When Time Fails (Silverman Saga Book 2) (28 page)

ANC
- African National Congress – one of the liberation movements involved in the fight against Apartheid. Won the first democratic elections (with Nelson Mandela as President) and continues to be the ruling party in South Africa.

APLA
- Azanian People’s Liberation Army – the military wing of the PAC

Armed Struggle
-
The struggle by liberation movements such as the ANC and PAC against the Apartheid regime in South Africa

Baas
-
Boss

Bakkie
-
Pick-up truck

Bangbroek
  -
Cowardly (literally: scaredy pants)

Bioscope
-
Cinema

Boer
-
A farmer. Can be used pejoratively to refer to or imply a right-wing, racist (usually Afrikaans-speaking) person.

Boer War
- Also known as Anglo Boer War and South African War. The 1899 – 1902 war between the Boer Republics (Zuid Afrikaanse Republic – later Transvaal in the Union of South Africa; and Orange Free State) and the United Kingdom.

Boereboontjies
-
A popular dish of mashed green beans and potato

Boervrou
-
Farmer’s wife

Boontjiebredie
-
Bean stew

Boud
-
Roast meat – usually a leg of lamb/mutton

Braai
-
Barbeque

Brak
-
Mongrel

Broekie lace
-
Metal filigree decoration

Charfing
-
Teasing

Commie
-
Communist – used generically to refer to anyone who opposed the Apartheid government

Cozzie
-
Swimming costume

Dankie Vader
-
Thank you Father

Doek
-
Headscarf

Dof
-
Stupid

Dominee
-
Reverend

Donner
-
Beat up

Dop
-
Alcoholic drink

Dorp
-
Town or village

Eina
-
Ouch. An expression of pain. A child’s way of referring to an injury.

Flick
-
Movie

Haai
-
Hey!

Hamba
-
Go

Hendsopper
-
Literally: someone who puts their hands up. Used pejoratively for thos
e
boe
r
fighters who surrendered during the Anglo Boer War.

Hotnot
-
Pejorative term for a Coloured (mixed race) person

Kaffirs
-
(Pejorative) blacks (niggers)

Khaya
-
House. Used to refer to the houses or compound where workers live

Klaared out
-
Finished National Service/ literally: cleared out (of the army)

Koppie
-
Little hill/ very small mountain

Jislaaik / Jissie
-
Expression of surprise like Goodness gracious/Gee Wizz

Kleinmissie
-
Young miss (polite way to address the boss’ daughter)

Laaitie
-
Young boy

Lappie
-
Rag or cloth

Liefie
-
Lovie / darling

Lokshin
-
Colloquial name for the black township usually found on the outskirts of white towns

Maties
- Stellenbosch University

MK
- Umkhonto we Sizwe – Spear of the Nation. The military wing of the ANC

Mma
-
(Sotho) Mother. Also a polite way to address an older woman, even a stranger.

Moffie
-
Homosexual

Nou hier kom ’n ding
-
Expression that roughly means: trouble is on the way

Oke
-
Guy/bloke

Oom
- Uncle – also a polite way to address an older man, even a stranger.

Ouderling
-
Elder

Ouma
-
Grandmother

Oupa
-
Grandfather

Pa se klein bulletjie
-
Daddy’s little bull – an affectionate way to refer to a boy child

PAC
- Pan African Congress - one of the liberation movements involved in the fight against Apartheid

Pap
-
Maize meal porridge

Pastorie
-
Rectory

Plaasjapie
-
Country bumpkin

Posbus
-
P O Box

Pragtig
-
Pretty

Radio Sonder Grense
-
A popular national Afrikaans radio station

Robot
-
Traffic light

Seun
-
Boy / son

Skinner
-
Malicious gossip

Stoep
-
Verandah or patio

Tannie
- Aunt. Also a polite way to address an older woman, even a stranger.

Terr
-
Terrorist

The border
- Literally, the border between South West Africa (now Namibia) and Angola where a decades-long war between South Africa and its allies, and their opponents in Angola and South West Africa took place. South African conscripts sent to fight in the conflict were “going to the border”.

Tjhee
-
No

Tukkies
- Pretoria University

Umkhonto we Sizwe
- Spear of the Nation – the military wing of the African National Congress

Voortrekkers
- Dutch/Afrikaans farmers/pioneers who moved away from the British rule in the Cape Colony in the 1830’s and settled in the interior of the country.