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Afrikaans is spoken throughout South Africa and Namibia. The language is mainly derived from Dutch but has been influenced by the Malay language. However, most Afrikaans speakers in the workplace have some knowledge of English and increasingly, those who have studied at a tertiary-level establishment are instructed in English.

Pronunciation guide[edit]

Vowels[edit]

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
as in ay in say, which is the Dutch equivalent 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[edit]

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[edit]

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

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[edit]

When new concepts are developed, the Dutch will often adapt the English word whereas the Afrikaaners will invent their own word. Thus the Afrikaans word will make sense to a Dutch-speaker even though the Dutch-speaker themselves would not use the word.

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

Certain words in Afrikaans are also derived from Malay and might therefore not be understood by Dutch speakers. Such words include "baklei ("fight" or in Dutch "vecht"), "piesang" ("banana" or in Dutch "banaan") and "baie" ("many" or in Dutch "veel"), though the word "veel" is also widely used in Afrikaans.

Phrase list[edit]

Basics[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

now
nou (know)
later
later (...)
before
voor (...)
morning
oggend (...)
afternoon
middag (...)
evening
aand (...)
night
nag (...)

Clock time[edit]

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[edit]

_____ 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Bus and train[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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? ("...")


This Afrikaans phrasebook is a usable article. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.