“I know one tappet like that” – Exploring a South African stereotype

The word “tappet” – used to refer to a person or their behaviour or culture – doesn’t have quite the same cachet as that which has been ascribed to “zef” in the last decade and a half. While similar to “zef,” unlike that term, “tappet” is not (yet?) one which people use to construct a self-identity. Initially a designation for petrolkoppe, the targets of the derision involved in the use of the term also include social class, ethnic or language background, and levels of intelligence or social sophistication.

More going on than you think – “dala” in South African English

The isiXhosa verb "dala" is regularly used in South African English these days, having arrived by a somewhat circuitous route. It as a generally agreed upon meaning; yet, looking more closely, one notices that there is a lot more happening under the hood.

Throwing a zap: how to talk about showing someone the middle finger in South Africa—the zap sign

You know what I mean: the zap sign — a gesture that sends an unequivocal message of "F*** you." Elsewhere referred to as "giving the middle finger" or "flipping the bird." A historical lexicographic treatment of the phrase in South African English

“So paraat he stands at attention all night.” — Persistence/Heritage 2.3

Afrikaans military slang from the bad old days of the 80s. The communists were on our doorstep, after all. A historical lexicographic treatment of the word in English in South Africa

“He murders all his brain cells with the papsak.” — Persistence/Heritage 2.2

Notorious in several quarters for the havoc it plays with mind and health, the South African papsak is peak infamy. A historical lexicographic treatment of the word in English in South Africa

“Papgeld. Bolova please pay maintenance.” — Persistence/Heritage 2.1

The world over, baby daddies may suddenly get all shy when it's time to go beyond just talking about papgeld. A historical lexicographic treatment of the word in English in South Africa

Persistence/Heritage 2: P—papgeld, papsak, paraat, plak

More new and recent words from Afrikaans in South African English: a tour through papgeld, papsak, paraat, and plak

The mysterious case of toeka | The Persistence of Heritage

Phrases like “van toeka af” have been used in South Africa for a long time to refer to the distant past. How “toeka” came to enter Afrikaans in the first place remains something of a mystery as its origins may be local or it may have been imported during the early colonial era. From the twentieth century, it can be found in English in South Africa, perhaps having taken a detour through Tsotsitaal or Is’camtho.

(go) tekere | The Persistence of Heritage: Words from Afrikaans in SA English

Seen someone behaving in an agitated manner, stomping around, waving their arms, mouthing off? That person can typically be said to be going tekere. You'd want to keep your distance. Yet that's not all there is to this evocative word.

The Persistence of Heritage: New and Recent Words from Afrikaans in SA English (1—T)

Afrikaans is long-standing source of words and phrases for SA English. This new series from GQOM, "The Persistence of Heritage," explores some new and recent informal, colloquial, and slang items in SA English that have come from Afrikaans, starting with the letter T: taalbul, tappet, tekere, tjank, and toeka