Blab Entertainment
Jemma Durrants South African Slang Glossary Brings Cultural Insight to Calabasas
When Netflix’s Calabasas Confidential rolls out its latest episode, the audience is met not only with glitzy homes and dramatic dinner parties but also with a linguistic bridge that spans continents. A short video posted by South African‑born star Jemma Durrant and her parents, Brett and Athene, showcases the South African slang that has followed them from Cape Town to Calabasas, offering a fresh lens on everyday language.
The clip, shared on social media and quickly shared by fans and neighbors alike, walks viewers through a curated list of South Africanisms that now echo through a California kitchen. The family explains how words like “cool drink,” “braai,” and “bakkie” carry cultural weight beyond their literal meanings, turning a casual kitchen tour into an unexpected language lesson.
First on the list is the everyday “cool drink,” a term that simply means soft drink or soda in South Africa. The Durrants then introduce the “braai,” a barbecue that the family describes as a more sacred ritual than its American counterpart. They note that the word “bakkie,” a pickup truck, required a brief comparison to a large truck for their American viewers. When talking about fuel, the family points out that “petrol” becomes “gas” in the Californian context, and a “jol” is a good time or party.
Clothing terms can trip up English speakers as well. “Takkies” are sneakers, while “slops” (sometimes spelled “slip‑slops”) are flip‑flops, items often worn at a braai. The video also reveals a surprising cultural twist: what South Africans call a “costume” is actually a swimsuit.
The glossary then dives into words that are less about vocabulary and more about cultural concepts. In South Africa, a “robot” is a traffic light, not a mechanical device. The Durrants clarify the confusing trio of “now,” “just now,” and “now‑now.” While “now‑now” indicates a time sooner than “just now,” it remains an indeterminate, vague expression that sits between “soon” and “later.”
Other entries capture feelings that lack direct English equivalents. “Lekker” means nice, cool, or great, depending on context, and “kiff” is a shorter, more clipped version of the same idea. A casual greeting of “How’s it?” is not a question that requires an answer; it is simply a friendly hello. The phrase “you’re being ugly” does not refer to appearance but to calling someone nasty or badly behaved. Finally, “sis” is an all‑purpose exclamation of disgust that functions similarly to “Jesus” in English.
The video’s release coincided with the ongoing popularity of Calabasas Confidential, which has already drawn attention to the lifestyle of its star residents. By sharing this glossary, the Durrants provide a window into South African English—a dialect that blends English with Afrikaans, indigenous languages, and other influences. The clip has already been viewed over a million times on social media, indicating a strong interest in cross‑cultural language and lifestyle.
The Durrants’ effort also illustrates how reality‑TV personalities can act as informal cultural ambassadors. While the show focuses on drama and luxury, the family’s willingness to explain their linguistic heritage adds depth to the narrative and offers viewers a chance to learn about South African slang in a casual, relatable setting.
At present, the video remains a popular reference for fans of the show and for anyone curious about South African English. The Durrants have not announced further language‑related content, but the clip’s success suggests that there is an appetite for more cultural explanations from the family’s future episodes.
In a world where English evolves differently across regions, this concise guide to South African slang serves as a bridge between two distinct cultural contexts, highlighting the diversity of English usage worldwide.
The clip, shared on social media and quickly shared by fans and neighbors alike, walks viewers through a curated list of South Africanisms that now echo through a California kitchen. The family explains how words like “cool drink,” “braai,” and “bakkie” carry cultural weight beyond their literal meanings, turning a casual kitchen tour into an unexpected language lesson.
First on the list is the everyday “cool drink,” a term that simply means soft drink or soda in South Africa. The Durrants then introduce the “braai,” a barbecue that the family describes as a more sacred ritual than its American counterpart. They note that the word “bakkie,” a pickup truck, required a brief comparison to a large truck for their American viewers. When talking about fuel, the family points out that “petrol” becomes “gas” in the Californian context, and a “jol” is a good time or party.
Clothing terms can trip up English speakers as well. “Takkies” are sneakers, while “slops” (sometimes spelled “slip‑slops”) are flip‑flops, items often worn at a braai. The video also reveals a surprising cultural twist: what South Africans call a “costume” is actually a swimsuit.
The glossary then dives into words that are less about vocabulary and more about cultural concepts. In South Africa, a “robot” is a traffic light, not a mechanical device. The Durrants clarify the confusing trio of “now,” “just now,” and “now‑now.” While “now‑now” indicates a time sooner than “just now,” it remains an indeterminate, vague expression that sits between “soon” and “later.”
Other entries capture feelings that lack direct English equivalents. “Lekker” means nice, cool, or great, depending on context, and “kiff” is a shorter, more clipped version of the same idea. A casual greeting of “How’s it?” is not a question that requires an answer; it is simply a friendly hello. The phrase “you’re being ugly” does not refer to appearance but to calling someone nasty or badly behaved. Finally, “sis” is an all‑purpose exclamation of disgust that functions similarly to “Jesus” in English.
The video’s release coincided with the ongoing popularity of Calabasas Confidential, which has already drawn attention to the lifestyle of its star residents. By sharing this glossary, the Durrants provide a window into South African English—a dialect that blends English with Afrikaans, indigenous languages, and other influences. The clip has already been viewed over a million times on social media, indicating a strong interest in cross‑cultural language and lifestyle.
The Durrants’ effort also illustrates how reality‑TV personalities can act as informal cultural ambassadors. While the show focuses on drama and luxury, the family’s willingness to explain their linguistic heritage adds depth to the narrative and offers viewers a chance to learn about South African slang in a casual, relatable setting.
At present, the video remains a popular reference for fans of the show and for anyone curious about South African English. The Durrants have not announced further language‑related content, but the clip’s success suggests that there is an appetite for more cultural explanations from the family’s future episodes.
In a world where English evolves differently across regions, this concise guide to South African slang serves as a bridge between two distinct cultural contexts, highlighting the diversity of English usage worldwide.
