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South African Slang Trivia Quiz

I've noticed a few fun language quizzes (Aussie lingo, rhyming slang etc.) and decided to throw some more choice into the mix. Behold, my first try - a Saffa (South African) lingo quiz!

A multiple-choice quiz by angus007. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
angus007

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
188,774

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1095

Last 3 plays: Guest 212 (9/10), Guest 197 (8/10), Guest 169 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Below are a couple of greetings, some of which you may have heard before. Which one is typically South African? Hint

G'day

Ciao

Alright

Howzit

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. If you were in Cape Town, South Africa and one of the locals invite you to a braai, which of the following would you be more likely to take with you? Hint

Boerewors and Castle

Warm clothes

Sports gear/equipment

Suntan lotion and a towel

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. If a South African says to you "Lekker tekkies bru!", what does that mean? Hint

Why the long face?

Nice running shoes man!

Pass me the salt!

I've got a massive headache!

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. If you were told in South Africa "a couple of skelms have just scaled that bakkie", what would you have been told? Hint

Some climbers managed to reach the summit

A few thieves have stolen a pick-up truck

Two fellows chopped that tree down

The surveyours measured the building site

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. South Africans sometimes say "I've got a heavy babbie, I need to crash!" What does it mean? Hint

This is a massive load, give me a hand

I have got a massive hangover, I need some sleep

This is too much work for me, I'm going home

I am really tired, I want to sit down

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. When a Saffa tells you he/she will do something "just now", they generally mean to do it when? Hint

Immediately

In a minute

Tomorrow

A.S.A.P.

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Translate the South African sentence into 'real' English: "This other oke skipped the red robot" Hint

The man left out the important bit

He jumped over a scarlet android

The man drove through the red traffic lights

Someone else missed the last train

8. When in Pretoria (Capital of South Africa) and you find yourself on the wrong side of the tracks and are being told "Don't charf my cherry, I'll buckle your frame China!", what are you being told? Hint

Don't look at my dessert, yours is coming!

Take me home, I'm your dream girl!

Stop using my pool cue, use your own!

Leave my girl alone, I will smash your head in son!

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following can you drink? Hint

Both of these

Klippies

Rooibos

None of these

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. "Chips" in South Africa means/refers to: Hint

All of these

Fries

Potato crisps

'Look out!' [A warning]

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 16 2024 : Guest 212: 9/10
Apr 15 2024 : Guest 197: 8/10
Apr 15 2024 : Guest 169: 10/10
Apr 14 2024 : Guest 81: 10/10
Apr 12 2024 : Guest 41: 8/10
Apr 08 2024 : Guest 147: 8/10
Apr 07 2024 : Guest 67: 6/10
Apr 07 2024 : Guest 72: 6/10
Apr 07 2024 : Guest 102: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Below are a couple of greetings, some of which you may have heard before. Which one is typically South African?

Answer: Howzit

Originally from the "How is it going?" (how are you?) after one said hello. Shortened to "How is it?", which sounds (and spelled these days) "Howzit" when pronounced fast.

2. If you were in Cape Town, South Africa and one of the locals invite you to a braai, which of the following would you be more likely to take with you?

Answer: Boerewors and Castle

Boerewors (which translates as "Farmer's Sausage") is a very popular dish/snack at a braai (a barbecue). South Africans always cook on coals (either from charcoal or wood) and you'd probably whet your whistle with Castle Lager or Black Label (beer).

3. If a South African says to you "Lekker tekkies bru!", what does that mean?

Answer: Nice running shoes man!

Lekker is used to describe a lot of nice or good things. Running shoes, cross trainers, tennis- and squash shoes - all known as tekkies. Bru (from brother) is used in the the same context as a lot of Americans would use "dude", New Zealanders "bro" or Australians and Britons the term "mate", when talking to a male person.

4. If you were told in South Africa "a couple of skelms have just scaled that bakkie", what would you have been told?

Answer: A few thieves have stolen a pick-up truck

Ute in Australia, Pick-up in the US of A - Bakkie (pronounced 'bucky')in South Africa.

5. South Africans sometimes say "I've got a heavy babbie, I need to crash!" What does it mean?

Answer: I have got a massive hangover, I need some sleep

"Babbie" (pronounced "bubby") is short for babbelaas - slang for a hangover.

6. When a Saffa tells you he/she will do something "just now", they generally mean to do it when?

Answer: In a minute

When a South African tells you they'll be there 'just now' it means they're on their way (probably just finishing up something first, hang on...), but without the sense of urgency implied by A.S.A.P. (as soon as possible), and without guaranteeing the short wait promised by the word immediately.

7. Translate the South African sentence into 'real' English: "This other oke skipped the red robot"

Answer: The man drove through the red traffic lights

South Africans refer to traffic lights as robots. An oke is the same as a bloke (Britain), e.g. some random male person.

Answer: Leave my girl alone, I will smash your head in son!

Sad but true, in some areas of South Africa a girl/girlfriend is known as a "cherry" and to "charf" someone is the same as 'chatting up' or 'checking out' - catch my drift?

9. Which of the following can you drink?

Answer: Both of these

Brandy (usually drunk with Coke on ice) is probably the favourite spirit in South Africa. Of the local manufactured brands "Klippies" (short for Klipdrift) is one of the more popular ones. Rooibos is a South African tea (caffeine free) made in the Cape from the Cyclopia genistoides bush. Rooibos is an Afrikaans word meaning "red bush".

When people speak of rooibos they are referring to rooibos tea.

10. "Chips" in South Africa means/refers to:

Answer: All of these

Chips usually refers to the packets of (hard) potato crisps. Also used to describe fries, however they are sometimes called 'slap chips' (pronounced 'slup chips'). "Slap" is Afrikaans for limp or floppy, eg to describe the fries as opposed to hard crisps...

The word "chips!" is also used to say "look out" or "watch out", i.e. when school kids are smoking they'd say "Chips! Mr Smith is coming."

Source: Author angus007

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