Standard Lemma guide

bergie

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A homeless person in Cape Town.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: South-Africa

Examples

  • The man joined a group of bergies sleeping near the police station and pretended to be one of them when confronted by the rangers.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Afrikaans bergie, from berg (“mountain”). So called because they used to live in the mountains.