South African slang that makes no sense (until it does)

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South African slang is a beautiful mess. At first, it sounds like everyone’s just making up words on the spot – and they kind of are. But once it clicks, you’ll find yourself throwing out “eish” and “now-now” like you were born in Joburg.

Here’s a breakdown of South African slang that makes absolutely zero sense – until it suddenly does…

1. Now-Now (And Just Now, But Not Right Now)

Let’s start with the classic: “now-now.” If someone says they’ll do it now-now, don’t hold your breath. It doesn’t mean right this second. It’s more like, soonish, or I’ll get around to it eventually, promise.

Then there’s “just now”, which somehow means even less immediate than now-now. Confused? Welcome.

Translation:

Now: Maybe in a few hours.
Now-now: Sooner, but still not urgent.
Just now: Someday, probably.

2. Eish!

Pronounced like “aysh,” this little word carries the weight of the nation. Stub your toe? Eish. Loadshedding again? Eish. The Springboks lose a game? EISH. It’s an emotional Swiss army knife – confusion, frustration, disbelief, sympathy. All in one syllable.

Usage tip: If you don’t know what to say, just say eish. You’ll fit right in.

3. Shame, man

In most places, “shame” is a jab. In South Africa, it’s pure affection. “Aww, shame!” means “That’s adorable” or “Poor thing.” Say it to a baby, a puppy, or your friend who just got dumped.

Pro tip: Add “man” to sound extra local. As in, “Shame, man, that’s hectic.”

4. Hectic

Speaking of which, “hectic” is the ultimate catch-all. Wild party? Hectic. Tough day at work? Also hectic. Your neighbour’s cousin’s dog got hit by a bakkie? Super hectic, bru.

Basically, if it made your heart rate go up, it’s hectic.

5. Howzit

This one’s easy: “Howzit” = “How’s it going?” But don’t expect an actual answer. It’s more of a greeting than a question. “Howzit” gets tossed out faster than you can blink, usually followed by a nod and a “sharp-sharp.”

Which brings us to…

6. Sharp Sharp

Pronounced more like “shahp-shahp,” it means “cool,” “all good,” or “cheers.” It’s the full stop at the end of casual interactions.

You’ll hear it everywhere – from street vendors to WhatsApp sign-offs. Say it twice to sound friendly. Say it once to sound cool. Say it three times and you’re just showing off.

7. Lekker

Everything in South Africa is lekker. It means nice, good, tasty, fun – basically anything worth smiling about.

Braai on a Sunday? Lekker. Cold Castle Lite on a hot day? Lekker. Road trip with your mates and no potholes in sight? Lekker, my bru.

8. Bru / Boet / China / Ou

Need a word for “dude”? South Africans have four at least:

Bru – casual and friendly.
Boet – more affectionate, like “bro.”
China – confusingly, not a nationality, just another way to say “mate.”
Ou – literally “old guy,” but also just… a guy.

Yes, your friend can be your boet, your bru, your china, and your ou – all in the same sentence.

9. Sjoe!

Another one-syllable wonder. “Sjoe” (sounds like “shoo”) expresses amazement. Good or bad, doesn’t matter.

Win the lottery? Sjoe. Get hit with a R3 000 water bill? SJOE. It’s basically South Africa’s version of “damn.”

10. Bakkie, Robot, Takkies, and the rest

Bakkie: A pickup truck, not a dish.
Robot: Not a sci-fi character. It’s a traffic light.
Takkies: Sneakers. Great for jogging, not tech support.
Isit?: A question that isn’t really a question. Someone tells you something and you go, “Isit?” (Translation: “Really?” or “No way.”)