Tips for 2010, helping to understand South Africans

Tips for 2010 - helping you understand South Africans:

1. Braai
What is a braai? It is the 1st thing you'll be invited to when you visit SA. It's a backyard barbecue and it will take place whatever the weather. So you will have to go even if it’s raining like mad. At a braai you will be introduced to a substance called mieliepap.

2. Ag
This one of the most useful South African words. Pronounced like the "ach" in the German "Achtung", it can be used to start a reply when you are asked a tricky question, as in: "Ag, I don't know." Or a sense of resignation:"Ag OK, I'll have some more mieliepap then." It can stand alone too as a signal of irritation.

3. Donner
A rude word, it comes from the Afrikaans "donder" (thunder). Pronounced "dorner", it means "beat up." A team member in your rugby or soccer team can get donnered in a game, or your wife can donner you if you come back from a braai at three in the morning.

4. Eina
Widely used by all language groups, this word, derived from the Afrikaans, means "ouch." Pronounced "aynah". You can say it in sympathy when you see your friend the day after he got donnered by his wife.

5. Hey
Often used at the end of a sentence to emphasize the importance of what has just been said, as in "You're only going to get donnered if you come in late again, hey?" It can also stand alone as a question. Instead of saying "excuse me?" or "pardon me?" when you have not heard something directed at you, you can always say: "Hey?"

6. Lekker
An Afrikaans word meaning nice, this word is used by all language groups to express approval. If you enjoyed a braai thoroughly, you can say: "Now that was lekk-errrrrrr!" while drawing out the last syllable.

7. Ja well no fine
Another conversation fallback. Derived from the four words: "yes", "well", "no" and fine", it roughly means "OK". If your bank manager tells you your account is overdrawn, you can, with confidence, say: "Jawelnofine."

8. Izit?
A great word to use in conversations. From the 2 words "is" and "it", great for when you have nothing to contribute at a braai. For instance, if someone would say: "The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership." It is quite appropriate to respond by saying: "Izit?"

9. Saamie
This is a sandwich. For generations, school- children have traded "saamies" during lunch breaks. In South Africa you don't send your kid to school with liver-polony saamies. They are impossible to trade. Yuck!

10. Howzit
This is a universal South African greeting, and you will hear this
word throughout the country. It is often accompanied with the word
"Yes!" as in: "Yes, howzit?". In which case you answer "No, fine."

11. Now now
In much of the outside world, this is a comforting phrase: "Now now,
it's really not so bad." But in South Africa , this phrase is used in
the following manner: "Just wait, I'll be there now now." It means "a
little after now (or somewhen in the future)".