Howzit? = hello, how are you?
Reply - Howzit howzit = good enough, and you?
Izit? = questioning last comment - What is it?, Where is it?, (sarcastically) Are you really sure about that? Etc.
Hectic = one of the most popular words, and means anything from being busy, to something that was, weird, crazy, interesting, or frankly they don't know what you are talking about, so cover it by saying, "gee, sounds hectic".
Shame = the one word to describe any form of misfortune ... You stubbed your toe, "ach, shame man", your dog just died, "ach, shame man"
Just now = later. "I'll do it just now" = It should get done, most likely it will happen today. I once heard someone say "I'll see you just now", as a form of goodbye.
Now now = soon. "I'll do it now now" = Your chances are good that it will be done within 4 hours.
Now (spoken just once) = really soon, but not actually right immediately now, a concept that doesn't seem to exist in Africa.
Hundreds = 100% / perfect / all good.
Robot = Traffic lights, which is such a scary thing that in some cases I would see the following painted on the road - Warning ROBOT 300m ahead.
Braai = not a bbq. A braai does not use gas, or a griddle (hotplate), it is always an open grill over coals (charcoal or fresh wood). And touching a braai with a vegetable is sacrilege.
Potjie = both a cooking pot (large cast iron pot with 3 legs) and a type of meal made in said pot, places over coals. Lots of trees get burned here. Oh and it is pronounced "poy key"
Township = polite (ish) way of saying slum / ghetto / barrio / shanty town. And they generally look something like this ... (Cape Flats - the wrong side of Table Mountain to live)
No comments:
Post a Comment