“Moetie my bôs warm maakie” (Moet nie my bors warm maak nie) is a very unusual saying. The literal translation is: don’t make my chest warm. I mean, it sounds so weird in English but makes complete sense in Afrikaans.

People usually say moetie my bôs warm maakie when they are quite upset at someone or as a way to say, “Please stop what you’re doing or saying, because you’re really upsetting me.” And basically if you don’t stop, I warned you that I might react in a certain way.

Examples:

You can say “moetie my bôs warm maakie” in response to your sibling irritating you and hopefully they will stop.

You can also say “moetie my bôs warm maakie” in a playful manner; however, you may still mean that you’re on your way to getting upset, so the person should stop.

I hope you’re learning a lot more about the Afrikaaps slang terms, and that these proverbs from my “coloured” culture, brings some colour to your everyday language.

***

Read more here on the word lus, which is to craving something.

Tell us: Have you used the phrase before? And what are the kinds of situations that typically maak jou bors warm?