How do you explain the word “sommer” to an Australian? or an Engelsman or to
anyone else, for that matter. It’s not only a foreign word, it’s a foreign
concept.
Perhaps the English never do anything “just sommer”.
But when I’ve explained it, it’s been adopted enthusiastically here.
Although there’s no Australian equivalent either, they take to the idea of
it.
“Why are you laughing? Just sommer.”
“Bakkie” is another one of those useful “portmanteau” words (see – English
doesn’t have a word for that, either), very useful around this House, for
all sizes and shapes of containers and dishes.
Also used for what they call “utes” in OZ.
I find it an indispensable word.
We all know “voetstoots” of course. It’s been officially adopted into South
African English.
There’s no concise, one-word equivalent in English. “As is”
just doesn’t hack it.
And it’s such a humorous word, conjuring up images of pushing that brand new
car home…
There’s no good English word for “dwaal”.
It doesn’t mean dream, or Daze.
It’s close to absent-mindedness, but that’s not quite it.
Being in one so often myself, I’m not likely to stop using it.
I think “gogga” is the most delightful word for insect I’ve ever heard.
Children all over the world should use it.
“Insect” just doesn’t stand a chance.
And I think “moffie” is a far better word than all those embarrassed English
attempts at defining a homosexual: gay, queer, poofter, etc.
aren’t half as expressive.
Somehow “moffie” doesn’t sound as derogatory either.
And then there’s “gatvol”.
OK, I know it’s very rude. But it’s so very expressive, NE?
“Fed up” doesn’t have half the impact.
It’s like Blancmange in comparison.
“Gatvol” is a word used more frequently than ever in the workplace these
days, with increasing intensity.
While we’re on the subject, another phrase which outstrips any English
attempt is “Hy sal sy gat sien”. (Also rude).
“He’ll get his come-uppance” is like milquetoast in comparison.
It definitely lacks the relish.
“Donder” is another very useful word, used as an all-purpose swearword,
which again has no good English translation.
Used as a verb, it can express any degree of roughing up.
As a noun, it is a pejorative, as they politely say in dictionaries, to mean
whatever you want it to mean.
And there’s no good translation for “skiet-en-donder” either.
It says something about the English that they have no word for “jol”.
Probably the dictionary compilers regard it as slang, but it’s widely
used for “Going out on the town, kicking up your heels, enjoying
yourself…” Not just getting PISSED out of your Skull. (See, there’s
no English translation)
Although curiously, the word “Yule” in Yuletide is related to “jol” and
derived from Old English.
So Somewhere along the line, the English forgot how to “jol”.
I’ve yet to meet a South African over the age of two who doesn’t use the
word “muti”.
Translation is impossible – “witches potion” is about the nearest I can get.
It needs a long cultural historical explanation.
Between “muti” and the pedantic “medication” , there’s simply no contest.
And of course, my personal favourite “Kak en betaal” , which just says
it all, doesn’t it?
A bland and effete English translation would be “Cough and pay”, or “Breathe
and pay”.
But it just doesn’t cut it, does it?
Not by a long drop.
POST SCRIPT These are wonderful. Other words that come to mind:
jou bliksem, wag ‘n bietjie, nie so haastig nie, just now,
sakkie-sakkie music, ou swaer, Ya, nee, How are you? No, I’m fine thanks?
How do you explain the passion of “LEKKER!”? Wow last night was a “lekker
jol”
Dudu or doeks. Telling your infant to go to bed is just not the same as: “Go
dudu now my baby!”
How about ‘bliksem” – I’m going to bliksem you or ek gaan jou donder!
Both wonderful Afrikaans expressions with nothing to compare in the
English language, at least nothing that gives the same satisfaction.
Trapsuutjies………..the way certain maids and others work. Slowcoach
just doesn’t do it, hey
So first – Mielie pap – there is no word like pap, here… they have
porridge, and when
they say porridge, they mean oats.
There’s no Maltabela, no Tasty Wheat, No Creemy Meal…
In other words, there’s no pap!
Mislik – such a ‘lekker’ word, and one that my kids are familiar with.
‘Why are you so mislik, you little skelm?
Do you want a snot-klap?’
Which brings us to skelm – here you just get ‘baddies’, but that
doesn’t have the same sneaky connotation of a proper skelm, does it?!
And snot-klap… fabulous word! How would you say that in English?
‘I’ll slap you so hard the snot will fly?’ Yuk! Just not the same.
Loskop is another favourite. The English just don’t understand when I
say ‘Sorry, I forgot – I’m such a loskop!’ ha ha
Finally, moer! There simply isn’t a word here that denotes the feeling
behind ‘If you don’t clean your room, I’ll moer you!’
