Namlish 101

Welcome to 

Namibian English 101 (AKA Namlish)

You learn it fast. Usually the hard way. With lots of confusion and awkward interactions.

The Basics

I’m coming now. = I’ll be back soon. (said when leaving a room)

now = probably won’t happen for a while, if ever

now now = soon

now now now = the American version of now

Help me a pen./Borrow me a pen. = Can you lend me your pen? (You never ask if you can use something. Questions are not a big thing here.)

That side/this side (accompanied by a general and indistinct wave) = the usual way of giving directions. Could refer to any distance, i.e. “that side” of the country or “that side” of town

I will pick you. = I will pick you up. (not pick your nose or pick you from a tree)

what what = etcetera

I am suffering. = I have a slight problem.

colleagues = used to refer to friends, peers, coworkers, relatives, some bum you met on the street, and what what           

Is it? = Seriously? (A: “It rained very hard yesterday.” B: “Is it?”)

Are you there/here? = Are you OK?/Are you mentally present?/still not completely sure what this one means (said out of the blue, as you are sitting there, minding your business, and the speaker is staring at you)

I am having 4 brothers./Are you having a paper? = I have 4 brothers./Do you have this specific paper I am looking for? (present continuous. All the time.)

Mmmm…(without showing any emotion on the face) = Yes.

How is the day? = How are you doing?

No, it’s OK. (said when ending a conversation) = OK, bye./Yep, this is the end of our conversation. (doesn’t have to relate to the sentence before it at all)

You can have./Can I put? = You can have it./Can I put this here? (Direct objects are unnecessary.)

I’m going to the network. = I am going somewhere where I can get cell phone reception.

The battery is somehow flat. = My phone died.

making noise = complaining/misbehaving/not being serious (i.e. “In class, that one is just making noise.”)

The time is going/moving. = We are almost out of time.

There are so many more great ones, but I will start you off slow.