Is there such a thing as a phrase book or card for safaris? When you travel to any foreign country, it pays to know at least some key words and phrases in the local lingo. Would this be possible in Africa, or is it too regionally varied to be useful?

I'm thinking of a laminated card a person could keep in his wallet/pocket, after some memory work of course. It would be nice to at least catch bits and pieces of what the trackers and PH are talking about, and be able to communicate with them without looking like a total doofus. Is this even necessary? Never been there, but would like to make the trip worthwhile and not be seen as a 'typical dumb American'.

I made up a small list of words that could be put on both sides of a business-card sized item (or a folded card to gain more space). Is this something that would be useful, or an idea that just wouldn't fly?

It would depend on what country in Africa and in some countries, what region, to know what language is spoken. Even then, the PH's trackers may be from another region of the country you are hunting.

Once you decide where you are going, you can pick up a few phrases in advance and the names of the animals. But that won't be enough for you to understand what the trackers and PH are talking about.

Regards,

Terry

Something along those lines would be very useful,I suspect that in Southern Africa the language most used would be Afrikaans.In most countries this was the language used by the PH's in conversation with the locals.

I know what your saying! You stand there with the PH and Trackers, knowing nothing of what they are saying! My PH played a few jokes on me this year, granted they were very good, besides the PH & Trackers laughing their asses off, (I also got a very good chuckle out of it!) they planned it right in front of me!! Now that's not fair play!

I am trying to pick up some of the Shona talk, but it's hard. By the end of the safari I got it down, a few words that is, but by the time I come back the next year, I almost have to start all over! At this rate in 10 years I might get a sentence out!!

That's what I'm thinking widowmaker. I hate standing there while other people are talking in another language (possibly about me). All you can do is make some dumb smiley face and nod along...

I'm not going to learn the language totally, but knowing some simple words would be a good idea. Plus, what if the PH got hurt and you had to try and communicate with the trackers without his translation?

My favorite phrase, heard on my last trip -

"So that is a Texas neck shot. I thought you shot them in the neck not the arse."

2nd favorite - "That's what you Texans call a tip?"

This was all in English.

There are books and tapes/cds available from Amazon.com that can help you pick up a little Afrikaans. A card or a book is not enough because you need to hear the pronunciation.

Here is a very general basic phrase list ///

this information was located on HSC website and comes courtesy of Terry Blauwkamp, it might be quite useful to you guys !

Regards, Peter

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PS. Here is a list of terms and interesting words you may encounter in Africa:

Automobile terms.

Spanner is a wrench. Bonnet is a Hood of a car. Robet is a Stop Light. Boot is the truck of a car.

Wind Screen is a Windshield. Bakkie is a truck. Hotter is your car horn.

A Puncture is a flat tire.

Petrol is gas or diesel and a Panel Beater is a Body Shop.

Kitchen Terms:

A Liquidizer is a power blender and Serveots ar Napkins.

Baby Terms:

Pram is a Stroller and a Nappy is a Diaper.

Clothing:

Tackies are Tennis Shoes and a Jersey is a cardigan Sweater. A Track Suit is a Sweat Suit.

Panties are Ladies underwear. Underpants are Men’s underwear.

Misc Terms:

Troller = Grocery Cart

Baie dankie = Thank you

Lift = Elevator

Chemist = Rx Pharmacy

Flat to Let = Appartment to rent

On Show = Open House

Stickey Tape = Scotch Tape

Take Away = take Out

Stand in a Que = wait in line

Soda = Pop

Cold Drink = Anything wet and cold but not Liquor



Tumble Dry = Clothes Dryer

Lounge = Living Room

Just Now = 5 min to 5 days from now- I’ll do it later

Loo = Toliet

Elasto Plasti = Band Aid

Pavement = Side Walk

Road = Highway or Street

Torch = Flashlight

Mossies = Mosquitoes

Pegs= clothes Pins

Flask =Thermos bottle

Geser = Hot Water Heater

Bird = Girl Friend

Swimming Costume = Swim Suit



Food:

Tomato Sauce = Ketchup ( none of theirs is as good as our Heinz Ketchup is).

Pudding = any desert

Naatjes = Tangerines

Chips = French Fries

Crisps = Potato Chips

Biskgot ( Bis-got-a)= Cookies

Flap Jacks = Pan Cakes

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This is an EXTENDED list that also might help into the insight of US AFRICA NUTTERS (-:

Cheers, Peter

We have regrouped an interesting and fun collection of typical South African slang words and phrases. Included are some common terms that are not slang, but are typically South African (and may even be 'proper'). Please note that if any of these terms are offensive to some people, we apologize in advance! Most of them are so colourful that we could not leave them out! If you notice what you deem to be important omission, please send them to us! Finally, the spelling of these terms certainly vary depending on where one grew up, or simply how one sees it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Ag/
Pronounced like the ach in German, but with a 'g' on the end. Roll that 'g'! "Ag, no man" - sign of irritation. Many purposes.

Aikona/
Never, not on your life.

Aita! ('ai-tah')/
A greeting: "Aita brah!" - Originated in the townships among the youth, and is still used.

Babbelas ('Bub-be-las')/
A hangover. Normally a pretty damn bad hangover!

Baff/
Fart

Baggies/
Certainly not "swimming trunks" or even worse: "bathing suit!!", but means the same.

Bakkie ('Buk-ky')/
Pickup truck

Ballas/
Balls (ie: privates..)

Barnie/
Fight, punch-up.

Befok, befuck/
Wild, crazy, excellent, great! This is used two ways: "he went befok" (he lost it completely!) or "that's befuck!" (that's awesome!)

Bergie/
A hobo who hangs out on the streets of Cape Town. The term Bergie originates from the Berg (Mountain), and has connotations, according to prejudice, that Bergies are members of inbred hillbilly clans. This is not really so. It has more to do with alcoholism and tragic social circumstances such as poverty and homelessness.

Biltong/
Jerky in the US, only much better!. This is specially prepared dried raw meat, made from beef, venison or ostrich.

Biscuit/
Cookie in the US. In America, a biscuit is a scone with no sugar. In South Africa, it's a cookie. Some favourites are Marie Biscuits, Romany Creams, and Eet Sum Mor.

Bliksem/
Strike, hit, punch: "I'm going to bliksem you!" Can also be used as follows: "Bliksem! (Damn!) That was a befokde game of rugby!"

Boere/
Term that refers to the police - "Die foken boere se moer, man!".

Boerewors/
Farmstyle sausage or "wors". (Literally, "Farmers Sausage"). It is consumed in vast quantities on braais all over the country.

Bok/
To be keen.

Bokkie/
Used mostly in the Afrikaans circles - a young, pretty lady; or girlfriend.

Bos/
The bush; a term that became especially popular during the period of "bush-warefare" during the Angolan war.

Bossies or Bosbefok/
Going totally whacko, going bush crazy - "He went bossies after spending 3 months in Angola".

Boykie/
Little boy, or can be used as in: "He's quite a boykie" - (he's quite the guy!)"

Braai/
Barbecue (US) or Barbie (Aus). Extremely popular SA occupation. Men take great pride in preparing this event; and is probably the only time the average South African does something around the house!

Brah/
Buddy, associate, peer, colleague, friend, etc... Most often used amongst the "rookers" (pot-smokers) - "Hoesit, my brah!"

Catch a Tan/
To suntan.

Check/
Nothing to do with money! Look, do you see? - "You check?" or "Check this, china!!" - Look at this, dude!.

Chick/
Yet another typically South African sexist term for a woman!

China/
A friend, buddy, mate. Very popular term, mostly in Cape Town area and Durban. Can also be used aggressively, as in: "Are you tuning me kak, China? - are you giving me shit, mate?".

Chips/
Means 'look out!' A warning.

Chuck/
Depart, leave, go

Crash/
Go to sleep - "Do you want to crash out at my place? - Do you want sleep over at my place?"

Dagga ('Dag-gah')/
Marijuana, dope - the South African word for dope.

Dankie/
Thank you

Dinges ('Din-gus')/
Thingamabob, a wotzit or a whatchamacallit.
Dit ruk It's happening!.

Doff/
Stupid, idiot. It can also be used as a noun. "You doffie" - you stupid dumbass!

Dop/
Alcohol, or to fail school.

Drol/
Shit.

Duidelik/
Means it's cool. Eg: Hoesit my brah. Naai, is duidelik!!!

Durban Poison/
Dagga - marijuana - grown in KwaZulu Natal - apparently of excellent vintage!

Dwaal/
The blank, state a person gets into sometimes, walking around like a zombie.

Eina(aynah)/
Ouch! Widely used. Derived from Afrikaans.

Flip/
(Expletive) "Flip!" (Oh no! or Shit!)
Gatgabba

Moffie/
Gesuip ('Ge-sayp')/Drunk

Graunch/
Make out - "during the film, my boyfriend and I graunched in the back row" - during the movie we french kissed, rubbed, etc....

Graze/
Unfortunately a pretty common word that means to "eat"!. "Let's go get something to graze".

Half-jack/
A half-bottle of spirits.

Hap ('Hup')/
A bite - this Afrikaans word is commonly used by English speakers. "Do you want a hap of my biscuit?".

Hey/
Used for emphasis. "So let's graunch, hey?"

Howzit (also hoesit")/
The famous, and one of the most typical, South African greeting. Short for "How is it?"
How's your mind? "Are you mad?!"

Hum/
1) Busy - "The disco was humming, there were chicks everywhere, and they were lekker on their pluck!" - the disco was a blast; there were girls everywhere and they were pretty drunk! 2) Stink - "Damn, it hums in here! Who baffed?"

Isit? (Izzit?)/
This conversational word is used widely and in response to just about anything. Used in place of "really??"

Jammie/
A car

Jawl - Jorl/
The word jawl is a generic South African - it refers to having a good time and can be used in any context. "I am going on a jawl (party) - I am having a jawl (good time) ...".

Just now/
A immense source of amusement for foreigners - it means "very soon", "eventually"; or "never". If someone says he will do something "just now" it could be in 10 minutes or tomorrow. Or maybe he won't do it at all.

Kak ('Kuk')/
Shit... and used in the same way.... "Don't talk kak - Don't give me kak".

Kief/
Cool, or something that's very nice.

Klap('klup')/
Slap - "Give him a snot-klap if he gives you kak".

Kus/
Exhausted or tired

Lank/
A lot - "There are lank people at this jawl tonight, hey China??!!"

Larney/
Fancy, designer clothes, snob - A number of variations on a word denoting someone who is well-dressed, or designer clothes, or a well-to-do function. The person can be larney, or clothes.

Lekker/
An Afrikaans word meaning nice, this word is used by all language groups to express approval.

Lightey/
Youngster.

Lights out/
Unconscious - "After being klapped for calling him a 'rock spider', little Johnny was completely lights out"

Lomp/
Lethargic.

Lummie/
A welt - A lummie is a particular kind of welt caused by hitting someone with the middle knuckle of your middle finger. School kids give each other lummies, usually on the forearm. A proper lummie becomes a bump immediately.

Mampara/
A fool

Moffie/
Wimp, pansie, naff, weakling

Nooit('Noy-t')/
No way - Another way of saying no, but also a sign of incredulous response.

Nought/
No - Used in similar situations to nooit.
Oke (ou) Guy, chap, bloke.

Padkos/
Food for a car, for a trip; on the road.

Park off
To chill out - sit down and relax - "Let's go park off at the beach tonight. Maybe we can graunch a little!"

Pavement/
In South Africa this is the sidewalk.

Pikkie/
A small child.

Pluck/
Can only be explained in an example: "What's your pluck, china?? You looking for kak? Don't make be befok; I'll klap you hard!" - what's you problem...etc..

Robot/
Yes, it's a traffic light!

Rock Up/
To arrive - "What time should we rock up for the jawl? Should be bring any dop?"

Rock Spider/
An english speaking South African term for an Afrikaner - Hey, you rock spider! Who you calling a 'soutpiel'? Come here and I'll klap your lights out!"

Rooineck/
Afrikaner name for an Englishman, or an english speaking South African.

Snot-klap/
To hit someone hard.

Soutpiel, or soutie/
Another Afrikaner name for an english speaking South African - comes from the image of the "English" having one foot in South Africa, the other in England, with something hanging in the middle (in the water)! - "Hê soutie, who you calling a 'rock spider'? Come here and I'll skop your ballas in!'

Scale/
To scale something is to steal it.

Shame/
Very typical South African expression; also found amusing by foreigners. "Ag shame, look how cute that baby is!", or "Shame, stop making kak with the chick, man, she's lekker", and "Shame, that's really sad".

Sif/
Description of a disgusting thing.

Skeef/
Crooked; provocative. A classic saying heard in bars around South Africa is "Are you checking me skeef, China?" - Are you looking at me funny, brah?

Skelm/
A crook or thief. A street-wise operator who deals in petty crime.

Skinner/
Gossip.

Skolly - ('skaw-lly')/
Ruffian. Can be used almost affectionately when talking about a roguish friend.

Skop/
Kick.

Skrik/
A fright.

Slap chips/
When French Fries are thick and long and don't go crispy in the oil - they are soft and stodgy

Spook and diesel/
Cane spirits and coke - A favorite mixture of a pale liquor and dark Coca-Cola.

Stoep/
Verandah

Stroppy/
Cheeky

Stukkie/
Sexist term for a woman.

Takkies/
Sneakers, trainers, running shoes.

Tokoloshe/
Evil spirit

The moer in - (roll the r)/
Very angry - "You make me the fokken moer in!".

Tune ('Choon')/
To tell, to talk, to provoke - "Don't tune me grief, ou; or I'll (yes, again!!..) klap the kak out of you!"

Vasbyt/
Hang in there, be tough - "Vasbyt, china; it kak will soon be over!"

Voetsek/
Get lost, buzz off..."Voetsek, jou sleg moer!"

Vry/
Similar to graunch - to kiss, pet, court..

A fellow AR member turned me onto this free Swahili translation web site: http://www.yale.edu/swahili/

Balla Balla,

The term "just now" is the most significant.

While there, I struggled to find a meaning that someone could relate to.

Many times I thought it was imminent and found that it referred to days or more.

I could not determine how to put "just now" with a timeframe yet there were folks who seemed to know what it meant.

quote:

Hotter is your car horn

Balla-Balla - Isn't that a typo? Shouldn't it be hooter? As an American, my PH got my attention immediately when we were driving from White Water to Hoedspruit and he told her, as she was driving behind a slow moving bakkie to "sound your hooter"

Road is subdivided in to dirt and taaar. Never paved, eh.

Thanks Balla-Balla. That's some good stuff. I like the Swahili dictionary, too SBT.

I was looking for that kind of thing. I had forgotten about Afrikaans, and had basically Swahili on the brain. It would be nice to know basic words like:
hello/goodbye
please/thank you
go/stop/walk/run
water/food
rifle
cartridges
binoculars
etc.

I think the Swahili translator will be a good start, although as with Afrikaans hearing the words would be very helpful. I am guessing that the written Swahili I find is basically spelled phonetically, though.

Colloquial Afrikaans by Bruce Donaldson is what I used along with the CD's etc. Being it's a European based language for the most part, it is pretty easy to pick up enough to understand what's going on in a conversation. I'm continuing my study even after my trip. It was fun to learn and it helped a few times, although one of the trackers and I got a little confused when I thought he said oryx and when in reality he said "horse" (sounded like orus). I saw the tip of the black tail and was trying to see what was behind the bush. He thought it was quite funny though. I finally saw the horse and said 'Nere, dat pert' (no, that horse) I told the other trackers in simple words the story, of course I told it with a little twist to rib my tracker. We all laughed, and they good naturedly made fun of both of us. I starting making up a cheat sheet of words for the next day from my book. I understood more than I could speak, but I learned to at least meet and greet people properly and respond to simple questions.

Afrikaans is much like other European languages in it's sentence structure from what I can tell. I have to twist my mind a little as to where the subjects and verbs go. Also, there is a difference in the sounds of letters. W's are V's, G's are pronounced like your getting a loogie out of your throat, V's are F's, D's are sometimes pronounced as T's depending on where they are in the word.

After a couple of months listening to CD's on the way to work and then reading through the book I could follow along with the speakers on the tape for the most part. I also used CD's from Eurotalk, although they were marginal at best. Sorry to get so long winded, but I really have enjoyed learning. All of the trackers spoke Afrikaans while in Namibia.

The farm I hunted in Namibia is owned (49% of it anyway) by a retired Alaska Fish & Game biologist so we spoke Alaskan! The only laborer that worked for him spoke English, Afrikaans, German, Himba and Tswana so communicating with anyone was not a problem. His big plus though.....he had a drivers license!

Isn't Chilapalapa the universal bush language. I am told is is a mix of Swahili, Afrikaan and English.

the_captain ,
The safari company I used this year gives their guests a great book that gives the basic words someone might need to know when in Tanzania, including a variety of phrases. It is really well done. If you'd like to see it, I would be glad to scan it so that you can see it online or receive it by e-mail.

Superb offer Spring! I'd like to see it very much. I'll PM an alternate e-mail - the one in my profile hoses attachments. thanks again!