Afrikaans is spoken throughout South Africa and Namibia. The language is mainly derived from Dutch. However, most Afrikaans speakers in the workplace have some knowledge of English.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a

as in sun

e

as in met but sometimes as in meet or angel

ê

as in apple

ë

usually pronounced the same as 'e', but when it is accented due to grammar, such as in words like 'geëet' which means 'to have eaten', it can be pronounced three other ways: meet, fear or wet

i

as in bit

o

as in fort or mood or boy

ô

as in cauldron

u

as in u in hut with rounded lips

y

no equivalent in English but similar to y in my, same as Dutch ij,

'n

in 'a' as in 'a dog' or 'a song'. This is the article; it is never capitalised even if used at the start of a sentence: the word that follows is capitalised.

Note that Afrikaans pronunciation is extremely difficult and can be a challenge, even for Dutch speakers.

Consonants

b

as in bat

c

as in king (uncommon, usually proper nouns e.g. 'Coetzee'

d

as in dance but pronounced as English 't' at the end of words

f

as in fan

g

similarly to the 'ch' in bach, but a lot harder and more glottal - a bit like hawking up phlegm :-).

h

as in hat

j

as in yak

k

as in king

l

as in lamp

m

as in man

n

as in nap

p

as in pet

r

as in rant, but the sound is rolled

s

as in set

t

as in tale

v

same as the English 'f'

w

pronounced the same as the English 'v' as in vet

x

as in fix but extremely rare, usually found in scientific terms or loanwords.

z

as in blitz

In some loan words, 'g', 'v' and 'w' may be pronounced the same as their English equivalents, but this is uncommon.

Digraphs and trigraphs

aa

as in father

ae

two sounds, one after another, quite quickly. Starts as 'aa' and is quickly finished off with the Afrikaans 'a' as in dust

ch

can be pronounced in three ways: loch or shine or king

kk

as in cane

nn

as in man

sj

as in machine

ee

as in fear

eë

as in fear but pronounced as two separate sounds. Sounds almost like 'ee-ye'

ië

same as eë

ei

as is sale

eu

pronounced two ways: as in ear or as in mew

gh

same as English 'gh'. For example: ghost

ll

as in lamp

mm

as in mend

ie

pronounced either as long 'ee' like in breed or as 'i' in sick

kn

as in pick 'n pay

ng

as in sing

nk

as in think

oe

pronounced either as the long 'oo' as in loot or as a short 'oo' as in foot

oë

as in English doer

oo

same as German "ü", make your lips into the position of "o" but say "ee" instead.

ou

as in coat

rs

like farse, but the 'r' is rolled

tj

as in chunk

tj

combined with ie as in kid

ui

also a unique sound. Sounds like play but with pouted lips. The name shane is the closest English equivalent

uu

similar to German über but pronounced with more emphasis and much longer. Identical to the final 'yy' sound

aai

like the 'y' in shy, but a pronounced a lot longer.

eeu

A unique trigraph. The closest English equivalent is the English word ewe. Try blending the sounds 'ew' and 'oo'

oei

similar to phooey but pronounced with a rapid 'w' in it

ooi

similar to oil but pronounced with a rapid 'w' in it

uie

similar to player but pronounced much longer

Note on Afrikaans

Like English, double consonants in Afrikaans are pronounced as a single sound, and not two separate sounds, unless occurring at a syllabary break: 'wekker': 'vack-er' (alarm clock) but 'melkkoei': 'melk-koo-ee' (milking cow).

Note that although Afrikaans digraphs and trigraphs contain mostly vowels and sound as though they contain many syllables, they in fact are seen as a single syllable.

For example, the word 'Goeie' sounds as if it contains 3 syllables, but in fact contains only two: 'goei' and 'e' are the 2 syllables.

From this, you can see Afrikaans pronunciation, like English for a foreigner, can be rather irregular. Pronunciation can be hard and the accent is extremely difficult to master, but when spoken correctly, Afrikaans is the most melodic Germanic language.

However, one should not be daunted. Afrikaans grammar is really quite simple and is more similar to English than to any other Germanic language. Verbs are even simpler than English: there is no am or are or were but only is and was.

One who is learning Afrikaans will probably catch onto it rather quickly and will have no problem with speaking Dutch or understanding German.

Important differences between Dutch and Afrikaans

A rukkie in Afrikaans is a short period of time, not a sexual act performed on oneself.

Common use examples are Ek gaan 'n rukkie slaap or Ek sal oor 'n rukkie daar wees

Baie means veel (many); however, the word veel also exists in Afrikaans and has the same meaning.

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs OPEN Oop CLOSED Toe ENTRANCE Ingang EXIT Uitgang PUSH Stoot PULL Trek TOILET Toilet MEN Here / Mans WOMEN Dames / Vroue FORBIDDEN Verbode

Hello. (formal)

Goeie dag. ("...")

Hello. (informal)

Hallo. ("...")

How are you?

Hoe gaan dit? ("...")

Fine, thank you.

Goed, dankie. ("...")

What is your name?

Wat is jou naam? ("...")

My name is ______.

My naam is ______. ("...")

Nice to meet you.

Aangename kennis. ("...")

Please.

Asseblief. ("...")

Thank you.

Dankie. ("...")

You're welcome.

Dis 'n plesier. ("...")

Yes.

Ja. ("...")

No.

Nee. ("...")

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Verskoon my. ("...")

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Verskoon my / Jammer. ("...")

I'm sorry.

Ek is jammer. ("...")

Goodbye

Totsiens. ("...")

Goodbye (informal)

Baai. ("...")

I can't speak Afrikaans [well].

Ek kan nie [ goed ] Afrikaans praat nie. ("...")

Do you speak English?

Praat jy Engels? ("...")

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Is hier iemand wat Engels praat? ("...")

Help!

Help! ("...")

Look out!

Oppas! ("...")

Good morning.

Goeie môre. ("...")

Good evening.

Goeie naand. ("...")

Good night. (to sleep)

Goeie nag. ("...")

I don't understand.

Ek verstaan nie. ("...")

Where is the toilet?

Waar is die toilet? ("...")

I am wearing jeans.

Ek dra 'n denim-broek. ("...")

Problems

Leave me alone.

Laat my met rus./Los my uit. (...)

Don't touch me!

Moenie aan my vat nie!/Moenie aan my raak nie (...)

I'll call the police.

Ek sal die polisie roep/bel. (...)

Police!

Polisie! (POLI-see)

Stop! Thief!

Stop! Dief! (...)

I need your help.

Ek het u hulp nodig. Ek benodig u/jou hulp. (...)

It's an emergency.

Dit is 'n noodgeval. (...)

I'm lost.

Ek is verdwaald. (...)

I lost my bag.

Ek het my sak verloor. (...)

I lost my wallet.

Ek het my beursie verloor. (...)

I'm sick.

Ek is siek. (...)

I've been injured.

Ek is beseer. (...)

I need a doctor.

Ek het 'n dokter nodig. (...)

Can I use your phone?

Mag ek u(formal)/jou(informal) telefoon gebruik? (...)

Numbers

1

een ("...")

2

twee ("...")

3

drie ("...")

4

vier ("...")

5

vyf ("...")

6

ses ("...")

7

sewe ("...")

8

ag ("...") / agt ("...")

9

nege ("...")

10

tien ("...")

11

elf ("...")

12

twaalf ("...")

13

dertien ("...")

14

veertien ("...")

15

vyftien ("...")

16

sestien ("...")

17

sewentien ("...")

18

agtien ("...")

19

negentien ("...")

20

twintig ("...")

21

een-en-twintig ("...")

22

twee-en-twintig ("...")

23

drie-en-twintig ("...")

...

30

dertig ("...")

40

veertig ("...")

50

vyftig ("...")

60

sestig ("...")

70

sewentig ("...")

80

tagtig ("...")

90

neëntig / negentig ("...")

100

eenhonderd ("...")

200

tweehonderd ("...")

300

driehonderd ("...")

...

900

negehonderd ("...")

1000

eenduisend ("...")

2000

tweeduisend ("...")

1,000,000

een miljoen ("...")

1,000,000,000

een miljard ("...")
Note the difference with American English numbers.

1,000,000,000,000

een biljoen ("...")

Ordinal Numbers

1

eerste ("...")

2

tweede ("...")

3

derde ("...")

4

vierde ("...")

5

vyfde ("...")

6

sesde ("...")

7

sewende ("...")

8

agste ("...")

9

negende ("...")

10

tiende ("...")

11

elfde ("...")

...

20

twintigste ("...")

...

100

honderdste ("...")

101

honderd-en-eerste ("...")

Time

now

nou (know)

later

later (...)

before

voor (...)

morning

oggend (...)

afternoon

middag (...)

evening

aand (...)

night

nag (...)

Clock time

What time is it?

Hoe laat is dit?

one o'clock (when AM/PM are obvious)

een uur

half past one (when AM/PM are obvious)

half twee (half [an hour before] two [o'clock])

two o'clock (when AM/PM are obvious)

twee uur

one o'clock AM

een uur in die oggend

two o'clock AM

twee uur in die oggend

noon

middag

at noon

om twaalf in die middag

one o'clock PM

een uur in die middag

two o'clock PM

twee uur in die middag

midnight

middernag

at midnight

om middernag

Duration

_____ minute(s)

_____ minuut (...) / minute (...)

_____ hour(s)

_____ uur (...) / ure (...)

_____ day(s)

_____ dag (...) / dae (...)

_____ week(s)

_____ week (...) / weke (...)

_____ month(s)

_____ maand (...) / maande (...)

_____ year(s)

_____ jaar (...) / jare (...)

Days

today

vandag (...)

yesterday

gister (...)

the day before yesterday

eergister (...)

tomorrow

môre (...)

the day after tomorrow

oormôre (...)

this week

die week (...)

last week

verlede week (...)

next week

volgende week (...)

Monday

Maandag ("...")

Tuesday

Dinsdag ("...")

Wednesday

Woensdag ("...")

Thursday

Donderdag ("...")

Friday

Vrydag ("...")

Saturday

Saterdag ("...")

Sunday

Sondag ("...")

Weekend

Naweek ("...")

Months

January

Januarie (YAN-ua-ree)

February

Februarie (VEE-brua-ree)

March

Maart ("...")

April

April (AH-pril)

May

Mei (May)

June

Junie (YOU-knee)

July

Julie (YOU-lee)

August

Augustus ("...")

September

September ("...")

October

Oktober ("...")

November

November ("...")

December

Desember ("...")

Writing time and date

Day

Dag ("...")

Week

Week ("...")

Month

Maand ("...")

Year

Jaar ("...")

Century

Eeu ("...")

Leap Year

Skrikkel-jaar ("...")

1:00 PM

13:00 / 13h00

2:00 PM

14:00 / 14h00

3:00 PM

15:00 / 15h00

...

12:00 PM

24:00 / 24h00 / 00:00 / 00h00

Colors

Red

Rooi ("...") (Intensive form: bloed-rooi, blood red)

Yellow

Geel ("...") (Intensive form: goud-geel ("..."))

Green

Groen ("...") (Intensive form: gras-groen ("..."), grass green)

Blue

Blou ("...") (Intensive form: hemel-blou ("..."), sky blue)

Black

Swart ("...") (Intensive form: pik-swart ("..."), pitch black)

White

Wit ("...") (Intensive form: spier-wit ("..."))

Purple

Pers ("...")

Orange

Oranje ("...")

Brown

Bruin ("...")

Grey

Grys ("...")

Pink

Pienk ("...") / Rooskleurig ("...")

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

Hoeveel kos 'n kaartjie na _____? (...)

One ticket to _____, please.

Een kaartjie na _____, asseblief. (...)

Where does this train/bus go?

Waarheen gaan hierdie trein/bus? (...)

Where is the train/bus to _____?

Waar is die trein/bus na _____? (...)

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

Stop die/hierdie trein/bus in _____? (...)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

Hoe laat vertrek die trein/bus na _____? (...)

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

Hoe laat sal die trein/bus in _____ arriveer? (...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

Hoe kom ek tot in _____ ? (...)

...the train station?

...die trein-stasie? (...)

...the bus station?

...die bus-stasie? (...)

...the airport?

...die lughawe? (...)

...downtown?

...middedorp? (...)

...the youth hostel?

...die jeug-hostel? (...)

...the _____ hotel?

...die _____ hotel? (...)

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

...the Amerikaanse/Kanadese/Australiese/Britse konsulaat? (...)

Where are there a lot of...

Waar is daar baie... (...)

...hotels?

...hotelle? (...)

...restaurants?

...restaurante? (...)

...bars?

...kroeë ? (...)

...sites to see?

...besienswaardighede? (...)

Can you show me on the map?

Kan jy dit vir my op die kaart aandui? (...)

street

straat (...)

Turn left.

Draai links. (...)

Turn right.

Draai regs. (...)

left

links (...)

right

regs (...)

straight ahead

reguit vorentoe (...)

towards the _____

in die rigting van _____ (...)

past the _____

verby die _____ (...)

before the _____

voor die _____ (...)

Watch for the _____.

Wees op die uitkyk vir die _____. (...)

intersection

kruising (...)

north

noord (...)

south

suid (...)

east

oos (...)

west

wes (...)

go uphill

gaan op teen die heuwel (...)

go downhill

gaan af teen die heuwel (...) / The road goes downhill : Die pad loop afdraand (...)

It is uphill

Dit is opdraande (...)

It is downhill

Dit is afdraande (...)

Taxi

Taxi!

Taxi! (...)

Take me to _____, please.

Vat my asseblief na _____ toe. (...)

How much does it cost to get to _____?

Hoeveel kos dit om na _____ toe te gaan? (...)

Take me there, please.

Vat my soontoe, asseblief. (...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

Het u enige kamers beskikbaar? (...)

How much is a room for one person/two people?

Hoeveel kos 'n kamer vir een/twee persone? (...)

Does the room come with bedsheets

Is daar lakens in die kamer? (...)

Does the room come with...

Het die kamer... (...)

...a bathroom?

...'n badkamer? (...)

...a telephone?

...'n telefoon? (...)

...a TV?

...'n TV? (...)

May I see the room first?

Mag ek die kamer eers sien? (...)

Do you have anything quieter

Het u enige iets stiller? (...)

Do you have anything...

Het u enige ... kamer? (...)

...bigger?

...groter... (...)

...cleaner?

...skoner (...)

...cheaper?

...goedkoper... (...)

OK, I'll take it.

Goed, ek sal dit neem/vat. (...)

I will stay for _____ night(s).

Ek sal ____ aand(e) bly. (...)

Can you suggest another hotel?

Kan u 'n ander hotel aanbeveel? (...)

Do you have a safe?

Het u 'n kluis? (...)

...lockers?

...sluitkas(te) (...)

Is breakfast/supper included?

Is ontbyt/aandete ingesluit? (...)

What time is breakfast/supper?

Hoe laat is ontbyt/aandete? (...)

Please clean my room.

Maak asseblief my kamer skoon. (...)

Can you wake me at _____?

Kan u my wakker maak teen _____? (...)

I want to check out.

Ek wil uitteken. (...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

Aanvaar u Amerikaanse/Australiese/Kanadese dollars? (...)

Do you accept British pounds?

Aanvaar u Britse ponde? (...)

Do you accept credit cards?

Aanvaar u kredietkaarte? (...)

Can you change money for me?

Kan u geld wissel vir my? (...)

Where can I get money changed?

Waar kan ek geld verwissel? (...)

Can you change a traveler's cheque for me?

Kan u 'n resigerstjek wissel vir my? (...)

Where can I get a traveler's cheque changed?

Waar kan ek 'n reisigerstjek verwissel? (...)

What is the exchange rate?

Wat is die wisselkoers? (...)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

Waar is 'n autobank/ATM? (...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

'n Tafel vir een/twee person(e) asseblief. (...)

Can I look at the menu, please?

Mag ek 'n spyskaart sien, asseblief? (...)

Can I look in the kitchen?

Mag ek in die kombuis kyk? (...)

Is there a house specialty?

Is daar 'n huis-spesialiteit? (...)

Is there a local specialty?

Is daar 'n lokale spesialiteit? (...)

I'm a vegetarian.

Ek's/Ek is 'n vegetariër. (...)

I don't eat pork.

Ek eet nie varkvleis nie. (...)

I only eat kosher food.

Ek eet net/slegs kosher kos. (...)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

Kan u dit asseblief olie-vry voorberei? (...)

fixed-price meal

Vaste prys ete / buffet-ete (...)

à la carte

à la carte (...)

breakfast

ontbyt (...)

lunch

middag-ete (...)

tea (meal)

tee (...)

supper

aandete (...)

I want _____.

Ek wil _____ hê. (...)

I want a dish containing _____.

Ek wil 'n gereg met _____ hê. (...)

chicken

hoender (...)

beef

beesvleis (...)

fish

vis (...)

ham

ham (...)

sausage

wors (...)

cheese

kaas (...)

eggs

eiers (...)

salad

slaai (...)

(fresh) vegetables

(vars) groente (...)

(fresh) fruit

(vars) vrugte (...)

bread

brood (...)

toast

roosterbrood (...)

noodles

noedels/pasta (...)

rice

rys (...)

beans

bone/boontjies (...)

May I have a glass of _____?

Mag ek 'n glas _____ kry? (...)

May I have a cup of _____?

Mag ek 'n koppie _____ kry? (...)

May I have a bottle of _____?

Mag ek 'n bottel _____ kry? (...)

coffee

koffie (...)

tea (drink)

tee (...)

juice

sap (...)

sparkling water

vonkelwater (...)

water

water (...)

beer

bier (...)

red/white wine

rooi/wit wyn (...)

May I have some _____?

Mag ek _____ kry? (...)

salt

sout (...)

black pepper

swart peper (...)

butter

botter (...)

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

Verskoon my? (...)

I'm finished.

Ek is klaar. (...)

It was delicious.

Dit was heerlik. (...)

Please clear the plates.

Kan u asseblief die tafel skoonmaak. (...)

The check, please.

Die rekening, asseblief. (...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

Bedien u alkohol? (...)

Is there table service?

Is daar tafel-diens? (...)

A beer/two beers, please.

'n Bier/twee biere, asseblief. (...)

A glass of red/white wine, please.

'n Glas rooi/wit wyn, asseblief. (...)

A pint, please.

'n Pint, asseblief. (...)

A bottle, please.

'n Bottel, asseblief. (...)

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

_____ ( ) en _____ ( ), asseblief. (...)

whiskey

whiskey (...)

vodka

wodka (...)

rum

rum (...)

water

water (...)

club soda

soda (...)

tonic water

tonic (...)

orange juice

lemoensap (...)

Coke (soda)

Coke (koeldrank)

Do you have any bar snacks?

Is daar enige versnaperinge / snoepgoed? (...)

One more, please.

Nog een, asseblief. (...)

Another round, please.

Nog 'n rondte, asseblief. (...)

When is closing time?

Hoe laat is toemaaktyd? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

Het u dit in my mate/grootte? (...)

How much is this?

Hoeveel kos dit? (...)

That's too expensive.

Dit is te duur./Dis te duur (...)

Would you take _____?

Sal u _____ aanvaar? (...)

expensive

duur (...)

cheap

goedkoop (...)

I can't afford it.

Ek kan dit nie bekostig nie. (...)

I don't want it.

Ek wil dit nie hê nie. (...)

You're cheating me.

Jy kul/verneuk my. (...)

I'm not interested.

Ek stel nie belang nie. (..)

OK, I'll take it.

OK, ek sal dit vat./Reg, ek sal dit vat. (...)

Can I have a bag?

Kan ek 'n sakkie kry? (...)

Do you ship (overseas)?

Verskeep u (oorsee)? (...)

I need...

Ek het ... nodig (...)

...toothpaste.

...tandepaste. (...)

...a toothbrush.

...'n tandeborsel. (...)

...tampons.

...tampons. (...)

...soap.

...seep. (...)

...shampoo.

...shampoe. (...)

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

...pyntablet (...)

...cold medicine.

...verkoue-medisyne. (...)

...stomach medicine.

...maagmedisyne. (...)

...a razor.

...'n skeermes. (...)

...an umbrella.

...'n sambreel. (...)

...sunblock lotion.

...sonbrand-olie. (...)

...a postcard.

...'n poskaart. (...)

...postage stamps.

...seëls. (...)

...batteries.

...batterye. (...)

...writing paper.

...skryfpapier. (...)

...a pen.

...'n pen. (...)

...English-language books.

...Engelse boeke./Boeke in Engels. (...)

...English-language magazines.

...Engelse tydskrifte. (...)

...an English-language newspaper.

...'n Engelse koerant. (...)

...an Afrikaans-English dictionary.

... 'n Afrikaans-Engelse woordeboek. (...)

Driving

I want to rent a car.

Ek wil 'n motor huur. (...)

Can I get insurance?

Kan ek assuransie kry? (...)

stop (on a street sign)

stop (op 'n straat teken)

one way

een-rigting (...)

yield

gee toe (...)

no parking

geen parkering (...)

speed limit

spoed-beperking (...)

gas (petrol) station

petrol-stasie/vul-stasie (...)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

Ek het niks verkeerd gedoen nie. ("...")

It was a misunderstanding.

Dit was 'n misverstand. ("...")

Where are you taking me?

Waar heen vat jy my? ("...")

Am I under arrest?

Is ek onder arres? ("...")

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

Ek is 'n Amerikaanse/Australiaanse/Britse/Kanadese burger. ("...")

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

Ek wil met die Amerikaanse/Australiaanse/Britse/Kanadese ambassade praat. ("...")

I want to speak to a lawyer.

Ek wil met 'n prokureur praat. ("...")

Can I just pay a fine now?

Kan ek onmiddellik 'n boete betaal? ("...")