Grahamstown Slang...Joh?

After being in South Africa for nearly five months, it was time to share some of the Grahamstown slang words or typically used words that's i've learned so far! 

Air-Con: air conditioning 

Bakkie: pick up truck

Braai: barbecue 

Bru: brother 

Hey bru

Chilled: that's cool or it was fine

How was your exam?

Oh it was chilled

China: friend

Howzit my china? 

Chips: french fries

Chum: throw-up 

Cool drink: soda

Do you fancy a cool drink?

Cozzie/ swimming costume: swimsuit

We're heading down to the pool, bring your swimming costume

Dawnie: the dreaded 7:45AM class 

Digs: off campus housing 

Durbs: Durban (major city in Kwazulu-Natal) 

Fest: Grahamstown National Arts Festival (held in July in Grahamstown)

Fixed up: that's good

Graze: eat

Shall we graze?

Hectic: crazy (this word is used all the time in almost every conversation-- almost as much as keen or shame)

When are your exams?

Tuesday and Friday

Shame, thats so hectic

Howzit: how are you, how's it going

Howzit bru?

Fine my china

Hundreds: really well

Howzit?

Joh its hundreds mate 

Isit? (another word that is thrown into conversation quite often)

Man I was out until four last night

Isit? Shame. 

Joberg: Johannesburg (major city)

Jol: party (can be a verb or a noun) 

We gonna jol Friday night?

Just now/ Now now: One of the more complicated aspects of SA vocabulary. Just now means soon, as in the near future, this could refer to hour. Now now refers to the more immediate future, and this could refer to minutes. 

I'll see you just now= I'll see you soon (later)

I'll be there now now= I'm on my way (but with Africa time, they're going to show up when they feel like it)

Keen: interested, down to go (you will NEVER hear a conversation without the word keen thrown in at least five times)

Want to go grab dinner?

I'm keen

Klaar: finished

Klap: slap

Lip ice: chap-stick or lip balm 

Madiba: an affectionate name for Nelson Mandela-- Madiba is his clan name

Nooit: no, never

On point: looking well 

Wow, you are on point tonight= you look really good tonight

Petrol: gas 

Rat: the Rat & Parrot, a favorite bar in Grahamstown 

Rez: residence halls 

Robots: traffic lights 

Sarmie: sandwich

Shame: that's too bad, that's unfortunate  bad luck (another word that you need to throw into every sentence) 

Oh I have an exam tomorrow.

Shame!

Shebeen: a township tavern or bar

Skinner: gossip

Smokes: cigarettes

SMS: text message

I just sent you a SMS

Shame, I didn't get it

Taxi: minibus (the cheapest way to get around-- not the safest)

Tekkies: sneakers

Tomato sauce: ketchup

Yoh/ joh: yo man (another word you can just throw in)

Joh man, we gonna jol on Saturday?

Im keen bru

If you want to talk like a South African you need to abbreviate EVERYTHING and just throw words together. 

If you use the words: keen, isit, shame, howzit, or joh, you will be good to go!