E

Eina (pronounced ay-nuh or ay-nar) - A short, sharp expression meaning ouch. Alternatively used to mean sore, as in: "That cut must have been really eina."

F

Fixed up - Used to mean "That's good" or as an equivalent to the British "sorted". Example: "I've booked a table for seven o'clock. Let's meet at the restaurant." The reply: "Fixed up."

Flog - No whips implied. South Africans use flog to mean sell, as in "I've had enough of this old car. I think it's time I flogged it."

Frikkadel (pronounced frik-kuh-dell) - A traditional South African meat balls.

G

Gatvol (pronounced ghut-foll) - Taken from Afrikaans, this means "fed up", as in "Jislaaik china, I'm gatvol of working in this hot sun." Translation: "Gee my friend, I'm fed up with working in this hot sun." Usage advisable in informal situations only.

Gherkin - A small pickled cucumber, often sliced thinly and used in salads or on hamburgers.

Gogga (pronounced gho-gha or gho-gho) - Said out loud this word closely resembles the noise made when clearing one's throat or gargling. It refers to an insect or bug, particularly one that might look fearsome but is really harmless. So if you spotted a preying mantis or caterpillar, you might say: "Hey china, check out that gogga."

Graze - Grazing usually implies the eating habits of herbivores, but in South Africa it can also be used in reference to people and food, as in: "Let's grab some graze before we go out." Used by friends in informal situations.
 

H

Hang of - Another alternative to very or big (see bloody and blooming), as in: "It's hang of a difficult" or "I had a hang of a problem".

Hap (pronounced hup) - Hap means bite, as in "Take a hap of this". At a braai, your host might offer you a sample of the cooking by proffering a piece of boerewors on a fork and saying: "Hap hap."

Hey - The popular expression hey can be used as a standalone question meaning "pardon" or "what" - "Hey? What did you say?" Alternatively it can be used to prompt affirmation or agreement, as in "It was a great film, hey?", or as an expression of surprise - "Hey! What was that?"

Howzit - A traditional South African greeting that translates roughly as "How are you?" or "How are things?"

I

Is it (pronounced as one word: izit) - An expression frequently used in conversation and equivalent to "is that so?" It is sometimes used to express mild surprise. For example: "Lucy had a baby boy today"; the reply: "Is it?" It is also a useful conversation-filler when there is nothing meaningful to add, as in: "We won our match today" - "Is it?"

J

Jawelnofine (pronounced yar well no fine) - A mix of Afrikaans and English, this is similar to the rhetorical expression "How about that?" It is used to express surprise and a sense that things aren't really fine but there's not much you can do about it. For example, having been caught speeding, your reaction on seeing the size of your traffic fine might be: "Jawelnofine."

Jislaaik (pronounced yis-like) - This is an expression of surprise, as in: "Jislaaik, I can't believe that I won the national lottery!"

Just now - If a South African tells you they will do something "just now", they mean they will do it in the near future but not immediately. For example, the appropriate reply to "Why don't we go shopping now?" if you wish to go a little later is: "No, let's rather go just now."

K

Kaalvoet (pronounced carl-foot) - Stolen from Afrikaans, this means barefoot and is more widely used on the platteland than in cities. In South African schools, young boys usually play rugby "kaalvoet" until they have finished primary school. Once they reach high school they graduate to wearing rugby boots for the first time.

Koki (pronounced koh-key) - A coloured marker or felt-tip pen.

Koppie (pronounced kor-pie) - A small hill. During the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 it was a favoured tactic of the Boers to lie in ambush on koppies, waiting for British units to pass below before attacking them from above.

Kos (pronounced kor-ss) - The Afrikaans word for food. Example: "Jislaaik, that place has lekker kos." Translation: "Wow, that restaurant serves good food." An informal term that should not be used to find out what's on the menu.
 

L

Lappie (pronounced luppie) - A cloth used for various cleaning purposes. It might be a kitchen cloth or the oil rag that your china is using while he works on his car.

Lekker (pronounced lekk-irr with a rolling r) - Afrikaans word meaning nice. It is often used in association with food, as in: "That wors is lekker."