh!"
We use this word in casual conversations
"Aweh brah I see you got a new bakkie"
"Aweh nah I'll see you now now"
"Aweh dala what you must"
🙄
@@ochrechap Aweh what you wys?
Cape Town will have you even more confused 😅
yep- come down to Cape Town. A whole new world here...and no potholes :-)
Poes means happy
Poes means happy
@@raheeqmajiet4741 neee fok 😭😂
Funny naaiers🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hey.
I'm a South African nerd.
May I say:
1) the "South African English accent" you keep alluding to is actually that of the Afrikaner (Dutch descendants), whose mother tongue is Afrikaans (Dutch derivative) and not English. They are white South Africans. White South Africans (SAs) are either Afrikaans (Dutch descended) or English (British-descended). They cumulatively make up merely 9% of the population. Thus, for convenience, Afrikaners make up 4.5% of the population. Since your imitation is of the Afrikaner, that cannot possible represent the "South African accent", since they only represent 4.5% of the SA total population. If a particular stereotype was required to represent the country, it would be more fitting that a majority-population-group ought to represent "the South African accent", which would, in this case, be that of the Zulus. But for specific reference to the South African ENGLISH accent - ENGLISH ACCENT - it would have to be represented by the groups who traditionally use English as a mother-tongue, ie Whites descended from the British, a subset of the Coloured population, and the Indian population. Im often baffled by how many social media users outside of SA (esp the UK) talk about "the SA English accent" sounding like that used by the Afrikaner! WHY?! One possible explanation for the misconception is that many expats in the UK are Afrikaners! But let it be known today, that a South African ENGLISH accent could more accurately be described AS THAT OF THE BRITISH-DESCENDED WHITE SOUTH AFRICAN. NOT the Afrikaner.
2) Siff is not commonly used by South Africans generally. That's definitely new to my ear. Kiff is commonly used by the younger English white generation.
3) Lekker is officially an Afrikaans word. It has been incorporated into the Urban South African English dictionary using multiple variations.
4) May I have the shopping discussion, leading to the car, the clothes, and the food. Those references are not unique to South Africa, but rather are influenced by the British legacy. South Africa is an ex-colony of Great Britain, and a huge chunk of that legacy has been left behind.
5) Both slops and flipflops are used in South Africa.
6) Shame. SAs often use OH SHAME or AG SHAME. "Ag" is German/Dutch-derived.
7) The "theatre" concept is also British-derived.
8) Muti is NOT commonly used for medicine. Muti is used in the context of traditional, African medicine. It does not refer to traditional Western medicine (aspirin, paracetamol, antihistamines etc). You have this one wrong.
9) Braces is what we call:
(a) the shiny metal teeth straighteners inserted by the dentist. "Tracks" is not used in SA commonly. That is COMPLETELY wrong.
(b) the straps that guys wear over their shirts at the shoulders, connected to the pants (think Steve Urkle)
(c) a type if foot/ankle prosthesis for polio sufferers.
8) In summary, and this is probably the most important bit: you have been spending too much time with the Afrikaners! Lol. That is not FULLY representative of what South African sayings/ accents / slang is about.They represent 4.5% of the population.
Well done though! You are observant, fun to watch, quite correct in many of your observations. I enjoy your videos.
7) At the turn of the 20th century. Surgery/modern medicine was a new concept. In a hospital's surgery it was a literal theatre/amphitheatre where a doctor operated on a theatre table/stretcher with glass rim around and theatre goers sitting above/around. If I am not mistaken they charged for viewing.
As a nerd myself, I endorse this comment.
You need to vised the northen cape provenance and namakwaland witch is in the northen cape but it is an sirtan reagen our slang changes in every provenance and you need to go stay in a small town for a few weeks its a totally difrent experience
the "shot thing" was cool ;) lol
VERY WELL DONE bokkie! it was very funny to realise just how many "odd" words we use in S.A. Don't forget , .there is a huge dutch "Afrikaans" influence in our general daily speech.
I just watched this and a previous one, this lady definitely lives closer to farm lands or with a ton of "Afrikaaners/boerer" ... similiar but different on other parts of SA
Hi there, I love your videos, I am laughing ma lungs out 😂😂😂
Hahaha aww thank you so much! 😊
😂 I love your channel.
Thanks so much Lamin! 😊
Also it seems like you haven't been to cape Town
Girl you rocking 😍😙
Aww thank you so much Buyi! 😊
Did know much of the slang here😂 different circles I guess. Great video 👍
From what I've gathered in the comments, slang differs depending on where you are in SA 😅 Thank you!
Shots like the drink we call shooters
Best beer in the back!!! Awesome love your video's!
Of course 😍🍻 Thank you so much! 😅
Thanks for this video it's very interesting.
We do say Bracers
You forgot one thing: we call it a circle, you call it a roundabout.
Ahh you’re so right, Elridus! 😂
We do call it roundabouts as well. A circle will be the "tiny" ones you see at small intersections, while the roundabouts are the ones at the big intersection, for instance, highway offramps, etc.
@@TheMbangel who's we? Are you south african? Dont let the google maps lady fool you: she is often Anerican. And she would say "roundabout". That IS NOT SOUTH AFRICAN AT ALL. Check out the K53 manual. They use "circle" - and that is our standard. As with the british.
@@ochrechap I am South African. I did write the K53, and in it, they distinguish between a roundabout and a circle. Where a roundabout is a big circle where cars on your right have the right of way. And a circle is the tiny one where it is first come, first serve. However, I did write that test almost 8 years ago, so it might have changed.
UK/SA English vs US English differences
I love this. All my American friends don’t catch my lingo. This helped them understand me more 🤣🤣🤣
Hahahah happy to hear it! 😂
Yip, slang changes depending where in South Africa (province) you are. Also, what part of the province you are in. That's because there are 11 official languages and the slang is mostly a combination of a few of them. The slang you are referencing is mostly Gauteng (Johannesburg) and Durban. Cape Town slang is completely different.
Haha lekker man. You say our slang so well. You becoming a real south African poppie. Love it
Hahaha thank you so much Peter! Trying my best 😂
Lekker explanation! Also, a Bakkie is also a bowl of sorts, ie... 'n bakkie chips.
Just love our beloved South-Africa how the different cultures here come together as one😍 We all practically speak the same slang language, "borrowed" some words from each other, (although same words might have different meanings in some cultures), we still manage to communicate & understand each other totally 😄❣ #proudly🇿🇦😍
Yeah and the "shot" thing doesn't she mean sharp❤
Maak nie meer saak nie ,kyk haar kepsie sys is gered..daars hoop ver almal. Lmga. Mooi bly
6:34 "Shame" part got me laughing so hard
Hahaha thanks Buyi! I'm glad you like it! 😅
Shame maan XD!
I think that's more of the white side of South Africa. Most of those slang words I didn't know them... but this is a cool video
Haha, excellent, you're spot on
Why didn't they teach you Tsotsi taal lol the english that's broken to the core that's the one hectic 😂😂 Dancing in that english is Jive.
You nailed it! 👏 😂 I miss home 🇿🇦
Never thought of the pie one lol. Definitely new perspective.
😂
Bakkie is also a very common word for plastic bowl in SA
I love your personality
Aww thank you so much Lu! 😊
Such a cool vid
Thanks Karsten! 😅
You explained "grafts" wrong, it's actually graft and it's when you work hard on something😉
She was talking about a graph....as in graphic.
Getting take aways means same as the US take outs so like Pizza or burgers from BK or Mc Donalds, or chinese etc .
another word is 'Potjie' is a stew cooked in a pot over the fire outdoors.
loskop means a ditzy or silly/ forgetful person
Its Zet..and I learnt a couple of words from this though I'm a South African myself. Nice video
When we dress up its called Fancy Dress (Durban).
😂😂😂 she knows Muthi😂😂😂 definitely KZN
Still my favourite "South Africanism" was/is "Ja(pronounced "Yah").. so "Ja..Well..No Fine".. It's what one might say when one needs to make a response, but is unsure exactly how to respond..!!
Graft also means work as in where do you work where do you graft?
She sounds spot on
Your clips are great
i must say that the english language we speak out here in South Africa its a british english that is why its differ than american english
The black label hat tho💪🏽
Ja, if she knew her beers, that would have been a Castle hat... 😆
zama zama zamalek...
Our favourite is "Aweh" ~ (Ah- Where without the r) it mean hello, or it can also mean that you acknowledge something eg. In the same context as the word yes.
Can mean Yes, Hello, Goodbye, Thank You, Awesome. Such a versatile word :'D
Love it! 💯
We have 'bioscopes' where we go to watch a movie. It is an old English word that has stayed because in Afrikaans it is 'bioskoop'. A theatre is where you go to watch a play like Hamlet. We have surgery in an operating theatre.
Z is how the British say it, you know, the same people you got your language from.. Awesome vid !!!
Oh yes....the classucal Gaunteng English you should hear Free State English....something else completely
couple more to add to your vocabulary
When you do not believe something - you say its Rubbish "You are talking Rubbish"
When you are struggling with a task - then you say " It is a mission"
When you buy something at the shop and need a bad to carry it in - you ask for a "plastic"
So for us in SA we got chips and hot chips / slap chips (your French fries).
I recommend you try a bunnychow if you get a gap. As far as I know you can still get them at 'The Vern' pub in howick, Ask for a half bunny.
Yes I’ve had bunnychow - it’s delicious!! 😍 At 1st I didn’t want to try it because I thought it was bunny meat 😂😂😂
I don't think younger people say "shot" for good/fine/great, I remember this from a few decades ago in Pretoria. I might sometimes still use it, will say it if someone says something and I totally agree, as in "you got that 100%". Or maybe when you're trying to figure things out, and then finally have a solution, you just say "shot", almost like "bingo!". Younger folks will say "sharp", dropping the r and shortening the vowel, as in "Shup", meaning fine/cool/lekker/good.
As for "theatre" -- you won't say I'm going to theatre if you're still at home and you're telling someone you're going to hospital in the near future to have an op (surgery). You'll be in the hospital, and just before the operation, you may say "I'm going in to theatre now" (meaning in a while :-) hehe). Or if you're a patient and ask the nurse when the doctor is doing his rounds, she might say he's still in theatre, and will see you after that.
As a South African that was charming and hilarious. Shot! ;)
We call swim suits - Bathers on the Cape Flats
Thanks for your comment Allan - I’ve never heard that one before! 👍🏻 Good to know 😅
I am working on an English-American dictionary from a South African perspective. Just the "English" words and excluding the "slang". I have so far over a hundred words and phrases. So this video is very interesting to me because the language is being influenced by globalisation and I don't always understand my grand children. Thanks for this.
Your pronunciation is improving :)
Wow I like your comparison just couldn't stop laughing I'm VV from SA
Hey since u live in kzn you should do some research on the Durban Indian slang words thank you haha
You left out the most popular South African sayings...well 2 that I can think of.
Eish and 8ta. You have done well finding out the rest...so I'll leave it to you to find out those 2.
great stuff
How long have you been in South Africa?
Hey Kingsley, I've lived here a total of 2 years, but not all at once😊
Great videos. Awesome.I am impressed by your quick learning, i doubt I've ever seen anything like it before. And you are also very funny 🤣🤣🤣🤣Do you now live in South Africa permanently? Thank you for the videos. Keep them coming. 🇿🇦
Hahaha thank you so much, that means a lot! 😅 I was living there during lockdown, but we recently moved to Italy!
When I lived in the states as an au pair, my host mother told me very excitedly that she ran the robot. I rolled my eyes and said, oh good for you all snarky like, because I thought she ran a red traffic light. But she meant she tried out the Rumba. Lol!!!
Also, it was summer so I told my host mom I needed a costume and she was extremely confused. Haha She informed me that it's called a swim suit.
Fyi - How advanced we are in SA. The beer that you are busy drinking. I can see that it is not cold. That little blue dot on the beer indicates it. The colder the beer, the darker blue it will be.
suprised you didnt mention "moer" :) loved the video very funny
You forgot aweh maybe it’s just a Cape Town thing 🤣🤣👍