ware, adjective

/ˈvɑːrə/
Forms:
Formerly also waare.
Origin:
Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans, attributive form of Afrikaans and Dutch waar true.
Usually with reference to an Afrikaner, to a member of an Afrikaans-dominated political party, or to a South African: true, loyal, genuine; nonce, truly South African (see quotation 1992).
1840 Echo 31 Aug. 9 (letter)It is a good thing..when rogues fall out, &c. — (‘Waare Afrikaan’.)
1943 ‘J. Burger’ Black Man’s Burden 239The ‘ware Afrikaner’ (true Afrikaner) must refuse to speak English in private or in public, and the Nationalist Press conducts..heresy hunts against..officials who speak English only.
1952 G. Van de Haer in Drum Aug. 7A burly ‘ware’ Afrikaner..expressed his pleasure at hearing his taal spoken.
1970 Sunday Times 15 Nov. 8They believed they were acting as ‘ware’ South Africans.
1971 The 1820 Vol.43 No.10, 11The purists will thump us on the ear, but there can be no denying the satisfaction a stranger gets when he can say this instead of that in the manner of a ‘ware’ (true) South African.
1972 Drum 8 Dec. 9I am a ‘ware’ Nationalist.
1973 Cape Times 30 July 1I’m a ware boermeisie, I love porridge.
1978 Sunday Times 30 Apr. 12Mrs Odendaal is now preparing to go to Israel to live on a kibbutz...It will be a far cry from..her ‘ware’ Afrikaans family background.
1979 Daily Dispatch 21 Mar. 10An image of Afrikanderdom that is no longer nurtured in the hearts of the average urban Afrikaner who, like Van Zyl Slabbert and Japie Basson of the PFP, both ‘ware’ Afrikaners, reject that image.
1989 P. Lee in Sunday Times 26 Feb. (Mag. Sect.) 36We’re talking about treasures as in potjiekos, witblitz, braaivleis and boerewors. Ware treasures which originated in South Africa, but are appreciated throughout the world.
1991 Weekly Mail 24 May 12It’s tough enough for a..ware Afrikaner..to be selected as a parliamentary candidate.
1992 J. Khumalo in Pace Sept. 19These images are peculiar to South Africa and the a capella dudes are obviously ware laaities.
true, loyal, genuine; nonce, truly South African (see quotation 1992).
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18401992

Browse Related Words

By Category

Ethos and Ideology

By Origin

Afrikaans
Dutch

By Usage

rare or nonce
Wardmaster, nounn.warlord, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English