Word origins

• kappieA kind of Afrikaner bonnet.
• karossA treated animal-skin cloak or blanket with the hair still left on.
• katkopPart of a loaf of bread.
• kennetjieA children’s (boy’s) game where a short stick is flipped into the air by a longer stick, batted and hopefully caught by ‘fielders’.
• keurboomA species of tree, Virgilia oroboides, noted for its pretty lilac flowers.
• kiaatPterocarpus angolensis (African teak).
• kierieA traditional club used as a weapon by certain indigenous groups of South Africa.
• kiewietThe crowned lapwing (Vanellus coronatus)
• kingklipA popular South African food fish; Genypterus capensis.
• klipkousabalone, ear-shell, ormer
• klipspringerA small antelope native to eastern and southern Africa having a dense, brown, speckled coat (Oreotragus oreotragus).
• knobkierieA fighting stick, usually with a knob on the end.
• knorhaanA large bird of the bustard family.
• koeksisterA traditional Afrikaner confection consisting of a deep-fried twisted or plaited doughnut dipped in syrup immediately after cooking.
• KoevoetA specialized South African police unit during the apartheid era that operated primarily in what is now Namibia.
• koggelmannetjeThe lizard Agama atra.
• kommetjeA handleless glazed earthenware basin, used as a drinking utensil.
• konfytA South African jam or fruit preserve.
• kopdoekA headcloth.
• korhaanAny of several large, terrestrial birds in the bustard family Otididae.
• koringkriekAn armoured bush cricket (Acanthoplus discoidalis);
• KraaifonteinA town in the Western Cape province, South Africa.
• kwaaibad-tempered, aggressive, fierce
• lamziekteA form of botulism primarily affecting cattle.
• lappieloincloth
• lekkerbreekOchna pulchra, a small deciduous southern African tree.
• lieflingOne held as lief or dear; a darling.
• lui-haaiSynonym of pyjama shark.
• matoppieSynonym of motlopi.
• MatroosbergA mountain in the Hex River Mountains, Western Cape province, South Africa.
• mealieAn ear or kernel of maize; in plural as mass noun: maize, corn.
• melkhoutThe milkwood tree.
• middelmannetjieA ridge between ruts made by wheels in a dirt or gravel road.
• mielieMaize.
• moerTo beat; to thrash.
• Mooi RiverA river in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which joins the Tugela River.
• mosbolletjieDough leavened with the must of grapes used for making rusks.
• muggieThe stomach of a fish, used as food.
• muishondA species of weasel found in southern Africa, Poecilogale albinucha.
• naaito have sexual intercourse; fuck.
• naboomSynonym of candelabra tree (“Euphorbia ingens”).
• nagapiemohol bushbaby
• néUsed when giving the former name of a man.
• nêAs interrogative particle: "isn't that the case?"; also used with emphatic effect.
• neddickyA species of passerine bird, Cisticola fulvicapilla, found in central and southern Africa.
• night-apeSynonym of night monkey.
• now-nowRight now; immediately; very soon.
• opgaafA tax on produce, stock, and capitation.
• OraniaA town in Karoo, Northern Cape, South Africa.
• ouboetAn older brother or a male friend.
• oukieguy; man
• oupaA grandfather.
• outjieA boy; a guy.
• padkosFood for a journey.
• papgeldchild support
• pasellaAn extra or unexpected gift or benefit, such as that given to a customer when they purchase something else.
• perlemoenabalone
• plaasA farm.
• plattelandThe country, the countryside.
• play-playTo mess around, to play around; to take things lightly.
• poepA fart.
• potjiekosFood cooked in a three-legged pot or cauldron over an open fire.
• ramkieAn improvised guitar-like string instrument made from a discarded oil can, with or without frets, most commonly with three or four strings made from either fishing line or a bicycle brake wire, originating in the folk music of Southern Africa.
• redbushrooibos tea
• regmakerA drink or medicine taken as a hangover cure.
• renosterveldA South African ecoregion of Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub.
• rhebokA medium-sized, deerlike South African antelope, Pelea capreolus, having pale-gray, curly fur and straight horns.
• rietbokThe antelope Redunca arundinum.
• rinkhalsAny of species Hemachatus haemachatus of venomous elapids found in parts of southern Africa.
• rock badgerAny member of the species Procavia capensis of mammals with a rodent-like appearance, but not closely related to rodents, related instead to the elephant, found in Africa and the Middle East.
• rondavelA traditional circular design of house, typically with a conical roof, commonly thatched. Still used in rural regions, but also popular as a theme in the ambience of resorts, either as chalets or as cheap utility buildings.
• RooielsA settlement in Overberg district municipality, Western Cape, South Africa.
• rooigrasA perennial grass, Themeda triandra, that has large red-brown spikelets
• rooikatcaracal
• roukoopGenuine pre-estimated damages on the cancellation of a sale or lease, usually relating to immovable property.
• shlenterA fake, especially a fake diamond.
• sjambokA stout whip, especially made of rhinoceros or hippopotamus hide.
• skaapstekerA venomous snake of genus Psammophylax.
• skellumA scoundrel.
• skollieA hoodlum, a petty criminal.
• skyfA cigarette.
• slap chipA French fry.
• slinterA scam or deception; fast one.
• smousA peddler.
• snotziekteA disease of cattle causing significant mucous discharge from the nostrils.
• sokkieA South African style of ballroom dancing.
• sosatieA kebab of curried meat on a skewer (usually not pork), cooked over an open flame or on the braai.
• spanspekA cantaloupe.
• spekboomA South African shrub (Portulacaria afra), whose succulent leaves are used as fodder.
• springhaasA South African springhare.
• steekgrasThe tropical perennial tussock grass Heteropogon contortus.
• steenbrasAny of various fish of the sparid genus Lithognathus.
• steentjieThe fish Spondyliosoma emarginatum.
• stockfishCod (or similar fish) having been cut open and cured in the open air without salt.
• stoepA raised veranda in front of a house.
• stokroosSynonym of kenaf (“the plant Hibiscus cannabinus”).
• stompieA cigarette butt.
• stopstreetAn intersection having one or more stop signs; a stop intersection
• strandloperbeachcomber
• strandwolfA brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea).