South Africa is a country rich in linguistic diversity, and that means there’s no shortage of ways to say something is cool.
One of the most widely used slang terms is “kief” which has been around for generations.
That’s just the start. You’ll also hear words like “bakgat,” “befok,” and “kwaai,” each with its own unique shade of meaning.
With 11 official languages and countless regional dialects, South African slang is a blend of cultures, influences, and histories.
That makes for an ever-evolving list of words for cool.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones.
South African Slang For Cool
Bakgat
“Bakgat” is a popular South African slang word that conveys something is great, well done, or impressive.
It is widely used among Afrikaans speakers but is also recognized by many others in the country.
The term is often used to congratulate someone on an achievement or to describe something exceptionally good.
It has a strong positive connotation and can apply to people, situations, or objects.
Examples in sentences:
- “You finished your degree? Bakgat, man!”
- “That was a bakgat performance!”
- “This new car of yours is absolutely bakgat.”
- “Bakgat idea! Let’s go on a road trip.”
- “Your braai skills are bakgat, the food was amazing.”
Befok
“Befok” is a versatile South African slang term with multiple meanings.
In a positive sense, it means something is exciting, excellent, or really cool.
However, it can also mean “crazy” in certain contexts, so the meaning depends on how it’s used.
The word originates from Afrikaans and is commonly used by Afrikaans speakers, though many English-speaking South Africans also understand and use it.
Examples in sentences:
- “That concert was absolutely befok!”
- “This new bakkie is befok, it handles so well off-road.”
- “I’m so excited for the match, it’s going to be befok.”
- “He went completely befok when he won the lottery.”
- “You must be befok to try bungee jumping from that height!”
Kief
Kief is a widely used term in South Africa to describe something positive, exciting, or impressive.
It’s most commonly heard in Afrikaans and English-speaking communities.
The word originates from Arabic and likely entered South African slang through Afrikaans.
It was initially associated with cannabis culture, referring to a potent form of marijuana, but over time, it evolved into a general term for anything enjoyable or excellent.
Examples in sentences:
- “That surf session was totally kief!”
- “Check out his new ride—it’s kief.”
- “We had a kief weekend camping in the mountains.”
- “That was a kief joke, I can’t stop laughing!”
- “The weather today is absolutely kief.”
Kwaai
“Kwaai” is a widely used slang term in South Africa, often used to describe something impressive, stylish, or exciting.
Despite its original Afrikaans meaning of “angry” or “fierce,” the slang version has taken on a positive connotation, similar to how “bad” can mean “good” in English slang.
The word is particularly popular in urban and youth culture, where it’s used to compliment people, fashion, music, or events.
Examples in sentences:
- “That jacket is kwaai, where did you get it?”
- “We had a kwaai time at the party last night.”
- “That car looks kwaai with those new rims!”
- “He’s got some kwaai dance moves.”
- “Your new haircut is kwaai, I love it!”
Lekker
“Lekker” is one of the most commonly used slang words in South Africa.
It can describe anything enjoyable, from food to experiences to people.
While it originates from Afrikaans, it is used by people from all language backgrounds in South Africa.
The word comes from Dutch, where it originally meant “tasty,” but in South Africa, it has taken on a broader meaning to describe anything pleasant or excellent.
Examples in sentences:
- “That was such a lekker meal!”
- “We had a lekker time at the beach.”
- “Your new car is really lekker.”
- “It’s a lekker day for a braai.”
- “She’s a lekker person, always so friendly.”
Piele
“Piele” is a casual slang word in South Africa, used to indicate that everything is fine, relaxed, or under control.
It’s often used in response to a question about how things are going, similar to saying “no worries” or “it’s all good” in English.
The word is typically used in Afrikaans-speaking communities but has spread into broader South African slang, particularly among younger generations.
Examples in sentences:
- “Don’t stress, everything’s piele.”
- “How’s your day been?” – “Ah, piele, man!”
- “No worries, it’s all piele on my side.”
- “That road trip was piele—perfect weather and no traffic!”
- “Your new setup looks piele, dude!”
Vibe
In South Africa, “vibe” is a popular slang word that refers to the energy or feeling of a place, event, or even a person.
It can be used positively to describe something as fun, exciting, or simply cool.
The term is widely used across different age groups and social circles, often in casual conversation when talking about music, social gatherings, or general experiences.
Examples in sentences:
- “This party has such a cool vibe!”
- “I love the vibe of this restaurant—so chilled.”
- “That DJ is bringing serious vibes tonight.”
- “She’s got a great vibe—super friendly and fun.”
- “We need to find a beach with a good vibe for the weekend.”
So, South Africans as a whole certainly have many words for cool.
However, given the linguistic diversity, most tend to be used by a smaller number of people rather than as a whole.
That said, there certainly are some universal terms such as “kief”, though again you will still find many people who do not use the term.
It’s certainly more complex than you might at first expect.
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Founder -
@PollyWebster
Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.
Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.
Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.