The word braai (plural braais) is Afrikaans for a barbeque or a grill and is a social occasion and custom in South Africa and some other countries in Africa, including, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. The term originally came from Afrikaans-speaking people but has since been adopted by South Africans of many ethnic backgrounds.

The word has been adopted by English-speaking South Africans and can be regarded as another word for barbeque, in that it serves as a verb when describing how food cooks and a noun when describing the cooking equipment, like a grill. The traditions around a braai are considerably different from a barbeque, though the method of food preparation is very similar.

There is a renewed interest in the use of wood.