By Daniëlle Gerber
When you first come to Stellenbosch, it might feel like the locals are speaking an entirely different language than you. This may be due to Stellenbosch being a melting pot of different cultures and their colloquial terminology, forming a unique Stellenbosch culture. There are many terms in daily conversation that you may not have heard outside of Stellenbosch, but you do not have to stay confused! Here are some of the most commonly used terms to introduce you to Stellenbosch lingo:
– Klein Saterdag
This term might be common amongst several universities in South Africa, yet uncommon for people outside of this demographic. ‘Klein Saterdag’ is an Afrikaans phrase that means ‘Small Saturday’ and is used to describe the going-out culture on Wednesday nights. Wednesdays are usually the most popular nights to go out during the week amongst students. The label ‘Klein Saterdag’ itself can be seen as a driver behind deciding to go out – but to each their own.
– Golden Week
Golden Week also pertains to the going-out culture of Stellenbosch University. It is an informal campus event where students attempt to go out every night of the first week of a semester. Expect long lines and hungover mornings as a consequence of this festivity.
– ‘Lus’
‘Lus’ is another Afrikaans word that gets thrown into sentences. ‘Lus’ loosely translates to ‘in the mood for’ in English, and can be used in any sentence where you are, well, not in the mood to do something. Hear it commonly used as I am not lus for… It comes in very handy and might be worth adding to your own vocabulary!
– Maties
This is a very common term on the Stellenbosch Campus, and you might already know its use – Maties is the name used for the Stellenbosch University student body. Its origin is uncertain, with many suggestions, such as, that it comes from ‘tamatie’ (Afrikaans for tomato) due to the university’s red colouring, or from the Afrikaans ‘maatjie’, meaning friend[i].
Different concept but same category:
This might not be directly related, but a big confusing factor of Stellenbosch is a specific fashion trend – namely plakkies and K-way jackets. Is it hot or is it cold? This fashion trend has definitely raised some eyebrows.
There you have it, some terms you might hear in and around Stellenbosch. Whether you use them daily, or they still hold vagueness, it is a rich addition to the Stellenbosch culture. What are some of your favourite Stellenbosch words and which just do not make sense to you?
[i] Elodi Troskie. Our nickname is Maties, but what does it mean? [Online: Die Matie]
