South African words Oxford
The South African words that were added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year. Picture: OED/File/Fotor.

Home » ICYMI: South African words that made the Oxford Dictionary in 2023

ICYMI: South African words that made the Oxford Dictionary in 2023

‘Skedonk’, ‘lightie’ … there have been a host of South African words added to Oxford English Dictionary this year. Let’s list them all.

By Ray Leathern
27-12-23 11:41
in Culture
South African words Oxford
The South African words that were added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year. Picture: OED/File/Fotor.

It’s not uncommon for South African words to be added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). This year seven new ones cracked the nod. In fact, you can actually visit the Oxford’s website and submit a word you’d like to see added to the OED using this FORM.

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Nevertheless, what are new South African words added in 2023? They are:

  • ghoen, n. A shooting-marble.
  • lightie, n. Young man; boy.
  • lightning bird, n. Impundulu translated, Inyoni Yezulu meaning ‘Bird of the heavens.’
  • skedonk, n. Dilapidated car.
  • toppie, n. 2 Elderly person.
  • volksliedjie, n. Folk song.
  • volkspele, n. Folk games; dance.
  • volkswil, n. People; members of a particular group.

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SOUTH AFRICAN WORDS IN OXFORD DICTIONARY

South African words
Here are the eight latest South African words to be added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Picture: File.

With 12 official languages (including sign language) and more accents and intonations than you can shake a stick at, South African English is arguably the strangest anywhere the language is spoken on Earth.

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I mean, really now, in South Africa is sandwich is a sarmie. Our casual greeting is a shortening of ‘how is it going?’ to howzit?. And South Africans drive dilapidated, old cars we don’t like anyone calling a skedonk.

MORE SAFFA WORDS THAT MADE IT

South African words
Check out these South African words that were added to the OED in 2019. Picture: File.

You word geeks may recall, back in 2019, the OED allowed 24 South African words in, can you believe it? In alphabetical order they were:

  • Amakhosi
  • Bunny chow
  • Deurmekaar
  • District surgeon
  • Dwaal
  • Eina
  • Faith
  • Gumboot dance
  • Howzit
  • Ja
  • Ja well no fine
  • Kasi
  • Township
  • Kif
  • Mzansi
  • Sakkie-sakkie
  • Sarmie
  • Shackland
  • Spaza
  • Tickey box
  • Traditional healer
  • Ubuntu
  • Voetstoots

Now, do us a favour a make a sentence using all these South African words. Leave them in the comments below and we’ll see which gets voted to the top of the pile. Good luck!

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