I've compiled a list of "South African" words I hear quite
often. See if you can figure out their meaning from their usage. Sometimes I've
been forced to just go with it and ask later. When in Rome... (The answers are at the bottom)

1. bakkie
   (buck-ie) – I can fit five in my
   bakkie.
2. biscuit – I'm going to make some biscuits for the
   party tomorrow.
3. boot – just set it in the boot.
4. braai
   (bry) – Come over for a lekker braai
   later!
5. bru (brew)
   – Thanks, bru!
6. Cheers! – Cheers, hey. See you next week.
7. chips – I'll have a burger and chips.
8. compulsory ­–
   Ja, the meeting is compulsory.
9. costume – Put on your costume so we can swim.
10. Gran – We have a grannie suite out back for my
    gran.
11. hectic – Wow, that story was hectic!
12. hoot – Please don't hoot your hooter.
13. Howzit? – Howzit, bru?
14. Is it? – You're from America? Is it?
15. ja (yaw) –
    ja, it's true.
16. jersey – It's too warm for a jersey.
17. kief
    (kif)– That movie was so kief!
18. kombi – Can we all fit in the kombi?
19. lekker
    (lack-er) – That was a lekker meal!
20. matric (ma-TRIK)
    – Congrats on graduating from
    matric!
21. Muesli
    (moose-ly) – Muesli and yogurt is my
    favorite breakfast food.
22. pleasure
    (pleazh-a) – It's a pleasure!
23. robot­ – Turn left at the second robot.
24. swak – Aw man, that was swak!
25. tune
    (chune) – My dad really tuned me for
    not cleaning my room.
26. Tannie
    (tunnie) – Watch this, tannie!
27. Zebra crossing
    – No one uses the zebra
    crossing; this is Africa!

1. bakkie:
   small pick-up truck
2. biscuit: cookies
3. boot: trunk
   of a vehicle
4. braai: BBQ
5. bru: bro,
   buddy, mate
6. Cheers: See
   you
7. chips: French
   fries
8. compulsory:
   mandatory
9. costume: swimming
   suit
10. Gran: Grandma
11. hectic:
    crazy, insane, busy
12. hoot: honk
    the car horn.
13. Howzit?: How's
    it going? What's up?
14. Is it?: Oh
    really?
15. ja: yes,
    yeah
16. jersey:
    sweater, sweatshirt
17. kief:
    cool, awesome
18. kombi: van
19. lekker:
    awesome, amazing
20. matric:
    Grade 12, Senior
21. Muesli:
    Granola
22. pleasure: you're
    welcome, no problem
23. robot­:
    traffic light
24. swak: not
    good
25. tune: lay
    into, reprimand, scold
26. Tannie:
    Auntie; used for anyone who could be your mom
27. Zebra crossing:
    Cross walk