Glossary
Africana
Technically a term which means all things connected to Africa, but now commonly used to refer to books, furniture, paintings and objects of special importance or interest to Southern Africa, although not necessarily manufactured in this region.
Bakkie
A van or light truck comprising a cabin and open back, often used for the transportation of goods.
Boerekos
Traditional South African farm-style or country cooking. Boer means farmer.
Bobotie
A traditional Cape dish made from minced meat & spices, covered with a savory egg custard and baked in the oven.
Boerekos
Traditional South African farm-style or country cooking. Boer means farmer.
Boma
A fence or enclosure made of wooden posts, traditionally used for herding cattle but nowadays commonly used at safari lodges to shelter an area where guests can sit outside.
Braai
A social occasion where the focus is the cooking of meat over an open fire or coals. The local equivalent to a barbeque
Braaivleis
Meat which has been cooked on an open fire or braai.
Broekie Lace
Ornamental Victorian-style wrought iron work, often seen as edging around verandahs or stoeps
Foefie Slide
A cable mechanism used to cross a piece of land or stretch of water. Known in Australia and New Zealand as a flying fox.
Boma
A fence or enclosure made of wooden posts, traditionally used for herding cattle but nowadays commonly used at safari lodges to shelter an area where guests can sit outside.
Hartebeeshuisie
A temporary shelter built of wattle and daub by the Voortrekkers/early European settlers in South Africa.
Koeksisters
A doughnut mixture which is platted, then fried, then dipped in syrup.
Koppie
A hillock, either flat-topped or pointed.
Krummelpap
Crumbly, dry-cooked pap. Eaten as a breakfast food or as accompaniment to meat and gravy.
Lapa
A temporary shelter built of wattle and daub by the Voortrekkers/early European settlers in South Africa.
Melktert
A custard tart, which is sometimes lightly flavoured with almond, and sprinkled with cinnamon.
Moerkoffie
Coffee made with ground coffee beans, rather than instant coffee.
Pap
A type of porridge made from ground maize meal. Traditionally it is a staple food for many of South Africa's indigenous peoples.
Petrol
Commonly known as gasoline.
Potjie
A heavy iron pot with three legs (usually black), used for cooking over an open fire.
Potjiekos
Chairs with wooden frames, the seats and backs of which are made from thin strips of softened hide.
Rietdak Ceiling
A reed ceiling
Robot
Commonly known as a traffic light
Rondavel
A circular dwelling, often with a thatched roof, resembling a traditional round African home.
Rusk
A light dough that is baked until crisp. Sometimes contains dried fruit, muesli or other flavouring ingredients.
Skottelbraai
Originally, the round piece of a plough was used as a dish cover on an open fire. Nowadays, a wok-shaped metal pan is manufactured for this purpose and heat is supplied by a gas bottle
Sosatie
A kebab, meat on a skewer.
Spitbraai
A large pointed rod on which meat (usually a whole beast) is skewered and cooked over an open fire.
Stoep
Verandah or porch
Watterblommetjie
A waxy flower that grows in water and resembles a water lily. Although there are 44 species of Aponogeton distachyos, Cape pondweed and water hawthorn are the two that are most commonly grown, then harvested for use in waterblommetjiebredie.
Wors
Sausage often called boerewors.