What does braaied mean?
Braaied is chiefly a South African English verb and adjective meaning cooked on a barbecue. As the past tense and past participle of braai, it can describe the action of grilling food over charcoal or wood: the steaks were braaied while the guests relaxed in the garden. In adjectival use, it identifies the result, as in braaied chicken, braaied lamb, or braaied vegetables. The word is closely connected to the social tradition of the braai, a communal meal in which preparation, cooking, and conversation are all important parts of the occasion. Within South Africa, it is ordinary and familiar rather than slangy, although international English speakers may find braai or braaied less immediately transparent than barbecue or barbecued. Outside southern Africa, the term is principally encountered in South African cultural, culinary, and travel contexts. Its main sense should not be confused with braised, which refers to food slowly cooked in liquid.
The past tense and past participle of braai: to cook food on a barbecue, usually over charcoal or wood.
"They braaied lamb and fresh vegetables for the whole family."
Used chiefly in South African English and strongly associated with the communal tradition of a braai.
Cooked on a barbecue, usually over charcoal or wood.
"The braaied chicken was served with a spicy tomato sauce."
This is a participial adjective formed from braai and is especially common in South African usage.
Some call it barbecue; in South Africa, a braai is the whole ritual.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does braaied come from?
Braaied is formed regularly from braai by adding the past-tense and past-participle ending -ed. Braai was borrowed into South African English from Afrikaans braai, a word associated with the Malay term barai and with the wider borrowing history of barbecue. English barbecue and its older spelling barbeque belong to the same broader etymological tradition.
How braaied is actually used
Chiefly informal and characteristic of South African English, where braaied is culturally associated with outdoor cooking and social gatherings. The more internationally familiar barbecued is often preferred outside southern Africa.
Easily confused with braaied
Braaied means cooked on a barbecue over charcoal or wood, whereas braised means slowly cooked in a small amount of liquid.