Learn some useful Afrikaans phrases and communicate more efficiently in your next vacation to South Africa.
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South Africa, owing to its position in the southern tip of one of the world’s richest continents, displays more diversity than a traveller can ever imagine. Let your eyes feast in magnificent views and your tongue in delicious cuisine. Experience the rich culture and immerse yourself in the diversity of the people. See the wildlife of the Kruger National Park and the five distinct ecosystems in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, visit the iconic Cape Point and Tabletop Mountain, party all night in Cape Town’s night clubs, try a braai (barbeque) in the wilderness or see the gorgeous coastline.
Whatever your plans are, you will have an easier time understanding locals and help them understand you too. Meeting new friends, ordering food at a restaurant, shopping for souvenirs and commuting around will all be easier for you if you know some basic useful Afrikaans phrases.
Useful Afrikaans Phrases
Here is a list of some useful Afrikaans phrases for your next trip:
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Conversations
- Welcome – Welkom
- Hello – Haai (inf) / Hallo / Goeie dag (frm)
- How are you? – Hoe gaan dit?
- I am good thanks, and you? – Dit gaan goed, dankie – en jy?
- It’s not going very well! – Dit gaan nie so baie goed nie!
- Pleased to meet you . – Aangename kennis.
- What time is it? – Hoe laat is dit?
- What’s your name? – Wat is jou naam? (inf) / Wat is u naam? (frm)
- My name is ___. – My naam is ___.
- Good morning. – Goeiemôre. / Môre.
- afternoon. – Goeie middag.
- evening. – Goeienaand.
- night. – Goeienag. / Nag.
- Goodbye. – Totsiens. / Mooi loop. (go/walk well)
- Good luck! – Sterkte!
- Congratulations! – Geluk!
- Cheers! / Good health! – Gesondheid!
- Have a nice day! – Lekker dag!
- Bon appetite! – Smaaklike ete! / Lekker eet!
- Bon voyage! – Veilige reis! / Voorspoedige reis!
- I understand. – Ek verstaan.
- I don’t understand. – Ek verstaan nie.
- Please speak more slowly. – Praat stadiger asseblief.
- Speak more slowly. – Praat stadiger asseblief.
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2
- Please write it down. – Skryf dit neer asseblief!
- Do you speak English? – Praat jy Engels? (inf/sing) / Praat julle Engels? (inf/plu) / Praat U Engels? (form/sing) / Praat Meneer Engels? (form/plu/m) / Praat Mevrou Engels? (form/plu/f)
- Can you help me? – Kan jy my help? / Kan u my help? (polite)
- Excuse me! – Verskoon my! Ekskuus!
- Sorry! – Jammer!
- Thank you! – Dankie! / Baie dankie!
- (Response) You’re welcome! – Dis ‘n plesier!
- No Problem! – Geen probleem!
- I Don’t Know! – Ek weet nie dit nie!
- I Have No Idea. – Ek het keen idee.
- I love you. – Ek’s lief vir jou. / Ek het jou life.
- Get well soon! – Word gou gesond!
- Leave me alone! – Laat my met rus! / Los my uit asseblief!
- Help! – Help!
- Fire! – Brand!
- Stop! – Stop!
- Call the police! – Bel die polisie!
- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! – Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n voorspoedige Nuwe jaar! / Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n gelukkige nuwe jaar!
- Happy Birthday! – Gelukkige Verjaarsdag!
- Good / So-So – Goed / So-so
- Big/ Small – Groot / Klein
- Today/ Now – Vandag / Nou
- Tomorrow/ Yesterday – Môre / Gister
- Yes/ No – Ja / Nee
- In The Morning / Evening / At Night – In die môre / aand / snags
- Me / You / Him / Her – My / Jou (polite) / Hom / Haar
- What? – Wat?
- Really! – Werklik!
- Look! – Kyk!
-
Transport / Getting Around
- I’m lost. – Ek is verlore.
- Where’s the___? – Waar is die ___? / Waa issie___? (slang)
- Bathroom – Badkamer
- Pharmacy – apteek
- Airport – Lughawe
- Train station – Spoorwegstasie
- Police station Polisiestasie
- Shop – Winkel
- Dentist – Tandarts
- Doctor – Dokter –
- Post office – Poskantoor
- Right – Regs
- Left – Links
- Straight ahead – Reguit vorentoe
- Come with me! – Kom saam met my!
- Hurry up! – Maak gou!
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Food and Dining
- I’m hungry / thirsty. – Ek het honger / dors.
- Food – Voedsel / Kos
- Meal – Maaltyd
- Lunch – Middagete
- Dinner – Aandete
- Dessert- Nagereg
- Bread – Brood
- Breakfast -Ontbyt
- Butter – Botter
- Cheese – Kaas
- Sandwich – Toebroodjie
- Soup – Sop
- Chicken – Hoender
- Fish – Vis
- Lamb – Lam
- Turkey – Kalkoen
- Pork – Vark
- Meat – Vleis
- Salad – Slaai
- Fruit – Vrugte
- Ice cream – Roomys
- Candy – Lekkers
- Salt – Sout
- Pepper – Peper
- Sugar – Suker
-
Shopping
- How much is this? – Hoeveel kos dit?
- What is this? – Wat is dit?
- Here you go! (when giving something) De! / Hier is dit!
- Do you like it? – Hou jy daarvan?
- I really like it! – Ek hou werklik daarvan.
- This / That / Here / There – Dit / Dit / Hier / Daar
- Give me this! – Gee my dit!
Enjoy your South African adventure and use these useful Afrikaans phrases to connect with the locals.
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