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'My culture, your culture, our culture, one nation'



South Africa 
1. (Placename) Republic of South Africa a republic occupying the southernmost part of the African continent.  Mainly plateau with mountains in the south and east. Mineral production includes gold, diamonds, coal, and copper. Official languages: Afrikaans; English; Ndebele; Pedi; South Sotho; Swazi; Tsonga; Tswana; Venda; Xhosa; Zulu. Currency: rand. Capitals: Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative), Bloemfontein (judicial). Pop: 45 214 000 (2004 est). Area: 1 221 044 sq km 
Today we celebrated National Heritage Day here in South Africa. All day I listened on the radio how different people from different walks of life described what being South African meant to them. There are so many things that make me so proud to be a South African. I could go on for hours about how we are a rainbow nation and we celebrate many different cultures and how we have come so far as a country, but instead, I'm going to just give a list of some of my favorite typically South African words. 

Babbelas (Pronounced 'bub-elaas')- South African Afrikaans for tender the morning after the night before, hangover 
Bakkie - (Pronounced 'buck-key') - a utility / pick-up truck or Tupperware container
Biltong - dried, seasoned meat, similar to jerky but not

Biscuit – South African Afrikaans for cookie, used as a term of affection - Claudia, you biscuit!!

Bliksem - hit or punch 
Boerewors (boerie) - spicy South African farmers' sausage
Bru - male friend 
Braai - a BBQ
Choon - South African Indian slang for telling someone something, 

Cozzy (Pronounced cozzie) - swimming / bathing costume
Doss - nap 

Eina! (Pronounce 'ei' as an 'a') - ouch! 

Eish! (Pronounced 'aysh') - a phrase of exclamation eg. Eish! I am so tired

Gogga - bug in Khoikhoi xo-xon 

Howzit - how's it going? How are you?
Just now - interchangeable meanings which could be 'just now', 'tomorrow or perhaps 'never'
Monkey's wedding - a rain shower when the sun is out

Plaatjies (Pronounce 'tj' as an 'ck') - flip slop sandals (also see slip slops)

Laaitie (Pronounces as "lighty") - a young person, usually a young male such as a younger brother or son

Laduma! (Pronounced "Laaa" "doooo" "ma!") - it thunders in Zulu - used when a goal is scored in South African soccer matches

Larney - fancy / designer

Lekker - great / tasty

 Naartjie (Pronounce 'v' as an 'f') - tangerine, mandarin

Padkos - food for the road / journey

Robot - traffic light

Shongololo - millipede

Slap chips - French fries

Spaza shop / cafe (Pronounced 'caffie'- convenience store

Stoep - verandah
Tekkies - sneakers

Tokoloshe - evil spirit

Voetsek (Pronounce 'v' as an 'f') - go away / buzz off

Vuvuzela (Pronounced 'Voo' - 'voo' - 'ze' - 'la' ) - Setswana for a stadium horn, used by football fans during matches in South Africa
Yebo (Pronounced 'Yeahbaw') - Yes in Zulu
What makes you proud of your heritage?
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