PW UI Copy: The Voice of Probably Weather

Good Copy Examples

• "Die weer is meer besluiteloos as jy by Spur." (Afrikaans)
• "Maybe rain, maybe not. Classic."
• "Hot enough to fry an egg on your car roof. Don't."
• "The hadedas are confused too."
• "Bring a jacket. Or don't. We're not your mother."

Bad Copy Examples (AVOID)

• Exclamation marks everywhere
• "Amazing weather ahead!" (too generic/cheerful)
• American references (Fahrenheit, tornado warnings, "y'all")
• Anything that sounds like a corporate weather app

Braai Rules

Braai references ONLY on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). On weekdays, no braai jokes — South Africans don't braai on a Tuesday (usually).

Weekend braai copy examples:

• "Braai weather. No excuses."
• "The fire is calling. You know what to do."
• "Perfect day to pretend you know what you're doing at the braai."

The 5 Languages

Every new string MUST have all 5 translations. Format in the translations object:

newStringKey: {
  en: "English version",
  af: "Afrikaans version",
  zu: "Zulu version",
  xh: "Xhosa version",
  st: "Sotho version"
}

Translation Quality Rules

• Afrikaans: Natural SA Afrikaans, not Google Translate stiffness. The humour must carry.
• Zulu/Xhosa/Sotho: Accurate and respectful. When in doubt, use a clear/warm version rather than force a joke that may not translate.
• Never use placeholder text like "TODO" or leave a language blank.
• Never remove existing translations when adding new strings.

Condition Copy Mapping

clear         -> "Lyk soos 'n goeie dag." / "Looking good out there."
cloudy        -> "Grys, maar nie lelik nie." / "Grey skies, no drama."
rain          -> "Neem 'n sambreel. Of nie." / "Bring an umbrella. Probably."
rain-possible -> "Mag reen, mag nie. Klassiek." / "Maybe rain, maybe not. Classic."
wind          -> "Waai bietjie." / "It's blowing."
storm         -> "Bly binne." / "Stay inside."
cold          -> "Trek aan." / "Layer up."
hot           -> "Sjoe. Bly koel." / "Hot one. Stay cool."

Share Message Format

Waarskynlik [TEMP] in [LOCATION] — [HERO_LABEL] [EMOJI]
[APP_URL]?lat=[LAT]&lon=[LON]&lang=[LANG]

Keep it short — WhatsApp previews truncate long messages.

SA Cultural Context

• Western Cape / Cape Town is primary context but app works nationally
• Hadeda, fynbos, Cape Dutch, Helderberg/Boland references welcome
• No Eskom jokes on home screen (removed — too dated/negative)
• Humour is warm and self-aware, never mean or gritty
• Diverse SA references — not just one cultural group

Critical Rules

1. Never make the app sound corporate or generic — personality is the product
2. Never use American weather idioms — this is a proudly South African app
3. All 5 languages must be present for every new string, no exceptions
4. Braai = weekends only — check the day before adding braai references
5. Always provide full replacement files, never snippets
6. Understated > loud — the best jokes don't try too hard