A viral video shows Kyle, a British boyfriend, trying to understand why South Africans use ‘busy’ out of context.
South Africa (06 January 2025) – Kyle, a Brit dating a South African, is learning firsthand just how creatively South Africans use the English language. His latest lesson was the word “busy.”
In a video that’s already gone viral, Kyle reacts to the way his girlfriend (and all South Africans) sprinkle “busy” into everyday conversation. For him, “busy” should mean doing a lot of work or running around with a packed schedule. But in South Africa, busy can mean almost anything.
Kyle doesn’t understand how South Africans use the word busy to explain an action that they are already doing. If you’re eating, speaking or doing anything, you’re already busy doing it. Therefore it’s not necessary to use the word busy, it’s implied.
The comments section turned into a masterclass. People shared gems like:
- “Wait till he hears that sometimes at home our mothers shout at us for ‘being busy doing nothing.’”
- “He’s busy asking you unnecessary questions.”
- “She busy explaining, but you busy not listening.”
Words that seem simple to outsiders carry their own local twists, and “busy” is one of them.
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