Jol
What it means
A party or enjoyable time in South African English.
Reach for it when naming informal shared fun with a distinctly South African voice
The neighborhood jol brought former classmates together for music and food.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| formal |
-
playful
bash
Fits when a large energetic celebration is intended
Careful Bash suggests scale and noise that a relaxed jol may not have.
-
playful
shindig
Fits when folksy exuberance suits the sentence
Careful Shindig substitutes North American regional color for South African usage.
-
everyday
night out
Fits when friends enjoy entertainment away from home
Careful A night out need not be a shared party and excludes daytime gatherings.
-
everyday
party
Fits when the broad familiar term is best for an international audience
Careful Party loses jol's regional identity and can include formal political groups.
-
warm
Fits when friendly reunion matters more than dancing
Careful Get-together can be quiet and lacks the lively local flavor.
-
formal
Fits when a milestone or success gives the gathering its purpose
Careful A jol can happen simply for fun without commemorating anything.
Opposites 3
- workday
- solitude
- mourning
Common phrases 3
-
weekend jol
The weekend jol raised enough money to repair the youth center.
-
proper jol
They planned a proper jol once the long restoration was complete.
-
community jol
A community jol filled the schoolyard with music and shared dishes.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Jol is South African informal usage; many English readers will need context.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Australian accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated