English-English Translation

Being here in South Africa I have encountered a variety of amusing and seemingly unique uses of English words, as well as many other languages. Definitions are based mostly on usage that I've observed (List to be updated as I encounter more).

South African English = My definition

geyser (pronounced 'geezer') = water tank ... no idea why

robot = traffic light

valet, shouted at parking attendants while in a parking lot = "I want to park near the entrance to the store"

Howzit? = "What's up?" "How are you?"

sharp, typical reply to 'Howzit" = good, okay

Vienna sausages = hot dogs

takkies = running shoes ... this one doesn't make much sense to me

braai = barbeque (this is really an Afrikaans word I think but it's always used in English)

just now = sometime in the semi near future

now now = sooner than just now

bakkie = seems to be a pick-up truck

doing sport = this isn't something I picked up from South Africans but rather the Germans I live with - they use it to mean "getting exercise" or "working out", I love how it sounds. Eg. "I'm going to do sport today"

For a much more comprehensive list check out Wikipedia's page on South African regionalisms