With nine official languages in South Africa it is not surprising that a few words and expressions, not all of them Afrikaans, have crept into everyday use. So here’s a glossary and a few phrases you might like to cut your teeth on:

Ag! Generally expresses annoyance (as when you drop something) or surprise (as in “oh really?”)

Asseblief – please

Bakkie – pick up truck – never referred to any other way in S.A!

Biltong – dried meat – usually beef though it can also be made from game such as springbok or ostrich. Given to babies to cut their teeth on. No kidding!

Bonsella – a tip or a bonus

Bottlestore – off sales or liquor store

Café – Not somewhere strictly speaking that serves coffee and light meals but more like the corner shop in the UK which sells groceries, milk, newspapers etc.

Cell – mobile phone

Dankie – thank you

Egoli – Johannesburg (City of Gold)

Fundi- an expert

Hamba Kahle - goodbye (have a safe journey)

Ja – yes

Just now – the opposite of the English meaning. Just now denotes future tense (as in I will do it just now)

Kloof - deep valley

Koppie – small hill. A kop as in Een Uur Kop – one of the peaks of the Langeberg mountains – is much larger

Lekker – portmanteau word like nice (as in food); good or fun (as in having a good time)

Nee - no

Robot – traffic lights

Sawubona – Good day

Shame – what it says but with lots of other meanings, depending on tone – any thing from pity sympathy, amusement to outright disapproval. Often prefixed by Ag.

Totsiens – Goodbye (till we see each other)