South African Slang For Friend (10 Examples!)

Simple slang terms used to refer to friends are among the most common in any local vernacular.

There are usually lots of them that can be used in many subtly different contexts and situations, and this is just as true in South Africa as it is anywhere else.

There are countless different terms that can be used for just about any particular situation.

From the closest most endearing terms of friendship to the kind of quick, everyday terms you might use to address a stranger in the street, they have everything.

Let’s look at some of these slang terms.

Bra

First up we have “bra”, and this has nothing to do with the undergarment!

“Bra” is a common slang term that you would use to address your friend in South Africa.

It can be used to indicate a particular relationship with someone, though it can also be used to address someone that you don’t know very well.

It’s rather like “pal” or “mate” in American or British English.

“Bra, do you want to hit the bar tonight?” for example.

This term is a shortening of the word “brother” an example of a South African slang term which is ultimately borrowed from English.

A theme of South African slang which you’ll come to notice is that there are many different languages spoken in the country, and they are all drawn on for slang terms.

Bro

Next we have “bro”, which is, of course, another variation of abbreviating “brother”.

This one is also very commonly used in South Africa, and depending on where you are it may be the prevailing slang term for friend.

It’s obviously very similar to “bra” and this is often used interchangeably.

Indeed, which one a person appears to use may be more so a simple function of their accent than anything else.

“Have a good night, bro,” for example.

Though, as we’ve seen, this is also a simple shortening of the word “brother,” it’s one of many similar terms used in South African English which also derives from the Afrikaans word broer meaning brother.

Bru

Another variation of this slang term for brother is “bru”.

This one is not one that you will hear much outside of South Africa, and generally has the same sense as “bro” or “bra”.

This is a term that mostly men use for their close friends and not one you’re as likely to hear used in other contexts.

“Come on bru, let’s get going,” for example.

Boet

This one is more or less a directly borrowed term from Afrikaans, and is another slang term used in South African for friends.

Because this one has the more literal sense of brother, as opposed to “bro”, it is more often used as a term for very close friends and those who feel as though they are brothers even if they aren’t literally.

Of course, though, this term can also be used as a term for your actual brother in the sense of closeness. “It’s good to see you again boet,” for example.

It is another variation of the word broer from Afrikaans.

Boetie

Finally in the category of variations of broer, we have “boetie”, a term that literally translates to “little brother”.

Again, this term is usually used as a term of affection among very close friends, particularly to a friend who might be younger than you.

Again, though, it can of course be a term of endearment for your literal younger brother. “Come on boetie, let’s get out of here,” for example.

Chommie

Next we have “chommie,” a common South African slang term for a friend.

It is also sometimes spelled tjommie.

It’s a term that doesn’t necessarily indicate the kind of closeness that you might expect in terms like “boet” or “boetie”.

This one certainly can and is used for friends, though it may also be used as a term to address someone in the street that you don’t know very well.

“Excuse me chommie, I think you dropped this,” for example.

It is thought to be more or less cognate with the English “chum”, and blended with Afrikaans to form this South African variant of the common term.

Maat

This one can have a couple of different meanings, so you may want to be a bit cautious with how you use it. It certainly can, and more often than not does, mean a close friend.

However, it can also sometimes mean a partner like a wife or girlfriend.

“He’s a good maat,” for example.

Again, it’s thought to be cognate with the English word “mate”, although this doesn’t necessarily mean it is derived from this word.

It is another Afrikaans term that is used in both Afrikaans and English-speaking South Africa.

Ntwana yam

Next we have a slang phrase used by Xhosa speaking South Africans, “ntwana yam”, meaning “a friend of yours”.

This is a commonly used slang term by the Xhosa community in South Africa, though generally not used as a term of address.

It’s fairly well understood outside of Xhosa-speaking South Africa, though not universal by any means.

Guzzie

“Guzzie” is an example of South African Indian slang, and a term that simply means friend.

It’s widely used and understood in South Africa by most generations.

It doesn’t carry much specific connotation beyond this, and can be used in many contexts, for close friends or acquaintances.

“Oh hey, guzzie, how’s it going?” for example.

It derives from the Zulu word gaz’lami.

Achuz

Finally we have “achuz,” an example of Kasi or township slang.

If someone is your achuz, it generally means that they are a very close friend and perhaps even someone you might get into trouble with frequently.

The word literally means accused, and so the sense is that it is someone with whom you’ve committed a crim and so you have to appear alongside in court.

“Me and my achuz are going out for some mischief,” for example.

Plainly you are not short on slang terms for friend in South Africa. It’s worth mentioning that South Africa is a polyglot nation, and there are many highly varied cultures in the nation speaking many highly varied languages.

Few of these terms will be used universally by everyone in the country, though many will have a great deal of overlap.

In any case, these are all terms used in South Africa to indicate friend in one way or another.