How do you greet someone in South Africa?
South African Culture
- It is important to greet everyone respectfully and immediately upon seeing them.
- The most common greeting is a handshake accompanied with eye contact and a smile.
- Handshakes may be light or firm depending on the person you are greeting.
- People from rural villages may use two hands to shake/greet.
How do you say hello and goodbye in South Africa?
‘Hoesit,’ again, means ‘hello’. In typical South African multi-purpose style, ‘aweh’ can also mean ‘goodbye’ or ‘yes’. A good, genuine greeting can make strangers feel comfortable. And teaching them the pronunciation and usage might lead to much laughter and even help visitors to open up.
How do u say goodbye in South Africa?
South Africa Zulu: Sala kahle (to person leaving)/ hamba kahle (to person staying) Xhosa: Usale kakuhle (to person leaving)/ uhambe kakuhle (to person staying) Afrikaans: Totsiens. English: Goodbye .
What kind of slang is South Africa?
South African slang everyone should know
- Ag, man! [ ach—mun]
- Aikona! [ eye-koh-na]
- Babbelas [bub-ba-las] Derived from the Zulu word ‘ibhabhalazi’, it is used to describe a bad hangover.
- Biltong [bill—tong]
- Bobotie [buh-boor-tea]
- Bliksem [bluhk–sim]
- Boet [no other way to say it but for “boet”]
- Boerewors [boor-uh-vors]
What does Mara mean in South Africa?
Mara (pron. \ mah-rah\) – but (eg. ‘ mara why?’ – ‘ but why?) [from the Afrikaans word ‘maar’ meaning ‘but’]
What does phara mean in South Africa?
Also known as phara-phara. A term that refers to a drug addict who often terrorizes the community through criminal activities. The term is mostly used in Xhosa and Zulu speaking communities. In Gauteng, this person would be called a Nyaope Boy.
What does bliksem mean in South Africa?
bliksem – strike, hit, punch; also used often as an expression of surprise/emphasis. It derives from the Dutch word for “lightning”, and often occurs in conjunction with donner.