bergie

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Afrikaans bergie, from berg (“mountain”). So called because they used to live in the mountains.

Noun

bergie (plural bergies)

  1. (South Africa) A homeless person in Cape Town.
    The man joined a group of bergies sleeping near the police station and pretended to be one of them when confronted by the rangers.
    • 2008, Lauren Beukes, Moxyland, Jacana Media, →ISBN, page 103:
      ‘You check my records, okay? You'll see. Always, every week, some bergie or skollies causing trouble for me. What are my customers supposed to do?’

Anagrams

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

  • Audio:(file)

Noun

bergie (plural bergies)

  1. (informal) a homeless person in Cape Town
  2. diminutive of berg
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