slang south africa
Source: southafrica.info.

Home » Slops, Sarmie and Muti. The Best Short South African Slang

Slops, Sarmie and Muti. The Best Short South African Slang

In South Africa we love the diminutive and the shortened word as much as the next far-flung English-speaking country – arvie for afternoon, mozzie for mosquito, and so forth. A recent video by Australian friends Josh and Rhys explains “How to Speak Australian – Abbreviate Everything” (see video below) that strikes the same note. Many of the words […]

slang south africa
Source: southafrica.info.

In South Africa we love the diminutive and the shortened word as much as the next far-flung English-speaking country – arvie for afternoon, mozzie for mosquito, and so forth.

slang south africa
Source: southafrica.info.

A recent video by Australian friends Josh and Rhys explains “How to Speak Australian – Abbreviate Everything” (see video below) that strikes the same note. Many of the words will be familiar to South Africans –  the same way Ozzies say Straya for Australia, we sometimes say EssAy or Seffrica for South Africa.

Here are some of our favourite South African abbreviations or shorthand:

  • Chum/Pal/Mate/Friend – Bru
  • Bushveld – Bush
  • Headscarf – Doek
  • Durban – Durbs
  • Johannesburg – Joburg – Jozi
  • Cool/neat/fabulous/wicked/great/wonderful – Kiff
  • Marijuana – Boom/Dagga
  • How are you? – Howzit?
  • Have fun – Jol
  • Expert – Fundi
  • Nice/happy/good/fine/well – Lekker
  • Medicine/something you take to feel better – Muti
  • Porridge – Pap
  • Lots of – Lank
  • Rooibos – Bossies
  • Sandwich – Sarmie
  • Soft, oily french fries – Slap chips
  • Ugly and disgusting – Siff
  • Is that so? – Izzit?
  • Rotten – Vrot/Miff
  • Money – Tom
  • Flip flops – Slops
  • Stupid – Dof
  • Study – Swat
  • Eat – Graze
  • Drink something alcoholic – Dop
  • Never! That’s unbelievable! You’re joking! – Nooit!

See how many of the words are South African too:

And then watch the SA comedy duo Derick Watts $ the Sunday Blues discuss South African versus Australian accents: