Your Braai Dictionary

A few of the must-know words for your next braai:

•  Ag – One of the most useful South African words. Pronounced “ach” like in the German “achtung”, it can be used to buy you time when having to reply to a tricky question, as in: “Ag, I don’t know.” Or a sense of resignation: “Ag OK, I’ll have some more mieliepap then.” It can stand alone too as a sign of irritation.
•  Aweh – Various meanings and can be widely used to express something positive e.g. hello, yes, nice, good.
•  Bak – A dish, made from aluminium or stainless steel, used for storing the meat in before and after it is braaied. Some braaiers use a glass bak, but there is a safety concern in this. When you eat straight off of the braai, then a bak is unnecessary.
•  BMW – Braai Met Wiele: An up-class braai with wheels for mobility.
•  Boerrie – Braaied boerewors in a bread roll with homemade tomato and onion sauce – similar to a hot dog but worlds apart in taste.
•  Braai passenger – Person wno arrives for a braai without any meat but joins in the eating.
•  Bru – Your chommie, china or brother.
•  Dop – Skilpad se klere, to fail or what you drink at the braai.
•  Flatty -Braaied chicken.
•  Howzit – This is a universal South African greeting, and you will hear this word throughout the country. In which case you answer “No, fine.”
•  Izit? – This is another great word to use in conversations. Derived from the two words “is” and “it”, it can be used when you have nothing to contribute if someone tells you something at a braai. For instance, if someone would say: “The Russians will succeed in their bid for capitalism once they adopt a work ethic and respect for private ownership.” It is quite appropriate to respond by saying: “Izit?”
•  Ja-nee – a loosely used South Africanism when agreeing over an issue. For example “That wors was lekker?” The appropriate answer would be “Ja-nee, very lekker!”
•  Jake White Braai – When it’s OK to lose a few pieces of meat to the fire because in the end the meat that stays on the grill is what counts.
•  Jislaaik – What you say when the braaier managed to turn a very big steak without trouble.
•  Karate-water – Brannewyn or Brandy.
•  Knortoffie – A miserable person at the braai.