Wow, congratulations—you’re at an advanced level in your Afrikaans studies! Good for you. 

Hopefully, you won’t stop now, because there’s a lot more to master. To help you, we have compiled some advanced Afrikaans words and phrases in the most pertinent categories for easy access and assimilation. If you want to improve your advanced Afrikaans vocabulary, wordlists like these are among the best tools to use. Also, feel free to ask us in the comments if anything needs clarification.

Remember to keep your learning fun by using fun resources. For instance, take a look at this article about a great online resource that’s completely free!

Onthou om jou studies te geniet. / “Remember to enjoy your studies.”

Great! Let’s get busy with the most common Afrikaans advanced words right away.

Table of Contents

1. General Advanced Afrikaans Words
2. Advanced Business Vocabulary (Gevorderde Besigheidswoordeskat)
3. Advanced Medical Vocabulary (Gevorderde Mediese Woordeskat)
4. Advanced Legal Vocabulary (Gevorderde Wetswoordeskat)
5. How Can AfrikaansPod101 Help You Ace Advanced Afrikaans Words?

1. General Advanced Afrikaans Words

1.1 Advanced Afrikaans Words – Verbs (Werkwoorde)

#1. Argumenteer / Debatteer	Mens kan argumenteer dat hierdie nie altyd van toepassing is nie. Ons kan ure hieroor debateer.
To argue, reason, or debate	One can argue that this is not always applicable. We can debate this for hours.
#2. Redeneer / Beredeneer	Mens kan redeneer oor die toepaslikheid van gevorderde Afrikaanse woorde in hierdie konteks.
	One can debate the appropriateness of advanced Afrikaans words in this context.

Note: Many Afrikaans verbs are popular Anglicisms, meaning that they sound just like their English counterparts. They are used by Afrikaans speakers despite the fact that, for the most part, there are perfectly good Afrikaans equivalents. In a sense, Anglicisms are like alien plant species—they sound fine and “work” in a sentence, but they are not historically native to the language.

#1 is the Anglicism and #2 is purer Afrikaans. Not always, but most often, the words can be used interchangeably.

Bring … bymekaar	Bring die twee bymekaar.
To bring together	Bring the two together.

Begelei	Die klavier begelei die fluit in hierdie sonata.
To accompany	The piano is accompanying the flute in this sonata.

Begeef / Begewe	Ek begeef my in die ysige water. Waarin het jy jouself nou begewe?
To venture into something despite skepticism and/or fear	I venture into the icy water. What did you get yourself into now?

Voldoen	Die Mount Nelson hotel voldoen aan die hoogste standaarde.
To conform	The Mount Nelson Hotel conforms to the highest standards.

Verskoon	Verskoon my, waar is die lys met gevorderde Afrikaanse woorde en frases, asseblief?
To pardon	Pardon me, where is the list with advanced Afrikaans words and phrases, please?

Vergesel	Vergesel die kliënt na die uitgang toe, asseblief. Asseblief sal jy my vergesel na die funksie toe?
To escort or accompany	Escort the client to the exit, please. Will you please accompany me to the function?

Weerhou	Sy weerhou haarself van koffie-drink tydens Lydenstyd. Hy weerhou ‘n skerp antwoord.
To abstain from or to hold back	She abstains from drinking coffee during Lent. He holds back a sharp retort.

 weerhou haarself van koffie-drink tydens Lydenstyd. / “She abstains from drinking coffee during Lent.”

1.2 Advanced Afrikaans Words – Adjectives (Byvoeglike Naamwoorde)

Learn more about Afrikaans adjectives in this article: The Essential Afrikaans Adjectives List. 

Bepaald	Ons gebruik bepaalde en gevorderde Afrikaanse woorde in meeste vakgebiede.
Specific / Particular	We use specific and advanced Afrikaans words in most fields of study.

Besonder	Hierdie is ‘n besondere stuk musiek.
Uncommon / Extraordinary	This is an extraordinary piece of music.

Billik	Vliegtuigkaartjies is heel billik deesdae.
Reasonable	The prices of plane tickets are quite reasonable these days.

Brutaal	Sy memoirs is brutaal eerlik.
Brutal / Brutally	His memoirs are brutally honest.

Sy memoirs is brutaal eerlik. / “His memoirs are brutally honest.”

Gedetailleerde	Die bestuurder verwag ‘n gedetailleerde verslag.
Detailed	The manager is expecting a detailed report.

Gedeeltelik / Ten dele	Sy was net gedeeltelik verantwoordelik vir die ongeluk.
Partly / In part	She was only partly responsible for the accident.

Genoegsaam / Ongenoegsaam	Die polisie het wel genoegsame bewyse.
Adequate, Sufficient / Inadequate, Insufficient	The police do have sufficient proof.

Geskik	Die uitrusting is nie geskik vir die geleentheid nie.
Suitable	The outfit is unsuitable for the occasion.

Gewone / Ongewoon	Hy het ‘n ongewone benadering tot leierskap.
Usual, Common / Unusual, Uncommon	He has an uncommon approach to leadership.

Ongeskik	Dis ongeskik om met jou mond vol kos te praat. Gevorderde Afrikaanse woorde en frases is ongeskik vir hierdie klas.
Rude / Unsuitable	It’s rude to talk with a mouth full of food. Advanced Afrikaans words and phrases are unsuitable for this class.

Onvanpas	Die groep se gedrag in die vergadering was heeltemal onvanpas.
Inappropriate	The group’s behavior in the meeting was completely inappropriate.

Presies/e	Sielkunde is nie ‘n presiese wetenskap nie.
Precise / Exact	Psychology is not an exact science.

Saai	Datavaslegging is gewoonlik ‘n saai werk. ‘n Saai landskap
Cumbersome / Tedious / Bleak	Data capturing is usually a tedious job. A bleak landscape

Datavaslegging is gewoonlik ‘n saai werk. / “Data capturing is usually a tedious job.”

Aanvaarbaar / Onaanvaarbaar	Die terme is aanvaarbaar.
Acceptable / Unacceptable	The terms are acceptable.

Uitgeput	Die voorraad is uitgeput.
Finished / Exhausted	The stock is finished.

Uitsonderlike	Ons doen dit slegs in uitsonderlike gevalle.
Exceptional	We only do that in exceptional cases.

Van toepassing	Gewone taalbeginsels is van toepassing hier.
Applicable	Ordinary language principles are applicable here.

Verwarrend	Hierdie verslag is verwarrend.
Puzzling / Confusing	This report is confusing.

Voordelig	‘n Gesonde dieët is baie voordelig vir jou gesondheid.
Advantageous / Beneficial	A healthy diet is very advantageous to your health.

Voldoende	Met voldoende oefening sal jy vinnig gevorderde Afrikaanse woorde en frases baasraak.
Sufficient	With sufficient practice, you will quickly master advanced Afrikaans words and phrases.

Waarskynlik / Onwaarskynlik	Sy se aanstelling is moontlik maar onwaarskynlik.
Probable / Improbable	His appointment is possible but improbable.

Weergaloos	Haar vertolking van die gedig was weergaloos.
Unparalleled, without parallel or comparison/measure	Her rendition of the poem was without parallel.

‘n Gesonde dieët is baie voordelig vir jou gesondheid. / “Eating healthy is very beneficial for your health.”

1.3 Advanced Afrikaans Words – Adverbs (Bywoorde)

The following list also includes adverbial phrases. As you know, adjectives and adverbs are often the same words, but they are used differently in sentences. Also look at this article on Afrikaans adverbs.

Beswaarlik	Dis beswaarlik die maatskappy se skuld.
Hardly	It’s hardly the company’s fault.

Byna	Die kos is byna genoeg vir ‘n skare.
Almost / Nearly / Not quite	The food is almost enough for a crowd.

Deeglik	Kry eers die mees algemene gevorderde Afrikaanse woorde deeglik onder die knie voor jy hierdie boek aanpak.
Thoroughly	Thoroughly master the most common advanced Afrikaans words before you tackle this book.

Grotendeels	Haar drama klas bestaan grotendeels uit kinders.
Mainly	Her acting class comprises mainly children.

Haar dramaklas bestaan grotendeels uit kinders. / “Her acting class comprises mainly children.”

Grootliks	Die span in ons kantoor is grootliks verantwoordelik vir die projek se sukses.
Largely	Our office’s team is largely responsible for the project’s success.

Letterlik	Moenie dit liewer nie letterlik interpreteer nie.
Literally	Rather don’t interpret it literally.

Matig	Dit proe matig soet.
Moderately	It tastes moderately sweet.

Min-of-meer / Ongeveer	Die lughawe is min-of-meer dertig kilometer ver van die gastehuis af.
More or less / Approximately	The airport is more or less thirty kilometers away from the guest house.

Ongewoon	Sy hand voel ongewoon warm.
Uncommonly	His hand feels uncommonly warm.

Omtrent	Twee teelepels olie is omtrent genoeg.
About	Two teaspoons of oil is about enough.

Seker / Sekerlik	Jy is seker nie ernstig nie?!
Certainly / Surely	Surely you’re not serious?!

Selde	Die Londen vlugte is selde laat.
Seldom / Rarely	The London flights are seldom late.

Die Londen vlugte is selde laat. / “The London flights are seldom late.”

Skaars	Mens merk dit skaars op.
Barely	One barely notices it.

Tans	Ons werk tans aan die probleem.
Currently	We’re currently working on the problem.

Vanselfsprekend	Verandering voel vanselfsprekend moeilik.
Obviously	Change obviously feels difficult.

Verseker	Ons sal verseker kontak hou.
Definitely	We will definitely keep in contact.

1.4 Advanced Afrikaans Words – Conjunctions (Voegwoorde)

Remember, conjunctions connect sentences and concepts, but this doesn’t mean they always appear between words or sentences. Oftentimes, they appear at the beginning (or even the end) of an expression or sentence.

Dus / Daarom	Die trein was vertraag, dus moes ons wag.
Thus / Therefore	The train was delayed; therefore, we had to wait.

Die trein was vertraag, dus moes ons wag. / “The train was delayed; therefore, we had to wait.”

Selfs al	Ons draf elke dag vir oefening, selfs al is dit moeilik in hierdie weer.
Even though	We jog every day for exercise, even though it’s difficult in this weather.

Tensy	Tensy dit binnekort reën gaan die boere swaarkry hierdie jaar.
Unless	Unless it rains soon, the farmers will suffer this year.

Maar steeds / Nog steeds	Hy werk vinnig maar steeds deeglik.
But still	He works fast but still thoroughly.

Tog / Dog	Die vrou is baie oorgewig, tog is sy lig op haar voete.
Yet / However	The woman is very overweight, yet she’s light on her feet.

Ten spyte van	Ten spyte van sy fisiese gebrek is hy steeds ‘n sukses.
Despite	Despite his physical disability, he is still a success.

Hoewel	Hoewel baie skaars en duur is truffels is ‘n gewilde delikatesse.
Although	Although very scarce and expensive, truffles are a popular delicacy.

Watookal	Watookal hulle nou sê, dit gaan nie die situasie verander nie.
No matter what	No matter what they say now, it won’t change the situation.

2. Advanced Business Vocabulary (Gevorderde Besigheidswoordeskat)

With the basics covered, it’s time for you to learn advanced Afrikaans words related to the business world. Knowing these key terms will prove useful, whether you’re looking for work in South Africa or negotiating with Afrikaans-speaking associates. 

Aanstelling n.	Ons vier my aanstelling by die firma.
Appointment	We’re celebrating my appointment at the firm.

Aanvraag n.	Daar’s ‘n groot aanvraag vir gekwalifiseerde, ervare rekenmeesters in die land.
Demand	There’s a big demand for qualified, experienced accountants in the country.

Daar’s ‘n groot aanvraag vir gekwalifiseerde, ervare rekenmeesters in die land. / 
“There’s a big demand for qualified, experienced accountants in the country.”

Aandele n.	Bitcoin aandele het baie in waarde gestyg.
Shares	Bitcoin shares have increased a lot in value.

Aandeelhouer n.	Is sy ‘n aandeelhouer in die maatskappy?
Shareholder	Is she a shareholder in the company?

Amalgameer v.	Dit maak sin vir die twee maatskappye om nou te amalgameer.
Amalgamate	It makes sense for the two companies to amalgamate now.

Bates n.	Die bates is groter as die laste.
Assets	The assets are bigger than the liabilities.

Belegging n.	Daardie was ‘n uitstekende belegging.
Investment	That was an excellent investment.

Departement n.	Ons maak ‘n nuwe departement oop in Zurich.
Department / Division	We’re opening a new department in Zurich.

Besigheidsvennoot  n.	Ons is dekades lank al besigheidsvennote.
Business partner	We’ve been business partners for decades.

Note: In Afrikaans vernacular, a business partner is often referred to simply as a vennoot.

Ons is dekades lank al besigheidsvennote. / “We’ve been business partners for decades.”

Filiaal n.	Die beheermaatskappy het slegs 20% aandele in ons filiaal.
Subsidiary	The holding company only has 20% shares in our subsidiary.

Hoofkantoor n.	Hulle hoofkantoor is in Brussels geleë.
Head office	Their head office is located in Brussels.

Kompetisie n.	Aanvanklik het Nokia min kompetisie gehad in die mark.
Competition	Initially, Nokia had little competition in the market.

Maatskappy n.	Die maatskappy het vinnig gegroei.
Company	The company grew fast.

Firma n.	Na 50 jaar doen die firma steeds goed.
Firm	After 50 years, the firm is still doing well.

Handel n.	Handel op die eiland het vinnig toegeneem.
Commerce	Commerce on the island has increased rapidly.

Handel dryf v.	Ons is oop om daar handel te dryf.
Trade	We’re open for trade there.

Handelsmerk n.	Handelsmerkregistrasie kan tot twee jaar duur in Suid Afrika.
Trademark	Trademark registration can take up to two years in South Africa.

Human Resources – HR(Menslike hulpbronne) n.	Hierdie dokumente is vir HR se aandag.
Human Resources	These documents are for HR’s attention.

Note: In Afrikaans business language, the term Menslike Hulpbronne does exist, but it is very seldomly used in the vernacular.

Kompenseer v.	Die groter mark kompenseer vir die verlieste.
To compensate	The bigger market compensates for the losses.

Mark n.	Die mark vir hierdie produk lyk belowend.
Market	The market for this product is looking promising.

Opbrengste n.	Die maatskappy se opbrengste is verbasend goed hierdie jaar, alles in ag geneem.
Returns	All considered, the company’s returns are surprisingly good this year.

Profyt n.	Ons belegging maak goeie profyt.
Profit	Our investment is making good profit.

Rekening n.	Daar is niks uitstaande op hierdie rekening nie.
Account	There is nothing outstanding on this account.

Rentekoers n.	Die rentekoerse het aansienlik gestyg die afgelope jaar.
Interest rate	Interest rates have increased significantly (over) the past year.

Tak n.	Samsung het ‘n groot tak in Johannesburg.
Branch	Samsung has a large branch in Johannesburg.

Uitkontrakteer v.	Ons sal daardie dienste moet uitkontrakteer.
Outsource	We will have to outsource those services.

Vennootskap n.	Dis ‘n standvastige vennootskap.
Business partnership	It’s a stable business partnership.

Voltydse, permanente betrekking

Full-time, permanent position

Deeltydse, vasgestelde-term kontrak

Part-time, fixed-term contract

3. Advanced Medical Vocabulary (Gevorderde Mediese Woordeskat)

Advanced Afrikaans learners should also become familiar with words and terms commonly used in medical fields. These are words you’ll need to know should you choose to study medicine in South Africa, enter a health-focused career here, or even find yourself in the emergency room! 

Aansteeklik adj.	COVID-19 is hoogs aansteeklik.
Contagious	COVID-19 is highly contagious.

Abdominaal adj.	Sy abdominale spiere is geaffekteer.
Abdominal	His abdominal muscles are affected.

Abnormaal adj.	Hierdie reaksie is nie abnormaal nie.
Abnormal	This reaction isn’t abnormal.

Abses n.	Die verpleegster het die abses reeds gedreineer.
Abscess	The nurse has already drained the abscess.

Akuut adv.	Simptome kan akuut of chronies wees.
Acute	Symptoms can either be acute or chronic.

Allergies adj.	Die kind is allergies vir bygif.
Allergic	The child is allergic to bee venom.

Behandeling n.	Asyn is nie ‘n goeie behandeling vir aknee nie.
Treatment	Vinegar is not a good treatment for acne.

Bloedtoetsn.Bloedmonster n.	‘n Bloedtoets word op die bloedmonsters uitgevoer.
Blood test Blood samples	A blood test is being done on the blood samples.

Buik n.	Hy het ‘n steekwond in die buik.
Stomach / Mid-abdomen	He has a puncture wound in the stomach.

Buikwand n.	Die mes het gelukkig nie die buikwand binnegedring nie.
Abdominal wall	Fortunately, the knife didn’t penetrate the abdominal wall.

Byniere n.	Die byniere skei adrenalien en noradrenalien af.
Adrenal glands	The adrenal glands secrete adrenaline (epinephrine) and norepinephrine.

Chronies adj.	Die dokter het onnodige chroniese medikasie voorgeskryf.
Chronic	The doctor prescribed unnecessary chronic medication.

Fraktuur / Breuk n.	Die breuk is betyds geset om sy been te red.
Fracture	The fracture was set in time to save his leg.

Gipsn.Heg. v.	Die gips kan maar afkom, want die been het goed geheg.
CastMend	The cast can come off because the leg/bone has mended well.

Geestesgesondheid n.	Goeie geestesgesondheid is ten dele afhanklik van wat in ‘n mens se gedagtes aangaan.
Mental health	Good mental health is partly dependent on what’s going on in your mind.

Gewas n.Goedaardig adj.	Gelukkig is die gewas goedaardig.
TumorBenign	Fortunately, the tumor is benign.

Inwendig/eadj.Besering n.	Het hy enige inwendige beserings opgedoen?
InternalInjury	Has he sustained any internal injuries?

Koorsn.Koorspen n.	Verpleegsters meet kinders se koors meestal met ‘n koorspen in die mond of die armoksels.
FeverThermometer	Nurses usually measure children’s fever with a thermometer in the mouth or the armpits.

Laboratorium n.	Is die bloedmonsters al laboratorium toe?
Laboratory	Have the blood samples gone to the laboratory yet?

Die gips kan afkom, want die been het goed geheg. / “The cast can come off because the leg/bone has mended well.”

Mangelsn.	My mangels is nooit verwyder nie.
Tonsils	My tonsils have never been removed.

Narkose / Anestesie n.	Die prosedure vereis nie narkose nie.
Anesthesia	The procedure doesn’t require anesthesia.

Newe-effek n.	Die hoofpyn is ‘n newe-effek van jou medikasie.
Side effect	The headache is a side effect of your medication.

Ontsmet / Steriliseer v.	Is die instrumente al ontsmet?
To disinfect / To sterilize	Are the instruments sterilized yet?

Pandemie n.	COVID-19 was ‘n erge pandemie wat veroorsaak is deur die Coronavirus.
Pandemic	COVID-19 was a severe pandemic caused by the Coronavirus.

Prosedure n.	Om ‘n vrat te verwyder is ‘n kort, eenvoudige prosedure.
Procedure	To remove a wart is a short, simple procedure.

Sfygmometer n.	Die sfygmometer word gebruik om ‘n pasiënt se bloeddruk te meet.
Sphygmometer	The sphygmometer is used to measure a patient’s blood pressure.

Stetoskoop n.	Die stetoskoop word gebruik om na ‘n pasiënt se hartklop en asemhaling te luister.
Stethoscope	A stethoscope is used to listen to a patient’s heartbeat and breathing.

Die stetoskoop word gebruik om na ‘n pasiënt se hartklop en asemhaling te luister.
“The stethoscope is used to listen to a patient’s heartbeat and breathing.”

Simptoom n.	Maagpyn nie die ware probleem nie; dis selgs ‘n simptoom.
Symptom	Stomachache is not the real problem; it’s only a symptom.

Skildklier n.	Sy het nie nodig om chroniese medikasie te neem vir haar skildklier nie.
Thyroid	She doesn’t need to take chronic medication for her thyroid.

Uitwendig n.	Sy beserings is meestal uitwendig.
External	His injuries are mostly external.

Verdoof v.	Hierdie pille sal die pyn verdoof. Die pasiënt verkies om onder verdowing te wees vir die prosedure.
Sedate / Dull (pain)	These pills will dull the pain. The patient prefers to be sedated for the procedure.

Voorskrif n.	Jy het ‘n voorskrif nodig vir hierdie skedule pynpille.
Prescription	You need a prescription for this schedule of pain tablets.

Algemene Mediese Kondisies / “Common Medical Conditions“
Angs	Anxiety
Beroerte	Stroke
Binneoor-onsteking	Otitis media; inner-ear infection
Buiteoor-onsteking	Otitis externa; outer-ear infection
Blaasontsteking	Bladder infection
Brongitis	Bronchitis
Bosluiskoors	Tick bite fever
Coronavirus siekte	Coronavirus disease
Depressie	Depression
Diabetes	Diabetes
Duitse masels / Rubella	German measles / Rubella
Galstene	Gallstones
Griep	Influenza
Geelsug	Jaundice
Hepatitis	Hepatitis
Hoë cholesterol	High cholesterol
Isgemiese beroerte	Ischemic stroke
Hartversaking	Cardiac arrest
Kanker	Cancer
Hoë bloeddruk / Hipertensie	High blood pressure / Hypertension
Lae bloeddruk / Hipotensie	Low blood pressure / Hypotension
Mangelontsteking	Tonsillitis
Masels	Measles
Pampoentjies	Mumps
Polio	Polio
Sinusitis / Sinusontsteking	Sinusitis / Sinus infection
Urineweg infeksie	Urine tract infection
‘n Verkoue	A cold
Verworwe immuniteitsgebreksindroom (VIGS)	Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Vetsug	Obesity
Waterpokkies	Chickenpox
Kinkhoes / Pertussis	Whooping cough / Pertussis

4. Advanced Legal Vocabulary (Gevorderde Wetswoordeskat)

Die hofsaak is uitgestel. / “The court case was postponed.”

Aantyging n.	Die aantyging is baie ernstig.
Accusation / Claim	The accusation is very serious.

Aankla v.	Die politikus word aangekla van ernstige oortredinge.
Accuse	The politician is being accused of serious violations.

Aanvaller	Die aanvaller was nie alleen nie.
Assailant / Attacker	The assailant was not alone.

Afpers v.	Hy het die vrou probeer afpers.
To blackmail	He tried to blackmail the woman.

Appeleer / Appél aanteken v.	Die prokureer wil appél aanteken.
To appeal / To submit an appeal	The lawyer wants to submit an appeal.

Bedrog n.	Hy is afgedank toe hulle hom vang bedrog pleeg.
Fraud	He was fired when they caught him committing fraud.

Beslis v.	Die saak is vandag buite die hof beslis.
To determine / To settle	The case was settled out of court today.

Note: Beslis also doubles as an adverb: “definitely.” Hy is beslis vroeg. / “He is definitely early.”

Bewys/e n.	Daar was geen bewyse dat sy die misdaad gepleeg het nie.
Proof	There was no proof that she’d committed the crime.

Deurdagte adj.	Goed-deurdagte argument
Considered	Well-considered argument

Dispuut n.	Die dispuut is gelukkig vinnig opgeklaar.
Dispute	Fortunately, the dispute was quickly resolved.

Gesag n.	Die konstitusionele hof hou die hoogste wetsgesag in die land.
Authority	The constitutional court holds the highest legal authority in the country.

Getuie n.	Sy’s ‘n sterk getuie.
Witness	She’s a strong witness.

Getuig v.	Die man wou nie teen sy suster getuig nie.
Testify	The man didn’t want to testify against his sister.

Hofdatum n.	Wanneer is die hofdatum?
Court date	When is the court date?

Hofsaak n.	Die hofsaak is uitgestel.
Court case	The court case was postponed.

Jurisdiksie n.	Finansiëele bedrog val buite hierdie hof se jurisdiksie.
Jurisdiction	Financial fraud falls outside this court’s jurisdiction.

Korrupsie n.	Ongelukkig is regeringskorrupsie alledaags hier.
Corruption	Unfortunately, government corruption is very common here.

Kriminele rekord n.	‘n Skoon kriminele rekord is ‘n aansoek vereiste.
Criminal record	A clean criminal record is an application requirement.

Lasbrief n.	Is die lasbrief al uitgereik?
Warrant	Has the warrant been issued yet?

Misdaadn.Moordsaak n.	Die Kaapstadse Geweldadige Misdaadeenheid het getuig in daardie moordsaak.
Murder case	The Capetonian Violent Crimes Unit testified in that murder case.

Notaris n.	Slegs ‘n notaris kan jou verklaring sertifiseer.
Notary	Only a notary can certify your statement.

Ontbiet v.	Sy is ontbiet vir verskyning in die hof.
To summon	She was summoned to appear in court.

Openbare / Publieke aanklaer n.	Daardie publieke aanklaer is onkorrupteerbaar.
Public prosecutor	That public prosecutor is incorruptible.

Ontvoer v.	Hulle het saam beplan om die kind te ontvoer.
To kidnap	They planned together to kidnap the child.

Omkoop v.	Niemand kon daardie openbare aanklaer omkoop nie.
Bribe	Nobody could bribe that public prosecutor.

Parafeer v.	Al die bladsye van hierdie kontrak moet geparafeer word.
To initial	All the pages of this contract must be initialled.

Regsverteenwoordiger n.	Wie is jou regsverteenwoordiger?
Legal representative	Who is your legal representative?

Regsgeding n.	Hulle is tans betrokke in ‘n regsgeding oor die saak.
Lawsuit	They are currently involved in a lawsuit regarding the matter.

Uitspraak n.	Die finale uitspraak word vandag gelewer.
Verdict	The final verdict will be delivered today.

Verteenwoordiger n.	Hulle sal ‘n verteenwoordiger aanstel.
Representative	They will appoint a representative.

Wetsadvies n.	Dit sal beter wees as jy wetsadvies kry.
Legal counsel	It will be better if you get legal counsel.

How Can AfrikaansPod101 Help You Ace Advanced Afrikaans Words?

We hope you enjoyed our article on the most common advanced Afrikaans words! 

Afrikaans, which is closely related to Dutch, is both an easy and a challenging language to master, especially if your own is not Germanic-based. 

Let us make it easier for you with our innovative approach to language learning. You can expect the following:

• Plenty of recorded words, phrases, and conversations in Afrikaans to train your ear and help you with pronunciation

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About the author: Christa Davel is an experienced bilingual (Afrikaans and English) freelance writer currently based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Negation is, very simply put, the so-called “negative form” in a language. We use it when we want to express the opposite of a positive or affirmative statement. What is the negative form in Afrikaans? Let’s dig in!

One of the most fascinating features of the Afrikaans language is its use of the double negative, which means that two negatives resolve into one negative. For instance, in English one would say, “He cannot speak Afrikaans,” and only use the word ‘not’ once. However, to express the negative in Afrikaans, we usually have to use the negating word twice:   

Sy kan nie Afrikaans praat nie.
Literally: “She cannot Afrikaans speak not.”

The negating word in the example above is nie and, as you will have gathered, nie means “not.” It sounds like “knee” in English, but a bit shorter and sharper on the ‘ee’ (like the ‘i’ in it). Nie is equivalent to the German nicht and the Dutch niet, but it’s used differently, of course.

No one really knows where this practice of using the double negative originated. Some say it may have its roots in the French language, and others suggest that it may have been borrowed from the San languages of Southern Africa. Negating with a double negative can also be found in Middle English, such as in Chaucer’s work, who sometimes used a triple negative!

Double negation still appears in regional and ethnical dialects such as Southern American English, African American vernacular English, and various British regional dialects, according to Wikipedia. Think: “You don’t know nothing,” or “He didn’t go nowhere today.” Whatever the source may be, the double negative is not extensively employed and, especially in the dialects, its use is frowned upon by the purists.

Double negation also occurs in other Germanic languages, such as can be found in villages in the center of the Netherlands and in Low Franconian dialects in West-Flanders—and even then, it’s used differently. The way the negative form in Afrikaans is expressed remains unique.  

While using the Afrikaans double negative may seem strange at first, once you grow accustomed to it, it will start to feel quite natural. Learning how to use it isn’t difficult, either.

However, before we begin with that, let’s start with the exception to the rule of the double negative. This exception uses a form more similar to that of other languages and employs only one negation word.  

Table of Contents

1. The Rule of “One Knee”
2. The Rule of “Two Knees”
3. Changing Meaning – Placement of the First Nie
4. Adding Color with Adverbs and Adjectives that Express Denial
5. Converting Instructions and Requests to the Negative
6. Formal vs. Informal Imperatives
7. Negating Compound Sentences
8. Answers to Exercises:
9. How Can AfrikaansPod101 Help You Learn the Negative in Afrikaans?

1. The Rule of “One Knee”

It may be a bit convoluted, but the mnemonic “one knee” should serve to remind you of the simplicity of singularity. The one nie is used only in straightforward, relatively simple sentences.

1. The single nie is used mostly in simple statement sentences, including those with reflexive or transitive verbs, adverbs, adjectives, and pronouns.
2. It’s used mostly in present tense sentences. With other tenses, the single nie works only when certain hulpwerkwoorde van tyd (literally: “auxiliary verbs of time”) occur.

Let’s take a closer look at what this means.

A.1 In Simple Statement Sentences

To state the negative in Afrikaans using simple statement sentences, we put only ONE nie (knee!) after the verb, at the end of the sentence. That’s it! It looks like this:

– Short statement sentences: 

• Hulle sien nie. – “They don’t see.”
• Die rekenaar werk nie. – “The computer doesn’t work.”

– Statement sentences with a transitive verb and a pronoun:

Sometimes you need to be more specific and would then use a pronoun. In such a case, the One Knee rule applies mostly to statement sentences with transitive verbs in which the object is indicated with a pronoun. Read here all about Afrikaans pronouns!

• Hulle waardeer haar nie. – “They don’t appreciate her.”
  Literally: “They appreciate her not.”

• Sy eet dit nie. – “She doesn’t eat it.”
  Literally: “She eats it not.”

– Statement sentences with an adjective and/or adverb:

Sometimes you need to be more descriptive in order to illuminate the subject or the action. Adding adjectives and/or adverbs won’t affect the One Knee rule.

• Die nuwe rekenaar werk ongelukkig nie. – “The new computer, unfortunately, doesn’t work.”
  Literally: “The new computer works unfortunately not.”

A.2 Mostly in the Present Tense

As you may have noticed, these sentences are all in the simple present tense. In fact, this practice is not too dissimilar to negating the present tense verb in English by adding not. 

• Hy sing. – “He is singing.” OR “He sings.”
• Hy sing nie. – “He is not singing.” OR “He doesn’t sing.”
  Literally: “He sings not.”

Note: We don’t have a continuous tense in Afrikaans! Read all about Afrikaans tenses here.

In the Afrikaans past and future tenses, the One Knee rule applies only to very short, simple statement sentences with the following auxiliary verbs that indicate tense in Afrikaans. As mentioned, we call them hulpwerkwoorde van tyd.

Past Tense:      Hy was nie. – “He wasn’t.”
                         Hy wou nie. – “He didn’t want to.”
                         Hy het nie. – “He didn’t.”

Future Tense: Hy sal nie OR Hy gaan nie. – “He won’t.”

2. The Rule of “Two Knees”

Although things may seem to be getting a bit more complicated, there’s no need to panic about the negative form in Afrikaans! You simply need to remember to find the first part of the verb (whether it’s a base or an auxiliary verb) in the sentence, put a nie after it, and then put another nie at the very end of the sentence.

As we saw in the previous example, to negate very simply, we could say: Hy sing nie. (Lit. “He sings not.”) However, if we need to be more specific and have to introduce a direct or indirect object, the negation always doubles.

• Hy sing (base verb) nie in Afrikaans (direct object) nie.
  “He doesn’t sing in Afrikaans.”

• Hy sing (base verb) nie vir haar (indirect object) nie.
  “He doesn’t sing for her.”

When we use auxiliary verbs that indicate the past or future tenses, the negation also usually doubles:

• Hy sal (auxiliary verb, future tense) nie sing nie.
  “He will not sing.”

• Hy wou (auxiliary verb, past tense) nie sing nie.
  “He didn’t want to sing.”

What About the Be-Verbs?

In the present and past tenses, the be-verb is usually the main verb; in the future tense, the be-verb is an auxiliary verb. However, they all take the double negation.

Take a look at these negatives in Afrikaans:

Be-Verb Negation

PRESENT Tense Affirmative: is (“is,” “to be”) Die kat is oulik.  “The cat is cute.”	PRESENT Tense Negation: is nie (“is not”) Die kakkerlak is nie o ulik nie.  “The cockroach is not cute.”
PAST Tense Affirmative: was (“was”) Die deur was toe.  “The door was closed.”	PAST Tense Negation: was nie (“was not”) Die deur was nie toe nie.  “The door was not closed.”
FUTURE Tense Affirmative: sal wees / gaan wees (“will be,” “shall be”) Die weer sal warm wees. “The weather will be warm.”	FUTURE Tense Negation: sal nie wees nie (“will not be”) Die weer sal nie koud wees nie. “The weather will not be cold.”

3. Changing Meaning – Placement of the First Nie

While the rule remains true that one should put the first nie after the first verb in the sentence, sentences can sometimes become quite long and complex.

In terms of negation, this means that:

a) the first nie can be placed in various positions after the first werkwoord (“verb”) or hulpwerkwoord van tyd. (Lit. “auxiliary verb of time”); and

b) where one places it can change the meaning of the sentence. 

Consider the following sentence in the future tense: 

• Sy gaan nie môre met haar nuwe bikini op die strand tan nie. 
  “She is not going to tan on the beach in her new bikini tomorrow.”

The entire sentence is negated because the nie is placed directly after what is, in Afrikaans, an auxiliary verb that indicates the future tense: gaan. 

• Sy gaan môre nie met haar nuwe bikini op die strand tan nie. Sy sal iets anders dra.
  “She is not going to tan on the beach in her new bikini tomorrow. She will wear something else.”

In this case, the nie directly precedes “haar nuwe bikini” (her new bikini) and therefore negates only that phrase.

• Sy gaan môre met haar nuwe bikini nie op die strand tan nie. Sy gaan elders tan.
  “She is not going to tan on the beach in her new bikini tomorrow. She will tan somewhere else.”

In this case, the nie directly precedes op die strand (on the beach) and therefore negates only that phrase. 

• Sy gaan môre met haar nuwe bikini op die strand nie tan nie. Sy gaan iets anders doen as tan.
  “She is not going t tan on the beach in her new bikini tomorrow. She will do something other than tanning.”

In this case, the nie directly precedes the second verb “tan” (tan) and therefore negates only that action. 

It should be clear from the above explanations that one must be sure to place the first nie after the first verb in the sentence, and directly before the phrase or word one wants to negate. 

4. Adding Color with Adverbs and Adjectives that Express Denial

That said, negative sentences in Afrikaans do not always require for the word nie to be the first word of negation. Sometimes, to add a bit of color to your speech, you can use additional negation vocabulary in lieu of the first nie. This strengthens the tone of what you’re saying and makes it more specific and descriptive, like this:

Sy praat nooit Afrikaans nie. “She never speaks Afrikaans. “Lit. “She never speaks Afrikaans not.”

Die lesse is gladnie lank nie. “The lessons are not long at all. “Lit. “The lessons are not at all long not.”

These additional negation words are adverbs (bywoorde), adjectives (byvoeglike naamwoorde), and auxiliary verbs that express denial and, as you can see, they make the sentence a little more specific and descriptive. Just remember that you still need to add the nie at the end of the sentence! 

Here are some examples of auxiliary verbs, adverbs, and adjectives that can be used for denial. 

D.1 Woorde wat vir Ontkenning Gebruik Word / “Words that are Used for Denial”

Affirmative	Negative
enige (“any”) / een (“one”) Daar is een oefening.  “There is one exercise.”	geen (“no,” “none,” “not”) Daar is geen oefeninge nie. “There are no exercises.”
enigsins (“at all”) Is dit enigsins moeite vir jou? “Is it trouble for you at all?”	geensins (“by no means,” “in no way”) Dit is geensins moeite nie. “It is no trouble at all.”
êrens (“somewhere”) Dit is êrens. “It is somewhere.”	nêrens (“nowhere”) Ek kan dit nêrens vind nie.  “I can’t find it anywhere.”
iemand (“someone”) Daar was iemand. “There was someone.”	niemand (“nobody,” “no one”) Daar was niemand nie.  “There was no one.”
iets (“something”) Die bobbejaan het iets oorgekom. “Something happened to the baboon.”	niks (“nothing”) Die bobbejaan het niks oorgekom nie.  “Nothing happened to the baboon.”
ooit (“ever”) Sal jy my ooit verraai? “Will you ever betray me?”	nooit (“never”) Ek sal jou nooit verraai nie!  “I will never betray you!”
nog (“still”) Ek kan nog die geraas verdra. “I can still tolerate the noise.”	nie meer (“no longer”) Ek kan die geraas nie meer verdra nie! “I can’t stand that noise anymore!”
beslis (“indeed,” “definitely”) Dit is beslis ‘n probleem. “That is definitely a problem.”	gladnie (“not at all”) Dit is gladnie ‘n probleem nie.  “That is not a problem at all.”
al (“yet”) Het hy al sy werk gedoen? “Has he done his work yet?”	nog nie (“not yet”) Hy het nog nie sy werk gedoen nie.  “He has not yet done his work.”
tog (“and yet”) Daar was amper g’n reën nie; tog is die dam vol.  “There’s been almost no rain, and yet the dam is full.”	tog nie (“and yet not”) Daar was baie reën; tog is the dam nie vol nie. “There was a lot of rain, and yet the dam is not full.”
heeltemal (“completely”) Ek is heeltemal verward. “I am utterly confused.”	nie heeltemal (“not completely”) Ek is nie heeltemal verward nie.  “I am not completely confused.”
iets (“something”) Kan ek iets vir jou doen?  “Can I do something for you?”	niks (“nothing”) Ek kan niks vir jou doen nie.  “I can’t do anything/can do nothing for you.”
moet (“must,” “should”) Jy moet my later bel.  “You must call me later.”	moenie (“don’t”) Jy moenie my later bel nie.  “You mustn’t call me later.” Note: Similar to the English “don’t,” this is the contracted form of moet nie (“do not”).
sal (“will,” “shall”) Ek sal die boek later lees.  “I will read the book later.”	sal nie (“will not”) Ek sal die boek nie later lees nie.  “I will not read the book later.”
gaan (“will”) Ek gaan more studeer. “I will study tomorrow.”	gaan nie (“will not”) Ek gaan nie more studeer nie. “I will not study tomorrow.”

5. Converting Instructions and Requests to the Negative

Giving instructions/commands and making requests are things that we often do, so it’s important to be able to convert these to their negative form. 

E.1 Giving Instructions and Commands

Converting instructions to their negative form is not that difficult. Have a look at this instruction and its negative form:

Instruction: Sit daar! / “Sit there!”
Instruction – Negative Form: Moenie daar sit nie! / “Don’t sit there!” (Literally. “Don’t sit there not.”)

As you can see, we added the word moenie to the instruction and then added nie at the end of the sentence in order to convert it to the negative form. The word moenie (“don’t”) is a contraction of the words moet (do) and nie (not). 

In Afrikaans, when you add moenie to the sentence, you must then move the verb (sit, in this case) to the end and follow that with the ubiquitous nie.

A few more examples: 

Instruction – Positive Form	Instruction – Negative Form
Staan op!  “Stand up!”	Moenie opstaan nie! “Don’t stand up!” Lit. “Don’t up-stand not!”
Kom later terug! “Come back later!” Lit. Come later back!	Moenie later terugkom nie!  “Don’t come back later!” Lit. “Don’t later back come not.”
Gaan weg! “Go away!”	Moenie weggaan nie!  “Don’t go away!”  Lit. “Don’t away-go not!”
Kyk daar!  “Look there!”	Moenie daar kyk nie!  “Don’t look there!” Lit. “Don’t there look not!”

Did you notice that the verbs and adverbs got switched around in the negative? For example: 

“Kyk daar“ became “Moenie daar kyk nie.”

Where the adverb usually follows the verb in Afrikaans affirmative expressions, the opposite is true of the negative. This is a rule you should take note of. This switching sometimes results in the formation of a compound verb. Consider this: 

“Gaan weg!” becomes “Moenie weggaan nie!” and “Staan op!” becomes “Moenie opstaan nie!“

EXERCISE I

Why not try to negate in Afrikaans yourself? Read the affirmative expressions, write your negative answers (using moenie) down somewhere, and check them against the list of answers at the end of this article. Don’t worry, you won’t have to combine any verbs and adverbs!  Eet die kos! – “Eat the food!” Drink jou medisyne! – “Drink your medicine!” Sing hard! – “Sing loudly!” Praat vinnig! – “Speak quickly!”

6. Formal vs. Informal Imperatives

While the rule is that you should add moenie to an instruction (also called an imperative) in order to make it negative, a formal, more polite imperative will get an asseblief (“please”). As soon as you do this, there is another set of rules that apply. Have a look at the following: 

Informal imperative: Moenie opstaan nie! / “Don’t stand up!”
Formal imperative: Moet asseblief nie opstaan nie. / “Please don’t stand up.”

As you can see, when you add asseblief to the negative sentence, you need to: 

1. break the compound moenie into its component words moet and nie;
2. put the asseblief (“please”) between the moet and the nie; and
3. remember to add the final nie at the end! 

Here are some more examples using the same informal instructions as in exercise E.1, but now converted to formal imperatives.

Informal Imperative	Formal Imperative
Moenie later terug kom nie!  “Don’t come back later!”	Moet asseblief nie later terugkom nie. “Please don’t come back later.”
Moenie daar kyk nie!  “Don’t look there!”	Moet asseblief nie daar kyk nie.  “Please don’t look there.”
Moenie weggaan nie!  “Don’t go away!”	Moet asseblief nie weggaan nie! “Please don’t go away!”

EXERCISE II

Your turn again, if you’d like. Just as before, read the formal affirmative expressions and write the negative down somewhere. Then check them against the list of answers at the end of this article.  Ry vinnig, asseblief. – “Drive fast, please.” Loop vinniger, asseblief. – “Walk faster, please.” Gooi die bal, asseblief. – “Throw the ball, please.” Tel die vuilgoed op, asseblief. – “Pick the rubbish up, please.”

7. Negating Compound Sentences

Quick grammar note: A simple sentence is one in which there is only a subject and a predicate, as illustrated by this sentence: 

Ek (subject) sien hom (predicate).
“I see him.”

Obviously, a compound sentence then contains more than one subject and more than one predicate. It consists of multiple clauses. Consider this compound sentence: 

Ek (subject) sien hom (predicate), maar hy (subject) sien my nie (predicate)
“I see him, but he doesn’t see me.”
Lit. “I see him, but he sees me not.”

When looking at compound sentences, an important point to remember is that if you’re negating the main clause, you should negate it as you would a standalone, simple sentence. Consider the following examples: 

Hy ry nie, want die verkeerslig is nie groen nie
“He’s not driving because the traffic light is not green.”
Lit. “He drives not, because the traffic light is not green not.”

Ek is nie fiks genoeg nie; dus sal ek nie aan the marathon deelneem nie. 
“I am not fit enough; therefore I won’t be participating in the marathon.”
Lit. “I am not fit enough not; therefore will I not in the marathon participate not.”

As discussed earlier, in compound sentences, we also only use negating words in the part of the sentence that we are negating. 

Have a look: 

Ek sal gaan stap as dit nie reën nie. 
“I will go for a walk if it doesn’t rain.”
Lit. “I will go walking if it not rains not.”

If only the main clause is negated, then we must put the first nie in the main clause and the second nie at the end of the sentence. Here’s an example: 

Ek het nie gedink dat jy my sal onthou nie. 
“I did not think that you would remember me.”
Lit. “I did not think that you me would remember not.”

8. Answers to Exercises: 

Converting instructions to the negative – Exercise I

Eet die kos! – “Eat the food!”	Moenie die kos eet nie! – “Don’t eat the food!”
Drink die medisyne! – “Drink the medicine!”	Moenie die medisyne drink nie! – “Don’t drink the medicine!”
Sing hard! – “Sing loudly!”	Moenie hard sing nie! – “Don’t sing loudly!”
Praat vinnig! – “Speak quickly!”	Moenie vinnig praat nie! – “Don’t speak quickly!”

Converting the polite affirmative to the polite negative – Exercise II

Ry vinnig, asseblief. – “Please drive fast.”	Moet asseblief nie vinnig ry nie. – “Please don’t drive fast.”
Loop vinniger, asseblief. – “Walk faster, please.”	Moet asseblief nie vinniger loop nie. – “Please don’t walk faster.”
Gooi die bal, asseblief. – “Throw the ball, please.”	Moet asseblief nie die bal gooi nie. – “Please don’t throw the ball.”
Tel die vuilgoed op, asseblief. – “Pick the rubbish up, please.”	Moet asseblief nie die vuilgoed optel nie. – “Please don’t pick up the rubbish.”

9. How Can AfrikaansPod101 Help You Learn the Negative in Afrikaans? 

We can assist you in learning Afrikaans negations in many ways! After all, that’s what we’re here for. Do you have any questions about the negative form in Afrikaans, or about these exercises? Please let us have them in the comments!

At AfrikaansPod101, we can help you understand Afrikaans easily with our hundreds of recorded video lessons, grammar and pronunciation guides, and these vocabulary lists.

Also, be sure to arm yourself with some words and phrases from our Afrikaans Key Phrase List and the Afrikaans Core 100 Word List. Remember to keep your Afrikaans online dictionary closeby for easy translation!

Also supplement your learning with these blog posts:

• Your Definitive Guide to Proper Afrikaans Sentence Structure
• The Best Afrikaans Verbs List at Your Fingertips!
• Your Ultimate Afrikaans Pronunciation Guide

Enroll now for a free lifetime membership with AfrikaansPod101 to easily learn the Afrikaans negative form and so much more!

About the author: Christa Davel is a bilingual (Afrikaans and English) freelance writer and journalist, and is currently based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Tenses in Afrikaans are not as hard to master as those of many older languages. In fact, there’s no need to feel tense about tenses!

Dis nie nodig om gespanne te voel oor Afrikaanse tye nie! / “There’s no need to feel tense about Afrikaans tenses!”

How Do We Indicate Afrikaans Tenses?

In Afrikaans, the verbs usually inflect for time, just as in English. This is called “conjugation” (werkwoord verbuiging) and it’s characterized by a change to the form of the verb—in this case, to indicate the tense. (Think “walk” vs. “walked.” Here, the verb has a suffix [-ed] to indicate that the action took place in the past.)

→ Sound complex? It isn’t, really, once you get the hang of it. Read more about Afrikaans conjugations in our blogpost All About Verb Conjugation in Afrikaans – Your Best Guide!

Some more good news: There are very few complex conjugations and rules for indicating the continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous tenses in Afrikaans! Of course, we have methods of expressing these concepts, but they’re very simple compared to those used in most older languages. In this article, we’re going to cover the basics of the simple past, present, and future tenses in Afrikaans.

Afrikaans Conjugations for Time

Conjugations for the simple past, present, and future tenses in Afrikaans tend to be less complex than those in English. Take the verb “to be,” for instance. It can be conjugated for time, but it doesn’t change for person or number as it does in English, Spanish, or French. 

Look at the following examples. Can you see how the irregular English verbs change only for time in Afrikaans?

Past	Present	Future
was … gewees  (“was” / “were”)	is  (“am” / “is” / “are”)	sal … wees  (“will be”)
Example 1:  Ons was by die see gewees.  (“We were at the seaside.”)	Example 1:  Ons is by die see. (“We are at the seaside.”)	Example 1: Ons sal by die see wees.  (“We will be at the seaside.”)
Example 2:  Die Afrikaanse les was baie interessant gewees. (“The Afrikaans lesson was very interesting.”)	Example 2:  Die Afrikaanse les is baie interessant. (“The Afrikaans lesson is very interesting.”)	Example 2:  Die Afrikaanse les sal baie interessant wees. (“The Afrikaans lesson will be very interesting.”)

Ons was by die see gewees. / “We were at the seaside.”

Table of Contents

1. What Does the Present Tense in Afrikaans Look Like?
2. What Does the Past Tense in Afrikaans Look Like?
3. What Does the Future Tense in Afrikaans Look Like?
4. Compound Verbs (Partikelwerkwoorde) & Tenses in Afrikaans
5. Can AfrikaansPod101 Help You Master Tenses in Afrikaans?

1. What Does the Present Tense in Afrikaans Look Like?

The simple present tense (eenvoudige teenwoordige tyd) in Afrikaans is used to express something happening right now. Its characteristics include…

1. …the presence of selfstandige werkwoorde (“simple verbs”), such as werk (“work”), speel (“play”), and maak (“make”);

2. …sometimes, a present tense koppelwerkwoord (“linking verb”), such as is (“is”) and a byvoeglike naamwoord (“adjective”);

3. …appropriate adverbs and adverbial phrases of time.

The following adverbs of time (bywoorde van tyd) and adverbial phrases of time (bywoordelike bepalings van tyd) indicate the present tense in Afrikaans.

→ nou (“now”)
→ vandag (“today”)
→ op die oomblik (“at the moment”)
→ nou dadelik / onmiddelik (“right now”)
→ deesdae (“these days” / “nowadays”)
→ tans (“currently”)

Take a look at these syntactic analyses to see where the conjugations fit in.

Ek is tevrede. / “I am pleased.”

Subject Pronoun	Linking Verb	Adjective
Ek	is	tevrede.
I	am	pleased.

Die bloggers is gewild. / “The bloggers are popular.”

Subject Phrase	Linking Verb	Adjective
Die bloggers	is	gewild.
The bloggers	are	popular.

My selfoon lui nou. / Lit. “My cell phone rings now.”

Subject Phrase	Simple Verb	Adverb of Time
My selfoon	lui	nou.
My cell phone	“(is) ring(ing)”a	now.

Baie toeriste geniet op die oomblik die Suid Afrikaanse somerweer. / Lit. “Many tourists enjoy the South African summer weather at the moment.”

Subject Phrase	Verb	Adv. Phrase of Time	Object Phrase
Baie toeriste	geniet	op die oomblik	die Suid Afrikaanse somerweer.
Many tourists	“(are) enjoy(ing)”a	at the moment	the South African summer weather.

• ^aNote: Afrikaans doesn’t have continuous tenses!

REVIEW: So, to recap quickly—how do we identify which tense is used in these sentences?  That’s right! We know these are in the simple present tense because:   the linking / be-verbs are the present tense is (“am” / “is” / “are”); the verbs are not conjugated; and we can also spot a present tense adverb and adverbial phrase.

Baie toeriste geniet op die oomblik die Suid Afrikaanse somerweer. / “Many tourists are enjoying the South African summer weather at the moment.”

Hopefully, that was easy enough. Now, onto the past tense in Afrikaans!

2. What Does the Past Tense in Afrikaans Look Like?

The simple past tense in Afrikaans (eenvoudige verlede tyd) is the most complex of the three tenses. It’s typically characterized by one or more of the following:

1. Past Tense Verb Conjugation A) where a past tense koppelwerkwoord / linking verb (was) is used in tandem with the hoofwerkwoord / main verb (wees), but the latter gets the ge- prefix (gewees). These terms don’t correlate exactly, but the nearest English conjugation would be: “I was tired.” / Ek was moeg gewees. It’s also acceptable to simply say: Ek was moeg.

2. Past Tense Verb Conjugation B) where a hulpwerkwoord van tyd / Lit. auxiliary verb of time (het) is paired with a hoofwerkwoord / main verb that also gets the ge- prefix. An English approximate would be the simple past tense conjugation, e.g. “The water boiled.” / Die water het gekook.

3. The use of appropriate adverbs and adverbial phrases of time.

Ek was tevrede gewees. / “I was pleased.”

The following adverbs and adverbial phrases of time usually indicate the past tense. 

→ toe (“then”)
→ gister (“yesterday”)
→ voorheen (“previously”)
→ die vorige (“the previous”)
→ laasjaar / laasweek / laas Kersfees (“last year” / “last week” / “last Christmas”)
→ verlede jaar / verlede week / verlede Kersfees (Also “last year” / “last week” / “last Christmas”)
→ in die verlede (“in the past”)

Let’s see where the Afrikaans past tense conjugations fit into these sentences:

Ek was tevrede gewees. / “I was pleased.”

Subject Pronoun	Linking Verb	Adjective	Prefix ge- + Main Verb
Ek	was	tevrede	gewees.
I	was	pleased.	–

Note: This can be translated as “was” OR “have been.”

Die bloggers was gewild. / “The bloggers were popular.”

Subject Phrase	Linking Verb	Adjective
Die bloggers	was	gewild.
The bloggers	were	popular.

Note: Vernacularly, gewees is often omitted from the was … gewees conjugation, as shown in this sentence. The omission won’t change the tense or the meaning of the sentence.

My selfoon het toe gelui. / “My cell phone then rang.”

Subject Phrase	Auxiliary Verb	Adverb of Time	Prefix ge- + Main Verb
My selfoon	het	toe	gelui.
My cell phone	–	then	rang.

Baie toeriste het laasjaar die Suid Afrikaanse somerweer geniet. / Lit. “Many tourists enjoyed the South African summer weather last year.”

Subject Phrase	Auxiliary Verb	Adverb of Time	Object Phrase	Irregular Past Tense Verb
Baie toeriste	het	laasjaar	die Suid Afrikaanse somerweer	geniet.
Many tourists	have	last year	the South African summer weather	enjoyed.

Note: Keep in mind that geniet is an irregular past tense verb, meaning that there is no ge-morpheme conjugation. Read on for more about these irregular verbs and their conjugations for the past tense.

REVIEW: So, to recap quickly—how do we identify the tense in these sentences?  That’s right! We know these are written in the simple past tense because:  the be-verb, as a linking verb, conjugates for the past tense—was (“were” / “was”)—and appears with and without the conjugated main verb gewees; there’s an auxiliary verb het + prefix ge- main verb conjugation; and  we can also spot a past tense adverb and adverbial phrase.

²So, what is the exception? The exception is irregular main verbs.

My selfoon het gelui. / “My cell phone rang.”

B.1 Irregular Main Verbs (onreëlmatige hoofwerkwoorde)

Many (if not most) simple past tense sentences are conjugated with the Past Tense Verb Conjugation B (auxiliary verb het + ge–main verb) mentioned under the previous heading. But of course, grammar being grammar, there are several exceptions to this rule. Very simply put—some verbs do not get conjugated with het + ge-main verb, ergo the term “irregular main verbs”. Only the auxiliary verb het appears in the sentence. 

While it’s not difficult to spot these irregular verbs in a sentence (just look out for het plus a main verb), it’s challenging to list them based on similar morphological characteristics. So, for the purposes of the article, I’ve listed these irregular verbs according to the cluster of letters they start with. Some of these clusters are morphemes or prefixes (a morphological unit with meaning, such as “re-” in English), and others are just clusters of letters without classification.

If this is all too complex—just memorize these irregular verbs, and remember the past tense conjugation! The asterisk * indicates transitive irregular verbs, meaning that when they appear in a sentence, you will always find a subject too. (Or, in other words—a subject is necessary in the sentence in order for it to make sense!)

Starting with:	Irregular Main Verbs:
Ge-	★ gesels (“chat”) Ons het gesels. (“We chatted.”) ★ *gewaar (“notice”) / *gedra (“behave”) / *geniet (“enjoy”) *Die kinders het eerste die leeu gewaar. (“The children were the first to notice the lion.”)
Be-	★ beperk (“limit”) / betaal (“pay”) / bedaar (“calm down”) Sy het betaal. (“She paid.”)
Ver-	★ vergeet (“forget”) / verloor (“lose”) / vergewe OR vergeef (“forgive”) / vergaan (“expire”) Hy het vergeet. (“He forgot.”)
Her-*	★ herhaal (“repeat”) / heroorweeg (“reconsider”) / herdenk (“commemorate”) Billie Eilish het sommige liedjies herhaal tydens haar konsert. (“Billie Eilish repeated some songs during her concert.”)
Ont-*	★ ontvang (“receive”) / ontken (“deny”) / ontlont (“set off,” “ignite”) Hy het skuld ontken. (“He denied his guilt.”)
Er-*	★ erken (“admit”) Hy het skuld erken. (“He admitted his guilt.”)
Irregular Compound Verbs  (Read on for more about regular compound or particle verbs and how they conjugate for the past tense.)	afbetaal (“paid off”) opbetaal (“paid-up”) oorbetaal (“paid over”) inbetaal (“paid in”) weergee (“relay”) Hy het die volle bedrag inbetaal. (“He has paid in the full amount.”)
Weer-*	★ weerspreek (“contradict”) / weerlê (“disprove”) / weerlê (“refute”) Die politikus het haarself weerspreek. (“The politician contradicted herself.”) Note: These look like particle or compound verbs, don’t they? They’re not, though, because the meaning of weer changes to “again” when it stands alone. In these irregular verbs, the prefix weer confers almost the same meaning as “against” or “contra-“.

Hy het die volle bedrag inbetaal. / “He has paid in the full amount.”)

Wait! These are not the only exceptions, unfortunately.

B.2 Irregular Linking Verbs (onreëlmatige skakelwerkwoorde)

If you spot one of the following linking verbs (skakelwerkwoorde) in a sentence, then they conjugate the same way as the irregular main verbs under the B.1 heading (auxiliary verb het plus the linking verb without a ge- prefix). The main verb retains its base form.

Look at these examples:

bly 

• Dit het bly reën. / “It kept raining.”

gaan

• Ons het gaan eet. / “We went eating.”

kom

• Die dokter het kom help. / “The doctor came to help.”

probeer

• Ek het Fortnite probeer speel. / “I tried to play Fortnite.”

Vernacularly, it’s acceptable to conjugate the following with or without the prefix ge- when they serve as linking verbs: 

→ leer (“learn”)
→ aanhou (“keep on”)
→ ophou (“stop”)
→ help (“help”)
→ sien (“see”)

Some sources say this is a dialectical preference specific to certain parts of the South African Western and Northern Cape provinces, but I have encountered it across the whole country. It doesn’t matter, really, because the meaning remains unchanged.

Here’s what these linking verbs look like in sentences:

leer
Tydens die pandemie het ek (ge)leer programmeer. / “During the pandemic, I learned to program.”

aanhou
Dit het aan(ge)hou reën. / “It kept raining.”

ophou
Almal het op(ge)hou alkohol drink. / “Everyone stopped drinking alcohol.”

help
Die laaste ent van die pad het hy (ge)help dra aan die baggasie. / “(For) the last bit of the road, he helped carry the luggage.”

sien
Ons het die uil (ge)sien wegvlieg. / “We watched the owl fly away.”

Ons het die uil gesien wegvlieg. / “We watched the owl fly away.”

You probably noticed the compound verbs (deeltjiewerkwoorde)—aanhou and ophou—and the special treatment they got. More about that later.

Now buckle up for the future!

3. What Does the Future Tense in Afrikaans Look Like?

The simple Afrikaans future tense (eenvoudige toekomende tyd) can be recognized by one or more of the following:

1. Future Tense Verb Conjugation A) which comprises an auxiliary or modal verb (hulpwerkwoord van modaliteit) sal / gaan, plus an unchanged main verb, similar to the English simple future: “We will walk.” / Ons sal loop.

2. Future Tense Verb Conjugation B) which comprises an auxiliary or modal verb (sal / wil / kan), plus the auxiliary verb wees for the active voice and word for the passive voice. An approximate conjugation in English could be: “I will be satisfied.” / Ek sal tevrede wees. This is the active voice. To illustrate the passive voice: “That will be done.” / Dit sal gedoen word.

3. Appropriate adverbs and adverbial phrases of time.

The following adverbs of time and adverbial phrases of time usually indicate the future tense.

→ dan (“then”)
→ nou / binnekort (“soon”)
→ nou-nou (Lit. “now-now,” which means almost the same as “soon-ish”)
→ more (“tomorrow”)
→ volgende week / maand / jaar (“next week / month / year”)
→ voortaans (“henceforth”)
→ van nou af (“from now on”)
→ in die toekoms (“in the future”)
→ oor ‘n uur / dag (“in an hour / day”)

Now let’s look at how this works in a few sample sentences. 

Ek sal tevrede wees. / “I will be contented.”

Subject Pronoun	Aux. / Modal Verb	Adjective	Be-Verb
Ek	sal	tevrede	wees.
I	will	contented	be.

Die bloggers gaan gewild wees. / “The bloggers will be popular.”

Subject Phrase	Aux. / Modal Verb	Adjective	Aux. / Be-Verb
Die bloggers	gaan	gewild	wees.
The bloggers	will	popular	be.

My selfoon sal dan lui. / Lit. “My cell phone will then ring.”

Subject Phrase	Aux. / Modal Verb	Adverb of Time	Base Verb
My selfoon	sal	dan	lui.
My cell phone	will	then	ring.

Baie toeriste sal volgende jaar die Suid Afrikaanse somerweer geniet. / Lit. “Many tourists will next year enjoy the South African summer weather.”

Subject Phrase	Aux. / Modal Verb	Adv. Phrase of Time	Object Phrase	Base Verb
Baie toeriste	sal	volgende jaar	die Suid Afrikaanse somerweer	geniet.
Many tourists	will	next year	the South African summer weather	enjoy.

REVIEW: So, to quickly recap—how do we identify which tense is used in these sentences?  That’s right! We know they are in the simple future tense because:  some auxiliary verbs are conjugated to the future tense sal / gaan … wees (“will be”); others conjugate simply to sal / gaan plus a base verb; and we can also spot future tense adverbs and adverbial phrases of time.

If you’ve found our article on Afrikaans verb tenses helpful so far, also look at Your Definitive Guide to Proper Afrikaans Sentence Structure. Learning to form sentences is a great way to practice your use of tenses.

But before we wrap it up—what happens to compound verbs (samekoppelings, deeltjiewerkwoorde, or partiekelwerkwoorde) in the past, present, and future tenses in Afrikaans…?

4. Compound Verbs (Partikelwerkwoorde) & Tenses in Afrikaans

This type of verb, also called samekoppelings, partiekelwerkwoorde, or deeltjiewerkwoorde, is a combination of what we call in Afrikaans a partiekel and a main verb, and they go together like a motorcycle with its sidecar. Well, not entirely, because the first part of the compound verb (particle) usually retains meaning when used separately from the main verb. So, unlike a sidecar, the particle can stand independently. Yet, the main verb’s meaning is modified by the partiekel—just as a motorcycle’s function and character are redefined by a sidecar!

Below is a list of the most common compound verbs. In Afrikaans, the rule is that the particle and the main verb go together, even when they’re not written as one word. 

D.1 Common Compound Verbs + Conjugations

Particle Verb	Main Verb	Present Tense Conjugation	Past Tense Conjugation het + particle + -ge- verb Where the ge- appears in brackets, it means that it is sometimes omitted in the vernacular.	Future TenseConjugation sal / gaan
in	gee	ingee / “give in”	het ingegee / “gave in”	sal ingee / “will give in”
toe	gee	toegee / “concede”	het toegegee / “conceded”	gaan toegee / “will concede”
aan	gee	aangee / “pass on”	het aangegee / “passed on”	sal aangee / “will pass on”
op	gee	opgee / “give up”	het opgegee / “gave up”	gaan opgee / “will give up”
oor	gee	oorgee / “hand over”	het oorgegee / “handed over”	gaan oorgee / “will hand over”
op	hou	ophou / “cease”	het op(ge)hou / “ceased”	sal ophou / “will cease”
aan	hou	aanhou / “keep on” OR “persist” OR “keep”	het aan(ge)hou / “kept on” OR “persisted” OR “kept”	sal aanhou / “will persist”
in	hou	inhou / “keep in”	het ingehou / “kept in”	gaan inhou / “will keep in”
voor	hou	voorhou / “pretend”	het voorgehou / “pretended”	gaan voorhou / “will pretend”
in	gaan	ingaan / “go into”	het ingegaan / “went into”	sal ingaan / “will go into”
oor	gaan	oorgaan / “go over” OR “cross”	het oorgegaan / “went over” OR “crossed”	sal oorgaan / “will cross”
toe	gaan	toegaan / “close” (by itself)	het toegegaan / “closed”	sal toegaan / “will close”
aan	gaan	Aangaan / “persist” OR “go on”	het aangegaan / “persisted” OR “went on”	sal aangaan / “will persist” OR “will go on”
af	loop	afloop / “walk or run down”	het afgeloop / “walked or ran down”	sal afloop / “will walk or run down”
op	loop	oploop / “walk up”	het opgeloop / “walked up”	gaan oploop / “will walk up”
in	loop	inloop / “walk in”	het ingeloop / “walked in”	gaan inloop / “will walk in”
aan	keer	aankeer / “arrest” OR “round up”	het aangekeer / “arrested” OR “rounded up”	sal aankeer / “will arrest” OR “will round up”
af	keur	afkeur / “disapprove”	het afgekeur / “disapproved”	sal afkeur / “will disapprove”
af	breek	afbreek / “break down”	het afgebreek / “broke down”	gaan afbreek / “will break down”

Did you like learning from this article? Then also look at The Best Afrikaans Verbs List at Your Fingertips and Your Easy Guide to Understanding Afrikaans Grammar.

5. Can AfrikaansPod101 Help You Master Tenses in Afrikaans?

I’d say yes! There are plenty of reasons why enrolling immediately is a good idea. For example, read about the benefits of a Premium PLUS membership, which is very reasonably priced and can fasttrack your learning considerably. 

Skint month? No problem. Start with the lower-priced Basic option. You can always upgrade later. 

You’ll also gain access to the following:

• Free lessons on iTunes
• Free audiobooks
• Excellent free apps
• A free Word of the Day
• A free Online Afrikaans Dictionary

Great value! Sign up today.

About the author: Christa Davel is an experienced bilingual (Afrikaans and English) freelance writer and journalist, and is currently based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Hoe lank neem dit om Afrikaans te leer? (How long does it take to learn Afrikaans?) 

Well, it’s not possible to tell this with 100% accuracy, because the speed of one’s learning progress depends on a few variables.

Any answer to this question should probably start with the sober truth, though, which is that learning any new language (at least to a level of reasonable proficiency) normally takes many hours of study and practice. That’s simply the nature of language studies.

Of course, one can speed up the process with good learning tools and study habits. But mastering it overnight or in only a couple of weeks from scratch? That only happens in the movies.

But don’t be discouraged! It is possible to be a winner at learning Afrikaans—in less time than you probably think, and also with a lot of enjoyment along the way. The secrets to learning while having fun include…well, you’ll have to read on for those.

You should also keep reading to find an approximate answer to our earlier question. Maybe you need an indication of how long it would take to learn Afrikaans for personal reasons. Or perhaps your employer, an employment agency, or a learning or government institution needs to know. No problem! This post is definitely for you, too. 

I’ll start with pointers regarding Afrikaans proficiency level tests, as your existing Afrikaans skills will determine how long you’ll need to keep learning to reach your goal. If you don’t know any Afrikaans, you can probably skip to the next part, where I will share other important influencing factors worth noting.
To conclude, I’ll briefly discuss a number of skill-level descriptors for the three basic proficiency levels, as well as appropriate learning tips for each level.

Table of Contents

1. Proficiency Exams and Tests
2. Which Factors Will Influence Your Afrikaans Learning?
3. Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced & How to Learn Afrikaans Fast!
4. Conclusion

1. Proficiency Exams and Tests

If you’re in the dark regarding your current Afrikaans skill level, no problem! You can easily enlighten yourself by taking an Afrikaans proficiency-benchmark test. Some of these are pricey, but they tend to be comprehensive and give detailed reports. Others are free self-assessments that should give you a basic indication of your ability.

• The University of Central California offers a written exam through their Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service (FLATS). It is worth noting that this costs money, though it is less expensive than some other options.

• Or, consider doing an Oral Proficiency Interview, which is conducted over the telephone. It’s offered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), and it’s one of the oldest international proficiency tests on offer. Also be sure to read Your Best Guide for Easily Passing the OPI Afrikaans Exam on AfrikaansPod101.com for additional information on this test.

• If you don’t want to spend money, you could always assess your skills yourself, using the guidelines from either the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR)‘s or the ACTFL‘s skill-level descriptors.

Alternatively, you can complete the ILR’s downloadable and easy self-assessments for speaking, reading, and listening. This option is also free of charge.

Or, you might want to consider enrolling in the Premium PLUS program from AfrikaansPod101, which starts with an online Level Assessment Test. The test results not only indicate your level of Afrikaans-language abilities—they’re also used to personalize your training. You’ll furthermore be assessed continuously along the way! 

Good, now that you’ve determined your Afrikaans proficiency level, let’s discuss other factors likely to determine how long it will take to learn Afrikaans. 

2. Which Factors Will Influence Your Afrikaans Learning?

So, how long will it take to learn Afrikaans? As said, this is really difficult to qualify, simply because it depends on a number of variables. Following are the most prominent ones to consider:

2.1 Your Needs

Why do you want to learn Afrikaans? For pleasure, work, or because you need to argue politics with your Afrikaans friends or colleagues? 

Depending on your existing proficiency, Beginner Level Afrikaans should be okay if you require some Afrikaans knowledge for your travels through South Africa and/or Namibia. If you’re in business and simply want to understand the discussions of your Afrikaans business partners after meetings, Intermediate Afrikaans should do. 

Obviously, these two levels will take less time to master than, for instance, Advanced Level Afrikaans, which is where your proficiency would need to be adequate for high-level conversations.

Being clear about why you’re learning the language will affect your commitment to your studies, as well as the time you’re willing to spend on them.

2.2 Aptitude, Attitude, and Age

These three factors are indicators of what the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) calls your “existential competence“ for learning a new language. This, in turn, will affect the length of your studies.

Determine your competency by considering the following:

1. Aptitude: Are you fluent in more than one language? Were you raised bilingually? Did you show an aptitude for languages from an early age? What is your existing level of education? Do you know how to use a bilingual dictionary? Are you internet-, computer-, and smartphone-literate? Answering these questions will give you an indication of the ease with which you’ll be able to handle new information. 

2. Attitude: How motivated are you to study? How bold are you in your approach to learning? The student who learns effectively is willing to take risks and initiative in their learning process. For instance, they’re willing to approach a stranger to chat in Afrikaans and are okay with making mistakes when conversing with a native speaker.

3. Age: If you haven’t studied for years, it may influence how long it takes you to learn Afrikaans. However, if this is really a concern—do not worry! It’s possible to stretch and exercise rusty cerebral muscles at any age. (In fact, it’s advisable! Research has suggested that learning a new language could be one of the best ways to rejuvenate gray matter.)

2.3 Your Native Language

If you’re a native English and/or Dutch speaker, you’re in luck. These are historically West-Germanic languages, so they have the same linguistic roots. (This is truer of Old English; Modern English is much more creole.) This matters because Afrikaans is mostly derived from Dutch.

Research has demonstrated that English and Dutch natives should be able to acquire Afrikaans much faster than native speakers of Mandarin or Hebrew, for instance. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has been the center of foreign-language training for the U.S. government for approximately a century now. Drawing on their studies and training experience, the Institute calculated the time it would take for a native English speaker to master any language to the standard of a European highschool student of foreign languages. (This is a level close to AfrikaansPod101’s Level 3 or 4.)
The Institute organized their data regarding European languages into four categories of difficulty. Those listed in Category I, including Dutch, will take approximately 24 to 30 weeks to master, according to the FSI. Since Dutch is the root language of Afrikaans, the time it would take to master is therefore comparable.

2.4 Study Method

Your study method will also influence the length of time it could take you to master Afrikaans. Different methods include:

1. Self-study and practice.
2. Attending regular classes or taking classes with a private language tutor (virtual or otherwise).
3. A trusted, established online learning platform (such as this one) with plenty of study material and tools to help you progress from one level to the next.

Each method has limitations that could create stumbling blocks for effective learning. I would suggest that you take control of your learning process by combining methods 1 through 3, if you want to learn Afrikaans fast and effectively.

Let’s take a look at how this can be done.

3. Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced & How to Learn Afrikaans Fast!

These three basic language levels are normally subdivided for better discernment of your abilities. These subcategories might include Absolute Beginner, Beginner, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, and Advanced.

In the following sections, you’ll find elementary pointers for speaking proficiency based on ACTFL guidelines.

3.1 Beginner Afrikaans

Reaching the higher end of the Beginner Afrikaans level will probably take between 80 to 100 hours of class time and practice.

Basic Level Descriptors: At this level, you have zero to elementary Afrikaans ability. You know or can do the following (or less). Speaking: Your vocabulary is limited to immediate survival needs; you can respond to simple questions and can ask memorized ones, but are understood only with difficulty by native speakers. You cannot partake in conversations. At the high-novice level, you are, for instance, able to introduce yourself like this: Ek is Maria Ricci. Ek is Italiaans. (“I am Maria Ricci. I am Italian.”) Reading and Writing: You can read and write lists and notes with single words and short sentences, and can fill out simple forms. Listening: You can understand simple key words and phrases in context, as well as memorized, well-known commands and questions such as: Wat is jou naam? (“What is your name?”)

Tips to Boost Beginner Learning

Nobody is born able to speak a language. As we grow and develop, we learn it through observation, repetition, and play. This is a brilliant formula to copy as you learn to speak Afrikaans!  

• For instance, listen to native Afrikaans speakers as they talk and observe their lips and mouth as they pronounce words. You can do this either in person or by watching a recording such as this YouTube video. Through visual and aural observation, you’ll learn how certain sounds are formed.

To cover repetition, you could use a language app (like this one) on any mobile device. Listen to and repeat vocabulary and short phrases out loud when you’re driving alone, for instance, or listen to recordings like a podcast over and over again on the bus or subway. (A podcast is called a potgooi in Afrikaans, and it literally means “to throw a pot”!) You could also make your own flashcards with key vocabulary and important phrases, to be kept with you and practiced out loud as often as possible. Do it in front of the mirror for best results!

• Also, download language gaming apps for kids and play away—on the subway or bus, during tea breaks, over weekends—any moment you have free time and need to relax a bit!

However, it would be best not to do this on your own. As I suggested earlier, enrolling with an established online language learning platform is likely to speed up your learning considerably. For instance, take a look at this bite-sized lesson for Absolute Beginners (only three minutes long!) to learn the basic vocab and phrases you need for self-introduction. What elevates our platform from the common offering on the Net is that it gives you much more than merely a recorded dialogue.

In addition to hearing how Afrikaans natives introduce themselves and being able to read the dialogue vocabulary in a downloadable PDF, you also get access to lesson notes on how to use what you learned in a cultural context, as well as complete, downloadable lesson transcripts. As if that’s not enough, you also get access to flashcards and a slideshow with each lesson, plus the option to test yourself with a quiz.

Impressive, eh?! What I also really like is that the enrollment costs don’t break the bank and the platform offers several upgrade options (also at reasonable prices).

3.2 Intermediate Afrikaans

As mentioned, to reach a high-intermediate level of Afrikaans could take you between 24-30 weeks.

Basic Level Descriptors: At this level, you have some Afrikaans proficiency. You know and can do the following (or slightly less). > Speaking: You can easily converse about routine tasks and familiar topics in social situations with people of similar Afrikaans abilities. You can describe and narrate in all major tenses, but not all the time. You’re understood by native Afrikaans speakers unaccustomed to non-native speech, although your mistakes will be evident. You would, for instance, probably get the Afrikaans double-negative wrong: Ek is nie honger. ❌ / Ek is nie honger nie. ✅ (“I am not hungry.”) > Reading and Writing: You can meet practical needs, such as reading and writing simple and short messages, letters, and notes. You can ask and respond to simple questions in writing on topics limited to personal or social needs. > Listening: You can understand medium-length sentences on familiar, everyday topics. You understand one utterance at a time in one-to-one conversations, as well as simple announcements and messages. You rely heavily on paraphrasing, restatements, and contextual clues. You are, for instance, able to understand announcements like this: Ons sal vertrek om agtuur moreoggend. (“We will leave at eight o’ clock tomorrow morning.”)

Tips to Boost Intermediate Learning

Don’t ditch the observe, repeat, and play activities of the Beginner Level! Simply increase their difficulty by a notch or two.

Also, by now your Afrikaans reading proficiency should be better. Still in the spirit of playfulness—why not read Afrikaans children’s stories? Start with very easy ones, such as those made available by the South African national government’s Department of Basic Education. They’re completely free and available in downloadable PDF form.

• ‘n Groot boek met kort stories (“A Large Book with Short Stories”) 
• Die Dieresportdag (“The Animal Sport Day”)

Also explore the links on this site for more free storybooks. Read them out loud to your tutor or to a native Afrikaans friend who can check your pronunciation. 

Verna Vels wrote timeless and wonderful Afrikaans children’s books, as does Philip De Vos, so be sure to look for their work. However, we have excellent translations of books by the beloved Dr. Seuss and Richard Scurry as well. Challenge your limitations by listening to Afrikaans children’s stories and repeating them in Afrikaans to a (preferably native) Afrikaans speaker.

By now, a good language school or online learning platform will have introduced you to some grammar too. A great example of what you can expect in this regard is the AfrikaansPod101 lesson Mind Your Manners in South Africa. You’re presented with a culturally relevant dialogue introducing the topic, to which relevant vocabulary, cultural insights, and a lesson about the basic Afrikaans sentence structure are added. All of this is available as an audio or PDF download, too. Really a great deal!

Studeer Afrikaans enige plek, enige tyd. / “Study Afrikaans any place, any time.”

3.3 Advanced Afrikaans

To reach this level in Afrikaans will probably take you between 50-60 weeks, depending on your study methods.

Basic Level Descriptors: At the advanced level, you have good Afrikaans proficiency. You know and can do the following (or slightly less). > Speaking: You can easily participate in conversations on diverse topics. You use descriptions and narration in all the major tenses, and can handle situations of unexpected complexity with ease. You have a good generic vocabulary and are easily understood by native speakers. > Reading and Writing: You can write routine informal (and some formal) correspondence, plus factual narratives, descriptions, and summaries. You use all the major tenses in narration and description, and can paraphrase for clarity. You demonstrate good control of generic vocabulary and are understood even by natives not used to non-native writing. > Listening: You can understand the main ideas in conversations of personal nature or about a variety of general-interest topics (e.g. the news, instructions, anecdotes, etc.). You compensate for any limitations by using real-world knowledge and contextual clues.

Tips to Boost Advanced Learning

At this level, you should be able to communicate with relative ease in Afrikaans, which will expand your scope of learning opportunities. Now it would benefit you to expose yourself as much and as often as possible to situations where Afrikaans is used by natives.

If possible, watch Afrikaans TV and movies on Showmax, an online video-streaming service similar to Netflix. (Also refer to our articles Showmax South Africa and Afrikaans Movies & Shows and Popular South African TV Shows to Help You Learn Afrikaans! for lists of must-watch shows.) Some movies and shows have English subtitles. 

Kyk Afrikaanse rolprente met én sonder onderskrifte. / “Watch Afrikaans movies with and without subscripts.”

As you approach the advanced level, you should cement your understanding of compound sentences and expand your vocabulary. AfrikaansPod101 has plenty of lessons that can help you do this (like this one on the Top 10 Activities in South Africa). These lessons follow the same format: a dialogue with relevant vocabulary, lesson notes with cultural insights, plus a downloadable transcript.

Don’t stop reading, though! A host of brilliant Afrikaans writers is just waiting to be discovered. 

• Dip your toe into the waters of excellent Afrikaans fiction, such as the crime novels from the keyboard of Deon Meyer—erstwhile journalist-turned-bestselling-author. His books were translated into many languages and a couple even made it to the big screen. 
• Remember the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi from 2006? Read an Afrikaans translation of the book the movie was based on, by one of our greatest authors and playwrights, Athol Fugard. 
• I don’t love reading romance novels; they’re a bit sentimental for my taste. Yet, the likes of Ena Murray, a prolific romance writer, used to be very popular. She’s no Charlotte Brontë—think more Daphne du Maurier—but her work is easy to understand. Eleanor Baker and Maretha Maarten’s novels are also from a bygone era but still popular. For more modern female fiction, consider books by Chanette Paul, as well as award-winners Sophia Kapp and Marita van der Vyver. 
• Nataniël is one of the most prolific South African artists. He’s a popular singer-songwriter, comedian, fine artist, kitchenware designer, chef, published author, and TV personality! This hugely talented performer’s short stories and poetry are favorites too, also very entertaining. Previously-mentioned Philip de Vos is another Afrikaans author who delivers absolutely delightful comedic limericks and poetry for adults.
• Lovers of serious poetry, take a moment to enjoy the work of Petra Müller (Winderige Lente / “Windy Spring” is a personal favorite); Ingrid Jonker; Antjie Krog; and newcomer Koleka Putuma.

For non-fiction, consider reading Afrikaans online newspapers and magazines. Or get busy on Afrikaans biographies of our luminaries, such as ‘n Lang Pad na Vryheid (“A Long Road to Freedom”), an autobiography by Nelson Mandela. Alternatively, choose any topic of interest and search online for an Afrikaans book on it. (Our botany is beautiful and diverse, and of particular interest in this regard. For instance, the fine bush, or fynbos, is native only to this country.)

For interesting non-fiction podcasts, consider Jacques Bassons’s Klipkouers (Lit. “stone chewers”), or Willim Welsyn’s Wat (“What”), and Bouer Bosch’s Narratief (“Narrative”).

3.4 Master it Faster: How to Learn Afrikaans Fast!

Wondering how to learn Afrikaans faster? No matter your current level, applying one or all of the following principles is guaranteed to turn your studies into a fun activity every day. Enjoyment should also speed up your Afrikaans learning.

Keep it Playful! 

A popular quote about the importance of play for learning has been doing the rounds for ages. It’s attributed to child-development expert Dr. Karyn Purvis, who allegedly said:

 “Scientists have recently determined that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain—unless it is done with play, in which case, it takes between 10 and 20 repetitions!”

In alle kulture was spel was nog altyd een van die beste leerwyses. / “In all cultures, play has always been one of the best ways to learn.”

As much as I want this to be true, I cannot find any scientific substantiation for this claim. Apparently, Purvis did say this, but she took the source for the quote with her to the grave, according to her colleagues. 

Yet, in many indigenous cultures, it’s implicitly understood that children learn best during play, which is why they are seldom barred from adult activities. This is the experience of any parent too, worldwide! It’s furthermore a quality we never lose, because adults tend to enjoy playful activities much more than classroom-style education or training. This enjoyment helps us to focus better and it amps up our motivation to study. 

As said, online gaming is a great way to play and learn. Consider, for instance, this vocabulary builder with its simple audio and reading games, suitable for Beginner and Intermediate learners. 

It would be even better to create your own fun, though!

Keep it Creative! 

In order to play, you’ll need to flex your creativity muscles. This can be easily accomplished these days! For instance, record yourself reading, singing, or acting in Afrikaans and perhaps start your own YouTube channel—just for fun! This could also be an interesting way to record your progress. 

Alternatively, create an Afrikaans card game with vocab flashcards or design a board game, for instance. 

Creative writing in Afrikaans is another option. Keep it super simple at first by making drawings of Afrikaans vocabulary that makes up a story — think comic strip.

You could also paint, draw, or digitally decorate that Afrikaans poem or inspirational quote you want to memorize. Hang your artwork in a prominent location.

Or, go old school by creating simple Afrikaans greeting cards for friends or family. Think of cutting letters from magazines or newspapers to form the words, for instance. The possibilities are endless—the only secret is to keep it fun and engaging.

Study with a Buddy!

Shared experiences are always more enjoyable and motivating, so try to study with a friend. Or, search the Net for an online conversation buddy. Read Afrikaans to one another, create silly Afrikaans recordings together—have fun!

Studeer Afrikaans saam met vriende vir beter resultate! / “Study Afrikaans with a buddy for better results!”

Bravo to the Binge!

Binge-watching Afrikaans TV series, movies, and shows, and regularly listening to good-quality Afrikaans music are excellent ways to train your ear to the natural sound of the language. These activities will be especially good for Intermediate students who want to amp up their learning. It’s also fun! Create a playlist of your favorite Afrikaans music (there are loads of songs on YouTube, iTunes, and Spotify) and listen on repeat.

Refer to our article The Best Videos to Learn Afrikaans on YouTube for some viewing and listening ideas. Some movies and songs have English subscripts, so even Beginners can enjoy this activity. Great for a relaxing weekend with your study buddy.

Memorize, Moviestar!

I studied French at school and our clever teacher had us memorize the lyrics of Gilbert Becaud’s soulful Et Maintenant (“And now…”). I can still sing along lustily—en français! From a French Christian Bible, I memorized the beautiful Psalm 23, Le Seigneur est mon berger (“The Lord is my shepherd”), another favorite to recite. Even if you don’t completely understand the grammar yet, memorizing quality text will help you to internalize how the language is used. 

Start by memorizing your favorite Afrikaans lyrics to belt out karaoke-style. Consider especially the work of artists Refentse, Tasché Burger, Chris Chameleon, and Coenie de Villiers—their Afrikaans pronunciation is impeccable and the music beautiful. 

Or, memorize a poem you can recite with feeling, such as Louis Leopold’s Op my ou ramkietjie (“On my old ramkietjie“). This one would be easy for Intermediate learners to memorize, as it was turned into a song (which you can listen to here). Video record yourself and put your heart into it! 

Memoriseer die lirieke en sing jou gunsteling Afrikaanse liedjie gereeld! / “Memorize the lyrics and often sing your favorite Afrikaans song!”

Think in Afrikaans!

Since we’re always chatting with an Invisible Other in our heads, the conversation can just as well be in Afrikaans. For a real vocabulary booster to expand your inner talk, look around you wherever you find yourself and name objects in your surroundings in Afrikaans. Repeat these words to yourself silently in your head till you can use them easily and naturally in sentences. (An online bilingual dictionary will come in handy here.)

Immersion is Ideal!

Of course, if you really want to speed up your Afrikaans proficiency, nothing beats full immersion. This means that you could, for instance, take a working or volunteer holiday to South Africa or Namibia, and insist that your hosts and/or employers address you only in Afrikaans. The cities are pretty Anglicized, so investigate opportunities in towns and rural areas. 

Or, especially if you’re living in a large city in your own country, seek out an Afrikaans expat community and make new friends! 

4. Conclusion

So? What do you think? How long will it take to learn Afrikaans, if you had to venture a guess? Let us know in the comments.

Afrikaans is a pleasant, easy language to learn and use, and is closely related to Dutch. Once you’ve mastered Afrikaans, you’ll find Dutch very easy to master too—two birds with one stone, almost! Don’t hesitate, and start learning Afrikaans online for free with AfrikaansPod101.com.

About the author: Christa Davel is an experienced bilingual (Afrikaans and English) freelance writer and editor, and is currently based in Cape Town, South Africa.

The word “proverb” (spreekwoord in Afrikaans) is derived from the Latin proverbium. Collins Dictionary defines it as a short sentence that people often quote to give advice, or one that says something about life.

Proverbs also tend to employ the same vivid imagery and metaphoric language common in children’s stories. So, perhaps they’re an adult throwback to children’s fiction—who knows?

Proverbs touch us on a very deep level, as they go beyond nationality, gender, race, religion, and time. In this way, they connect us to one another with their universal truths and wisdom. The Afrikaans proverbs I’m going to cover in this article are sure to ignite your imagination and make you feel more connected to Afrikaner culture.

Ma en dogter lees ‘n boek saam (“Mother and daughter reading a book together”)

Table of Contents

1. Why Use Proverbs in Afrikaans Conversations?
2. The Difference Between Proverbs and Sayings/Idioms
3. Afrikaans Proverbs and Meanings with English Equivalents
4. Uniquely South African Proverbs
5. Learn Afrikaans Proverbs Like a Pro at AfrikaansPod101.com!

1. Why Use Proverbs in Afrikaans Conversations?

Many proverbs are conversation tools that add character to a language, almost like adding spice to food. Throw a unique Afrikaans proverb into a conversation, and you could well pass for a native speaker!

Afrikaans proverbs can typically be used in both formal and informal settings, and parents often use them to explain ethics, morals, or other profound truths to their children.

Many similar proverbs appear in different languages. This is simply because cultures have cross-pollinated over the centuries with the gradual expansion of the world’s population.

First, we’ll take a look at those Afrikaans proverbs with English equivalents, of which there are plenty. Then, I will give a few examples of very unique Afrikaans proverbs with no English equivalents or approximations I can trace. (But if you know of an English approximate, or perhaps a similar proverb in your own language, please do share with us in the comments!)

Before we start, let’s quickly look at the difference between a proverb (spreekwoord) and an idiom or saying (idioom / sêding). These two are closely related, but are not the same in usage and meaning.

2. The Difference Between Proverbs and Sayings/Idioms

This is not complicated, but on many sites, one is often confused with the other. A trait they share is the use of metaphoric language (i.e. imagery). Also, both proverbs and idioms evolve as languages evolve, so there’s rarely a single, permanent version of any specific idiom or proverb. 

They differ in the following ways:

A) Afrikaanse Sêdinge / Sêgoed / Idiome (“Afrikaans Sayings / Idioms”)

• A saying always forms part of a sentence with a noun, proper noun, or pronoun that refers to a specific person, entity, and/or situation. So, idioms are not universally applicable. 

• Often, different regions in South Africa have different idioms for the same thing. For instance, we have many different sayings for referring to a drunk person.

  In a rural town called Moorreesburg, Western Cape Province, the locals say: Hy/sy is ganspen. (Literally: “He/she is goose pen.”) 

  However, in Touwsrivier (also a small town in the Western Cape), we say: Hy/sy is kiepkop. In vernacular Afrikaans, a chicken is also sometimes referred to with an onomatopoeia: kiep or kiepie. This saying is closer to what we use in Gauteng Province: Hy/sy is hoenderkop. (Literally: “He/she is chicken head.”) It’s unclear where this idiom originated, but my guess is that it alludes to the movement of a chicken’s head when it walks—it doesn’t look very stable!

• Example: Ons moes van aalmoese lewe. (“We had to live off charity.”)

  Van aalmoese lewe (“living off charitable offerings”) is a Dutch-based idiom meaning that someone is living in such extreme poverty that they have to depend on charity for survival. See below how this idiomatic expression differs from a certain proverb that also uses the word aalmoese.

B) Afrikaanse Spreekwoorde (“Afrikaans Proverbs”)

• Even if it forms part of a sentence, a proverb can always stand alone as a complete sentence or statement.
• It usually expresses a universally applicable piece of wisdom or sentiment.
• Pronouns in proverbs can be adjusted to be gender-correct, but vernacularly, they’re seldom modified this way.
• Proverbs in Afrikaans tend to show less regional diversity than idioms do. They’re understood almost everywhere in the country.
• Example: Aalmoese gee verarm nie. (“Giving charitably won’t make you poor.”) This proverb reminds us that giving freely to those in dire need will not cost us too much, nor will it harm us—a universal truth.

3. Afrikaans Proverbs and Meanings with English Equivalents

Now that you’re familiar with the differences between proverbs and idioms, let’s go over the most popular and widespread proverbs in Afrikaans! 

1. Die appel val nie ver van die boom af nie. / “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Meaning: 

This is also a well-known proverb in English. It states that family members tend to share the same basic nature and/or traits.

Use: 

In Afrikaans, one uses this phrase to comment on any situation where a child displays the same characteristics or skills as one or both of their parents. It’s most often said in a positive sense, and it can be used for either gender.

Example Sentence: 

Sy is ‘n skrywer, net soos haar pa. Die appel val nie ver van die boom af nie.
“She is a writer, just like her dad. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Die appel val nie vêr van die boom af nie. (“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”)

2. ‘n Voël verander van kleur maar nie van veer. / “A leopard doesn’t change its spots.”

Lit. Translation: 

“A bird changes its color but not its feathers.” 

Alternative: 

‘n Jakkals verander van haar maar nie van streke nie. / “A fox changes its fur but not its tricks.”

Meaning: 

This expressive proverb means that even when people appear to have changed, their basic character is likely still intact. One’s true character will always show, no matter how hard one tries to hide it. The absolute truth of this proverb is debatable, because people can and do completely change, when they must. But this usually takes great effort and is not the norm.

Use: 

This proverb is mostly used when a person displays tenacious moral flaws. Picture this scene: A girl broke up with her boyfriend because he repeatedly lied to or cheated on her. The boy begged her to take him back with earnest promises to change his ways. All went well for a while, but he was soon lying and cheating again. In this instance, the proverb could be used as a comment that says it all, or it could serve as cautionary advice from a concerned parent or friend.

Example Sentence: 

Wees net versigtig om weer daardie man te vertrou. ‘n Voël verander van kleur maar nie van veer.
“Just be careful trusting that man again. A leopard doesn’t change its spots.”

‘n Voël verander van kleur maar nie van veer. (Literally: “A bird changes color but not feathers.”)

3. Die skoenmaker se kinders loop kaalvoet. / “The cobbler’s children are the worst shod.”

Lit. Translation: 

“The shoemaker’s/cobbler’s children walk barefoot.”

Meaning: 

Like its English counterpart, this proverb refers to the rather ironic phenomenon where people who excel in their profession are sometimes unable to (or simply won’t) extend their services to their children. Think of the shoemaker whose children don’t wear good shoes (or any shoes at all). Or the car mechanic whose daughter’s vehicle always needs repairs. In the movie business, this is sometimes called “vocational irony.” 

Some interpreters feel that the proverb refers to bad parenting, but I don’t agree. Unless the children are clearly in a bad way (which should then be reported to the appropriate local authorities), who really knows what is going on in another’s household?

Use: 

Imagine you’re a teacher who often organizes outings for your class. One of your pupils, the son of a dentist, is repeatedly unable to join, usually because of dental problems. You could then comment on the situation using this proverb.

Example Sentence: 

Die tandaarts se seun kon weereens nie saamkom op die uitstappie nie as gevolg van tandpyn. Lyk my die skoenmaker se kinders loop kaalvoet.
“The dentist’s son could not join us on the excursion, again due to a toothache. It seems the cobbler’s children are the worst shod.”

Die skoenmaker se kinders loop kaalvoet. (Literally: “The shoemaker’s children walk barefoot.”)

4. Wie nie waag nie, wen nie. / “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Lit. Translation: 

“Those who don’t dare, don’t win.”

Meaning: 

Just like the English version, this Afrikaans proverb reminds us that nobody can expect to win or succeed in life without sometimes pushing their own boundaries. It’s an encouragement to be bold and to act despite feeling afraid.

Use: 

Imagine this scenario, for instance: Your Afrikaans friend is offered a well-paid job where they’ll be expected to do work that will challenge him to up his skills. Soon after accepting the offer, however, and even before starting, he confesses to you that he wants to quit because his courage is failing. You could then say this proverb to encourage him to be more daring.

Example Sentence: 

Gaan vind eers uit wat die werk behels, dalk is dit nie so moeilik as wat jy dink nie. Onthou, wie nie waag nie, wen nie.
“First go find out what the work entails; perhaps it is not as difficult as you think. Remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Wie nie waag nie, wen nie. (Literally: “Those who don’t dare, don’t win.”)

5. Een swaeltjie maak nie ‘n somer nie. / “One swallow does not make a summer.”

Meaning: 

This proverb was appropriated from English and apparently first encountered in early glossaries, such as Richard Taverner’s transcription of the Latin proverbs of Erasmus (circa 1539). It alludes to the migratory return of swallows in early summer. In the olden days, when the swallows returned, people saw it as a sign that summer had started. However, sometimes there were “false alarms,” typically when only one swallow was spotted. The proverb came to mean that a single good sign doesn’t necessarily indicate a trend.

Use: 

It’s used to caution against blind or excessive optimism after a windfall. Or, as Erasmus put it: “It is not one good qualitie that maketh a man good.”

Example Sentence: 

Ons het goeie verkope gehad hierdie week, maar onthou—een swaeltjie maak nie ‘n somer nie. Dit gaan tyd neem vir die besigheid om regtig te floreer.
“We made good sales this week, but remember—one swallow doesn’t make a summer. It will take time for the business to really flourish.”

Een swaeltjie maak nie ‘n somer nie. (“One swallow does not make a summer.”)

6. Wat jy saai sal jy maai. / “As you sow, so you shall reap.”

Meaning: 

This well-known proverb is based on the hermetic principle that what you think, say, or do always returns to you in some form or another. The principle is similar in all religious traditions, but the proverb itself is found in the Christian Bible. 

Use: 

Just as in English, this proverb is used to comment on or warn about one’s behavior. Picture, for instance, that you find out your teenage son is considering cheating on his girlfriend. You might have a talk with him about morals and ethics, gently reminding him that what he sows, he will eventually reap.

Example Sentence: 

Moenie ‘n verneuker wees nie, my kind, dit maak mense seer. En onthou, wat jy saai sal jy maai. Dis hoe die lewe werk.
“Don’t be a cheat, my child, it hurts people. And remember, as you sow, so you shall reap. Life works that way.”

Wat jy saai sal jy maai. (“As you sow, so you shall reap.”)

7. Skoonheid vergaan maar deug bly staan. / Approximate: “Beauty is only skin-deep.”

Lit. Translation: 

“Beauty fades but virtue endures.”

Meaning: 

This proverb sings the praises of inner virtue over outer appearance, or the value of inner, more enduring character qualities over the visible, transient ones.

Use: 

In practical terms, the proverb is used as a comment, warning, or advice when a person is blinded by the outer beauty of someone or something. This commonly happens when we become infatuated with a person or an object! 

For instance, imagine you’re a car aficionado and a friend asks for your advice about buying a new car. He’s smitten by the latest body style of a certain sports car, and you realize that he wants to purchase it impulsively. However, as the expert, you know that it won’t be a good buy for him. That would be the perfect time to use this proverb.

In Afrikaans, deug (“virtue”) is sometimes replaced with liefde (“love”), in which case it extols the virtues of choosing a life partner mostly for their inner beauty.

Example Sentence: 

Daardie is ‘n mooi motorkar, maar dis nie ‘n baie praktiese een nie. Onthou, skoonheid vergaan maar deug bly staan!
“That is a nice-looking motorcar, but it’s not a very practical one. Remember, beauty fades but virtue endures!”

Skoonheid vergaan maar deug bly staan. (“Beauty disappears but virtue remains.”)

8. Haastige hond verbrand sy mond. / Approximates: “Haste makes waste.” AND “More haste, less speed.”

Lit. Translation: 

“The hasty dog burns its mouth.”

Meaning: 

This is a reminder to not hurry things unnecessarily, as you can end up spoiling them for yourself. It’s similar to the English proverb that warns against doing jobs hastily, because this could cause mistakes and unnecessary loss.

Use: 

This one is often used by parents during mealtime! In this case, it means exactly what it says: don’t eat too fast or the hot food will burn your mouth. It’s often used in other contexts too. For instance: your Afrikaans friend has booked a holiday weekend at a beautiful location and is tremendously eager to be off. She announces that she’s going to drive there at top speed, which you know will be unsafe. You might decide to use this proverb to remind her to drive at a sensible speed.

Example Sentence: 

Daar is gewoonlik verkeerskameras op daardie pad. En dit reën, so oppas. Haastige hond verbrand sy mond.
“There are usually traffic cameras on that road. And it’s raining too, so be careful. The hasty dog burns its mouth.”

Haastige hond verbrand sy mond. (“The hasty dog burns its mouth.”)

9. Aanhouer wen. / Approximate: “Practice makes perfect.”

Lit. Translation: 

“One who persists wins.”

Meaning: 

This proverb encourages us not to give up on our goals or to quit working toward them when the going gets tough. It reminds us that it’s the tenacious person who will eventually get what they want. 

Use: 

This is one of the best Afrikaans proverbs to use when someone feels discouraged in their endeavors, or if they just don’t feel like continuing. It’s similar to the English approximate in that it encourages persistence, albeit with a different emphasis. Literally, Aanhouer wen encourages someone who feels discouraged and tired by their efforts to keep going, while the English proverb encourages persistence in order to reach a high standard.

Imagine your daughter wants to improve her performance in athletics, but feels discouraged by her slow progress and therefore wants to quit practicing. That’s when you would give her a hug and remind her (with this Afrikaans proverb) that persistence will bear fruit.

Example Sentence: 

Ja, oefening is nie altyd lekker nie, my kind, maar onthou—aanhouer wen.
“Yes, practice is not always pleasant, my child, but remember—the one who persists wins.”

Aanhouer wen. (“One who persists, wins.)

10. Approximate: “Don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today.”

Lit. Translation: 

“From procrastination comes cancelation.”

Meaning: 

This proverb is a warning against procrastination. We’re all familiar with the dynamic—the longer you put off doing something, the more likely you are not to do it at all!

Use: 

The proverb is pretty straightforward and can be used in any situation where this reminder is appropriate. For instance—New Year’s resolutions! Who hasn’t promised themselves that they will lose weight, spruce up the garden, or write a book, only to reach the end of that year without having reached any goals due to procrastination? Use this proverb to remind yourself or someone else why it’s better to ditch this bad habit.

Example Sentence: 

Laat ek tog gaan oefen. Want regtig, van uitstel kom afstel!
“Let me go and exercise. Because really, from procrastination comes cancelation.”

Van uitstel kom afstel. (Literally: “From procrastination comes cancelation.”

11. Elke hond kry sy dag. / “Every dog gets its day.”

Meaning: 

According to the Collins Dictionary, this proverb means that everyone will be successful or lucky at some point in their life. It has interesting origins, not as benevolent as the dictionary definition suggests. The proverb alludes to a pack of dogs that was allegedly loosed upon Greek playwright Euripides by a vengeful enemy in 405 BCE. The dogs mauled and killed the writer. The proverb came to mean that even the lowliest person will eventually get their revenge over their most powerful enemy. 

Use: 

It’s often used when we want to comfort a friend who’s down on their luck, whether in serious or trivial matters. For instance, if someone has lost a competition or didn’t get a job they applied for, you could use this proverb to cheer them up. It’s also sometimes used to say that a person will be avenged if they suffer something they didn’t deserve, such as when they’re unfairly fired or implicated in a crime they didn’t commit.

Example Sentence: 

Hy voel baie kwaad en verneder oor hy uit die span geskop is na vals beweringe van dwelmgebruik. Maar hy troos homself met hierdie wete—elke hond kry sy dag.
“He feels very angry and humiliated because he was kicked off the team due to false allegations of drug use. But he comforts himself with this thought—every dog gets its day.”

Elke hond kry sy dag. (“Every dog gets its day.”)

12. Elke boontjie kry sy loontjie. / “You get what you deserve.”

Lit. Translation: 

“Every small bean gets his little due.”

Meaning: 

If the literal translation doesn’t make much sense, that’s because this popular proverb is based on old Afrikaans folklore. The story is called Little Bean, Straw, and Ember and it tells us that one day, these three friends went for a walk in nature. They reached a stream to cross, and Straw generously offered to lie down and form a bridge that the other two could safely use. Little Bean went first and crossed the stream easily. Unfortunately, Ember burnt Straw, so both of them collapsed into the stream. Little Bean found this hilarious and laughed uncontrollably. In fact, he laughed so hard that he popped open! The moral of the story is that he got his due for mocking his friends in their misery.

Use: 

This is mostly used as a comment when we notice that someone, according to our judgment, gets what they deserve. For instance, a large company is exposed for poor environmental health and safety practices. At first, it seems they’re getting away with it, but then you read in the newspaper that someone has sued them and won a large settlement. This is when you could mutter this proverb to yourself or air it in a conversation to express your opinion. You could also use it to comfort a friend who has fallen victim to unfair treatment.

Example Sentence: 

Toemaar, ou pêl, moenie te sleg voel nie. Elke boontjie kry sy loontjie.
“Don’t worry, old pal, and don’t feel too bad. They will get what they deserve.”

Note: 

In this case, the English version is closer to an idiom than a proverb because the pronoun “you” is often replaced with other pronouns or nouns.

Elke boontjie kry sy loontjie. (Literally: “Every bean gets his dues.”)

13. Die gras lyk altyd groener aan die ander kant van die draad. / “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”

Meaning: 

This well-known proverb refers to our tendency to compare our situation with others’, and then conclude that they have it better than we do, even when they really don’t. It’s not so much envy as it is the assumption that we’re worse off than others, making us wish we were on their side of the proverbial fence.

Use: 

Picture this scenario: Your Afrikaans colleague is not terribly unhappy at work, but she’s restless and bored in your department. She’s always looking longingly at colleagues in a different department who work outside of the office, thinking that they seem to have a better time. Therefore, she wants to ask for a transfer. However, you know that all is not as it seems in the other department, so you use this proverb to warn her against taking rash action.

Example Sentence: 

Die gras lyk altyd groener aan die ander kant van die draad, Sandra. Jy moet mooi dink oor ‘n oorplasing.
“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, Sandra. You need to think very carefully about a transfer.”

Die gras lyk altyd groener aan die ander kant van die draad. (“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”)

14. Oos, wes, tuis bes. / “There’s no place like home.”

Lit. Translation: 

“East, west, home is best.”

Meaning: 

This proverb reminds us of the joys of having a good home. It implies that, no matter how far and wide we travel, nothing compares to being home, a place we love returning to.

Use: 

It’s used to describe a feeling of satisfaction upon arriving home after a long holiday or trip. It can also refer to the place where you were raised, or any place you fondly recall as “home.” You could use this proverb with good effect if, for instance, you were invited to a class reunion in your hometown and were asked to give a short speech. It would make a great opening line! 

Example Sentence: 

Goeienaand, Klasmaats van ’88. Wat kan ek sê—oos, wes, tuis bes.
“Good evening, Class of ’88. What can I say—east, west, home is best.”

Oos, wes, tuis bes. (Literally: “East, west, home best.”)

15. Waar daar ‘n rokie trek, is daar ‘n vuurtjie. / “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

Meaning: 

This is another well-known proverb, and it means that if rumors are circulating about someone or something, there’s always some truth to them.

Use: 

The absolute truth of this proverb is debatable, because really—do we ever get the full picture via rumors? We love to gossip, unfortunately, which distorts or takes away from the truth. So, use this proverb sparingly if you’re dealing with negative stories. 

The proverb can be used positively too, though. For instance, your Afrikaans friend whispers that she heard along the grapevine that a mutual friend has gotten engaged, but she’s not sure. If you don’t know either, this proverb could be a good reply, accompanied by a happy wink.

Example Sentence: 

Ek weet nie, maar jy weet mos hoe die spreekwoord gaan—waar daar ‘n rokie trek, is daar ‘n vuurtjie.
“I don’t know either, but you know what the proverb says—where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

Waar daar ‘n rokie trek, is daar ‘n vuurtjie. (“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”)

16. Jy kan ‘n perd na die water toe lei maar jy kan hom nie maak drink nie. / “You can lead a horse to the water, but you can’t make it drink.”

Meaning: 

This one means that guidance has its limits, and that you cannot force anyone to take an opportunity or advice offered them.

Use: 

It’s mostly used as a comment during conversation. For instance: Your friend was looking for a specific garden tool and you told him which shop stocks them. Later you hear that he has not found the tool, but he didn’t take your advice either. You could then use this proverb as a remark.

Example Sentence: 

Ek het hom vertel waar daardie gereedskap te koop is. Ag wel, jy kan ‘n perd na die water toe lei maar jy kan hom nie maak drink nie.
“I told him where those tools are sold. Ah well, you can lead a horse to the water, but you can’t make it drink.”

Jy kan ‘n perd na die water toe lei, maar jy kan dit nie maak drink nie. (“One can lead a horse to the water, but you can’t make it drink.”)

17. Wanneer die son sak in die weste is die luiaard op sy beste. / Approximates: “A young man idle, an old man needy.” OR “A lazy youth, a lousy old age.”

Lit. Translation: 

“When the sun sets in the west, the lazy bum is at his best.”

Meaning: 

This is a reference to dusk, which signals the end of the day—supposedly a lazy person’s favorite time of day, because now they can rest legitimately. Of course, it’s the end of work for many people.

Use: 

Parents use this proverb to teach or warn their children not to be lazy. In conversation, it’s a reference to idleness or laziness—oftentimes our own, even if rest is well-deserved! For instance, if you feel exceptionally tired after hard work and just want to stretch out in front of the TV with a glass of wine, you could exclaim this proverb with a smile to mildly deprecate yourself.

Example Sentence: 

Ek het nie lus om kos te maak vanaand nie; gee my net ‘n goeie fliek en wyn! As die son sak in die weste, is die luiaard op sy beste.
“I don’t feel like making supper tonight; just give me a good movie and wine! When the sun sets in the west, the lazy person is at his best!”

Wanneer die son sak in die weste is die luiaard op sy beste. (“When the sun sets in the west, the lazy bum is at his best.”)

18. Die oggendstond het goud in die mond. / Approximate: “The early bird catches the worm.”

Lit. Translation: 

“The break of dawn has gold in its mouth.”

Meaning: 

This personification of dawn is the antidote to the laziness referenced in the previous proverb, as it extolls the virtues of getting up early for work. The reasoning is that this will help you perform better, because most people tend to feel more energetic and motivated in the morning—gold. If you get up early, you’ll also have time to do more work—more gold!

Use: 

It’s used as a comment to remind us of the above. If, for instance, a manager wants to motivate his staff to come in earlier for work on a specific day, he might use this proverb.

Example Sentence: 

Waarom begin ons so vroeg Maandagoggend? Oggendstond het goud in die mond, Kollega.
“Why are we starting so early on Monday morning? Break of dawn has gold in its mouth, my colleague.”

Oggendstond het goud in die mond. (Literally: “Break of dawn has gold it its mouth.”)

19. Goedkoop koop is duurkoop. / “If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.”

Meaning: 

This proverb warns against the pitfalls of shopping like a miser, unless you’re very sure that you’re getting reasonable quality. We tend to get what we pay for! This is not always true, though; not all inexpensive products and services are of poor quality, nor does ‘expensive’ necessarily translate to ‘excellent quality.’ But, in general, a dodgy purchase could mean you’ll soon have to replace it with a better one, or pay for repairs! This would then cost you a lot more than if you’d been less stingy in the first place.

Use: 

The proverb is often used as a warning when someone is about to make a bad purchase to save money. Imagine this scenario: Your friend needs a new cell phone, but she’s saving for a vacation and therefore doesn’t want to buy her preferred (but expensive) brand. Instead, she’s considering another, much cheaper but unknown and slightly suspect brand. In this case, you could use this line to caution her.

Example Sentence: 

Daardie foon lyk aanloklik, maar oppas. Goedkoop koop is duurkoop.
“That phone looks appealing, but beware. If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.”

Goedkoop koop is duur koop. (“If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.”)

20. Honger is die beste kok. / “Hunger is the best sauce.”

Lit. Translation: 

“Hunger is the best cook.”

Meaning: 

This proverb means that if a person is hungry, they’re less likely to be finicky about the food they eat.

Use: 

It’s often used as a playful comment when children with a difficult palate eat all their food because they’re hungry. Imagine being grateful that your offspring is so hungry after a day of energetic play that, for once, they don’t complain about what’s on their plates! That’s when you would use this proverb with a smile.

Example Sentence: 

Wel, dit wys net—honger is die beste kok!
Literally: “Well, this just shows—hunger is the best cook!”

Honger is die beste kok. (“Hunger is the best chef.”)

21. ‘n Halwe eier is beter as ‘n leë dop. / Approximate: “Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.” 

Lit. Translation: 

“Half an egg is better than an empty shell.”

Meaning: 

This Dutch-derived proverb advises that sometimes, it’s better to cut your losses and take what you get rather than not getting anything. It doesn’t mean exactly the same thing as its English approximate, which advises that sometimes it’s wiser to take a sure thing today than to gamble on a better thing tomorrow. The Afrikaans proverb is more explicit about why—taking a gamble means you could end up with something worthless!

Use: 

Imagine this scenario: Your friend has booked an exclusive sea holiday for three weeks, and he’s been looking forward to it very much. However, before he’s due to leave, the booking agent calls and admits to having made a big mistake that reduces your friend’s holiday period by half. He decides not to shop for other holiday packages at such short notice, though, because the amended booking is now offered to him at a greatly discounted price. In your conversation on the topic, he uses this proverb to explain his decision.

Example Sentence: 

Dis nie ideaal nie maar dit is steeds ‘n wegkomkans en ek kry darem groot afslag. ‘n Halwe eier is beter as ‘n lëe dop.
“It’s not ideal, but it is still a getaway and I am getting a large discount. Half an egg is better than an empty shell.”

‘n Halwe eier is beter as a leë dop. (“Half an egg is better than an empty shell.”)

4. Uniquely South African Proverbs

Some proverbs are unique to a language, and Afrikaans has a few great, very expressive ones. Here are a few Afrikaans proverbs and sayings you won’t find in English!

22. Stille waters, diepe grond—onder draai die duiwel rond. 

Lit. Translation:

“Still waters, deep ground—underneath (the water) the devil circles round.”

Meaning: 

This means that a demure, coy demeanor, especially in a group, can be misleading and hide a naughty or suspect character. There’s no easily traceable approximate in English, and it’s noteworthy that the Afrikaans proverb doesn’t mean the same as “Still waters run deep.” The latter implies that a quiet manner sometimes hides a passionate or profound nature, whereas the Afrikaans version suggests that a very quiet, demure behavior is suspect! 

Use: 

This proverb is most often used in jest to tease shy people. For instance, your new secretary rarely speaks during meetings or work-related social events. This could be a good line to tease her with if you want to draw her out and help her relax. 

It’s sometimes also used as a comment when someone, regularly considered shy and proper, suddenly acts wildly out of character, or is at the center of a controversy or scandal. Or, it can serve to caution a friend if you feel they are dealing with a seemingly decent but definitely suspect person.

Example Sentence: 

Hoe praat jy dan so min, Rita? Jy weet wat die spreekwoord sê: Stille waters, diepe grond—onder draai die duiwel rond!
“Why don’t you talk more, Rita? You know what the proverb says: Still waters, deep ground—underneath (the water) the devil circles round!”

23. Agteros kom ook in die kraal. 

Lit. Translation: 

“The ox bringing up the rear also gets into the kraal.”

Meaning: 

Even those lagging behind eventually reach their goal. The proverb is also sometimes a kind reminder that no one is a complete loser in every area of life.

Use: 

This is used as an encouraging comment when, in any situation, you see someone struggling to keep up with the group, but you have confidence that they’ll eventually make it. Or, use it when they do catch up! For instance, your family goes hiking, but your overweight son is battling a bit on the trail, so he keeps lagging behind. Eventually, he catches up with everybody else. You can then use this proverb to congratulate him, together with a huge smile and a cool drink!

Example Sentence: 

Aaah, kyk wie is hier! Agteros kom ook in die kraal—geluk, Boet!
“Aaah, look who’s here! The ox bringing up the rear also gets into the kraal—congratulations, Boet!”

Note: 

Boet is a popular and casual nickname, close in meaning to the English slang term “Bro.” The female equivalent is Sus, used the same way as the English “Sis.” It’s not exclusively used among family, but Afrikaans parents like calling their offspring Boet or Sus.

Oulap se rooi maak mooi. (“A penny’s red makes pretty.”)

24. Oulap se rooi maak mooi. 

Lit. Translation:

“A penny’s red makes pretty.”

Meaning: 

Oulap is an old Afrikaans word for a penny, which is a unit of currency (low in value) used in some Western countries. In South Africa, the penny is no longer used as a monetary unit, but the proverb endures. It means that great improvement can be made with only a small adjustment, specifically regarding appearance. 

Use: 

Use this proverb as a compliment or comment in any appropriate situation. It’s very often used to compliment or refer to a woman who looks better with a little bit of makeup on. It’s also used when something, such as a room, looks prettier after colorful items (oftentimes red ones) have been added.

Example Sentence: 

Sy lyk baie goed met daardie lipstiffie aan. Oulap se rooi maak mooi!
“She looks very good with that lipstick. A penny’s red makes pretty!”

25. Die deler is so goed soos die steler.

Lit. Translation: 

“The one who shares in the loot is the same as the thief.” 

Note: 

In Afrikaans, the adjectival phrase, so goed soos, has two meanings: “as good as” and “the same as.”

Meaning: 

This proverb reminds us that if we are aware of a criminal act but consciously choose to profit from it anyway, we are morally as guilty as the person who committed the crime.

Use: 

It’s often used as a teaching tool by parents and teachers, or to comment on any situation where this truth is applicable. Suppose you find your five-year-old daughter enjoying mysteriously obtained candy with her friend. It turns out that the friend had nicked the candy from the local supermarket. Upon discovering this, you could use this proverb as a teaching tool during a very stern conversation with both about the criminality of thievery!

Example Sentence: 

Die deler is so goed soos die steler, my kind. Jy kon vir Theo gesê het om die lekkergoed te gaan teruggee; jy moes nie saam geëet nie! Dis verkeerd, ons maak nie so nie.
“The one who shares in the loot is the same as the thief, my child. You could have told Theo to return the candy, and not have shared it with him! That’s wrong, we don’t do that.”

Jakkals trou met Wolf se vrou. (“Jackal marries Wolf’s wife.”)

26. Jakkals trou met Wolf se vrou. / Lit. “Jackal marries Wolf’s wife.”

Meaning: 

In South Africa, we often comment with this proverb during a so-called sunshower. This occurs when it rains while the sun is not behind the clouds, and in South African English, we call this phenomenon a Monkey’s Wedding. However, few know what this proverb really means. For this, we again have to look at an Afrikaans fable, this one featuring Jakkals (“Jackal”) and Wolf (“Wolf”) as main characters.

In South African folklore, Wolf was Jackal’s uncle, and he and his pretty wife were also Jackal’s godparents. Then, Jackal fell in love with his godmother and proceeded to woo her, which was improper as it broke the unspoken societal laws of the bush. A nephew and a godmother were two things that just didn’t belong together—similar to the pairing of sunshine and rain, which almost appears unnatural. So, originally, this proverb referred to anything that went strongly against the societal norms of the time.

Use: 

Its original use is completely outdated in modern, vernacular Afrikaans. In fact, I have never heard it being used this way. It’s still a popular comment when a sunshower takes place, though.

Example Sentence: 

Kyk buitekant! Jakkals trou met Wolf se vrou.
“Look outside! It’s a Monkey’s Wedding.”

Goeie wyn het nie ‘n krans nodig nie. (“Good wine doesn’t require a wreath.”)

27. Goeie wyn het nie ‘n krans nodig nie. 

Lit. Meaning: 

“Good wine doesn’t require a wreath.”

Meaning: 

This proverb means that quality is self-evident; it doesn’t need to be praised or advertised. It’s apparently derived from a time when it was customary for travelers’ lodges to hang a wreath outside their doors to indicate the availability of wine. Over time, the places with good wine became so well-known and popular that they didn’t need to hang out a wreath any longer. 

Use: 

This is a rarely used proverb, mostly used to comment on excellent food or drink presented in a simple style or in a laid-back, unassuming setting. Imagine, for instance, you’re with friends in a low-budget restaurant where you get served a particularly superb wine. If someone mentions their surprise over this, you could comment with this proverb.

Example Sentence: 

Ja, hierdie is ‘n besondere wyn in ‘n onwaarskynlike plek. Maar dis soos hulle sê: goeie wyn het nie ‘n krans nodig nie. 
“Yes, it’s an exceptional wine in an unlikely place. But, as they say: good wine doesn’t need a wreath.”

28. Die kok is verlief.

Lit. Meaning: 

“The cook is in love.”

Meaning: 

The proverb originated when people were served food that was too salty. In modern Afrikaans, however, it refers to any slightly botched dish. The inference is that the cook must have been distracted because they’re in love, which is why they made mistakes while cooking!

Use: 

Use this as a lighthearted comment during a meal if there’s clearly something wrong with the food, but you don’t wish to make a big fuss of it.

Example Sentence: 

Ja, die kok is verlief, dis duidelik. Maar dis nie ‘n probleem nie, die kos smaak nie te sleg nie!
“Yes, the cook is in love, that’s clear. But it’s not a problem, the food doesn’t taste too bad!”

Elkeen dink sy uil is ‘n valk. (“Everyone sees his owl as a falcon.”)

29. Elkeen dink sy uil is ‘n valk.

Lit. Translation: 

“Everyone sees his owl as a falcon.”

Meaning: 

This proverb means that parents want to see their children only through rose-colored lenses, probably endowing them with characteristics they don’t really have. For instance, owls can fly, but not as high as falcons do. They’re also shy night-prowlers, whereas most falcons soar during the day.

Use: 

This is often a self-deprecating comment parents make when they notice they’ve expected too much of their offspring. However, unless you’re very close to the parents, never use this proverb sarcastically or to describe children’s lesser accomplishments—the parents may never speak to you again!

Example Sentence: 

Elkeen dink sy uil is ‘n valk, nè? Maar ek is steeds trots op my uiltjie, sy het tweede gekom in die kompetisie.
“Everyone sees their owl as a falcon, don’t they? But I am still proud of my owlet; she came second in the competition.”

30. Vat jou goed en trek, Ferreira.

Lit. Translation: 

“Take your stuff and leave, Ferreira.”

Meaning: 

This proverb commands that you “take your stuff and leave,” simple as that! It has an interesting, if rather cruel, backstory dating back to 1872 on a wealthy Western Cape Province farm close to Somerset West. The farm belonged to Willem Adriaan Van Aardt, who had a daughter called Ada. Ada, a music student, was a vivacious girl known for her fine sense of humor and excellent singing voice. Annie Malony was her piano teacher. The two were firm friends and were always called upon at social gatherings to provide musical entertainment.

By age 17, Ada was extremely popular with everyone in the area and obviously had many suitors. One of the most persistent was Jannie Ferreira, son of neighboring farmer Mr. Stephanus Ferreira. Jannie had a birth defect (an ungainly gait), but this didn’t stop him from pestering the girl. He clearly didn’t want to get the hint that she was not interested in a relationship with him.

Out of frustration with his obtuseness, Ada started penning down her feelings in verse, including the line: Vat jou goed en trek, Ferreira. (“Take your stuff and leave, Ferreira.”) She showed her writings to Annie, who immediately set it to a catchy polka tune. 

At the next large social gathering, to which Jannie was also invited, the two performed the song together. After that evening, Jannie stopped visiting her—he’d finally gotten the message. However, the tune was so infectious that it quickly became popular in the region, and it later spread to all parts of the country. To this day, it’s a well-loved folk tune of the Afrikaans people; you can listen to it here.

Use: 

This proverb is most often used as a comment, or to tell someone to leave in a jocular manner. Or you could say it to mean “Get lost!” For instance, you and your friends are discussing the COVID-19 virus. You could then use this proverb to indicate you wish the virus would leave. 

Example Sentence: 

Gelukkig het ons vinnig entstof ontwikkel en kon ons vir die virus sê, vat jou goed en trek, Ferreira!
“Fortunately, we quickly developed a vaccine and could say to the virus, take your stuff and leave, Ferreira!”

As is verbrande hout. (“Ash is burned wood.”)

31. As is verbrande hout.

Lit. Translation: 

“Ash is burned wood.”

Meaning: 

As has two meanings in Afrikaans: “burned wood” and the conjunction “if.” The proverb literally clarifies which as you’re talking about. 

Use: 

It’s most often used in reply to a worry pot who always makes suppositions or raises objections, usually starting their sentences with As … (“If …”) or Maar wat as … (“But what if …”). Using this proverb, you indicate to them that there’s no way of telling if their fears are going to materialize, but that it’s reasonable to expect the best outcome. Ergo, they can stop worrying! Use it with a friendly tone and a smile, not as a sharp retort.

Example Sentence: 

Ja Marie, en as is verbrande hout. Ons het seker gemaak die erf is veilig vir kinders, Vriendin, so jy kan maar ophou bekommerd wees.
“Yes, Marie, and ‘as is verbrande hout.’ We made sure the yard is safe for children, my friend; you can stop worrying.”

5. Learn Afrikaans Proverbs Like a Pro at AfrikaansPod101.com!

Which of these Afrikaans proverbs resonate with you the most, and why? Let us know in the comments! 

While learning these proverbs in Afrikaans will certainly impress the locals, there’s a lot more to discover about the language and culture of the Afrikaner people. 

At AfrikaansPod101.com, we can help you understand Afrikaans easily with our hundreds of recorded videos, our podcast, these vocabulary lists, and more. With our help, you’ll be able to use the proverbs correctly and speak like a native in no time!

Also, gain the skills you need to decipher Afrikaans proverbs yourself with the multiple tools available to you upon subscription, such as the Afrikaans Key Phrase List and the Afrikaans Core 100 Word List. Also, keep your Afrikaans online dictionary close for easy translation! 

If Afrikaans vernacular is important to you, then take a look at the following pages as well:

1. The Best Afrikaans Internet Slang and How to Use it!
2. How To Say “Hello” in Afrikaans Like a Native Speaker!
3. How To Say “Thank You” in Afrikaans

Still hesitating? Don’t! Subscribe now, and you’ll be very happy you did!

Before we delve into this Afrikaans grammar guide, let’s get this out of our systems: Grammar in any language is a strange bird. Look at this joke in English, for instance:

Question: What is the longest sentence in the English language? 
Answer: “I do.”

Did you get it? If you didn’t and you’re an AfrikaansPod101 Premium PLUS student already, why not ask your tutor?

If you’re not a member (or a punster), let me explain. “Sentence” means two things in English. This is how the online dictionary defines it:

A “sentence” is:

1. a set of words in most languages that is complete in itself, usually containing a subject and a clause that states something about the subject (A clause is a phrase or a part of a sentence.)

2. the punishment assigned to a defendant found guilty by a court, or fixed by law for a specific offence

Punning is the art of using an alternate meaning of a word in a comical way. This joke would not be funny if you didn’t know the second meaning of “sentence.”

But that’s not all—context is important too. So how does “I do” relate to a long prison sentence? Well, it’s simple, because there’s only one place where you would commonly use those words in relation to a lengthy commitment. Fortunately not for all, but for some, that’s marriage!

Yes, it’s not simple. Some students compare grammar to math and music studies—quite complex! So, for your convenience, we’ve compiled this free online Afrikaans language grammar guide. Study these principles thoroughly and you will get well ahead on your journey to learn Afrikaans.

Context can only be understood if you know a country’s culture and language well. For this, you’ll need to have the basics of the language’s grammar under your belt! 

The grammar of most languages can be subdivided and explained under two headings: lexicology and syntax.

Table of Contents

1. Afrikaans Grammar: “Lexicology” / Woordleer
2. Afrikaans Grammar: “Syntax” / Sintaksis
3. AfrikaansPod101 – Your Excellent Afrikaans Grammar Companion!

1. Afrikaans Grammar: “Lexicology” / Woordleer 

Afrikaans is a West-Germanic language, very closely related to Dutch. These are the basics of its lexicological complexities.

1.1 “NOUN” / NAAMWOORD

Definition	Just like in English, a naamwoord most often indicates something you can perceive with any one of your senses. These also include abstract things.
How to Identify	To spot a noun, ask the following questions: a) Can I use it with an article, or lidwoord, such as ‘n (“a”) or die (“the”)?  b) Does it have a plural form? c) Can I turn it into a diminutive? If you answer yes to these questions, then it’s a noun!
Examples	Just like English nouns, Afrikaans nouns decline for number. Different from English, they also inflect for diminutives. ‘n rok / “a dress” ‘n rokkie / “a little dress” die rokke / “the dresses”
Main Sub-categories	Soortnaam / “Appellative” or “Common/concrete noun” These are things you can count, such as: stoel (“chair”), Arabier (“Arab”),  waterdruppels (“water drops”), motorkar (“motor car”). Abstrakte naamwoord / “Abstract noun” These include abstract things you cannot touch, such as: liefde (“love”), gedagte (“thought”), ideologie (“ideology”). Massanaam / “Uncountable/mass noun” These are things you cannot count, such as: goud (“gold”), water (“water”), musiek (“music”), or hout (“wood”). Maatnaam / “Noun of measurement” These are words that indicate the measured amount of a mass noun, such as: kilogram goud (“kilogram gold”), druppel water (“drop of water”), sakvol hout (“bagful of wood”). Eienaam / “Proper noun” An eienaam can be the name of a specific person, place, publication, organization, brand, and so forth. These sometimes don’t take plural forms, and they can be categorized as: persoonsnaam (“personal names”), pleknaam (“name of a place”), organisasienaam (“name of an organization”), and so on. Kollektiewe selfstandige naamwoord / “Collective noun” These nouns represent groups, such as: gehoor (“audience”), koor (“choir”), span (“team”). Saamgestelde selfstandige naamwoord / “Compound noun” These are made up of two or more nouns, such as: waterbottel (“water bottle”), seekos (“seafood”), roomys (“ice cream”). Werkwoordelike selfstandige naamwoord / “Verbal noun”  These nouns are derived from verbs, such as: die besluit (“the decision”), ‘n aanval (“an attack”), ‘n gebou (“a building”).

WATERDRUPPELS OP HOUT (“WATER DROPS ON WOOD”)

1.2 “VERB” / WERKWOORD

Definition	Verbs usually depict some sort of action, including abstract actions.
How to Identify	To identify a verb, ask the following questions: a) Can I use a pronoun, such as “he,” “she,” or “we” (hy, sy, or ons), in front of it? Or, in other words, can someone or something perform this action? b) Can it take a past tense form?
Examples	Afrikaans verbs conjugate for tense, mood, and voice, but not for noun, pronoun, or number. So, we don’t worry about subject-verb agreement in Afrikaans.  Here, we’ll discuss only the basics of tense conjugation. For more details, take a look at this article: All About Verb Conjugation in Afrikaans. → Present Tense: Unlike English verbs, Afrikaans verbs conjugate exactly the same way for every pronoun and number in the present tense. Examples: Hy / Sy vlieg. (“He / She flies.”) Ons lag. (“We laugh.”) Julle bly. (“You stay/remain.”) Die honde blaf. (“The dogs bark.”) → Past Tense: Afrikaans verbs typically conjugate with an auxiliary verb of time: het (“have” / “has”), which is used in front of a deelwoord (“past participle”). The latter is formed by adding the prefix ge- to the infinitive verb. Again, this conjugation remains the same for all of the pronouns. Examples: Hy / Sy het gevlieg. (“He / She flew.”) OR (“He / She has flown.”) Ons het gelag. (“We laughed.”) OR (“We have laughed.”) Julle het gebly. (“You stayed/remained.”) OR (“You have stayed/remained.”) Die honde het geblaf. (“The dogs barked.”) OR (“The dogs have barked.”) → Future Tense: For the future tense, the auxiliary verb of modality (also called a modal verb) sal is used the same way as “will” (i.e., with the infinitive verb). Examples: Hy / Sy sal vlieg. (“He / She will fly.”) Ons sal lag. (“We will laugh.”) Julle sal bly. (“You will stay/remain.”) Die honde sal blaf. (“The dogs will/would bark.”) → Historic Present Tense: This tense is sometimes used to describe something that happened in the past, but the verb remains in the present tense. Then we use the word toe (approximate: “when”). Example: Toe ek opstaan, glimlag hy vir my. (Lit. “When I stand up, he smiles at me.”)  It would not be incorrect to change it to the past tense, though.
Main Sub-categories	Oorganklike hoofwerkwoord / “Transitive main verb”  These verbs are identified when there is an object in the sentence.  Example: Hy drink koffie. (“He drinks coffee”).  “Coffee” is the object. Onoorganklike hoofwerkwoord / “Intransitive main verb” These verbs are identified when there’s no object in the sentence.  Example: Ons slaap. (“We sleep.”) Sy lag spontaan. (“She laughs spontaneously.”)  Note: spontaan (“spontaneously”) is an adverb. Hulpwerkwoorde / Lit: “Helping Verbs” These include two types of auxiliary verbs: the auxiliary verb of time het (“has”) and auxiliary words of modality, or modale hulpwerkwoorde. The latter category includes: sal, wil, moet, and probeer (“shall,” “will,” “must,” and “try”).  Example: → Present: Die honde probeer blaf. (“The dogs try to bark.”) → Past: Sy het gevlieg. (“She flew.”) / Ons het gelag. (“We laughed.”). ♦ Note: het is an auxiliary verb of time. → Future: Julle sal bly. (Lit.: “You shall stay.”) ♦ Note: sal is not considered an auxiliary verb of time, but rather one of modality. Koppelwerkwoorde / “Linking Verbs 1” In Afrikaans, we differentiate between two types of linking verbs.  Koppelwerkwoorde link the subject to a quality. Again, these remain unchanged for every pronoun and number.  Example: → Present: Sy is mooi. (“She is pretty.”) / Ons is moeg. / (“We are tired.”) → Past: Sy was mooi. (“She was pretty.”) / Ons was moeg gewees. (“We were tired.”) ♦ Note: gewees can be omitted for the past tense. → Future: Sy sal mooi wees. (“She will be pretty.”) / Ons sal moeg wees. (“We will be tired.”) ♦ Note: the auxiliary verb wees is never omitted for the future tense. Skakelwerkwoorde / “Linking Verbs 2” The second type of linking verb usually links auxiliary verbs with main verbs. Example: → Past: Sy het net gelag. (“She just laughed.”) → Future: Julle sal kom bly. (Lit.: “You will come stay.”)

SY HET NET GELAG (“SHE JUST LAUGHED”)

1.3 “ADJECTIVE” / BYVOEGLIKE NAAMWOORD or ADJEKTIEF

Definition	These types of words modify or describe nouns.
How to Identify	To identify an adjective, ask the following questions: a) Can I use the word in front of a noun? b) Will it still say something about the noun if I use it after a linking verb (koppelwerkwoord)? c) Does the word have degrees of comparison?
Examples	1. In front of a noun: ‘n Gelukkige man (“a happy man”) / ‘n Opgewonde kind (“an excited child”) 2. After a linking verb / koppelwerkwoord: Hy is gelukkig. (“He is happy.”) / Die kind is opgewonde. (“The child is excited.”) 3. Degrees of comparison: Gelukkig, gelukkiger, gelukkigste (“Happy, happier, happiest”) / Opgewonde, meer opgewonde, die mees opgewonde (“Excited, more excited, the most excited”)
Main Sub-categories	Like in English, there are two types of adjectives. The classification is based on their position in a sentence relative to the noun. Attributief / “Attributive” – The attributiewe byvoeglike naamwoord (“attributive adjective”) stands in front of the noun. Example: → Die mooi vrou (“The pretty woman”) Predikatief / “Predicative” – Usually, the predikatiewe byvoeglike naamwoord (“predicative adjective”) stands after the koppelwerkwoord (“linking verb”). Example: → Die vrou is gelukkig. (“The woman is happy.”) Of course, you can use both types in the same sentence: Die mooi vrou is gelukkig. (“The pretty woman is happy.”)

DIE MOOI VROU IS GELUKKIG. (“THE PRETTY WOMAN IS HAPPY”)

1.4 “ADVERB” / BYWOORD

Definition	The adverb describes the verb or verbal clause in a sentence.
How to Identify	Which word says something about what happens or what is being done? The adverb should answer questions such as, “How?” “When?” “Where?” or “How much?” Some adverbs have degrees of comparison.
Examples	Ons baklei nooit. (“We never fight.”) Die kinders speel buite. (“The children play outside.”) Sy ma is baie oud. (“His mom is very old.”)
Main Sub-categories	As you probably noticed in the examples, there are several types of adverbs. Following are the four main categories: Bywoorde van tyd / “Adverbs of time” gister, vandag, more (“yesterday,” “today,” “tomorrow”) Example: Jou pakkie kom vandag. (Lit.: “Your parcel arrives today.”) Bywoorde van plek / “Adverbs of place” daar, hier (“there,” “here”) Example: Die potplant staan hier. (“The potted plant stands here.”) Bywoorde van graad / “Adverbs of degree” ver, lank, werklik, baie (“far,” “long,” “really,” “very”) Example: Die pad was lank. (“The road was long.”) Bywoorde van wyse / “Adverbs of manner” vinnig, stadig, hoog, hard (“fast,” “slow,” “high,” “hard”) Example: Sy werk hard. (“She is working hard.”)

DIE PAD WAS LANK. (“THE ROAD WAS LONG”)

1.5 “PRONOUN” / VOORNAAMWOORD

Definition	A pronoun is a word that acts as a replacement for a noun in a sentence.
How to Identify	Ask this question: Can the word stand in place of the noun? In other words, does it refer to a person or a thing?
Examples	ek, jy, hy, ons, dit, niemand, wie, hierdie, daardie (“I,” “you,” “he,” “we/us,” “it,” “nobody,” “who,” “this,” “that”)
Main Sub-categories	Persoonlike voornaamwoorde / “Personal pronouns” Hy, sy, julle, ons (“he,” “she,” “you [plural],” “we”) Example: Hy eet. (“He eats.”) Onpersoonlike voornaamwoord / “Impersonal pronoun” dit (“it”) Example: Dit staan in die straat. (“It is standing in the street.”) Besitlike voornaamwoorde / “Possessive pronouns” Syne, hare, joune (“his,” “hers,” “yours”) Example: Die tas is syne. (“The suitcase is his.”) Vraende voornaamwoorde / “Interrogative pronouns” Wie, wat, waar, wanneer (“who,” “what,” “where,” “when”) Example: Wie is hierdie? (“Who is this?”) Aanwysende voornaamwoorde / “Demonstrative pronouns” Hierdie/dié, daardie (“this,” “that”). These function as determiners of the nouns. Example: Hierdie is lekker. (“This is tasty.”) Onbepaalde voornaamwoorde / “Indefinite pronouns” Niemand, menige (“nobody,” “many”) Example: Menige het opgedaag. (“Many came.”) Betreklike voornaamwoord / “Relative pronouns” Wie se, wie, wat (“whose,” “who,” “that”) Example: Die vliegtuig wat nou opstyg is groot. (“The plane that is taking off now is large.”) Wederkerige voornaamwoorde / “Intensive pronouns” Myself, jouself, onsself (“myself,” “yourself,” “ourselves”) Example: Jy vergeet van jouself op die verhoog. (“You forget yourself on stage.”) Note: In sentences with these pronouns, the subject and the object are referring to the same person. Wederkerende voornaamwoord / “Reciprocal pronoun” Mekaar (“each other” / “one another”) Example: Hulle het mekaar lief. (“They love each other.”) Note: In sentences with this pronoun, the subject and the object are not referring to the same person.

HULLE HET MEKAAR LIEF. (“THEY LOVE EACH OTHER.”)

1.6  “PREPOSITION” / VOORSETSEL

Definition	Prepositions show a relationship between an object and another element in the sentence. It usually precedes the object of the sentence (which is a noun, a pronoun, or a clause/phrase with either). Prepositions indicate time or location, or introduce an object.
How to Identify	Ask yourself if you can add an article and/or a noun after a voorsetsel (“preposition”).
Examples	onderaan, langs, agter, by, vir (“underneath,” “next to,” “behind,” “by,” “for”)
Main Sub-categories	There are three main types of prepositions. Preposition of Time: teen, voor, na, vandat, vanaf (“by,” “before,” “after,” “since,” “from”) Example: Teen middagete was almal honger. (“By lunchtime everyone was hungry.”). Preposition of Location: op, teen, agter, bo-op, onder, binne in, van (“on,” “against,” “behind,” “on top of,” “under,” “right inside,” “from”). It is usually followed by an article and a noun, except in the case of proper nouns. Example: Hulle is op die strand. (“They are on the beach.”) / Man van Atlantis (“Man from Atlantis”) Preposition Introducing an Object: vir, teenoor (“for/at,” “towards”) Example: Ons lag vir die komediant. (“We laugh at the comedian.”) Note: A common mistake is to label en (“and”) a preposition. “And” is a conjunction, because it joins words, phrases, and clauses.

HULLE IS OP DIE STRAND. (“THEY ARE ON THE BEACH.”)

1.7 “ARTICLE” / LIDWOORD

Definition	Articles are short words that define nouns as nonspecific or specific. They are determiners that modify nouns.
How to Identify	There are only two articles in both English and Afrikaans: ‘n (“a”) and die (“the”).
Examples	‘n rekenaar (“a computer”) die neef (“the cousin”)
Main Sub-categories	Two types of articles can be discerned: Bepaalde lidwoord / “Definite article” die (“the”) – This article modifies the noun to indicate only one, specific thing. Example: Koop die rok maar nie die skoene nie. (“Buy the dress but not the shoes.”) Onbepaalde lidwoord / “Indefinite article” ‘n (“a”) – This article modifies the noun to indicate something general and non-specific. Example: Dra ‘n rok, enige rok. (“Wear a dress, any dress.”)

DRA ‘N ROK, ENIGE ROK. (“WEAR A DRESS, ANY DRESS.”)

1.8 “CONJUNCTION” / VOEGWOORD

Definition	A conjunction links words, phrases, and clauses, or ideas and thoughts—both literally, and in meaning.
How to Identify	Depending on the conjunction, you could ask yourself this question:  Can I discern two independent sentences by removing the conjunction?
Examples	Jan slaap terwyl ons werk. (“John sleeps while we work.”) Patricia en Lukas was by die begrafnis. (“Patricia and Lukas were at the funeral.”)
Main Sub-categories	Unlike in English, which categorizes conjunctions into three groups, Afrikaans categorizes them into only two groups. Some voegwoorde fall into both categories. 1. Neweskikkende voegwoord / “Coordinating conjunction” These conjunctions join independent clauses, which are phrases that can function as sentences and still make sense when you remove the conjunctions. These conjunctions include: en, maar, want, of, dog, terwyl (“and,” “but,” “because,” “or,” “yet,” “while”). Example: Hy slaap en ons werk. (“He sleeps and we work.”) 2. Onderskikkende voegwoord / “Subordinating conjunction” This type of conjunction only joins dependent clauses. These are clauses that cannot function as a sentence, nor do they make sense when you remove the conjunction. These conjunctions include: hoewel, omdat, terwyl (“however/though,” “because,” “while”). Example: Terwyl hy slaap, werk. (Lit.: “Though he sleeping was, were we working.”)

HY SLAAP EN ONS WERK. (“HE SLEEPS AND WE WORK.”)

1.9 “PARTICLE” / PARTIKEL

Definition	Particles are short auxiliary words or parts of words that have no semantic meaning on their own. They modify nouns and verbs for negation, possession, comparison, etc.
How to Identify	Ask yourself questions pertaining to the categories. For example:  Is the word used to indicate negation? Is it used to indicate possession?
Examples	so…soos (“as”) nie…nie (“not”) se / (” ‘s “) – genitive van (“of”)
Main Sub-categories	Many of the following Afrikaans partikels are found in English, even though English doesn’t necessarily categorize them as such. Ontkenningspartikel l “Negative particle” Afrikaans is known for its system of so-called double negation. It involves using the particle nie (“not”) twice to indicate negation. The two particles usually flank nouns, clauses, or phrases. Example: Ek is nie moeg nie. (“I am not tired.”)  The first nie is also an adverbial preposition. Besitspartikel / “Genitive particle” These particles indicate possession, and include se and van (“genitive ‘s” and “of”). Example: Kieran se meisie is mooi. (“Kieran’s girlfriend is pretty.”) / Die meisie van Kieran is mooi. (“The girlfriend of Kieran is pretty.”) Vergelykingspartikel / “Comparison” So…soos (“as…as”) are labeled specifically as particles in Afrikaans, and indicate a comparison between two things or ideas. Example: so vars soos ‘n oggendbries (“as fresh as a morning breeze”) Deelpartikel / “Preposition” The preposition van (“of”) links words and phrases that indicate possession.  Example: Sewe van die nege vrouens is blond. (“Seven of the nine women are blond.”) Infinitiefpartikel / “Infinitive particle” Om…te (“to + infinitive”) is always used with the base form of a verb to indicate the infinitive. Example: Hy sukkel om te loop. (“He struggles to walk.”) / Die kat is gelukkig om hierdie kos te eet. (“The cat is happy to eat this food.”) Werkwoordpartikel / “Verb particle” These include op, af, uit, weg (“up,” “down,” “out,” “away”). Like in English, this particle modifies the verb. Example: Eet jou kos op. (“Eat up your food.”) / Hulle breek weg van die groep. (“They break away from the group.”) / Sy het haar kêrel afgesê. (“She broke up with her boyfriend.”)  Note: Uitmaak and its translation “made out” mean the exact opposite. In Afrikaans, it means that a couple plans to break up their relationship when you say: Hulle gaan uitmaak. However, in the translation “They will make out,” “making out” is an euphemism for sexual intercourse. Graadpartikel / “Adverb particle” The particle te (“too”) modifies the verb to indicate excess.  Example: Dis te warm in die woestyn. (“It’s too hot in the desert.”)

DIS TE WARM IN DIE WOESTYN. (“IT’S TOO HOT IN THE DESERT.”)

1.10 “NUMBER WORDS” / TELWOORDE

Definition	These words indicate numbers or an amount.
How to Identify	Ask yourself these questions: a) Can I symbolize the word with numbers, like 1,2,3…? (With the exception of onbepaalde hooftelwoorde [“indefinite pronouns”].) b) Can I turn the word into a rangtelwoord (i.e. ordinal number)? c) Is it impossible to grade the word? (Number words cannot be expressed in grades. We cannot say, for instance, “one-er” or “one-est.” “One” is and can only be that—a single thing!) d) Is this word indispensable in its modification of the noun? (A noun in a sentence will still “work” if adjectives are removed. However, most often, determiners such as numbers are indispensable to the meaning of the noun.)
Examples	elf (“eleven”) twee-en-twintig (“twenty-two”) tiende (“tenth”) massas (“masses”)
Main Sub-categories	All number words function as determiners of nouns (and not as adjectives). Bepaalde hooftelwoord / Lit: “Definite cardinal-number word” These words denote quantity: een, twee, drie (“one,” “two,” “three”). Onbepaalde hooftelwoord / Lit: “Indefinite cardinal-number word” These are also indefinite pronouns: hordes, massas, talle (“hordes,” “masses,” “many/countless”). Bepaalde rangtelwoord / Lit: “Definite ordinal-number word” These words indicate rank: eerste, tweede, derde (“first,” “second,” “third”). Onbepaalde rangtelwoord / Lit: “Indefinite ordinal-number word” laaste, soveelste (“last,” “umpteenth”)

1.11 “INTERJECTIONS” / TUSSENWERPSELS

Definition	An interjection is an utterance or exclamation that conveys a certain meaning or emotion.
How to Identify	Ask yourself if the word can: stand alone in a sentence, and be followed by an exclamation mark. There are some common interjections in every language, such as “Wow!”, and these are easily understood. However, every language also has culture-specific interjections, with nuances that won’t be easily discerned by a non-native speaker. It’s also difficult to describe their meaning to a non-native. Only by regularly practicing your Afrikaans with natives could you gain the subtler meanings of some interjections. (Others you may never fully understand!)
Examples	Eina! (“Ouch!”) Sjoe! (Approximate: “Wow!”) This is commonly used in any situation that inspires awe. Aitsa! (Approximate: “Wow! That’s great!”) This is used only if you’re impressed by something, usually positive.  Haai?! (Approximate: “Huh?!”) Siestog / Foeitog (Approximate: “It’s a shame”) Awê (“Hi there”) Aikona (“No”)
Main Sub-categories	None.

SJOE! (“WOW!”)

Got it? Probably not, but don’t despair. No valuable discipline is ever gained overnight! 

Now let’s move on to the next point of basic Afrikaans grammar: how Afrikaans words get strung together into sentences.

2. Afrikaans Grammar: “Syntax” / Sintaksis

Syntax, which is the basic grammatical structure of sentences, can be a gruellingly complex subject in any language. Correct Afrikaans grammar largely depends on your ability to form sentences according to the proper structures and rules. However, the basics are fairly similar to English. 

Buckle up!

2.1 Enkelvoudige Sin (“Simple Sentence”) VS Saamgestelde Sin (“Compound Sentence”)

A) Simple sentences in both English and Afrikaans follow a simple Subject-Verb (SV) format. For example: Die kind eet. (“The child eats.”)

Notes: 

• Simple sentences can have only one verb or gesegde. In Afrikaans syntax, single verbs and clauses are referred to as gesegdes (approximately: “clauses”). Read on for more about this.
• Also remember: a gesegde comprising an auxiliary verb + main verb  = only one verb! 

B) Compound sentences always contain two verbs or gesegdes (“clauses”). For example: Die kind eet terwyl die hond blaf. (“The child eats while the dog barks.”)

2.2 Parts of Simple and Compound Sentences

Sentences consist of other parts, too. Very briefly, the following:

A) Enkelvoudige sinne / “Simple sentences”

1. Onderwerp (“Subject”)
Who or what performs the action in the sentence or phrase? The answer is always the subject. For example: Clint vlieg die vliegtuig. (“Clint flies the airplane.”)

2. Voorwerp (“Object”)
In a sentence, the object usually follows the subject (except in the passive voice). The object is that which the action is performed upon. For example: Clint vlieg die vliegtuig. (“Clint flies the airplane.”)

Note:

• Direkte voorwerp / “Direct object”
  
  The direkte voorwerp (“direct object”) always follows the main transitive verb. For example:
  
  
  ❖ Vlieg (“fly”) = main verb
  ❖ Vliegtuig (“airplane”) = direkte voorwerp (“direct object”)
  
  
• The indirekte voorwerp / “Indirect object”
  
  An indirekte voorwerp (“indirect object”) always follows a preposition. For example: Clint vlieg die vliegtuig vir Paul. (“Clint flies the airplane for Paul.”)
  
  The preposition vir is followed by Paul, the indirekte voorwerp (“indirect object”).

3. Gesegde (“Clause”)
As mentioned, all verbs and clauses are called a gesegde (approximate: “clause”) in Afrikaans syntax. They are sometimes referred to as a werkwoordstuk. (Lit: “verb piece”).

Example: Clint het die vliegtuig gevlieg. (“Clint flew the airplane.”)

❖ Het (“has”) = auxiliary verb of time
❖ gevlieg (“flew”) = main verb, simple past tense

(Refer back to Auxiliary Verbs of Time under the previous section for more information on the prefix ge-.)

CLINT HET DIE VLIEGTUIG GEVLIEG. (“CLINT FLEW THE AIRPLANE.”)

4. Byvoeglike & Bywoordelike Bepalings (“Adjective and Adverbial Clauses”)

i) Byvoeglike Bepalings: In Afrikaans syntax, all adjective words or clauses are grouped under byvoeglike bepalings. Like in English, these describe nouns.

Example 1 [Single word adjectives]: Die honger kind eet die lekker kos. (“The hungry child eats the tasty food.”) 

Example 2 [Adjective phrases]: Die kind met die rooi trui eet die kos met baie kaas. (“The child with the red jersey eats the food with lots of cheese.”) 

ii) Bywoordelike Bepalings: All adverbial words or clauses are called bywoordelike bepalings in Afrikaans syntax. As in English, these describe actions or verbs. Adverbial words or clauses are divided into four groups: time, place, manner, and degree. 

Refer back to Bywoorde (“Adjectives”) under the previous section for examples of single words that fall into this category. Following are examples of adverbial clauses:

Example 1: Voor haar vertrek moet sy eers groet. (“Before her departure she must first greet.”) 

Here, the underlined = bywoordelike bepaling van tyd (“adverbial clause of time”).

Example 2: Hulle gaan oorslaap in die beste hotel. (“They are going to sleep over in the best hotel.”)

Here, the underlined = bywoordelike bepaling van plek (“adverbial clause of place”).

HULLE GAAN OORSLAAP IN DIE BESTE HOTEL. (“THEY ARE GOING TO SLEEP OVER IN THE BEST HOTEL.”)

B) Saamgestelde sinne / “Compound sentences” 

Compound sentences consist of two or more clauses or simple sentences with ideas that relate to each other. As mentioned, in Afrikaans syntax these always contain two gesegdes (“verbs” or “clauses”).

1. Neweskikkende sin / “Coordinating sentence”

Parts of sentences are grouped under this heading when they are of equal importance in terms of meaning. In Afrikaans, they also still make sense when the neweskikkende voegwoord (“coordinating sentence”) is removed, and can function as simple sentences.

Example: Jan wil skei maar Marta weier. (“John wants to divorce but Martha refuses.”) 

2. Onderskikkende bysin / “Subordinating sentence”

Compound sentences can also contain a main sentence and one or more subordinating clauses. The latter is identified by the fact that it doesn’t make sense when it stands alone. In such a case, the subordinating sentence or clause is called a bysin.

Example: Die man wat in die rooi sportsmotor ry, moet voor parkeer. (“The man who’s driving the red sports car must park in the front.”

Here, the underlined = Onderskikkende bysin.

DIE MAN WAT IN DIE ROOI SPORTSMOTOR RY MOET VOOR PARKEER. (“THE MAN WHO’S DRIVING THE RED SPORTS CAR MUST PARK IN THE FRONT.”)

2.3 Basic Word Order – STOMPI

Like most Germanic languages, such as English, Dutch, and French, the basic Afrikaans sentence follows the SVO pattern:

Subject: Ek
Verb: drink
Object: koffie

Translation: “I drink coffee.”

Obviously, things get more complex as you expand sentences. Throw adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, etc., into the mix, and you soon sit with a more difficult sentence pattern. 

For this, we have a rule-of-thumb in Afrikaans: the oft-quoted STOMPI rule. It’s beguilingly simple because almost every sentence will more-or-less follow this pattern. Stick to this pattern, and you’re very unlikely to mess up your word order.

Note: Only in much-extended sentences will you be able to apply the STOMPI rule completely. This topic is thoroughly covered in our Afrikaans Word Order article, so be sure to study that too.

STOMPI is the easy acronym we use, but since we’re dealing with grammar, that’s not the whole picture. This is because it actually includes two silent verbs, and therefore stands for:

Subject              Die reën
(V1) Verb 1        kom
Time                  soms
Object               vir die Kapenaars
Manner             saggies
Place                 oor die berge
(V2) Verb 2        gesluip
Infinitive             om verligting te bring.

Translation: “The rain sometimes sneaks quietly over the mountains for the Capetonians to bring relief.”

As you can see, this is a very long, descriptive sentence. The following one is simpler, but also correct.

Subject            Die reën
(V1) Verb 1      sluip
Time                soms
Object               –
Manner             –
Place                oor die berge
(V2)                   –
Infinitive            om verligting te bring.

Translation: “The rain sometimes sneaks over the mountains to bring relief.”

3. AfrikaansPod101 – Your Excellent Afrikaans Grammar Companion!

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