Essential Afrikaans Vocabulary For Ordering South African Food
Author
South Africa has a rich culinary heritage filled with unique and delicious dishes.
Knowing how to order food in Afrikaans will make your dining experience much more enjoyable.
You’ll quickly impress local waiters and connect better with the people preparing your meals.
This guide will give you the exact vocabulary and phrases you need to confidently order food and drinks in South Africa.
Table of Contents:
Popular South African food vocabulary
Before you learn full sentences, it helps to know the names of traditional South African foods.
South African cuisine is heavily focused on meat, but sweet pastries and unique side dishes are also very common.
Here’s a table of the most famous local foods you’ll see on a menu.
| Afrikaans word | English description |
|---|---|
| Biltong | Cured and dried meat, similar to beef jerky but thicker. |
| Boerewors | A traditional, coarsely minced meat sausage heavily spiced with coriander. |
| Braai | A South African barbecue where meat is cooked over wood coals. |
| Bobotie | A slightly sweet curried mince dish baked with an egg-based topping. |
| Pap | A traditional staple food made from ground maize meal, similar to polenta. |
| Potjiekos | A slow-cooked meat and vegetable stew made in a cast-iron pot over a fire. |
| Koeksister | A braided pastry that is deep-fried and soaked in ice-cold syrup. |
| Melktert | A sweet pastry crust filled with a creamy milk-based custard and dusted with cinnamon. |
There are also interesting regional variations to look out for.
In the Western Cape, the Cape Malay community makes a spicy, cake-like variation of the koeksister which they call a koesister.
You’ll also need to know some basic restaurant vocabulary to navigate your dining experience.
| English | Afrikaans |
|---|---|
| Menu | Spyskaart |
| Waiter | Kelner |
| Waitress | Kelnerin |
| Table | Tafel |
| Food | Kos |
| Drinks | Drankies |
| Water | Water |
| Coffee | Koffie |
Phrases for ordering food and drinks
When you arrive at a restaurant, the host or waiter will usually greet you and ask how they can help.
You can ask for a table using this simple phrase.
‘n Tafel vir twee, asseblief.
Once you’re seated, you’ll likely need to ask to see the food options.
Kan ek die spyskaart kry, asseblief?
Waiters will often ask you what you want to drink before you order your main meal.
To order anything in Afrikaans, you can politely use the phrase ek wil graag … hê (I’d like to have).
Ek wil graag ‘n koffie hê, asseblief.
Ek wil graag ‘n glas water hê.
When it’s time to order your food, you can use the exact same sentence structure.
Ek wil graag die bobotie hê, asseblief.
Colloquially, you might also hear locals use the phrase ek soek when ordering.
This literally translates to “I’m looking for,” but it’s commonly used to mean “I want” in a casual restaurant setting.
Ek soek ‘n bier, asseblief.
Dietary requirements and preferences
South African restaurants are usually very accommodating when it comes to dietary restrictions.
If you don’t eat meat, you’ll want to know how to state your preferences clearly.
Ek is ‘n vegetariër.
Het julle veganistiese opsies?
Ek eet nie vleis nie.
Food allergies are also taken very seriously in South African hospitality.
You can notify your waiter about an allergy using the word allergies (allergic).
Ek is allergies vir neute.
Ek is allergies vir suiwel.
Asking for the bill and saying thank you
In South Africa, waiters generally won’t bring the bill to your table until you specifically ask for it.
When you’re finished eating and ready to leave, you can politely catch your waiter’s attention.
Kan ek die rekening kry, asseblief?
It’s customary to tip your waiter in South Africa if you received good service.
A standard tip is usually around 10% to 15% of the total amount on the bill.
Before you leave, you can thank the restaurant staff for the delicious meal.
Die kos was baie lekker.
Baie dankie, lekker dag verder.
