What does braaivleis mean?
Braaivleis is a South African English noun, borrowed from Afrikaans, that literally means 'grilled meat'. It refers to meat — typically beef, lamb chops, chicken, or sausage such as boerewors — cooked over an open wood or charcoal fire, most often in the context of a braai, the distinctly South African form of the barbecue. While closely tied to the word 'braai', which names the event or the grill itself, braaivleis points more precisely at the food being cooked and shared. The term is generally uncountable, appearing in phrases like 'a spread of braaivleis' rather than taking a plural. Rich in cultural resonance, it evokes hospitality, leisurely weekends, and national tradition; South Africans often treat a braaivleis not merely as a meal but as a social institution. Outside southern Africa the word is encountered chiefly in discussions of South African cuisine and lifestyle.
Meat grilled or roasted over open coals, especially as served at a South African braai.
"Guests were treated to generous plates of braaivleis fresh off the fire."
Usually uncountable; the plural form is rarely used.
A social gathering or meal at which grilled meat is eaten; the braai occasion viewed through its food.
"The rugby final was followed by a long, lazy braaivleis in the garden."
The word is normally used as an uncountable mass noun; a plural form is essentially never required.
"The table was laden with all kinds of braaivleis — chops, steaks, and coils of boerewors."
Borrowed straight from Afrikaans into South African English, 'braaivleis' literally means 'grill-meat' — the centrepiece of a national tradition so beloved it's practically a public holiday every weekend.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of braaivleis
Braaivleis comes directly from Afrikaans, where it is a compound of 'braai' (to roast or grill) and 'vleis' (flesh or meat), both inherited from Dutch — 'braden', meaning to roast, and 'vlees', meaning flesh or meat. The word entered South African English alongside other Afrikaans culinary and cultural terms, reflecting the central place of open-fire cooking in South African life. Its closest relatives are the Afrikaans words 'braai' and 'vleis' themselves, both of which also appear in South African English.
How braaivleis is actually used
The word is uncountable in typical use, functioning much like 'barbecue' when it means grilled meat. It carries warm, convivial connotations and is strongly associated with South African culture and identity; outside South Africa it appears mainly in writing about South African foodways. It is informal-to-neutral in register.
Easily confused with braaivleis
'Braai' refers primarily to the barbecue event, the grill itself, or the act of barbecuing, while 'braaivleis' specifically denotes the meat cooked at a braai.