Uitlander means: A foreigner; outlander.. 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.
uitlander
(South Africa) A foreigner; outlander.
Etymology timeline
Born ~1890 · no dated citations yetDefinitions
(South Africa) A foreigner; outlander.
Uitlander means: A foreigner; outlander.. 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.
uitlander means: A foreigner; outlander.. 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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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
- auslander80%
Used in South African English, auslander (also spelled uitlander) refers to a foreigner or outsider — someone not native to the country or region. The term was historically significant in late 19th-century South Africa, where Uitlanders (mostly British immigrants drawn to the Transvaal gold fields) were denied voting rights by the Boer government, a grievance that contributed to the Second Boer War. In modern casual use it simply means a foreign newcomer.
- auslander80%
(South Africa) A foreigner.
- soutie63%
(South Africa, Army slang, vulgar) An Englishman in South Africa or a white English speaking South African of British descent.
- outstater61%
(US) Someone from a different state.
- umlungu60%
(South Africa, often, derogatory) A white person.