what is a braai
10 hilariously insightful foreign words. Braai is the South African word for barbecue, plural braaie, and refers to a meal cooked over an open fire, usually outdoors. Originally it was derived from an Afrikaans word, braaivleis, meaning grilled meat, but it is now a universally used term in South Africa. regular South African braai will usually include the cooking of boerewors, which is traditional thick sausage and meat such as steak or sosaties, a type of kebab.