South African to American/Canadian English Decoder: Translate Rainbow Nation to Up North

Baffled by “braai” or “lekker”? Our South African to American/Canadian English Decoder’s got you sorted, bru! Toggle between 105+ terms from the Rainbow Nation to Up North or back—because whether it’s a jol or a party, we’ll tune you right. Search below, no load shedding here!

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South African to American/Canadian English

South African Term	American/Canadian Term	Example Sentence
Ag	Oh	*Ag*, that’s a bit much, né?
Babalas	Hangover	Got a *babalas* after last night’s jol.
Bakkie	Pickup truck	Loaded the *bakkie* with braai stuff.
Bergie	Homeless person	A *bergie* asked for some coins.
Biltong	Beef jerky	Snacking on some *biltong*.
Bioscope	Movie theater	Going to the *bioscope* tonight.
Boer	Farmer	The *boer* grows mielies out there.
Boerewors	Sausage	Grilling *boerewors* for the braai.
Bokkie	Sweetheart	She’s my little *bokkie*.
Braai	Barbecue	Having a *braai* this weekend.
Bru	Bro	Howzit, *bru*, you good?
Bunny chow	Bread bowl curry	Grabbed a *bunny chow* for lunch.
Bushveld	Wilderness	Camping in the *bushveld*.
Chappies	Gum	Chewing some *chappies* now.
China	Friend	He’s my *china* from school.
Chommie	Pal	Going out with my *chommie*.
Cool drink	Soda	Pass me a *cool drink*, please.
Dof	Dumb	Don’t be so *dof*, man!
Donga	Ditch	Fell into a *donga* on the road.
Dop	Drink	Fancy a *dop* after work?
Droëwors	Dried sausage	Bought some *droëwors* at the shop.
Eina	Ouch	*Eina*, that hurt!
Eish	Wow	*Eish*, that’s a big bill!
Gatvol	Fed up	I’m *gatvol* with the noise.
Geyser	Water heater	The *geyser*’s on the blink.
Gogga	Bug	A *gogga* crawled on my arm.
Howzit	Hello	*Howzit*, you lekker today?
Is it	Really	*Is it*? You’re joking, né?
Ja	Yes	*Ja*, I’ll be there just now.
Jol	Party	Had a lekker *jol* last night.
Just now	Soon	I’ll do it *just now*.
Kak	Crap	This weather’s *kak* today.
Kiff	Cool	That tune is *kiff*, bru.
Klap	Slap	Gave him a *klap* for being cheeky.
Koeksister	Donut	Love a sweet *koeksister*.
Kombi	Van	Took the *kombi* to the coast.
Koppie	Hill	Climbed a *koppie* this morning.
Kraal	Enclosure	Cattle are in the *kraal*.
Laduma	Goal	*Laduma*! We scored!
Lapa	Patio	Braaiing on the *lapa* tonight.
Lekker	Nice	This braai is *lekker*, hey.
Load shedding	Power outage	*Load shedding* hit us again.
Mal	Crazy	He’s gone a bit *mal* lately.
Mampoer	Moonshine	Tried some strong *mampoer*.
Matric	Senior year	Finished *matric* last year.
Mielie	Corn	Grilling some *mielies*.
Moeg	Tired	I’m *moeg* after the trek.
Moffie	Sissy	Don’t be a *moffie*, man up!
Mush	Great	This party’s *mush*, bru!
Mutti	Medicine	Need some *mutti* for my head.
Naartjie	Tangerine	Peeling a *naartjie* now.
Nca	Nice	That’s *nca*, hey!
Nê	Right	You’re coming, *nê*?
Niks	Nothing	Got *niks* to do today.
Now-now	Right now	Be there *now-now*.
Oke	Guy	That *oke*’s a good china.
Pap	Porridge	Made some *pap* with wors.
Papsak	Boxed wine	Grabbed a *papsak* for the jol.
Pawpaw	Papaya	Eating a ripe *pawpaw*.
Pellie	Buddy	My *pellie*’s joining us.
Pik	Pick	*Pik* the best one, hey.
Piss off	Go away	*Piss off*, I’m busy!
Platteland	Countryside	Visiting the *platteland*.
Poepol	Jerk	He’s a real *poepol*.
Potjie	Stew	Cooking a *potjie* on the fire.
Robot	Traffic light	Turn at the *robot*.
Rock up	Show up	They’ll *rock up* later.
Rooibos	Red tea	Drinking some *rooibos*.
Sarmie	Sandwich	Made a quick *sarmie*.
Sies	Gross	*Sies*, that’s rotten!
Sis	Yuck	*Sis*, what a smell!
Skelm	Crook	That *skelm* nicked my phone.
Skinner	Gossip	She loves a good *skinner*.
Skollie	Thug	A *skollie* caused trouble.
Snoek	Fish	Caught a big *snoek* today.
Sosatie	Skewer	Grilling some *sosaties*.
Spaza	Convenience store	Buying cool drink at the *spaza*.
Stoep	Porch	Sitting on the *stoep* tonight.
Stokkie	Stick	Picked up a *stokkie* to play.
Stukkend	Broken	My phone’s *stukkend*.
Takkies	Sneakers	Wearing my *takkies* today.
Tannie	Aunt	Visiting *tannie* this weekend.
Tekkies	Sneakers	My *tekkies* are muddy.
Tjommie	Friend	My *tjommie*’s a good oke.
Toetie	Cutie	She’s a little *toetie*.
Toilet	Loo	Where’s the *toilet* around here?
Trek	Trip	Taking a *trek* to the veld.
Tsotsi	Gangster	A *tsotsi* robbed the shop.
Tune	Tell	*Tune* me what’s happening.
Veld	Field	Walking through the *veld*.
Vellies	Boots	Got new *vellies* for hiking.
Vetkoek	Fried dough	Made some *vetkoek* with mince.
Voetsek	Get lost	*Voetsek*, you skollie!
Vrot	Rotten	This fruit’s gone *vrot*.
Wors	Sausage	Braaiing some *wors* now.
Yebo	Yes	*Yebo*, I agree!
Yoh	Whoa	*Yoh*, that’s hectic!
Yster	Iron	Hit it with an *yster* bar.
Zonked	Exhausted	I’m *zonked* after the jol.
Biscuit	Cookie	Having a *biscuit* with tea.
Boot	Trunk	Stuff’s in the *boot*.
Flat	Apartment	Live in a *flat* in Joburg.
Lorry	Truck	A *lorry* delivered the goods.
Petrol	Gas	Fill up with *petrol*.
Rubbish	Trash	Throw out the *rubbish*.

American/Canadian to South African English

American/Canadian Term	South African Term	Example Sentence
Apartment	Flat	Renting an *apartment* in town.
Aunt	Tannie	My *aunt* baked koeksisters.
Barbecue	Braai	Hosting a *barbecue* tonight.
Beef jerky	Biltong	Chewing some *beef jerky*.
Boots	Vellies	Wearing *boots* in the veld.
Boxed wine	Papsak	Bought some *boxed wine*.
Bread bowl curry	Bunny chow	Ordered a *bread bowl curry*.
Bro	Bru	Hey *bro*, you coming?
Broken	Stukkend	My car’s *broken* again.
Buddy	Pellie	My *buddy*’s here.
Bug	Gogga	A *bug* landed on me.
Convenience store	Spaza	Popped to the *convenience store*.
Cookie	Biscuit	Having a *cookie* with coffee.
Cool	Kiff	That song’s *cool*.
Corn	Mielie	Grilling some *corn*.
Countryside	Platteland	Driving through the *countryside*.
Crap	Kak	This is total *crap*.
Crook	Skelm	That *crook* stole my wallet.
Cutie	Toetie	She’s such a *cutie*.
Ditch	Donga	Car slid into a *ditch*.
Donut	Koeksister	Ate a sweet *donut*.
Dried sausage	Droëwors	Snacking on *dried sausage*.
Drink	Dop	Want a *drink* later?
Dumb	Dof	Don’t be *dumb*, think!
Enclosure	Kraal	Sheep are in the *enclosure*.
Exhausted	Zonked	I’m *exhausted* after work.
Farmer	Boer	The *farmer* tends the land.
Fed up	Gatvol	I’m *fed up* with this.
Field	Veld	Walking in the *field*.
Fish	Snoek	Caught some *fish* today.
Fried dough	Vetkoek	Made *fried dough* for breakfast.
Friend	Chommie	My *friend*’s coming over.
Gangster	Tsotsi	A *gangster* hit the shop.
Gas	Petrol	Need some *gas* for the car.
Get lost	Voetsek	*Get lost*, you pest!
Goal	Laduma	Scored a *goal* in the match!
Go away	Piss off	*Go away*, I’m done!
Gossip	Skinner	She’s spreading *gossip*.
Great	Mush	This vibe is *great*.
Gross	Sies	That’s *gross*, man!
Gum	Chappies	Chewing some *gum*.
Guy	Oke	That *guy*’s cool.
Hangover	Babalas	Got a *hangover* from last night.
Hello	Howzit	*Hello*, how you doing?
Hill	Koppie	Hiked up a *hill* today.
Homeless person	Bergie	A *homeless person* was outside.
Iron	Yster	Used an *iron* bar to fix it.
Jerk	Poepol	He’s such a *jerk*.
Medicine	Mutti	Took some *medicine* for a cold.
Moonshine	Mampoer	Tried some *moonshine*.
Movie theater	Bioscope	Going to the *movie theater*.
Nice	Lekker	This food’s *nice*.
Nothing	Niks	I’ve got *nothing* planned.
Oh	Ag	*Oh*, that’s a surprise!
Ouch	Eina	*Ouch*, I stubbed my toe!
Pal	Tjommie	My *pal*’s here.
Papaya	Pawpaw	Ate some *papaya*.
Party	Jol	Throwing a *party* tonight.
Patio	Lapa	Chilling on the *patio*.
Pick	Pik	*Pick* the best option.
Pickup truck	Bakkie	Driving my *pickup truck*.
Porch	Stoep	Sitting on the *porch*.
Porridge	Pap	Made some *porridge*.
Power outage	Load shedding	Had a *power outage* last night.
Really	Is it	*Really*? That’s news!
Red tea	Rooibos	Drinking *red tea* now.
Right	Nê	You’re here, *right*?
Right now	Now-now	I need it *right now*.
Rotten	Vrot	This apple’s *rotten*.
Sandwich	Sarmie	Made a *sandwich* for lunch.
Sausage	Boerewors	Grilling *sausage* tonight.
Senior year	Matric	Finished my *senior year*.
Show up	Rock up	They’ll *show up* soon.
Sissy	Moffie	Don’t be a *sissy*!
Skewer	Sosatie	Making *skewers* for the braai.
Slap	Klap	Gave him a *slap* for that.
Sneakers	Takkies	Wearing my *sneakers*.
Soda	Cool drink	Grab a *soda* from the fridge.
Soon	Just now	I’ll be there *soon*.
Stew	Potjie	Cooking a *stew* today.
Stick	Stokkie	Found a *stick* to play with.
Sweetheart	Bokkie	She’s my *sweetheart*.
Tangerine	Naartjie	Peeling a *tangerine*.
Tell	Tune	*Tell* me what’s up.
Thug	Skollie	A *thug* started a fight.
Tired	Moeg	I’m *tired* after the day.
Traffic light	Robot	Stop at the *traffic light*.
Trash	Rubbish	Throw out the *trash*.
Trip	Trek	Planning a *trip* this weekend.
Trunk	Boot	Put it in the *trunk*.
Truck	Lorry	A *truck* brought the load.
Van	Kombi	Driving the *van* to town.
Water heater	Geyser	The *water heater* broke.
Whoa	Yoh	*Whoa*, that’s wild!
Wilderness	Bushveld	Exploring the *wilderness*.
Wow	Eish	*Wow*, that’s something!
Yes	Ja	*Yes*, I’ll do it.
Yuck	Sis	*Yuck*, that’s nasty!
Bar	Pub	Meeting at the *bar*.
Bathroom	Loo	Where’s the *bathroom*?
Crazy	Mal	He’s acting *crazy*.
Hang out	Chill	Let’s *hang out* later.
Kid	Laaitie	That *kid*’s a toetie.
Okay	Sharp	Everything’s *okay* now.
Vacation	Holiday	Taking a *vacation* soon.