South African term for traditional Afrikaner home cooking — hearty, no-nonsense food rooted in Dutch and German settler traditions.
South African term for traditional Afrikaner home cooking — hearty, no-nonsense food rooted in Dutch and German settler traditions. Think slow-braised meats, thick stews, potjiekos cooked over fire, rusks dunked in coffee, and generous helpings of everything. Boerekos is deeply tied to Afrikaner cultural identity and nostalgia, representing the kind of food your ouma made. The word literally means 'farmer food' in Afrikaans and carries real pride.
The wedding spread was pure boerekos — lamb chops, boerewors, pumpkin fritters, and melktert for dessert.
Boerekos means: South African term for traditional Afrikaner home cooking - hearty, no-nonsense food rooted in Dutch and German settler traditions. Think slow-braised meats, thick stews, potjiekos cooked over. It is mainly South African English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. This is a food-related word and harmless in itself.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Boerie is South African slang for boerewors, the iconic coiled sausage that is practically a national symbol of the braai culture. Made from beef (and sometimes pork or lamb) with a blend of coriander, cloves, nutmeg, and other spices, a boerie roll — sliced into a hot dog bun with atchar or chakalaka — is the definitive South African street food. Whether it's at a rugby match, a market stall, or someone's backyard braai, there's a boerie somewhere nearby.
(South Africa) A traditional homemade sausage made with spiced minced meat, now commercially available.
South African slang shortening of 'boerewors' -- the traditional South African coiled beef sausage seasoned with coriander and spices. Boerewors is central to South African braai (barbecue) culture, and 'wors' as an abbreviation is completely natural in everyday South African English. Saying 'throw some wors on the braai' is as unremarkable in SA as 'put the sausages on the grill' elsewhere.
Boerekos means: South African term for traditional Afrikaner home cooking - hearty, no-nonsense food rooted in Dutch and German settler traditions. Think slow-braised meats, thick stews, potjiekos cooked over. It is mainly South African English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. This is a food-related word and harmless in itself.
boerekos means: South African term for traditional Afrikaner home cooking - hearty, no-nonsense food rooted in Dutch and German settler traditions. Think slow-braised meats, thick stews,. Register: informal, South African English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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(South Africa) Afrikaner cuisine.
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(South Africa, slang) boerewors.