The word braai (pronounced "bry", rhyming with the word "dry") is an Afrikaans word, which may be used as a noun or a verb.

Verb

To braai means to burn or to roast in a general sense.

Most often used to refer to the popular process of grilling, roasting or barbecuing meat (sometimes other foods) on the coals. The meat done in this fashion is referred to as braaivleis ("grilled meat").

To "have a braai" is an enormously popular social custom in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The name and the prominent social role of it in the 20th century largely originated with the Afrikaans segment of the population, and is derived from the pragmatic custom of travelers, explorers, and hunters to roast meat on a fire and coals on hunting and other trips. It has since been adopted by almost all South Africans, from many ethnic backgrounds, over the past 50 years or so. And many arcane rituals and conventions have arisen around the process - as well as an enormous range of commercial activity from recipe books, braai competitions to , and arcane

Noun

"A braai" can either be the place where you braai the meat ( "he built a braai in the backyard") or the whole process/event/performance involved in barbecuing meat (and other foods) over coals and consuming it with family, friends and/or colleagues ("I was invited to a braai", "they had a huge braai").