chommie
South African slang for a friend or chum — a close companion.
Definitions
South African slang for a friend or chum — a close companion. Widely used across South Africa in informal speech, the word carries warmth and familiarity. In a separate, more vulgar sense, it is also slang for the perineum. Context makes which meaning is intended entirely clear in practice.
'My chommie's been staying with me while he sorts his place out,' she explained.
Comments
(South Africa, slang) The perineum.
'Chommie' (sometimes 'chommy') is South African English meaning 'mate' or 'friend'. It comes from the Afrikaans 'tjommie' (with a 'ch' sound) and is used warmly and informally. 'Howzit chommie' is just 'hi mate'. If your teen says it they have probably picked it up from South African YouTubers, gamers or musicians like Tyla and Tyler ICU, whose tracks have gone global. It is friendly and harmless. No coded meaning — it is simply the South African flavour of 'buddy'.
'Chommie' is South African informal English for 'friend' or 'mate', borrowed from Afrikaans 'tjommie'. Pronounce /ˈtʃɒmi/ — the 'ch' is like in English 'church'. Register: warm, conversational, very common in South African speech. In formal English use 'friend' or 'colleague'. A common learner mistake is to confuse the spelling: both 'chommie' and 'tjommie' exist; use 'chommie' when writing in English. Typically a term of address ('thanks, chommie') rather than a third-person noun.
Comments
(South Africa, slang) A friend; a chum.
'Chommie' (sometimes 'chommy') is South African English meaning 'mate' or 'friend'. It comes from the Afrikaans 'tjommie' (with a 'ch' sound) and is used warmly and informally. 'Howzit chommie' is just 'hi mate'. If your teen says it they have probably picked it up from South African YouTubers, gamers or musicians like Tyla and Tyler ICU, whose tracks have gone global. It is friendly and harmless. No coded meaning — it is simply the South African flavour of 'buddy'.
'Chommie' is South African informal English for 'friend' or 'mate', borrowed from Afrikaans 'tjommie'. Pronounce /ˈtʃɒmi/ — the 'ch' is like in English 'church'. Register: warm, conversational, very common in South African speech. In formal English use 'friend' or 'colleague'. A common learner mistake is to confuse the spelling: both 'chommie' and 'tjommie' exist; use 'chommie' when writing in English. Typically a term of address ('thanks, chommie') rather than a third-person noun.
Comments
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A warm, slightly old-fashioned English word meaning friendly and closely acquainted — the kind of matey, comfortable closeness between people who know each other well. If two people are being chummy, they're bonding, laughing together, and acting like old pals. It can be used approvingly ('they've become quite chummy') or with a mild edge of suspicion ('they're very chummy all of a sudden'). The word has a cosy, slightly round quality to it — nobody says 'chummy' while being serious, and that's sort of the point.