Crash course in SA lingo
Want to have a lekker time at the World Cup, chomping boerewors at a braai on the Veld or downing a rooibos at the shebeen next to the robot?
Here’s a newcomer’s guide to some uniquely South African words and phrases for football fans heading to the month-long tournament.
Howzit: A universal greeting, a short-form version of “How is it going?”
Bru: Abbreviation of “brother” used to address friends and colleagues as in “Howzit bru?”
Yebo: The Zulu word for Yes which is now used across the board.
Sharp: A sign-off signalling an agreement as well as farewell, often said twice.
Ag shame: An expression of sympathy or annoyance.
Eish!: An exclamation expressing exasperation.
Lekker: An Afrikaans word meaning superb or fantastic which is applied equally to a person, object or event.
Braai: An originally Afrikaans word for barbecue, which often features a sizzling boerewors, a curled spiced sausage.
Biltong: Dried meat — usually beef but also from other animals as ostrich, antelope or buffalo — which is eaten as a snack, often accompanied by a beer or glass of wine.
Rooibos: Red bush tea, South Africa's unofficial national brew which is grown in the southwestern Cape region. — AFP
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