Vehicles

1. Motor

   Car

   Usage

   The standard word for a car; colloquially people also say "kar". The plural is "motors"

2. Bakkie

   Pickup truck

   Usage

   The most common vehicle type in South Africa. The Afrikaans word passed into South African English, so English speakers use it too

3. Minibustaxi

   Minibus taxi

   Usage

   In South Africa "taxi" normally means this: a shared van running a fixed route that leaves when full — not a metered cab you hail

4. Metertaxi

   Metered taxi

   Usage

   What most travellers mean by "taxi"; say this word to distinguish it from a minibus taxi. In practice most people use the Uber or Bolt apps

5. Kombi

   Minibus / van

   Usage

   From the Volkswagen model name, now the generic word for a van — tour shuttles and shared vans alike

6. Bus

   Usage

   A city bus; a bus stop is "bushalte" and the plural is "busse"

7. MyCiTi

   MyCiTi bus

   Usage

   Cape Town's bus-rapid-transit system, linking the airport, the city centre and the Waterfront; you tap a dedicated card

8. Trein

   Train

   Usage

   Rail in general; a station is "stasie" and the plural is "treine"

9. Gautrain

   Usage

   The fast rail line linking Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo airport — the rail service travellers are pointed to first

10. Metrorail

    Usage

    The commuter rail network. Cape Town's Southern Line is useful for sightseeing, but safety varies a lot by line and time of day — ask locally

11. Langafstandbus

    Long-distance coach

    Usage

    Intercity coaches; people often just name the operator — Intercape, Greyhound, Translux

12. Motorfiets

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    Literally "motor bicycle"; the word to use when hiring one for a touring trip

13. Bromponie

    Scooter / moped

    Usage

    Literally "buzzing pony"; the machine delivery riders use

14. Fiets

    Bicycle

    Usage

    For hiring one; Cape Town and Stellenbosch both have winelands cycling routes

15. Vliegtuig

    Aeroplane

    Usage

    Literally "flying device"; an airport is "lughawe"

16. Boot

    Boat

    Usage

    A small boat — whale-watching and Seal Island trips; the plural is "bote"

17. Veerboot

    Ferry

    Usage

    The boat from the Cape Town Waterfront to Robben Island; sailings are cancelled in rough weather

18. Kabelkar

    Cable car

    Usage

    The rotating cableway up Table Mountain; it closes on windy days, so check on the morning

19. Ambulans

    Ambulance

    Usage

    In an emergency: "Bel 'n ambulans!" — call an ambulance. The national ambulance number is 10177

20. Huurmotor

    Rental car

    Usage

    South Africa drives on the left; a rental car is the normal way to do the Garden Route

21. Vragmotor

    Truck / lorry

    Usage

    Literally "freight car"; the main highways carry heavy truck traffic, so take care overtaking

22. Trekker

    Tractor

    Usage

    You may ride one on a farm stay or a vineyard tour

23. Brandweerwa

    Fire engine

    Usage

    Literally "fire-defence vehicle"; summer wildfires in the Cape make it a word you will see

24. Polisiemotor

    Police car

    Usage

    For reporting a theft or accident; the police are "polisie" and the emergency number is 10111

25. Woonwa

    Caravan / motorhome

    Usage

    Literally "living vehicle"; national park campsites have dedicated stands for them

26. Sleepwa

    Trailer

    Usage

    Literally "towed vehicle"; hitched behind a car for a trip with a lot of luggage, and hire firms can add one

27. Skoolbus

    School bus

    Usage

    A common sight morning and afternoon; take care passing one that has stopped

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