Tekkie means: An athletic shoe, a trainer, a sneaker.. 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. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
tekkie
(South Africa) An athletic shoe, a trainer, a sneaker.
Etymology timeline
Born ~1980 · no dated citations yetDefinitions
(South Africa) An athletic shoe, a trainer, a sneaker.
Tekkie means: An athletic shoe, a trainer, a sneaker.. 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. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
tekkie means: An athletic shoe, a trainer, a sneaker.. Register: informal, South African English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. Common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; always check the context before producing it yourself.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
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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Semantically related
- takkie83%
(South African English, chiefly, in the plural) An athletic shoe, a trainer, a sneaker.
- tackie73%
(South Africa) A canvas shoe with a rubber sole.
- sneaker71%
(Northeastern US, Florida, Atlantic Canada, Australia, New Zealand) An athletic shoe with a soft, rubber sole. A trainer.
- tackie68%
(Ireland, Limerick) Another word for trainers or runners.
- trainer67%
(UK, Irish) A running shoe or sneaker.