Afrikaans is a deeply expressive language packed with colorful phrases.

Learning local idioms and slang is the best way to sound more like a native speaker.

Many of these phrases sound completely bizarre when translated literally into English.

If you want to master these everyday expressions, signing up for Talk In Afrikaans is the best place to start.

I’ll show you some of the funniest Afrikaans idioms and slang words used in South Africa today.

Hilarious idioms to learn

As die hoenders tande kry

This phrase literally translates to “when the chickens get teeth.”

It’s the Afrikaans equivalent of saying “when pigs fly” in English.

You use this idiom to describe an event that will absolutely never happen.

Katte skiet

The literal translation of this funny phrase is “shooting cats.”

In reality, this idiom means to vomit or throw up.

It’s usually used to describe someone who’s had way too much to drink.

Hang aan ‘n tak

This phrase literally means “hang on a branch.”

You use this idiom when you want to tell someone to wait a minute or hold on.

It’s a playful way to ask someone to pause before doing something.

Iemand ‘n gat in die kop praat

This interesting phrase literally means “to talk a hole in someone’s head.”

It actually means to persuade someone or talk them into doing something they initially resisted.

You’ll hear this when someone uses their charm to change another person’s mind.

Hare op jou tande hê

The literal translation here is “to have hair on your teeth.”

This idiom is used to describe someone who’s very tough, assertive, and not easily intimidated.

It’s considered a compliment to a person’s resilience.

Common slang words

South Africans use plenty of unique slang words in their daily conversations.

You’ll often hear these words mixed into both Afrikaans and English sentences.

Here’s a table of the most common Afrikaans slang words you need to know.

Regional slang variations

Afrikaans slang can change depending on where you’re traveling in South Africa.

Kaapse Afrikaans, spoken in the Western Cape, has its own unique vocabulary.

Words like aweh are heavily used as a greeting or an expression of agreement in Cape Town.

You’ll also hear the word dala, which means to do something or to fight.

Recognizing these local variations will greatly improve your overall listening comprehension.