bee-ah, noun

Forms:
be-ah, beeyahShow more Also be-ah, beeyah, bi-ah.
Origin:
Jocular pronunciation-spelling of beer, coined by Drum magazine columnist K.M.C. Motsisi.
In township English: beer.
1966 K.M.C. Motsisi in Post 16 Jan. (Drum) 19I order two bee-ahs and a nip.
1968 P. Segola in Lizard No.2I knew he would feel better, after two quarts of cold bi-ahs. ‘Don’t make me bi-ahs this time Jack...I’d like scales maiza.’ I must confess, he knew all the spots.
1978 Drum 22 Apr. 27I tell him that we should go to Aunt Peggy’s joint and debate this matter over a ha-ja of the mahog and maybe a be-ah or two as I know that he is very fond of be-ahs.
1979 M. Matshoba Call Me Not a Man 64Why didn’t you let us know you were out? We would have bought you a lot of ‘beahs’.
1981 B. Mfenyana in M. Mutloatse Reconstruction 294By the time he’s through I’ve already downed four beeahs at Sis Nota’s grog-house.
beer.
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19661981