Language/English/Vocabulary/Greetings

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South African Colloquial English

The following can all be used in an informal way when referring to someone who's name you do not know. This is mostly when men greet each other in a casual format possibly at a bar.

Friend or guy - boet, boetie, bru, brah, charna, oke, laatjie (lighty), my man Drink - dop, pint, brew Thanks - shot Ok or nice - lekker

First you should say :

"Howzit?" This does not require a response as with "How are you?" but rather you respond with the same "Howzit?" also not requiring an answer but you may receive "Lekker." as a response.

If you are speaking to someone you have met before but may have forgotten their name you may use: "Howzit boet/my bru/ my man?"

This may illicit a response as with "How are you?" but it may be in the form of: "Lekker my bru. Howzit going with you okes."

When the word 'okes' is thrown at the end the person asking possibly wants to know how the group is or how you are your partner are and not just you. Your answer could be: "Ja, bru, everything is lekker this side. Shot."

The word 'shot' would be the same as 'thanks for asking' or just 'thanks'.

Next would be the offer of or asking if one would like to have a drink. This may take the form of: "You okes need a dop?"

After which a complicated system of buying drinks ensues and in the end the bill is usually split regardless of who was drinking which drink.