The languages primarily spoken in Cape Town and the surrounding regions (where you will be spending the majority of your time) are English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa. Generally speaking in this region, Afrikaans is spoken by white South Africans and people classified as coloured, while Xhosa tends to be spoken by black South Africans. Regardless of primary language, people generally speak and understand English to the extent where you won’t have much of a problem. However, in the townships you may run into more difficulty with the language barrier.
There are several words/phrases in each language (including English) that are good to know and that you will probably become very familiar with:
Words and Phrases
Bakkie = pick-up truck
Biltong = dried meat, like jerky
Biscuit = Cookie
Boot = Trunk of the car
Braai = Barbecue
Chemist = Drugstore/Pharmacy
Costume = bathing suit
Dagga = Marijuana
Dinges = Thingamabob, whatzit
Flat = Apartment
Howzit = Hey, what’s up (a common greeting)
Izzit/Isit = Really?
Ja = Yes
Jersey = Sweatshirt/Sweater
Just now = Sometime in the nearish future (but could also mean eventually or never…)
Kombi = Van or minibus
Learners = Students
Lift = Elevator
Madiba = Nelson Mandela
Mama = refers to most older women
Maths = Math
Nappy = Baby Diaper
Now now = Immediately (or as quickly as African time will allow)
Pap = maize porridge similar to grits
Pleasure = You're Welcome
Proteas = South Africa's national flower
Robot = Traffic Light
Serviette = Table napkin
Shame = that's too bad/sad, pity or sympathy
Shebeen = Township tavern
Sissy = Girl
Sister = Nurse
Skollie = Gangster, criminal
Spaza = Informal shop in township
Take Away = Take Out
Takkies = Sneakers
Tik = Methamphetamine
Tomato Sauce = Ketchup
Torch = Flashlight
Tsotsi = Gangster, hoodlum
Umqombothi = homebrewed African beer
Vuvuzela = Large, colourful plastic trumpet
Afrikaans words and phrases
Bakkie = Strange truckish kind of vehicle
Biltong = Jerky (e.g. beef, ostrich, tuna, etc.)
Braai = Barbecue
Breu = Brother
Dagga = Marijuana
Dankie = Thank you
Kak = (you’ll figure this one out)
Lekker = Nice
Moffie = Transgender
Tekkies = Sneakers
Tik = Methamphetamine
Xhosa words and phrases
“Amandla”… “Awethu” = “Power”… “To the people” *
Kunjani = How are you
Molo/Monweni = Hello (to one person or a group, respectively)
Ndiphilile = I’m fine
Enkosi = Thank you
Shop (Shop) = (What someone might say to mark the end of a conversation; contextual)
Tsotsi = ganster
Ubuntu = compassion, humanity; ‘I am who I am because of who we are’
Umlungu = White person **
Unjani = How are you?
Uxolo = I’m sorry
Yebo = Yeah
* A cheer done responsively, frequently done at marches, protests, etc.; has roots in the anti-apartheid movement
** Very useful if working in the township and you’re curious if they’re talking about you behind your back
Here are some links for your linguistic pleasure:
Here is a link to Xhosa words and phrases: http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/xhosa.php
Here is a link to Afrikaans words and phrases: href="http://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Afrikaans_Word_List
South African lingo:href="http://www.rsa-overseas.com/features/slang.htm
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General Afrikaans Expressions
Algemene Afrikaanse Uitdrukkings
Some notes on pronunciation...
· The g in Afrikaans is guttural, but only when it is at the beginning of a word. When the g is at the end of a word, as in uitdrukking, it is pronounced in much the same way as in English.
· The ui vowel combination makes the sound of ay in the word day.
· J is silent. So, the word jou is pronounced yo, like in yoyo.
· The double uu vowel combination is pronounced like the ee in keep, but you hold you lips like your saying the word you.
· Hoe is pronounced like the oo in the word boo.
· The y in my and naby is pronounced like the ay in the word day. So, they are pronounced like may and nah-bay.
· The d following a vowel, like at the end of skoonheid, is pronounced like a t. So, you would say: skoon-hate.
· The v at the beginning of a word is pronounced more like an f. So, the word veld is pronounced more like the word felt.
· The word for you is jy and is pronounced like the word yay.
· The word baie is pronounced like this: buy-uh.
· The word sê is pronounced like say.
· The ô is pronounced like a long o as in the word more. So the word môre is pronounced like more-uh.
· The word goeie is a bit tough to pronounce, but follow these simple steps and you will be able to say it. In most cases the g at the beginning of a word is guttural, but in this particular word it is pronounced very softly, if at all. So, say the following words and vowel sounds like you would in English: who, ee (as in bee), uh. And then say them together and very quickly: who-ee-uh.
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Hello
Hallo
How are you?
Hoe gaan dit met jou? (or only: hoe gaan dit? Or sometimes you even hear just: hoe gaanit?)
My name is John.
My naam is John
I am from Connecticut. It is near New York City and Boston.
Ek kom van Connecticut. Dit is naby New York City en Boston.
I am a student at the University of Connecticut.
Ek is 'n student by die Universiteit van Connecticut.
I am studying human rights at the University of Cape Town.
Ek studeer mense regte by die Universiteit van Kaapstad.
Where are you from?
Waar kom jy vandaan?
Can you please speak slowly?
Kan jy asseblief stadig praat?
How do you say "cell phone" in Afrikaans?
Hoe sê jy "cell phone" in Afrikaans?
Where is the train station?
Waar is die trein stasie?
Where is the bus to Cape Town?
Waar is die bus na Kaapstad?
I would really like to go to Cape Town.
Ek wil baie graag na Kaapstad toe gaan.
How much is this shirt?
Hoeveel kos hierdie hemp?
We would like the bill please. Can we please pay?
Ons wil graag die rekening hê. Kan ons asseblief betaal?
Good morning. Goeie môre
Good day. Goeie dag
Good evening. Goeie aand
Good night. Goeie nag
Thank you. Dankie
You're welcome dit is 'n plesier (literally, it is a pleasure)
See you/bye. Totsiens
This is a great Afrikaans-English dictionary: http://www.rieme.co.za/afrikaans/dictionary/
Good luck!
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Conversations Around Race:
As a word of advice, you should be aware that race is part of the daily South African rhetoric. Coming from the United States where talking about race is all about political correctness and trying to be “color-blind,” this can be a little uncomfortable at first. South Africans have no qualms about describing people based on racial features (e.g. have you seen Paula around, the little coloured girl?), identifying you based on your race (e.g. “Hey whitey”) and asking questions (e.g. what is it like to be the only white person in this room?). There are definitely undercurrents of racism in South Africa, so it’s not necessarily a matter of greater tolerance than in the United States (although I’m sure one could make a case about it), it is just that race is a much more blatant and open topic for discussion.
A final thought
There are expectations among some that if you are living in their country, you will know their language, however, even if you do not know it but make the attempt to at least learn some key phrases, it will be very much appreciated.
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