South African English: Unique Words and Expressions

How South African English Works

South African English (SAE) is English as it is used across South Africa, a country known for an unusually high level of language diversity. The country recognizes eleven official languages. English is the first language of only about 10% of South Africans, yet it plays an outsized public role in government, schools, universities, business, journalism, and broadcasting.

Because so many South Africans grow up speaking Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, or another local language, English often serves as shared ground between communities. The result is not simply British English spoken in southern Africa. SAE has its own vocabulary, rhythms, idioms, and cultural references, setting it apart from both British and American English.

Where It Came From

English first took root in South Africa after Britain occupied the Cape Colony in 1795. Its presence became much stronger with the arrival of British settlers in 1820. Long before that, Dutch settlement had begun in 1652, and Afrikaans-speaking communities had developed from those Dutch roots. English and Afrikaans then grew side by side, sometimes in partnership and sometimes in conflict.

From 1948 to 1994, during apartheid, Afrikaans was advanced with English as a language of the state. That policy created resentment and political resistance. After South Africa’s democratic transition in 1994, English became the country’s main language for national communication, while the constitution gave official status to all eleven languages. SAE is still changing as speakers bring in words, phrases, and patterns from South Africa’s many language communities.

Words Borrowed from Afrikaans

Of all local languages, Afrikaans has supplied the largest number of everyday words to South African English. Many are so common that speakers may not think of them as borrowings at all:

A few of these terms have travelled well beyond South Africa. Braai, biltong, and rooibos in particular now appear in international English, carrying pieces of South African food culture with them.

Influence from African Languages

Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, and other Bantu languages have also left a clear mark on South African English:

Ubuntu is commonly explained as “I am because we are.” The word names a way of thinking about shared humanity, mutual responsibility, and connection between people. It is now known far outside South Africa and was also used as the name of a Linux operating system.

Everyday Words That Sound South African

South African English includes many ordinary words and expressions that differ from British or American usage:

The time words can be especially tricky for visitors. In many varieties of English, “just now” means “a moment ago.” In South African English, it usually points forward and means “in a while.” “Now now” is closer, but still not quite this instant. If someone means immediately, they will usually say “now.”

Local Slang and Casual Speech

• Sharp sharp — cool, okay, goodbye
• Eish — exclamation of surprise, frustration, or sympathy
• Ja — yes (from Afrikaans)
• Yebo — yes (from Zulu)
• Hectic — intense, extreme, crazy
• Ag (pronounced "ach") — oh, expressing frustration or resignation
• Sho't left — quick ride, give me a lift
• Jol — party, to have a good time

Accent and Sound Patterns

There is no single South African English accent. Pronunciation differs by region, community, and first language. Still, several features are widely associated with SAE:

• The PRICE vowel: This vowel often begins farther back or more centrally than it does in many other English accents.
• Non-rhoticity: As in standard British English, many SAE speakers do not pronounce post-vocalic “r.”
• "Yes" as "yis": The short “e” sound may be raised in words such as “yes.”
• Vowel shifts: The “kit” vowel (/ɪ/) is often centralized, closer to /ə/. To American listeners, “bit” can sound somewhat like “but.”

South Africa’s accent range reflects the country’s multilingual reality. A speaker whose first language is Afrikaans, Zulu, or Xhosa may bring different sound patterns into English, adding to the country’s wide range of accents and dialects.

Grammar Habits and Sentence Patterns

South African English grammar mostly follows British English, but informal speech has several recognizable patterns:

• "Come with" without an object: “We’re driving into town. Want to come with?” Standard English would usually add “us.”
• "Busy" + verb-ing for an action in progress: “She’s busy fixing the gate.” This means she is fixing it right now.
• "Is it?" as a general response or tag question: “They sold the house last week.” “Is it?” It can replace more specific tags such as “did they?” or “haven’t they?”
• Double negatives occur in informal speech in some communities.

How South Africans Spell English

South African English uses British spelling almost across the board: colour, centre, organise, and defence. This spelling pattern reflects South Africa’s historical links with Britain, as well as the continued influence of British-style education and publishing.

Main Forms of South African English

Linguists usually describe several broad varieties of South African English. These varieties are often connected to community background and to the other languages speakers use:

• Cape Flats English: Associated with the Cape Coloured community in Cape Town, with its own vocabulary and pronunciation patterns
• Indian South African English: Common especially in KwaZulu-Natal and shaped partly by South Asian languages
• Black South African English: Influenced by Bantu languages, including distinctive sound and grammar features
• White South African English: Often influenced by Afrikaans, with forms ranging from strongly Afrikaans-accented English to near-RP styles

These forms are not sealed off from one another. South Africans often shift between English and another language in the same conversation, and features from one variety can move into another.

Common Sayings You’ll Hear

• "Load shedding" — Scheduled power outages, strongly associated with South African daily life.
• "Make a plan" — Work out a practical solution; be resourceful when things go wrong.
• "Ja, no" — A very South African way to signal “well, yes,” agreement, or sometimes cautious acceptance.
• "Check you later" — See you later.
• "Shame!" — A flexible expression of sympathy, affection, or pity. For example: “Shame, he missed his bus,” or “Ag, shame, what a cute puppy.”
• "It's a mission" — It is difficult, inconvenient, or a hassle.

Main Points to Remember

• South African English reflects the influence of Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, and many other South African languages.
• "Is it?" can work as a general tag question or response.
• Afrikaans loanwords such as braai, biltong, lekker, and bakkie are part of everyday speech.
• SAE uses British spelling conventions.
• Words from African languages include internationally known ideas such as ubuntu.
• Local vocabulary includes "robot" for traffic light, plus time expressions such as "just now" and "now now."
• Several distinct varieties mirror South Africa’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

South African English shows how English changes when it lives alongside many other languages. Its words, accents, and expressions carry the history of the country and the everyday creativity of its speakers. For more on English around the world, see British vs. American English, Indian English, and English dialects and accents.