Cape Town Slang

[RiD1™]

Afbiene:
This means that you are dead broke, no money to contribute, “platsak”
“Nee jong, sny maar daai gatsby in twee, want ek is afbiene”

Arag
Pronounced: Aah-rragg
This word pertains to something that either tastes horrible, or looks
horrible. “No way, that food was arag”
“She did look arag in that pink bridesmaid dress”

Aweh:
Pronounced: Ah-where.
This is used as a greeting all over the Cape Peninsula.
“Aweh jy, hoes it?”

Badprop:
Pronounced:  but-prop
this word refers to those who are aesthetically challenged/not very good looking.
“Nooit that brah you kissed is ‘n badprop, he looked better in the dark”

Bemang:
Pronounced: Ber-mung:
This word is used to describe anything that is awesome, funky or cool.
“That was a bemangde car, he was driving.”

Bot:
Pronounced: Bor-T
This word refers to the act of being bored, or a boring activity.
“That party was so bot!” “Nee, I did nothing, I was at home, bot.”

Bra:
Pronounced:  Brah
This word has no reference to the English word, which pertains to an undergarment.
The word Bra in Cape Town refers to a close friend or acquaintance.
It’s a term of endearment.
“Yah I know him, he’s a Bra of mine”

Bymekaar:
This refers to the act of kissing/smooching/vrying.
“After the party, we got bymekaar”

Chise:
Pronounced: Chai-s
to chat up someone, as in, “Ek gaan daai oulike kin chise.”

Dakskroef:
Pronounced: Dak-screwf
Refer to Badprop

Dite:
Pronounced:  Dye-T
Noun or Verb used in relation to food and the act of eating.
“Did you dite already?” or “Did you buy the dite?”

Donkies:
Those bronze coins in our pockets. Typically, this term is used for any coins under one Rand.
“Don’t you have any donkeys to put towards a Gatsby?”

Droog:
Pronounced: Droeg
The literal meaning in Afrikaans refers to the word dry. But in Cape Town it describes a very boring time.
“Die party was droog…”

Duidelik:
Pronounced “day der lik”
This word is an adjective, describing an ideal state of mind, a cool article, perfect, or an ideal situation.
“How are you doing? Naai duidelik my bru.”

Frans:
Used to describe someone who has no principles and easily jumps to join the flavour of the day. The term comes from the “Number” fraternity and originaly pertained to prisoners/gangmembers who have no allegiance to any particular gang.

Gatsby:
This is a Cape Town delicacy, traditionally indigenous to the area but now also found around the country Picture a fat 30 or so centimeter French loaf. Now cut it lengthways and layer it with chips, salad, viennas, Russians, steak, egg, etc… And you have a Gatsby.

Gattas:
Pronounced: ggah-tahs
Generally refers to the police or law enforcement

Geitjie:
Pronounced: Ghay-chee (G is a rough throaty sound)
This word refers to a busy body individual or someone with malicious intention.
“Don’t believe a word she says, she’s a real geitjie.”

Giemba:
Pronounced “geem -ba”
This word means greedy, or gluttonous.
“This giemba mos vedalla all the dite.” or the English equivalent, “The greedy pig ate all the food.”

Goffel:
Pronounced Gor-fill
Refer to Badprop and Daksroef

Gaftie:
This is an adjective and can be used to describe anything that’s large or big.
“I couldn’t finish that gaftie sandwhich you made.”

Hollang:
Pronounced: Hol-Lung
This word refers to someone who is just sitting/standing around doing nothing.
“Just look at those Hollangers on the corner, why don’t they get themselves a job?”
It could also mean someone who is constantly begging for stuff.
“Hy het nooit geld nie, hy bly hollang.”

Jits / Jitse:
Adjective, describing something cool. Can be applied across the board for people, scenarios, objects etc.
“That’s a jitse car”

Kajalang:
Pronounced: Kar-ja-lang
This word refers to the act of roaming/strolling around aimlessly.
“Waar karjalang julle rond so laat?”

Kinners:
Pronounced: Kern-ers
In colloquial talk, this word refers to girls/chicks/women. Unlike traditional Afrikaans, where this term would refer to children.
“Do you think there’ll be some duidelike kinners at the party?”

Klop:
Pronounced: “Clorp”
This word refers in general to good sounds, good tunes etc.
“Jislaaik but daai ou se system klop mal.”

Kwaai:
In Cape Town slang this word refers to something that is really awesome, cool or nice.
“Did you see that kwaai movie?”

Laaitie:
Pronounced: Lie-tea.
This word usually describes or refers to little kids and is often directed at little boys.
“These laaties are up to no good, keep your eye on them”

Langaanie:
Pronounced: Lung-garny
Meaning, no way, or forget that!
“How about going to the mall?”
“Langaanie, lets rather go the beach”

Mamok / Kots:
Pronounced: Ma-mok (Kots)
these words both refer to the act of purging oneself, throwing up, vomiting.
“No ways, I can’t go on a boat, it will make me mamok.”

Mang:
Pronounced: Mung
this is slang for jail, prison or being incarcerated.
“Pielle is in the mang for theft”
It could also refer to when you are playing a game and you lose a mannetjie - then you Mung

Mew:
This is a shortening of the word Music

Milly:
Pronounced ” Mill eee”
Meaning, insane, mad or ditsy.
“No she’s just milly, because she didn’t get enough sleep”
“He’s not usually so milly!”

Minute / Minutes:
Pronounced: Min-eee-ter”
This is one of the few words that can be pronounced in English or Afrikaans.
Meaning, Hold up, A General reference to time. It can also take on a threatening tone.  As in - I’m watching you.
“Minute my Broe, the train leaves at seven.”
“Minute, jy kan nog nooit al my daait op vriet nie.”

Mos:
This word is typically used as a filler in a sentence.
“You are mos going to the shop”
“You can mos pick it up”
It has no real meaning but is used to add colloquialism to a sentence.

Nobba:
Pronounced:  Nor-bah

This word can be used as a replacement for the English words regardless or irrespective. “Whether or not”
“Noba what your income is, you must pay your debts.”

Nooitie:
Pronounced: Noy-Tea
Petains to “not on your life” situations or an exclamation of disbelief.
“Are you going to call her? Nooitie, my girlfriend will kill me”

Nuh:
Pronounced: Ner
The use of the word Nuh is complex and multi dimensional. It can be used to:
1. Find out if the listener is following your conversation.
“You turn left nuh, then you turn right nuh, continue straight nuh”
2. To indicate that you’re listening to a story.
“Nuh? And then what happened?”

Nwata:
Pronounced: Nua-ta
Pertains to someone acting like an idiot or acting with malicious intention.
“That Nwata, nearly drove into my car”
or can refer to someone talking nonsense.
“Moetie nwata praatie”

Paalie:
Pronounced: Paah-ley
this term refers to the principal of a school, college, etc.
“The Paalie wants to see you in the office immediately.”

Paap:
Pronounced: Paah-p
you generally paaping, when you nervous, or worried.
“That test made me paap my poes off”

Skyf:
The second half of a cigarette, usually reserved for one’s bra. It’s also refers to the act of asking for the last part of a cigarette.
“Keep me a skyf “

Smokkie:
Noun pertaining to a place where you can purchase liqour any time any day. This institution is not governed by any municipal by-laws and are operational 24/7 365. They are illegal. Usually found in suburbs on the Cape Flats and surrounds.
“You can get some beers from the smokkie.”

Sop Bompies:
Pronounced: “Sop Bom-pies”
This word refers to a Cape Flats phenomenon. A bompie is liquid frozen in clear plastic freezer bags. So it stands to reason that a sop bompie is frozen soup in a clear plastic bag. Something your grandma would have done.

Sout:
To “sout” means to watch out/beware/be careful.
“Sout! Hier kom die gattas!”

Sturvy:
You can use this word to describe a variety of people, but generally it refers to someone who thinks highly of themselves, or who think they are better than everyone else.
“Nee jong, daai kin is stirvy, she only speak for England”

Swak:
Pronounced:  Swar-k
This word can be used in a combination of ways.
“Maak swak” - refers to being in dire straits/lack of cash

Taanie:
Pronounced:  Taa-nee
this word can be used as a synonym for the word “Mother”.
“My taanie’s going to fetch me from school.”
“His taanie, is so strict.”

Topatjie:
Pronounced: Torpa-chee
The end of a cigarette, usually not intended for smoking unless a bra is extremely desperate. “Give me the skyf of that topatjie”

Vedala:
Prounounced:  Fir-Da-lah
Adjective pertaining to a state of finality, completion or exhaustion.
“I was vedala, after working whole day”
“When I got there, the food was vedala”

Versin:
Pronounced: Fer-sin
This word can be used to describe someone or something that is crazy, insane or perhaps naïve.
“Are you versin? I would never date him”
“Don’t be versin, just ask her out”

Weeties:
Meaning to talk, have a conversation, debate, exchange words.
“We just went out to weeties”

Woelag:
Pronounced: Voo-lag
This word stems from the Afrikaans word “woelig”. In terms of Cape Town slang, it takes on a different meaning. Woelag, depending on the context, means nice, cool, busy,hectic, impressive.
“Daai kar het a paar woelage rims op”
“Daai party was darem woelag gewies”

Woes:
Pronounced: Voos
It means looking untidy not neat very disorganised.
“Meisie jou hare lyk baie voes.”

Yster:
Pronounced:  Ay-ster
Unlike the traditionally Afrikaans meaning, in Cape Town lingo, this word refers to anything that’s great, novel, and awesome. It’s an adjective, so use it to describe anything.
“Did you see that sound system, it’s yster nuh”
“You are mos yste if you can sort that out”