jol
Low/Regional. Common in South African English; rare or dialectal in other varieties.Informal, colloquial, slang.
Definition
Meaning
(noun) A party, celebration, or social gathering, often implying fun, festivity, and a good time. (verb) To attend or enjoy such a party.
Informally used to describe any enjoyable, lively event or experience. Can also imply a sense of revelry or a slightly wild, carefree atmosphere.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word carries strong connotations of social enjoyment and informal celebration. It is not used for formal gatherings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Not standard in mainstream British or American English. It is a loanword from Afrikaans, central to South African English slang. British or American speakers would likely use 'party', 'bash', 'shindig', 'get-together'.
Connotations
In SAE, it's a positive, common term. Elsewhere, it would be unrecognized or perceived as a foreign word.
Frequency
Very high frequency in South African English informal contexts. Virtually zero frequency in other dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to have a jolto go to a jolto be a jolto jol (verb)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a jol and a half.”
- “Don't be a jol-blocker.”
- “Jol till you drop.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Common in South African informal conversation among friends and peers.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We jolled all night at the beach braai.
- Are you jolling this weekend?
American English
- They jolled until the sun came up.
- Let's jol at the new club.
adverb
British English
- They were dancing jolly (note: not 'joll-ly', but 'jol' as a humorous adverb)
- He lives his life quite jol.
American English
- Let's play this game jol style.
- She partied jol hard.
adjective
British English
- It was a proper jol atmosphere.
- He's a jol kind of guy.
American English
- That's a jol place to hang out.
- We had a jol time.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We had a jol at the park.
- My birthday was a fun jol.
- The wedding turned into a real jol with music and dancing.
- Are you going to the jol at Mark's house tomorrow?
- Despite the rain, the outdoor concert was an absolute jol.
- He's known for organising the most memorable jols in the neighbourhood.
- The clandestine rooftop jol was the talk of the town for weeks.
- They managed to jol through the final exams, celebrating with a massive party.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of JOL as 'Joyful Outing with Laughter'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PARTY IS A VEHICLE FOR FUN (e.g., 'That jol was a real ride!').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the Russian word "ёлки" or transliterate it to жол. It is a specific slang term with no direct Russian equivalent for 'party' (вечеринка).
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it outside a South African context and expecting comprehension.
- Spelling it as 'joll'.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'jol' a standard informal term?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is a loanword from Afrikaans and is predominantly used in South African English. It is not part of standard international English vocabulary.
No, it is informal slang and inappropriate for formal or academic writing. Use 'party', 'celebration', or 'social gathering' instead.
Yes, in South African English, it can be used as a verb meaning 'to party' or 'to have a good time', e.g., 'We jolled all night.'
The closest equivalents in meaning and register are 'bash', 'party', or 'shindig'.