Although South Africa has 11 official languages, English is widely spoken throughout the country. As a foreigner, you will therefore have no problem communicating with others if you speak English. However, South African English can be a little confusing to others.
I have found that it’s easy for South Africans to understand foreigners. However, the reverse is not true.
I attribute this to tv and movies. For example, we know from watching tv that the closet means cupboard and trash means rubbish. However, an American may not know what we mean when we say “lorrie” – referring to a truck. This is why this list of American vs South African English can be very helpful.
Below is an easy and comprehensive guide to help you figure out what South Africans are actually trying to say.
The list has been broken into several helpful categories for easier search. They include food, clothes, travel and driving, buildings, school, and other.
American vs South African English

Tomato sauce | – | Ketchup | |
Prawns | – | Shrimp | |
Biltong | – | Jerky | |
Biscuit | – | Cookie | |
Wors or Boerewors | – | Sausage | |
Braai | – | BBQ / Cookout | |
Chips or slap chips (pronounced slup-chips) | – | French Fries | |
Cooldrinks or Colddrinks | – | Soda / pop / soft drinks | |
Pap (pronounced pup) or porridge | – | Grits | |
Pie (Savory pastry with meat or vegetables, e.g. pepper steak pie, spinach & feta pie) | – | Pie (Sweet pastry pie with fruit, e.g. apple pie, cherry pie) | |
Dessert or pudding | – | Dessert | |
Rusk | – | Large, dried cookie similar to Italian biscotti | |
Jelly | – | Jello | |
Mielies (pronounced me-lease) | – | Corn on the cob | |
Jam | – | Preserves | |
Spanspek | – | Cantaloupe | |
Naartjie | – | Tangerine | |
Brown bread | – | Wholewheat bread | |
Wholewheat bread | – | Health bread | This can be confusing for Americans. If you buy a wholewheat bread in South Africa, you will get a dense, hearty health bread. |
Scone | – | Biscuit | |
Sweets | – | Candy | |
Take-Away | – | Take-Out | |
Tart | – | Pie | |
Tin | – | Can | |
Trolley (shopping) | – | Cart (shopping) | |
Aubergine | – | Eggplant | |
Bill | – | Check | For checking out in a restaurant. |
Entrée | – | Appetizer | |
Serviette | – | Napkin | |
Sweets | – | Candy | |
Spring onions | – | Green onions | |
Chocolate | – | Candy bar | |
Beetroot | – | Beet | |
Cutlery | – | Silverware | |
Flan | – | Fruit pie | |
Maize | – | Corn | |
Mince | – | Ground beef | |
Candyfloss | – | Cotton candy | |
Tin | – | Can | |
Gammon | – | Ham |
South African English | American English | |
Costume or cozzie | – | Swimsuit |
Zip | – | Zipper |
Dungarees | – | Overalls |
Waistcoat | – | Vest |
(Dressing) gown | – | Bathrobe |
Tracksuit top | – | Hoodie |
Jersey or pullover | – | Sweater |
Nappie | – | Diaper |
Takkies | – | Sneakers |
South African English | – | American English | |
Bakkie (pronounce buck-key) | – | Truck (small) | |
Bonnet | – | Hood | |
Boot | – | Trunk | |
Garage | – | Auto repair shop | |
Gravel road | – | Unpaved road | |
Hoot(ing) | – | Honk(ing) | |
Lorrie | – | Truck (large) | |
Mudguard | – | Fender | |
Pavement | – | Sidewalk | |
Petrol | – | Gas | |
Petrol Station | – | Gas Station | |
Quadbike | – | Four Wheeler ATV | |
Robot | – | Traffic light | |
Tar road | – | Paved road | |
Taxi | – | Cab | |
Towbar | – | Hitch | |
Car park | – | Parking lot | For cars |
Motorbike | – | Motorcycle | |
Number plate | – | License plate | |
Pavement | – | Sidewalk | |
Petrol | Gas |
Here’s a comprehensive guide of what to know and expect when driving in South Africa.
South African English | American English | |
Bungalow or rondavel | – | Round cabin-type accommodation |
Chalet | – | Cabin |
Lift | – | Elevator |
Toilet / Loo | – | Restroom |
Stoep | – | Porch |
Hose pipe | – | Garden hose |
Lift | – | Elevator or giving someone a ride |
Ground floor | – | First floor |
First floor | – | Usually the second floor |
Second floor | – | Usually the third floor |
Cupboard | – | Closet |
Dustbin or bin | – | Trashcan |
Flat | – | Apartment |
Geyser | – | Water heater |
Lodge | – | An exclusive vacation type of accommodation. |
Rubbish | – | Garbage, Trash |
Tap | – | Faucet, spicket |
Toilets | – | Restroom |
Toilet paper | – | Bathroom tissue |
Globe | – | Light bulb |
South African English | American English | |
University | – | College or university |
Technikon | – | Technical college, polytechnic or technical university |
Subject | – | Course |
Student (at university only) | – | Student (at university or high school) |
Scholar | – | Student at high school |
Programme | – | Itinerary |
Matric | – | High school certificate or a senior at high school |
Marks or Points | – | Grades |
Marking | – | Grading |
Lecturing (at university) | – | Teaching (at university or school) |
Lecturer (Academic staff) | – | Faculty or Professor |
Hostel | – | Dorm / Dormitory |
Hand in a paper | – | Turn in a paper |
Diploma (national) | – | 3 year associate degree |
Course | – | Program |
College | – | Community college |
Bursary | – | Scholarship |
Average % | – | GPA (Grade Percentage Average) |
Assignment | – | Paper |
Rucksack | Backpack | |
Break / Break time | – | Recess |
Full stop | – | Period |
Rubber | – | Eraser |
Primary School | – | Elementary School |
Exam | – | Test |
Kokies (pronounced co-keys) | – | Markers |

South African English | American English | ||
Come and fetch me | – | Can you pick me up? | |
How is it? or What is going on? | – | What’s up? | |
It is a pleasure, or my pleasure | – | You’re welcome | |
Just joking | – | Just kidding | |
Just now | – | In a minute / very soon. | |
Are you finished? | – | Are you done? | |
I am finished | – | I am done. I am set. | |
Let’s make a plan | – | Lets figure out how we can do this. | |
Now-now | – | A moment ago, or in a moment. | Eg. They’ll be here now-now. Meaning, they’ll be here very soon. |
Make a turn | – | Come around | Eg. I’ll make a turn at your house later. Meaning, I will come over later. |
Ja | – | Yes | |
Jungle gym | – | Playground | |
Holiday | – | Vacation | |
Torch | – | Flashlight | |
Howzit? | – | How are you? | |
Is it? | – | Is that so?/ Really? |
As a foreigner, you may also come across a lot of South African Slang.
South African English | American English | ||
Autumn | – | Fall | |
Bush | – | The forest or the woods” | |
Lip ice | – | Chap stick or Lip balm | |
Post a letter | – | Mail a letter | |
Postal code | – | Zip code | |
Queue (stand in a queue) | – | Line (stand in line) | |
District | – | County | |
Municipality | – | City Council | |
Province | – | State | |
CBD (Central Business District) | – | The city | The CBD does not include the suburbs. |
Tissues | – | Kleenex | |
Anti clockwise | – | Counter clockwise | |
Film | – | Movie | |
The cinema | – | The movies | |
Handbag | – | Purse / pocket protector | |
Mad | – | Crazy / Insane | |
advertisement | – | commercial | |
Surname | – | Last name | |
Game ranch (farm) | – | Ranch used for farming and hunting wild animals, typically antelope | |
Lucerne | – | Alfalfa | |
Plot or smallholding | – | Small farm of a few acres | |
To let | – | To rent | |
Medical scheme | – | Medical program | “Scheme” is widely used to describe programs. |
A note from the author
I often share this personal story about what can happen when people don’t understand what is being said. You may find it funny, or actually… horrific.
One thing that is common in South Africa are street vendors. They will often walk around cars at the robots (traffic lights) as they sell their wares.
I was traveling with a German friend and we happened to stop at a robot where someone was selling naartjies (tangerines). As is expected, the street vendor walked through the cars yelling “Naartjies, Naartjies!”
I was minding my own business, waiting for the robot to turn green, when my German friend suddenly looked over to me in horror. He could hardly speak – the fear in his face was palpable.
I didn’t know what was going on. In my view, nothing had happened.
When he was able to speak, he said that he assumed the street vendor was calling him out as a “nazi.” I had to quickly explain that this was not what he meant – he is only selling “naartjies.” From this story, I think you can deduce that, depending on your pronunciation, “naartjie” could sound like “nazi.”
Having met so many foreigners and being married to an American, I have so many stories to share about this topic – most of them funny!