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Meanings of commonly used phrases in South Africa
Sometimes (white) South Africans are left wondering as to the meanings of certain African language phrases/expressions etc. that we may hear often.
| Term | Meaning | Explanation |
| Yebo Gogo | "Yes Grandma" | This is well-known from the advertising of telecommunications company Vodacom. (Sometimes unwittingly used by people as a general greeting) |
| Ubuntu | Humanity | Principle of humanity |
| Batho Pele | "People First" | The motto of the South African civil service |
| Bafana Bafana | "The Boys" | Name of South Africa's national soccer team |
| Banyana Banyana | "The Girls" | South African senior women's football squad |
| On TV: | ||
| Ya Mampela | "The Real Thing" | SABC 1's new name (since discontinued, because it was WRONG!) |
| Simunye | "We are one" | SABC 1's old name |
| Motswako | The Mix ("mixture") | Talk show on SABC 2 |
| Yizo Yizo | "This is it", "This is reality", "That's the way it is", "This is how things are" | A (very good IMO) drama series on SABC1 on Thursday nights |