Fokof 🔊

Usage examples

• Fokof, ek wil jou nie sien nie!
  Fuck off, I don't want to see you!
• Hy het vir haar gesê sy moet fokof.
  He told her to fuck off.

Etymology

"Fokof" is a direct phonetic adaptation of the English "fuck off" into Afrikaans, following the language's characteristic pattern of borrowing English profanity with Afrikaans spelling conventions. The word "fok" entered Afrikaans as a vulgar loanword from Dutch and English maritime slang. Its widespread use was amplified by the Afrikaans punk band Fokofpolisiekar, formed in Cape Town in 2003, whose name made the term culturally notorious. Today it stands as one of the most recognisable Afrikaans expletives both domestically and internationally.

Cultural notes

In South African culture "fokof" occupies a space similar to its English equivalent — blunt, aggressive, and unmistakably rude. The punk band Fokofpolisiekar (literally "Fuck-off Police Car") used the word as a deliberate provocation against conservative Afrikaner values in the early 2000s, sparking significant controversy and media debate. The term is widely understood by South Africans across language groups due to its phonetic similarity to English. It is considered highly offensive in formal contexts but is used freely in informal speech and youth culture.

Same meaning, other languages

Accuracy

83% of 18 voters say this translation is accurate.