Words That Confused Me (..and then made me smile :)

When I moved here, I thought I spoke English just fine - until I didn’t.

The first time someone said “I’ll do it just now,” I thought it meant ‘right now’. So I waited. And waited. Later I found out it could mean anything from ‘in a bit’ to ‘sometime today’. I had a good laugh about it.

Then there was ‘shame’. Someone said it after I told a funny-but-awkward story, and for a second, I wasn’t sure what they meant. Turns out, they were actually being sweet - it’s just a warm way of showing care.

And of course, there was ‘lekker’.

I kept hearing it everywhere - ‘lekker food’, ‘lekker weather’, ‘have a lekker day!’ I had no idea what it meant at first. But now, I love it. Lekker means nice, cool, fun, tasty, great - all rolled into one. Like a word that gives off good energy.

The one that really stuck? Braai.

I grew up saying ‘barbecue’, but braai is so much more than that. It’s not just about food - it’s about long conversations, laughter, music, stories, and that easy-going atmosphere that somehow makes everyone feel like family. You arrive hungry, and leave full - in every sense. It’s a whole vibe!

Over time, I picked up these little words naturally - not because I had to, but because they just felt good to say. They made everyday conversations feel more relaxed, more local, more connected.

I’ve grown to love these little things - the slang, the mix of languages, the playful way people speak here.

It’s like I’ve added some new flavors that blend naturally with how I speak.

Now, when someone says “I’ll see you just now,” I know exactly what they mean.
And when I say ‘lekker’, I really mean it.

It’s these little things that make settling in feel real.

Language, after all, isn’t just words - it’s connection.

What words or phrases surprised you when you first got here?

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