Definition & Meaning of "laaitie"in English

What does "laaitie" mean in South African slang?

In South African slang, "laaitie" means a young person or child, most often a boy, and is commonly used in informal speech to refer to someone younger in a familiar or slightly patronizing way. It is widely used in everyday South African English, especially in casual conversation between adults and youths or among peers when referring to someone junior in age or status. The term comes from Afrikaans "laatjie," a diminutive form derived from "laat" (late), originally meaning "the younger one," which developed into a general slang term for a youngster or kid.