south african: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, neutral, geographical, political
Quick answer
What does “south african” mean?
Relating to or originating from South Africa, its people, culture, or geography.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to or originating from South Africa, its people, culture, or geography.
Pertaining to the Republic of South Africa; a citizen or native of South Africa; characteristic of South African culture, languages, or products.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the term identically to refer to the country and its attributes.
Connotations
Neutral geographical/political designation in both varieties. Historical and political context may influence perception.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties, correlating with news coverage, travel, sports, and trade related to South Africa.
Grammar
How to Use “south african” in a Sentence
[be] + South African[of] South African originSouth African + nounVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “south african” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- We enjoyed a superb South African Chenin Blanc with dinner.
- The South African High Commission issued a new travel advisory.
American English
- She collects contemporary South African art.
- The tour includes a visit to a South African wildlife reserve.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to markets, trade agreements, currency (Rand), and companies based in South Africa.
Academic
Used in geography, political science, history, and anthropology concerning the nation's society, politics, and ecology.
Everyday
Used to describe people, food, travel destinations, sports teams, and cultural items.
Technical
In viticulture for wine regions; in zoology/botany for species endemic to the region.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “south african”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “south african”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “south african”
- Writing 'south african' in lowercase. Using 'African' alone when specificity is required. Confusing 'South African' with 'Southern African' (the latter refers to the wider region).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as it is a proper adjective derived from the proper noun 'South Africa'.
'African' refers to the entire continent of Africa. 'South African' is specific to the country of South Africa.
Yes, for example 'South African English' or 'isiZulu, a South African language'. It denotes a variety spoken in that country.
Yes, 'a South African' (plural: South Africans) is the noun for a person from South Africa.
Relating to or originating from South Africa, its people, culture, or geography.
South african is usually formal, neutral, geographical, political in register.
South african: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθ ˈæf.rɪ.kən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθ ˈæf.rɪ.kən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SOUTH AFRICAN = SOUTH (direction) + AFRICAN (continent). Think: the southernmost country on the African continent.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATION AS PERSON (e.g., 'South African hospitality', 'South African spirit'). CONTAINER (e.g., 'in South African law', 'within South African borders').
Practice
Quiz
Which term is correctly capitalized?