The Oxford English Dictionary has announced its latest update which includes a selection of words from South Africa.

Among the words are ‘Hok’ and ‘hokkie’ which both describe various kinds of small or confined spaces: a booth, a shack, or an enclosure for domestic animals.

A ‘lapa’ is a courtyard used for cooking, eating and socialising, typically enclosed by a fence or wall and sometimes covered by a roof.

‘Lekgotla’ is an enclosure or public space where community assemblies take place, a gathering of the people of a village or community to discuss important issues, and a traditional court of law consisting of village members.

Two words of Zulu origin are included in the update. ‘Imbizo’ is a meeting or gathering of the Zulu people called by a traditional leader, while’ isicathamiya’ is a style of unaccompanied singing originating amongst rural Zulu male choirs.

Wherever you are in South Africa, it’s unlikely you will be ‘dof’ (dim-witted or uninformed) enough not to know that Joburg and Jozi are nicknames for the city of Johannesburg.

Nor to be unfamiliar with ‘bok’, which, in addition to describing an antelope or goat, is a nickname for a South African sports team, especially the national rugby team.

Let’s hope no member of the team is a ‘hensopper’, a person who gives up on something (the term was originated as a term for a Boer who surrendered to the British during the Boer War).

Another fun word included is ‘gramadoelas’, a word for a remote rural region, especially one regarded as unsophisticated or uncultured.

Yebo yes, South Africans can be very proud of the local words making the rounds around the world.

Phillip Louw, dictionary content development manager at OUP SA, says, “It is really exciting to be involved in the OED’s efforts to document South African English more comprehensively. As a historical dictionary, the OED not only captures the development of our unique variety of English, but also the history of our country as it’s reflected in the language that we use to define our reality. The picture is not always a simple one, though, and this latest update is no exception: the included words bear witness to a painful past and attempts at redress, while also casting light on the rich cultural diversity of our nation.”