Your Guide to Cape Town Slang
Awê, get the low-down on the Mother City’s colourful colloquialisms and sayings, ek sê...
Slang
and colloquialisms are prolific in Cape Town; a fact that’s far from
surprising in a nation that claims 11 official languages and in a city
that’s home to an eclectic mix of cultures. That said, locals in the
Mother City and in the surrounding Western Cape, more so than, arguably,
other South African provinces, have their own unique way of talking
smack and waxing lyrical.
Much of the credit for the area’s broad spectrum of slang and
colloquialisms is owed to the coloured people from the Cape Flats, a
population vibrant in every way, but most famously, for the in the way
in which they communicate. Though, ultimately, words, sound bytes and
sayings from all of the nation’s official languages inject themselves
into casual conversations, potent road rage and cheesy pick-up lines.
So, if you’re planning a visit to Cape Town, if you’re new to the
city or if you simply need to brush up on your bantering act, then look
no farther; we’ve put together a beginner’s guide to Cape Town slang and
colloquialisms, complete with our version of accented pronunciation.
Ag (ah-ch): An expression of irritation or resignation. “Ag no man!” “Ag, these things happen”
Awê (ah-weh): A greeting. “Awê, brother!”
Babbelas (bah-bah-luss): Derived from the isiZulu word, ‘i-babalazi’, meaning drunk; adopted into the Afrikaans language as a term for ‘hangover’. “I have a serious babbelas!”
Bakkie (bah-kee): 1. A bowl. “Put those leftovers in a bakkie.” 2. A pick-up truck. “We all jumped on the back of my dad’s bakkie and went to the beach.”
Befok (buh-fawk): 1. Really good, amazing, cool. “The Symphonic Rocks concert is going to be befok!” 2. Crazy, mad, insane. “You tried to put your cat in the braai? Are you befok?”
Local is Lekkerrrrrrrr
Showing posts with label welcome to cape town. Show all posts
Showing posts with label welcome to cape town. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
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