ag oh; used to express exasperation
amasi thick, soured milk
bayete Zulu royal greeting
beskuit rusks
blerrie bloody (slang)
boeretroost literally ‘Afrikaner comfort’; ground coffee in a linen bag suspended in boiling water
disselbooms shafts of ox wagons to which the oxen are yoked
Dopper member of the Gereformeerde Kerk in Suid-Afrika, distinguishable by the short jackets worn instead of the traditional frock coat
droogtewindjie cool, drought wind
eina! exclamation of pain; ouch!
fie exclamation of distaste or mock dismay
indunas headmen or councillors apppointed by a chief
ja yes
ja-nee literally yes-no; that’s a fact
katel a lightweight, portable bed; also called a trek bed
knobkieries wooden war club with a round knob at the end
koppie small hill
liefie term of affection, Afrikaans for ‘lovey’
linnekas linen cupboard
Nagmaal Holy Communion, traditionally celebrated quarterly in the Dutch Reformed Church
Ons Huisie literally ‘Our House’
oupa grandfather
riem a strip of softened hide used instead of rope
riempie a narrow strip of softened hide used for thonging seats and the backs of chairs
siestog an expression of sympathy or pity
sjoe! phew!
skof a stage or leg of a journey
tant aunt
velskoene literally ‘hide shoes’; hand-made shoes of untanned hide
verdomde damned, accursed
vetkoek a deep-fried cake, similar to a doughnut
voorkamer the front room of a house
voorlopers usually young coloured boys, who lead a span of oxen