How To In Five Languages

Did you know that South Africa has eleven official languages?

Many South Africans speak English, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always understand us. We have a lot of local slang and borrow from not only Afrikaans but many African languages, this gives South African English a flavour of its own.

Here are a few hints and tips for daily conversation in South Africa.

Howzit - a traditional greeting that roughly translates as ‘hello’ or ‘how is it going.’

Sawubona (first person singular) - an isiZulu word for ‘greetings.’

Molo - a Xhosa greeting meaning “How are you doing.”

Thobela - means “How are you?” which is a formal way of greeting someone in Pedi.

Dumela (Setswana) – mainly used with the Tswana people, this can also be used to greet a South African.

Hoe gaan dit? – taken from Afrikaans, which means “How are you?”

Now-now - shortly, in a bit, as in, “We’ll go now-now.”

Just now - to do something in the near future but not immediately, as in, “I’ll go to the beach just now.”

Robots - more commonly known as traffic lights.

Rock up - to arrive somewhere unannounced or uninvited. It’s the kind of thing friends do, “I was going to go out but then my friend rocked up.”

Yebo: Yes. Used to show agreement or approval. From isiZulu.

Boma [bow-mah] - an open thatched structure used for dinners and entertainment. You’ll find one of these at The Last Word Kitara.

Lekker [lekk-irr with a rolling r] - nice, good, great, cool or tasty.

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