So, you know how to say “I’m sorry” in Afrikaans, and these are likely of the most important phrases to learn. Because no matter what language you speak, you’re probably going to get angry at some point, say things you don’t mean and then have to apologize for it.

Yet, knowing how to get angry in Afrikaans has benefits too! Read on for more about that, also how it’s all easily done through AfrikaansPod101!

There are some serious upsides to getting angry:

• When your boundaries are being ignored, and the offender refuses to heed a gentle, civil admonition, showing your anger might be the only way to get your point across with good effect.
• Anger can give you negotiating power, research has shown.
• Furthermore can anger be a good motivator. Looking at the world’s history, the driving forces behind revolutions were always anger and frustration. Constructive anger can motivate you to get what you truly desire.
• Strangely enough, one U.S. field study has shown that angry people were more optimistic about the future! Conducted after the 9/11 attacks, the study demonstrated that the angrier people were about terrorism, the fewer attacks they expected in future.
• Yet another study has indicated that getting angry with a partner and expressing it immediately may be better for the relationship in the long run. Obviously, it would be best to avoid getting terribly, explosively angry with one another! Also, working constructively towards a solution is what strengthens the bond. If you find that you’re getting angry easily and for no reason, it would be good to seek help.

However, no matter how angry you are, it is never OK to engage in physical assault, unless it is to protect yourself or a vulnerable person.

Table of Contents

1. Why is it Necessary to Know Angry Phrases in Afrikaans?
2. Phrases that Depict Anger in Afrikaans
3. Constructive Ways to Express Anger in Afrikaans
4. How AfrikaansPod101 Can Help You With Being Angry in Afrikaans!

1. Why is it Necessary to Know Angry Phrases in Afrikaans?

1) Well, for all the reasons mentioned above, there are benefits to expressing anger in any language. Also, it’s necessary to know how to express or understand anger for your own survival! If you’re being confronted by an angry Afrikaner, it would help to know what they’re saying or shouting at you. (Usually Afrikaners are temperate and it takes a lot to anger them. But when they lose it…well, you’ll always remember the day!)

2) When you’re watching Afrikaans movies, you will better understand the context.

3) Also, if you’re angry with an Afrikaans speaking person, knowing how to express yourself in their language could work towards problem-solving in most cases.

So, is someone angry with you or you got angry? In Afrikaans, it’s easily and eloquently expressed. Before saying these commonly-used phrases, though, perhaps always remember these wise words by Mark Twain:

“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”

2. Phrases that Depict Anger in Afrikaans

Anger can be verbally expressed in mainly three ways:

1. via angry imperatives, which are akin to orders or commands
2. via angry warnings, or

Like in any other language, voice tone and volume will make a difference to how these expressions are being received. Shouting in anger is only really advisable if you’re competing with a live heavy metal concert or a jackhammer, or if you’re a character on stage in a play. Otherwise shouting and yelling are just communication killers and don’t serve much purpose. Therefore, if you have to use the following phrases, try to keep a civil and calm tone with the person you’re addressing.

A. Angry Imperatives

So, you’re at the end of your rope, and it’s time to tell someone off. Following are the best phrases to do so in Afrikaans.

Tip: Using Afrikaans phrases, swearing is never a good idea. Using expletives might offer a certain relief, but the consequences are never positive.

1.1 “Shut Up/Keep Quiet!” – Bly Stil!

When To Use: This is a universal command usually uttered in frustration because you’re not allowed to speak. Or, someone is saying or shouting something you don’t want to hear, or they’re talking out of their turn or too loud.

Note: It is possible to firmly tell someone to keep quiet without being too harsh in Afrikaans. Just add “please” (asseblief). In most work environments, Afrikaners prefer to stick to civility and polite interaction. Therefore, a tactful boss or colleague will probably only say, calmly but rather firmly, “Bly stil, asseblief!” Looks will most likely speak volumes.

1.2 “Stop It! – Stop Dit! / Hou Op!

When to Use: Someone is crossing a line with their behavior towards you or another person you need to protect? These are good phrases to tell them to stop whatever they’re doing, and to show you’re angry in Afrikaans.

Note: The English expression with the same meaning, “Cut it out!”, literally translates as Sny dit uit! However, the phrase is never used this way in good Afrikaans. You’d use Sny dit uit only in its literal sense, which means you’re demanding that something be excised. “Excise” is a medical term, and it means to remove something surgically, like a wart or a tumor.

The Afrikaans approximate for “Cut it out!” in the context of this article would be Hou op! If you’re really exasperated with behavior that doesn’t stop immediately, like children acting naughtily, you could add the time word nou / “now” for emphasis. Such as: Hou nou op! Also, raise your voice slightly, and add a big frown on your face!

Another expression with the same meaning is Moenie! which means “Don’t!”

Again, adding a polite “asseblief” will somewhat soften these angry commands, such as Hou op, asseblief! Or, Stop, asseblief!

1.3 “Give Back!” / Gee Terug!

When to Use: This phrase is pretty self-explanatory – someone took something that’s yours and you want it back! Now! Firmly holding out your open hand with the palm up, ready to receive, would be the appropriate gesture to add emphasis to your command.

Note: Alternatives to this phrase would be to add a pronoun or time word.
Pronoun: “It”/Dit – Gee dit terug! / “Give it back!”
Time Word: “Now”/Nou – Gee dit nou terug! / “Give it back now!” OR Gee nou terug! / “Give back now!” These additions render the command stronger and more emphatic.

1.4 “Get Lost!” / Gaan Weg!

When To Use: This phrase is appropriate for use when you want someone or something to leave immediately.

Note: Alternatives are Loop nou! or Voetsek! The former, Loop nou! (Lit: “Walk [away] now!”) is more polite and suitable when you’re addressing a person. Voetsek! is most often used to shoo away bothersome animals. It is not a word you’d use to strongly command a person to leave, as this is considered extremely derogatory and insulting.

Again, adding the emphasized time word nou (“now”) will add strength and emotion to the command, as in Gaan nou weg! / “Let lost now!” Emphasizing nou (“now”) is common, except in the case of Loop nou! Here, Loop (“Walk”) is emphasized.

1.5 “Leave Me Alone!” / Los My Uit!

When To Use: This is almost the same as the previous angry phrase in Afrikaans, but when you’re using it, the implication is that the person you’re chasing away has been bothering you deliberately.

If you’re being inappropriately addressed, touched or perhaps threatened, and the person doesn’t respond after you’ve quietly asked them to cease and desist their behavior, it’s OK to shout this one out at the top of your lungs! However, do this only if you’re truly feeling unsafe and threatened. You don’t want the reputation of a drama queen who makes scenes over nothing!

Note: Most often, the time word nou is added, as in: Los my nou uit! However, like in the case of Loop nou!, it doesn’t get emphasized here. You would rather emphasize uit, for good effect.

1.6 “Don’t Mess With Me!” / Moenie Met My Skoorsoek Nie!

When To Use: This phrase is well used with Los my nou uit! (“Leave me alone!”), as it implies that the person bothers you purposely to make you angry. Almost like they’re needling you to get a reaction.

Note: Moenie translates as “don’t”, and is a contraction of the words moet nie, which means “do not”.

1.7 “I Forbid You To …” / Ek Verbied Jou om …

When To Use: Same as in English, this is a formal, very strong and specific command. It is best used when you want to make it very clear what a person is not allowed to do, such as in:

Ek verbied jou om in te kom sonder my toestemming! / “I forbid you to enter without my permission.”

OR

Ek verbied jou om aan my te vat! / “I forbid you to touch me!”

B. Angry Warnings

These are phrases you’d hopefully never have to use. And, ideally, never have them directed at you! They are warnings only expressed in real anger or very angry frustration, and usually serve as veiled threats that the next step will be an action…almost invariably of the unpleasant kind.

Again, avoid physical altercation at all cost, unless it is to protect yourself or someone vulnerable.

2.1 “You’re Asking for Trouble!” / Jy Vra Vir Moeilikheid!

When It Is Used: When expressed in anger, this phrase indicates that a person has reached the end of their patience with someone’s behavior. They are indicating very strongly that they’re about to take steps. Such as in this scenario:

Ek verbied jou om aan my te vat! Jy vra vir moeilikheid! (“I forbid you to touch me! You’re asking for trouble!”)

However, it isn’t used only to express anger in Afrikaans. As in English, the phrase also expresses the speaker’s alarm. For instance, in this scenario:

Moenie met daai man uitgaan nie! Jy vra vir moeilikheid! (“Don’t go on a date with that man! You’re asking for trouble!”)

Note: An alternative is: Jy soek vir moeilikheid, which, in English, means “You’re looking for trouble!” Or, as can be heard in some Afrikaner homes with kids: Jy soek vir my! This means literally “You’re looking for me!”, and it implies that, with their behavior, the child is literally “looking” or “calling” for the parent’s anger.

Afrikaners are usually stern parents who take discipline seriously. Yet, many modern parents tend to adhere to gentler forms of disciplining their offspring. Any form of corporal punishment in schools and detention settings is against the law, and was recently made illegal in the home as well, after being decided by the highest court in South Africa (the Constitutional Court, also called the Concourt).

In any case, it would be best to never address a child in great anger.

2.2 “This Is My Last Warning” / Hierdie Is My Laaste Waarskuwing OR Ek Praat Nie Weer Nie!

When To Use: This way of showing you’re angry in Afrikaans can be seen as a veiled threat. It is another way of saying that you’ve reached the end of your tether, and won’t tolerate another transgression.

Hierdie is my laaste waarskuwing is well employed in the workplace, as it is more formal and controlled. Ek praat nie weer nie! is its informal version, and is used more to address naughty children without ears.

2.3 “Do It Again …” / Doen Dit Wéér …

How To Use: This is a very angry phrase that implies trouble is on its way. The latter is signified by the silent threat in the incomplete sentence. It implies that if certain behavior is repeated, there will be severe consequences.

When expressed in anger, with matching aggressive body language, it leaves no doubt about the speaker’s intentions. It is not an angry phrase you’d employ at work or in formal settings, as the inference is that an act of violence could follow.

2.4 “I’m Going To Report You!” / Ek Gaan Jou Aanmeld!

When To Use: So, a shop manager disappoints you with her callous lack of service? Or your manager is not adhering to your explicit boundaries? Voice a threat that’s bound to get their attention. Even if you’re very angry, this is a suitable phrase to use in public, as it means you’re about to turn to an authority higher than the addressee’s.

C. Angry Blames

These phrases are best shelved under “Need to know”, as they are never good to use in great anger – in any language. Blameful words are always aimed to hurt or harm, which is a weak relationship strategy.

3.1 “What’s Wrong With You?!” / Wat Is Fout Met Jou?!

Meaning: This is a harmless, even caring enquiry, depending on context. In anger, the phrase becomes a rhetorical question that implies there’s something morally or mentally wrong with the person it’s directed at. This is a hurtful insult.

Wat is usually gets contracted to Wat’s, when the phrase is used in a moment of passionate anger.

3.2 “What Were You Thinking?” / Het Jy Nie Gedink Nie?!

Meaning: Again, this is a rhetorical question, often expressing exasperation that borders on the insulting. It implies that someone hasn’t been thinking straight when they did something, or that the person was exceptionally stupid doing something. This may be true about their conduct, but shouting this will add insult to injury. In Afrikaans, this phrase is not as harsh as the previous one, but it can still be hurtful.

Note: The literal translation of “What were you thinking?!” is Wat het jy gedink?! That’s not incorrect, but it is seldom used, and then dink (in gedink) needs to be strongly emphasised or it could be misunderstood to be a real question.

3.3 “Are You Out Of Your Mind?!” / Is Jy Mal?!

Meaning: Another very strong rhetorical question questioning someone’s sanity. This gets used when someone has done something irresponsible or inexplicable. The phrase is hugely insulting, though, so it’s better to avoid it.

Note: A variation would be Is jy koekoes? Koekoes is an informal term for “crazy”, and this can sometimes be said in jest.

3.4 “It’s All Your Fault!” / Dis Alles Jou Skuld!

Meaning: This is used by an angry person who is probably unwilling to shoulder any responsibility for the situation. Not cool to use, and brush it off when it’s aimed at you. Nothing is ever only one person’s fault!

Note: The literal translation of “It’s all your fault!” is Dis alles jou fout!, which is also correct, but not popularly used.

3.5 “Who Do You Think You Are?!” / Wie Dink Jy is Jy?!

Meaning: This rhetorical question is one of the milder ways to get angry in Afrikaans. Like in English, it is a way of asserting that someone doesn’t have authority over you.

In some circumstances, though, this might be a good reminder to someone who doesn’t respect boundaries.

3.6 “You Made A Mess!” / Jy’t ‘n Gemors Gemaak!

Meaning: This is a very strong way to express your displeasure over something. It’s never a good idea to critique someone’s work when you’re angry with them – in any language! They probably already know they messed up, so by shouting at them, you add insult to injury.

3.7 “You never …!” and “You always …!” / Jy ___ nooit! and Jy ___ altyd!

Meaning: Using gross generalizations in a fight never built any relationship. You’re labeling the person as someone who perpetually makes mistakes, and can do no right in your eyes. No relationship can survive too many of these. Avoid!

These could include phrases like:

Jy praat nooit met my nie! / “You never talk to me!”
Jy skreeu altyd op my! / “You always shout at me!”
Jy doen nooit moeite nie! / “You never make effort with anything!”
Jy werk altyd laat! / “You always work late!”

3. Constructive Ways to Express Anger In Afrikaans

As mentioned previously, getting angry and sharing how you feel could strengthen a relationship – if it’s done in a constructive, positive way. Here are some handy Afrikaans phrases to express and discuss your anger once you’ve calmed down.

1. Ek is baie ontsteld. / “I am very upset.”
2. Ek voel baie kwaad oor … / “I feel very angry about …”
3. Wanneer jy so met my praat, voel ek seergemaak. / “When you talk to me like that, I feel hurt.”
4. Ek hou nie daarvan nie. / “I don’t like that.”
5. Wat jy doen/sê laat my sleg voel oor myself. / “What you do/say makes me feel bad about myself.”
6. Ek voel teleurgesteld. / “I feel disappointed.”
7. My hart is seer daaroor. / “My heart is sore about that.”
8. Laat ek eers kalmeer, asseblief. Ons kan later hieroor praat. / “Let me calm down first, please. We can talk about this later.”

4. How AfrikaansPod101 Can Help You With Being Angry in Afrikaans!

Well, hopefully you now know better how to be angry in Afrikaans, after reading our article! Do you feel comfortable using the phrases? Can you understand them well? Why not share it with us using Afrikaans in the comments? Or ask questions? We’d love to hear from you!

Afrikaans is mostly a phonetic language (meaning you mostly pronounce the words as they are written), but then you have to be able to read Afrikaans. AfrikaansPod101 takes the lead with many free learning tools to help you master Afrikaans reading easily, and in fun ways.

These tools include:

1. An extensive vocabulary list, regularly updated
2. A new Afrikaans word to learn every day
3. Quick access to the Afrikaans Core 100 Word List
4. A free Afrikaans online dictionary

Learn more efficiently with the help of a personal tutor, who will first let you take an assessment test to personalize and tailor your training. You’ll also be guided to record yourself in Afrikaans!

No need to frustrate yourself – enroll now and get on top of the angry phrases!

Freedom Day is one of the most significant holidays in South Africa, marking the date in 1994 that non-whites and alien residents were allowed to vote freely in an election. In this article, you’ll learn a little bit about the history of this holiday, how it’s celebrated, and more information about Freedom Day.

Let’s get started!

1. Why is Freedom Day Important?

On National Freedom Day, South Africa celebrates the date in 1994 that the country’s first free and demokraties (“democratic” ) elections were held. This took place after the time of apartheid and marked a nuwe era (“new era” ) for South Africa.

Now, all citizens eighteen or older were allowed to vote in a fair election, regardless of their rasse (“race”), including people who were not native to the country. During the apartheid, non-whites faced major stipulations on voting, making this 1994 election a huge leap forward for the South African people as a whole.

Nelson Mandela won this election, becoming the first black leader of the country, as well as the first president of post-apartheid South Africa. Over the course of three days, approximately 20-million votes were counted, in addition to nearly 200,000 votes that were rejected for being invalid. Of these votes, sixty-two percent went toward the African National Congress, which then joined the National Party and Inkatha Freedom Party, forming the new National Assembly. It was this governing body that elected Nelson Mandela as president.

South African Freedom Day also seeks to commemorate and honor the country’s grondwet (“constitution”).

→ As you probably know, Nelson Mandela was a prominent figure in South Africa. You can read about the July holiday Nelson Mandela Day on AfrikaansPod101.com.

2. When is Freedom Day in South Africa?

Each year, South Africans celebrate Freedom Day on April 27.

→ Check out our lesson on the Top 5 Important Dates During the South African Calendar Year to learn about four more holidays!

3. How is Freedom Day Celebrated in South Africa?

Because this is a national holiday, most people don’t need to go to work or school so they can partake in the Freedom Day events. Many of these events and festivities have to do with the arts, and there are several sporting events and festivals as well.

Another favorite activity is the braai, which is a South African-style barbeque. People enjoy catching up with friends, family, and even strangers over a tasty BBQ meal!

In addition to these Freedom Day celebrations in South Africa, many people simply enjoy taking the day off work. Depending on the weather, people can go to the beach or visit significant historical sites to have fun and reflect upon the country’s history.

→ AfrikaansPod101.com has a lesson about popular South African Dishes and dining etiquette. If the braai sounded good to you, you should definitely take a look.

4. UnFreedom Day and Pagan Freedom Day

On the same date as Freedom Day, there are actually two other unofficial holidays.

The first is UnFreedom Day. This holiday was intentionally set for the same date as Freedom Day in order to draw more attention to it. It’s a day of mourning, and a time to realize that while there has been lots of progress, there’s still a long way to go. In particular, the aim of UnFreedom Day is to educate South Africans about the plight that poor people still face today.

The second unofficial holiday is Pagan Freedom Day. On this day, pagans living in South Africa honor nature and the cycle of seasons.

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for Freedom Day

Are you ready to review some of the vocabulary words from this article? Here’s a list of the most important words and phrases for Freedom Day!

• Stem — “Vote” [v.]
• Verkiesing — “Election” [n.]
• Saam — “Together” [adv.]
• Post-apartheid — “Post-apartheid”
• Demokraties — “Democratic” [adj.]
• Liberasie — “Liberation” [n.]
• Grondwet — “Constitution” [n.]
• Burger — “Citizen” [n.]
• Feesviering — “Celebration” [n.]
• Nuwe era — “New era”
• Rasse — “Race” [n.]

To hear the pronunciation of each word, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Afrikaans Freedom Day vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about Freedom Day in South Africa with us.

Did you learn something new today? Is there a similar holiday in your own country? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

If you’re interested in learning more about South African culture or the Afrikaans language, you may find the following pages useful:

• An Introduction to South African Pop Culture
• The Most Commonly Used Nonverbal Gestures in South Africa
• Celebrating Cultural Heritage Day in South Africa
• Afrikaans Etiquette in South Africa: What You Need to Know
• Most Common Travel Phrases in Afrikaans

To keep learning about the Rainbow Nation and improving your Afrikaans language skills, create your free lifetime account on AfrikaansPod101.com and start learning with us.

Happy Freedom Day!

Prepositions in Afrikaans (called voorsetsels), like those in English, have one function only: to clarify the relationship between different concepts or words in a sentence.

Look, for instance, at this one:

“The girl stood under the umbrella.”

Here, the relationship between the concepts “the girl stood” and “the umbrella” is explained by the preposition “under.” This is important, because prepositions impact meaning—the girl didn’t stand “on top of,” “next to,” or “over” the umbrella (all of these are prepositions, too); she stood “under” it.

In both English and Afrikaans, prepositions are easily confused with conjunctions (or voegwoorde). However, the differences between them are easy to discern once you know what to look out for.

Prepositions link together, or connect, mainly nouns with other nouns, verbs, etc. On the other hand, conjunctions can connect two sentences, words, concepts, or verbs.

In English, if the sentence contains two verbs or more, you’re most likely looking at a conjunction and not a preposition! Also note that prepositions or conjunctions don’t always stand between words or sentences, thus obviously “connecting” them. They can be found anywhere in a sentence, except right at the end.

See if you can spot the conjunction vs. the preposition in these sentences.

1) “After they ate, she went back to work.”

2) “After the movie, we decided to go ice-skating.”

3) “We didn’t leave, since the dishes still needed to be done.”

4) “They’ve been sitting there since this morning.”

Which two sentences have the prepositions? Let us know in the comments!

However, in Afrikaans, the above rule doesn’t always apply. Prepositions can be used to connect both verbs and nouns, and can even connect clauses with verbs or nouns. The best thing is to just practice until you master these!

For your easy reference, we’ve compiled an alphabetical, comprehensive list of prepositions in Afrikaans. We’ll also show you how to use them in sentences.

Table of Contents

1. Prepositions in Afrikaans
2. Why AfrikaansPod101 is an Excellent Choice to Study Prepositions in Afrikaans!

1. Prepositions in Afrikaans

Learn about prepositions in the Afrikaans language in easy, fun ways! What’s stopping you? There are so many advantages to enrolling with AfrikaansPod101 today…

Why AfrikaansPod101 is an Excellent Choice to Study Prepositions in Afrikaans!

First of all, we take the pain out of learning a new language by adding a lot of fun and many brilliant learning tools. Signing up will instantly give you access to numerous tools, resources, and lessons—for free! For example, these vocabulary learning aids: Afrikaans Key Phrases and 100 Core Afrikaans Words.

Different membership options unlock benefits such as a personal tutor who’s available nearly 24/7 or access to knowledgeable, energetic hosts. Learn to speak like a native, instructed by a native speaker.

Also gain access to apps and other tools you can use on your phone, tablet, or laptop, anywhere you are. For instance, practice learning an Afrikaans word a day…anywhere, anytime. Or use this free Online Afrikaans Dictionary for translation on the spot!

Get delivered a new lesson every day. Because with millions of lessons already delivered, you can’t go wrong with AfrikaansPod101. So, sign up now and watch your hard work turn you into a masterful Afrikaans speaker!

Want to have easy access to your Afrikaans friend’s hearth and heart? Learn which holidays they observe and the life events they celebrate, and you’re nearly there! Then, it will be good to know what messages they use on these occasions, including how to say “Happy Birthday” in Afrikaans, for instance. Another important one to know is “Happy New Year!” in Afrikaans.

We teach you these and many more at AfrikaansPod101, ideal for learning without stress or struggle! Celebrating these life events is an excellent way to practice your Afrikaans and learn how to pronounce these phrases like native speakers do.

Improve your vocabulary and overall speaking skills with these handy phrases. Using these, and engaging with your Afrikaans friend when wishing them well, you’ll pick up key vocabulary, sayings, and phrases, as well as cultural insights that you won’t find in any travel guide.

In this article, we share with you the key phrases popularly used in South Africa to celebrate life events and South African holidays. Adapt these for social media, or hand-written cards to go with gifts. The best way, though, would be to deliver them in person, using your own voice!

But before we continue, tell us in the comments below how to say “Happy birthday” in your native language! And “Merry Christmas?” In fact, let us know any important life event message you can think of!

Table of Contents

1. Congratulations in Afrikaans for Birthdays
2. Baby Showers and Christenings/Baptisms
3. Holiday Greetings in Afrikaans
4. Other Special Occasions & Greetings in Afrikaans
5. How Can AfrikaansPod101 Help You Learn Important Life Event Messages?

1. Congratulations in Afrikaans for Birthdays

Like in most other cultures, birthdays are special events. The traditions followed in South Africa are mostly Anglo-American, with some sort of celebration marking the day whose birthday is being observed. Traditionally, children get parties with lots of special treats, while older children and adults get to dictate what type of celebration they prefer—small and quiet, or large and loud!

What’s your favorite way of celebrating a birthday? Share with us in the comments…

Gelukkige verjaarsdag! is a direct translation of “Happy birthday.” While it won’t be incorrect to use as is, it’s probably a more suitable message for that Afrikaans colleague or friend you don’t know very well. It’s an informal phrase.

Lots of creative license is allowed here, though, as most Afrikaners enjoy originality, especially if you know the birthday person well.

How to say “Happy birthday” in Afrikaans is easy. It has a few permutations, but the traditional one is still the most popularly used. All of the following are suitable for use in any format you prefer, whether it be writing, texting, or a verbal congratulations in Afrikaans.

1- Informal Birthday Wishes

Afrikaans: Baie geluk met jou verjaarsdag!
Translation: “Congratulations on your birthday!”
Notes: This wish is the traditional “Happy birthday” in Afrikaans, and is suitable for use in any situation and for any person, no matter how well you know them. Replace the informal pronoun jou (you) with the more formal u. The latter is used when addressing people much older than yourself, a dignitary, or a person senior to you in position at work. This is especially necessary in large corporations with a more formal work environment.

Afrikaans: Baie geluk en hoop jou dag is spesiaal!
Translation: “Congratulations and hope your day is special!”

Afrikaans: Geluk en mag jou verjaarsdag wonderlik wees!
Translation: “Congratulations, and may your birthday be wonderful.”

2- Formal Birthday Wishes

Afrikaans: Baie geluk met u verjaarsdag. Mag die lewensjaar wat voorlê baie voorspoedig wees.
Translation: “Congratulations on your birthday. May the (life) year ahead be very prosperous.”

Afrikaans: Baie geluk en beste wense op u verjaarsdag.
Translation: “Congratulations and best wishes on your birthday.”

Also, if you’ve missed a birthday, rectify it with this phrase:

Afrikaans: Laat verjaarsdagwense! Hoop dit was ‘n wonderlike dag gewees.
Translation: “Belated birthday wishes! Hope it was a wonderful day.”

2. Baby Showers and Christenings/Baptisms

Babies and kids are big news among Afrikaners. News of a new one on its way will almost always elicit “Aaaaaw!”s and many congratulations from friends and strangers alike! Most often, the pregnant mom gets a surprise “baby shower” (ooievaarstee) from her close female family, friends, and colleagues. The event normally involves a lavish tea party with gift-giving to spoil both Mom and new Baby, obviously accompanied by many good wishes.

Once the little one has arrived, many religious Afrikaans parents choose to observe the well-known Christian blessing ceremony, A.K.A. a christening (also called “baptism” ) or a doop. The event is usually celebrated in style, with a huge family lunch after the church ceremony. Giving gifts on this occasion isn’t common, but still welcome.

All these well-wishes can be adapted for texting, delivered in person, or expressed in a hand-written card or letter. Also, these are such intimate events in the lives of families that all heartfelt, sincere messages are appropriate and welcome. This means there’s normally no distinction between formal and informal messages. If you’re addressing a very senior person, you could perhaps replace the informal pronouns (jou; julle / “you” ) with the formal u in Afrikaans.

1- Baby Shower

Afrikaans: Baie geluk met die nuweling! Mag hy/sy jou net vreuge bring!
Translation: “Congratulations on the new baby! May he/she bring you only joy!”
Note: Obviously, use the gender pronoun only if you know it.

Afrikaans: Baie gelukwense met julle/jou bondeltjie vreugde!
Translation: “Many congratulations on your bundle of joy!”
Note: Jou = singular and julle = plural for “you.”

Afrikaans: Welkom by ons, Kleinding!
Translation: “Welcome, Little One!”

2- Christenings

Afrikaans: Liefde en seënwense aan almal op (baby’s name) se doopdag.
Translation: “Love and wishes of blessings to everyone on (baby’s name)’s day of christening.”

Afrikaans: Mag julle kleinding se lewe geseënd en voorspoedig wees.
Translation: “May your little one’s life be blessed and prosperous.”

Afrikaans: Wense van seën, voorspoed en liefde aan julle kleinding en die familie op hierdie spesiale dag!
Translation: “Wishes of blessings, prosperity, and love to your little one and the family on this special day!”

3- Social Media Posts for Baby Showers and Christenings

If you like keeping your social media friends and followers updated on big life events, you could consider these posts, preferably with a photo or two:

Afrikaans: My spesiale ooievaarstee..! Baie dankie, almal!
Translation: “My special baby shower…! Thank you so much, everyone!”

Afrikaans: Soveel spesiale geskenke van spesiale mense. Het nie woorde nie…!
Translation: “So many special gifts from special people. Have no words…!”

Afrikaans: Die doop seremonie was pragtig en geseënd. Dankie vir mooi herinneringe.
Translation: “The christening ceremony was special and blessed. Thank you for beautiful memories.”

Afrikaans: Wonderlike bymekaarkom na die doop. (Baby’s name) loved it!
Translation: “Wonderful get-together after the christening. (Baby’s name) loved it!”

3. Holiday Greetings in Afrikaans

Wishing someone a happy holiday in Afrikaans mostly involves religious days observed by Christians, especially Christmas (Kersfees) and Easter (Paasfees). The only other holiday greeting worth noting is “Happy New Year” in Afrikaans. This is celebrated on the first day of January each year, based on the Gregorian calendar. Of course, other religions’ festivals are also observed, such as Jewish Hanukkah, the Indian Dipawali (Indian Festival of Light), and the Chinese Lunar New Year, but these are not public holidays in South Africa.

The most simple greetings, such as “Merry Christmas” in Afrikaans, are still the most popular and used formally and informally, in any format. This could be formulated by simply adding a Geseënde (blessed) or a Gelukkige (happy/merry) in front of the festival or holiday’s name. Such as in:

Afrikaans: Gelukkige Nuwe Jaar!
Translation: “Happy New Year!”

Afrikaans: Geseënde Hanukkah!
Translation: “Blessed Hanukkah!”

If you need to be a bit more creative, you can use the following holiday greetings in Afrikaans.

Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees! Mag dit ‘n vreugdevolle tyd vir almal wees.
Translation: “Blessed Christmas! May it be a merry time for everyone.”

Afrikaans: Mag die nuwe jaar propvol goeie verrassings wees!
Translation: “May the new year be full of good surprises!”

Afrikaans: Gelukkige Nuwe Jaar vir jou en jou geliefdes!
Translation: “Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!”

Afrikaans: Geseënde vakansie hierdie jaar!
Translation: “Happy holidays this year!”

Afrikaans: Beste wense vir die nuwe jaar!
Translation: “Best wishes for the new year!”

Other best wishes in Afrikaans are appropriate for events such as funerals, graduations, landing a new job, and so forth.

These are the most widely-celebrated occasions, but of course, there are others too.

4. Other Special Occasions & Greetings in Afrikaans

Let’s take a look at other special events and their messages.

1- Condolences: Funerals, Illnesses, etc.

Any heartfelt condolences in Afrikaans will go down well—the Afrikaners appreciate real and sincere more than socially or grammatically correct! Your well-wishes from the heart in times of death, illness, or anything stressful will be much appreciated.

Tip: These Afrikaans condolences messages themselves can be used formally or informally. Here, they’re all written for informal address. Change it to formal address by replacing all pronouns (jy; jou; julle) that refer to the person being addressed, to u in Afrikaans.

Afrikaans Condolences: Funeral and Bereavement

Afrikaans: Innige simpatie met jou verlies. Ons hou jou in ons harte.
Translation: “Sincere condolences for your loss. We hold you in our hearts.”

Afrikaans: Diepe meegevoel met julle groot hartseer. Julle is in ons gebede en gedagtes.
Translation: “Sincere condolences for your huge sadness. You are in our prayers and thoughts.”
Note: This “you,” or julle, refers to more than one person. Change it to the singular “you” by simply replacing julle with jou in the first sentence, and jy in the second.

Afrikaans: Woorde is ontoereikend in hierdie tyd van hartseer en verlies. Mag jy omring word met vrede en liefde.
Translation: “Words are inadequate in this time of sadness and bereavement. May you be surrounded with peace and love.”
Note: This “you,” or jy, refers to a single person. Change it to the plural “you” by simply replacing jy with julle.

Afrikaans Condolences: Illness and Operations

Afrikaans: Mag jy gou aansterk en vinnig op die been wees na die operasie!
Translation: “May you recover quickly after the operation!”

Afrikaans: Beste wense met ‘n vinnige herstel! Laat weet as ek met enigiets kan help.
Translation: “Best wishes for a quick recovery! Let me know if I can help with anything.”

Afrikaans: Baie voorspoed en liefde in hierdie tyd van siekte en swaarkry. Jy is in my gedagtes en gebede.
Translation: “Best wishes and love in this time of illness and suffering. You are in my thoughts and prayers.”
Note: This message is suitable if you want to wish someone well after a bad diagnosis of a dreaded disease such as cancer.

2- Best Wishes: Weddings, Job Promotions, Graduations, etc

Afrikaans Wedding Congratulations

Afrikaans: Hiermee net die mooiste wense vir die mooiste paartjie! Mag julle huwelik geseënd wees met geluk en voorspoed.
Translation: “With this, only the most beautiful wishes for the most beautiful couple! May your marriage be blessed with happiness and prosperity.”

Afrikaans: Uiteindelik – die troue waarvoor almal gewag en na uitgesien het! Mag die dag wonderlik wees met ‘n leeftyd van geluk wat voorlê.
Translation: “At last—the wedding everyone waited for and looked forward to! May the day be wonderful, with a lifetime of happiness ahead of you.”

Afrikaans: Geluk met julle huwelik, en hoop die jare vorentoe is vol vreugde en seën.
Translation: “Congratulations on your marriage and may the years ahead be filled with joy and blessings.”

Promotion, New Job, etc

Afrikaans: Baie geluk met die nuwe werk/promosie!
Translation: “Congratulations on the new job/promotion!”

Afrikaans: Veels geluk met die promosie! Jy het dit verdien.
Translation: “Congratulations on the promotion! You deserved it.”

Afrikaans: Geluk met die nuwe werk – hulle kon nie ‘n beter persoon aangestel het nie…
Translation: “Congratulations on the new job—they couldn’t have chosen a better person…”

Graduation

Afrikaans: Baie geluk met jou graduering!
Translation: “Congratulations on your graduation!”

Afrikaans: Dit was nooit ‘n geheim dat jy kon nie! Baie gelukwense met jou prestasie.
Translation: “It was never a secret that you could! Many congratulations on your accomplishment.”

Afrikaans: Geluk met jou graduering; ons is trots op jou!
Translation: “Congratulations on your graduation; we are proud of you!”

How Can AfrikaansPod101 Help You Learn Important Life Event Messages?

Learning how to say “Happy New Year!” in Afrikaans is easy and fun, just as we designed it to be! With over a decade of experience, we draw on expert knowledge of online language-learning techniques to offer you a unique learning space. Thousands of Afrikaans lessons are available, together with free resources such as Apps for Android, iPhone, iPad, and Kindle Fire. With AfrikaansPod101, you can also create your own collection of vocab lists, learn the Afrikaans alphabet, and so much more!

Many enrollment options are available to suit your personal needs. For instance, don’t be alone in your learning—sign up for your personal tutor with Premium Plus. Our friendly hosts are available 24/7 online to help you master Afrikaans easily. With a bit of effort and perseverance, you could do so in record time. So, don’t wait—sign up now and wish your Afrikaans friends well in their own language during their next big life event!

Finding yourself in Afrikaans company, it can be difficult to start conversations if you’re not a native speaker. The weather is a classic conversation starter, as the weather is always there, everywhere and for everyone! In South Africa, the weather and climate are temperate and pleasant in most areas, and, aside from its breathtaking beauty, the country is a top tourist destination for this reason.

At AfrikaansPod101, we know how the weather can make or break a holiday or a stay! Therefore, we give you the most important facts about the weather South Africa experiences, and supply you with Afrikaans weather phrases. This way, you can start talking about weather in Afrikaans any time and plan your travels wisely.

But first—what’s the weather like where you live? Do you like it? Share with us in the comments!

Table of Contents

1. Weather in South Africa: General
2. AfrikaansPod101 Can Teach You South African Weather Phrases Easily!

1. Weather in South Africa: General

Before learning how to talk about South African weather in Afrikaans, keep in mind that climate and weather in Africa are diverse, as it’s a huge continent. You could find yourself in the sweltering desert in one part of it, but sweat in a completely different climate setting just a few hours’ flight away. Winters are mild in some areas, and bitterly cold in others. African weather is not known for a lot of snow, though; for that, you’ll have to look much further up north.

In South Africa, “weather” (weer) and climate follow the same pattern of diversity, with one exception—during winter, it freezes only in small areas, and then not for long. It also doesn’t snow in most parts of the country, except on the high mountaintops. Temperatures tend to be more moderate at the coast, with greater extremes in dry, inland regions. When packing, prepare for any type of weather!

1- Weather in South Africa: The Climate

South Africa, which is situated at the southernmost point of Africa, experiences weather that’s typical for the Southern Hemisphere, with its coldest days from June through August, according to Wikipedia. The warmest region during winter is the coast hugged by the Indian Ocean on the eastern side of the country, forming a big part of the Kwazulu-Natal province.

Climatic zones are distinguished by rainfall patterns. Winter rain falls in the Western Cape region, usually from May through August, and most often in a soft drizzle. (This pattern is changing, however; each year, the region seems to get more rain even during the summer months, and more torrential rainfall than before. This is still not that common, though.)

All other regions get their rain during summer and spring, except for the Eastern Cape, where it rains throughout the year. This province is also characterized by high humidity, which can make the summers almost unbearable. The average annual rainfall is 713 millimetres (28.1 in.). The northwest region, including the coast as well as large areas of the Western, Eastern, and Northern Cape, are all characterized by a dry, arid climate and landscape.

2- Weather in South Africa: Vocabulary to Memorize

In every language, there are words describing different weather conditions, and Afrikaans is no different. Also, in Afrikaans, weather terms are used as similes or metaphors to describe things other than the actual weather and climate. With these basic words about the weather in Afrikaans, you’ll have no trouble holding your own in a conversation!

Afrikaans: Son and sonskyn
Translation: “Sun” and ”sunshine”
Example sentence: Die son hang soos ‘n ryp, geel pomelo oor die woestyn. AND Sy het ‘n glimlag soos sonskyn.
Translation: “The sun hangs like a ripe, yellow grapefruit over the desert.” AND “She has a smile like sunshine.”

Afrikaans: Reën, reënbui, and reënerig
Translation: “Rain,” “a bout of rain,” and “rainy”
Example sentence: Die reën in Spanje bly meestal in die vlakte AND Die reënbui sal gou verbygaan AND Ek hou van reënerige weer
Translation: “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain” AND “This bout of rain will pass quickly” AND “I like rainy weather.”

Afrikaans: Donderstorm
Translation: “Thunderstorm”
Example sentence: Dit lyk of hy deur ‘n donderstorm getref is.
Translation: “It looks like he was hit by a thunderstorm.”

Afrikaans: Koue and hitte AND koud and warm AND koel
Translation: “Cold” and “heat” AND “cold” and “warm” AND “cool”
Example sentence: Die koffie is koud en onsmaaklik AND Die kar se hitte is te hoog. Also: Die oond is warm al lyk dit koel.
Translation: “The coffee is cold and bad” AND “The car’s heat is too high.” Also: “The oven is hot even though it looks cold/cool.”

Afrikaans: Nat and droog
Translation: “Wet” and “dry”
Example sentence: Die kleuter gee haar ‘n nat soen AND Sy humorsin is droog soos biltong.
Translation: “The toddler gives her a wet kiss” AND “His sense of humor is dry like jerky.”

Afrikaans: Wind and winderig
Translation: “Wind” and “windy”
Example sentence: Die wind waai waar hy wil op winderige dae.
Translation: “The wind blows where it wishes on windy days.”

Afrikaans: Wolk and bewolk/bewolkte
Translation: “Cloud” and “cloudy”
Example sentence: ‘n Enkele wolk maak nie ‘n bewolkte dag nie AND Jou gesig lyk bewolk.
Translation: “A single cloud doesn’t make for a cloudy day” AND “Your face looks clouded.”

Afrikaans: Sneeu and hael
Translation: “Snow” and “hail”
Example sentence: Dit gaan hael vandag, nie sneeu nie.
Translation: “It’s going to hail today, not snow.”

Afrikaans: Motreën
Translation: “Drizzle”
Example sentence: Motreën kan mens goed nat maak.
Translation: “Drizzle can properly wet one through.”

Afrikaans: Mis and mistigheid
Translation: “Mist” and “misty”
Example sentence: Die berghange is toe onder die mis.
Translation: “The mountainside is covered with mist.”

3- Weather in South Africa: Common Idioms to Memorize

Now that you know some handy weather words in Afrikaans, worm your way into any Afrikaans conversation with these lines. Be sure they correspond with the weather, though!

Afrikaans: Dis so warm dat die kraaie gaap.
Translation: “It’s so hot, the crows are yawning.”
Note: This idiom apparently has its origin in the behavior of crows when the weather is very hot and humid. The birds keep their beaks open to breathe, with their wings outstretched. This reportedly serves to keep their bodies cool and ventilated, also causing them to look like they’re yawning!

Afrikaans: Daar’s ‘n knyp in die lug.
Translation: “There’s a pinch in the air.”
Meaning: This phrase is used to indicate that it’s nippy outside—not quite cold, but getting there.

Afrikaans: Dit reën katte en honde!
Translation: “It’s raining cats and dogs!”
Meaning: This idiom has the same meaning as in English, which is most often used to describe a cloud burst.

Afrikaans: Jakkals trou met Wolf se vrou.
Translation: “Fox marries Wolf’s wife.”
Meaning: This jaunty Afrikaans idiom you’d use when it’s raining while the sun is peeking out! It’s a meteorological phenomenon that’s sometimes referred to in English as a “sunshower.”

4- Weather in South Africa: Common Weather Phrases to Memorize

In an Afrikaans weather conversation, it’s important to know how to describe the weather (and how you feel about it!). Here are some helpful phrases for doing so.

Afrikaans: Dit gaan vandag bewolk wees met verspreide reënbuie oor die kusgebied.
Translation: “It will be cloudy today with bouts of rain spread across the coastal areas.”

Afrikaans: Dis bibberend koud vandag!
Translation: “It’s shivering cold today!”

Afrikaans: Die temperatuur is dertig grade hier.
Translation: “The temperature is thirty degrees (celcius) here.”

Afrikaans: Die wind waai sterk or Daar’s ‘n sterk wind.
Translation: “The wind blows strongly” or “There’s a strong wind.”

Afrikaans: Ek kry koud!
Translation: “I’m cold!”
Note: You can replace koud with warm, which means “hot.”

2. AfrikaansPod101 Can Teach You South African Weather Phrases Easily!

When you enroll with us for a Lifetime Account, you get multiple benefits immediately at your fingertips! You’ll get thousands of lessons tailored to meet you at your level of language proficiency, enough to help yourself with straight away!

This includes topic-related, culture-specific Afrikaans vocabulary lists, like this one about the weather. In a simple, clear layout, our lessons are easily accessible, offering writing and audio recordings to make sure you learn the word as it’s pronounced by native Afrikaans speakers.

You’ll also gain access to the following, and so much more:

• A vibrant online community
• Free lessons on iTunes
• Free audio books
• Excellent free apps
• Free Word of the Day
• The 100 Core Afrikaans Word List
• An Online Afrikaans Dictionary

The value is simply unbeatable!

If you’re serious about your learning, we have several learning options to suit your pocket and your language needs. Therefore, look at our three different learning plans—affordable while still providing great value for your money.

If you’d like to fast-track your learning, why not choose the Premium Plus Plan, which gives you access to your own personal teacher and friendly host? These offers are sure to put sonskyn in your day, so enroll now!

In sentences, adjectives are used to describe nouns, such as: “the brave boy.” (“Brave” is the adjective, and “boy” is the noun in this clause.) These words, like adverbs, make any spoken or written language come alive, as they paint pictures that help us better understand what we read or hear.

AfrikaansPod101 provides you with multiple lists of adjectives in Afrikaans, in both text and sound formats, and with context! With practice, and by applying what you learn in these lessons, you’ll soon know how to use adjectives in Afrikaans.

Table of Contents

1. What are Adjectives in Afrikaans?
2. List of the Top 100+ Afrikaans Adjectives
3. Short Exercise to Spot Afrikaans Adjectives
4. AfrikaansPod101 Can Help You Use Afrikaans Adjectives Like a Boss!

1. What are Adjectives in Afrikaans?

Adjectives in Afrikaans (translation: byvoeglike naamwoorde) have the same function as English adjectives. Furthermore, they’re fairly simple to use, since, like all other Afrikaans word forms, they don’t have grammatical gender. Pretty straightforward, they always remain the same while beautifully describing things, objects, people, and concepts—in other words, nouns.

Here, we provide you with essential Afrikaans adjectives to use, for quick reference at your fingertips!

Also avail yourself to our lessons below, where we demonstrate how to pronounce these Afrikaans adjectives as well. With these, and all the other helpful tools on AfrikaansPod101, your learning will be very easy!

• Which Adjective Describes Your Personality Best?
• Describing the Weather
• Most Common Adjectives
• An invaluable Afrikaans Online Dictionary

Tip: Like in English, adjectives with opposite meanings are used in exactly the same way.

For instance:
Die gelukkige / ongelukkige seun.
“The happy / unhappy boy.”

Before we start our Afrikaans adjectives list, what is an adjective called in your language? Do they have grammatical gender? Explain this to us in the comments!

2. List of the Top 100+ Afrikaans Adjectives

1- Describing People and their Personalities, Talents, and Traits

This list is not exhaustive, but here you have the core Afrikaans adjectives to describe a person.

Afrikaans Adjective: gelukkig and ongelukkig
Translation: “happy” and “unhappy”
Use: ‘n gelukkige kind
Translation: “a happy child”

Afrikaans Adjective: slim
Translation: “clever” or “intelligent”
Use: die slim meisiekind
Translation: “the clever girl”

Afrikaans Adjective: vriendelik
Translation: “friendly”
Use: ‘n vriendelike man
Translation: “a friendly man”

Afrikaans Adjective: vrolike or opgewekte
Translation: “cheerful”
Use: my vrolike Ouma or die opgewekte vrou
Translation: “my cheerful Grandma” or “the cheerful woman”

Afrikaans Adjective: jong and ou
Translation: “young” and “old”
Use: die jong vrou
Translation: “the young woman”

Afrikaans Adjective: tevrede
Translation: “content”
Use: ‘n tevrede baba
Translation: “a content baby”

Afrikaans Adjective: eerlike
Translation: “honest”
Use: ons eerlike opinie
Translation: “our honest opinion”

Afrikaans Adjective: beleefde
Translation: “polite”
Use: die beleefde manier
Translation: “the polite way”

Afrikaans Adjective: kunssinnige
Translation: “artistic”
Use: my kunssinnige vriend
Translation: “my artistic friend”

Afrikaans Adjective: begaafde or talentvolle
Translation: “gifted” or “talented”
Use: haar begaafde seun or die talentvolle pianis
Translation: “her gifted son” or “the talented pianist”

Afrikaans Adjective: vrygewig
Translation: “generous”
Use: sy vrygewige natuur
Translation: “his generous nature”

Afrikaans Adjective: geduldige
Translation: “patient”
Use: ‘n geduldige ouer
Translation: “a patient parent”

Afrikaans Adjective: kwaai or woedende
Translation: “stern” or “very angry”
Use: die kwaai onderwyser or ‘n woedende persoon
Translation: “the stern teacher” or “a very angry person”

Afrikaans Adjective: skaam
Translation: “shy”
Use: die skaam dogter
Translation: “the shy daughter”

Afrikaans Adjective: onbeskofte
Translation: “rude”
Use: onbeskofte toeskouers
Translation: “rude audience”

Afrikaans Adjective: aggressiewe
Translation: “aggressive”
Use: sy aggressiewe houding
Translation: “his aggressive attitude”

Afrikaans Adjective: swaarmoedig or depressiewe
Translation: “depressed; heavy” or “depressive”
Use: ‘n swaarmoedige gees or die depressiewe man
Translation: “a depressed, heavy spirit” or “the depressive man”

Afrikaans Adjective: angstig
Translation: “anxious”
Use: ‘n angstige geaardheid
Translation: “an anxious personality”

Afrikaans Adjective: aangename and onaangename
Translation: “pleasant” and “unpleasant”
Use: aangename vrou
Translation: “pleasant woman”

Afrikaans Adjective: lui
Translation: “lazy”
Use: die lui namiddag
Translation: “the lazy afternoon”

Afrikaans Adjective: onvriendelike
Translation: “unfriendly”
Use: die onvriendelike kassier
Translation: “the unfriendly cashier”

Afrikaans Adjective: hardwerkende
Translation: “hardworking”
Use: my hardwerkende man
Translation: “my hardworking husband”

Afrikaans Adjective: mooi and lelik
Translation: “pretty” and “ugly”
Use: my mooi vrou and die lelike merk
Translation: “my pretty wife” and “the ugly mark”

Afrikaans Adjective: stil and lawaaierige
Translation: “quiet” and “noisy”
Use: die stil man and die lawaaierige kinders
Translation: “the quiet man” and “the noisy children”

2- Describing Shape, Size, Distance, Quantity, Texture, etc.

Afrikaans Adjective: groot and klein
Translation: “big” and “small”
Use: Die groot man met die klein hartjie
Translation: “The big guy with the tender heart”
Interesting Note: In this Afrikaans idiomatic expression, “small” refers to a tenderhearted person, and not to the literal size of a person’s heart (or the English expression “small-hearted”).

Afrikaans Adjective: hoë and lae
Translation: “tall” and “low”
Use: Die hoë toring met die lae vensters
Translation: “The tall tower with the low windows”

Afrikaans Adjective: boonste and onderste
Translation: “top” and “lower/bottom”
Use: die boonste kas and die onderste laai
Translation: “the top cupboard” and “the bottom drawer”

Afrikaans Adjective: linker and regter
Translation: “left” and “right”
Use: my linker hand en regter voet
Translation: “my left hand and right foot”

Afrikaans Adjective: min and baie
Translation: “few” and “lots/a lot of”
Use: min dae and baie suiker
Translation: “few days” and “lots of sugar”

Afrikaans Adjective: bietjie
Translation: “little bit”
Use: bietjie suiker
Translation: “little bit of sugar”

Afrikaans Adjective: enige
Translation: “any”
Use: enige tyd
Translation: “any time”

Afrikaans Adjective: alle and geen
Translation: “all” and “no”
Use: alle mense
Translation: “all people”

Afrikaans Adjective: sommige
Translation: “some”
Use: sommige mense
Translation: “some people”

Afrikaans Adjective: ver and naby
Translation: “far” and “close”
Use: die ver dorp and die naby winkel
Translation: “the far town” and “the close store”

Afrikaans Adjective: plat
Translation: “flat”
Use: plat vloere
Translation: “flat floors”
Interesting Note: Platvloerse (different from plat vloere) is an Afrikaans idiomatic expression that means the same as “vulgar” or “obscene.” It is never used in a positive way!
Example: Jou platvloerse gedrag word nie waardeer nie / “Your vulgar behavior is not appreciated.”

Afrikaans Adjective: ronde
Translation: “round”
Use: ‘n ronde nul
Translation: “a round zero”

Afrikaans Adjective: vierkantige
Translation: “square”
Use: vierkantige huise
Translation: “square houses”

Afrikaans Adjective: driehoekige
Translation: “triangular”
Use: driehoekige vorm
Translation: “triangular form”

Afrikaans Adjective: lang
Translation: “long” or “tall”
Use: die lang pad or die lang vrou
Translation: “the long road” or “the tall woman”

Afrikaans Adjective: kort
Translation: “short”
Use: kortpad
Translation: “short road”
Interesting Note: In Afrikaans, there’s an adverbial expression, kort-kort. This means the same as “frequently.”

Afrikaans Adjective: langwerpig
Translation: “long”
Use: langwerpige doos
Translation: “long box”

Afrikaans Adjective: gewone and ongewone
Translation: “usual/common” and “unusual”
Use: die gewone dinge
Translation: “the usual stuff”

Afrikaans Adjective: hobbelrige
Translation: “bumpy”
Use: hobbelrige oppervlakte
Translation: “bumpy surface”

Afrikaans Adjective: sagte and harde
Translation: “soft” and “hard”
Use: sagte vel and harde klippe
Translation: “soft skin” and “hard rocks”

Afrikaans Adjective: glad and growwe
Translation: “smooth” and “rough”
Use: gladde bek and growwe taal
Translation: “smooth talker” and “rough language”

Afrikaans Adjective: blink and dowwe
Translation: “shiny” and “dull/muffled”
Use: die blink oë and ‘n dowwe geluid and die dowwe metaal
Translation: “the shiny eyes” and “a muffled noise” and “the dull metal”

Afrikaans Adjective: ligte and swaar
Translation: “light” and “heavy”
Use: die ligte bries and die swaar tafel
Translation: “the light breeze” and “the heavy table”

Afrikaans Adjective: wye and nou/noue
Translation: “wide” and “narrow”
Use: Iwye glimlag and noue ontkoming and die nou gang
Translation: “wide smile” and “narrow escape” and “the narrow corridor”

3- Describing the Weather

Afrikaans Adjective: bedompige
Translation: “stuffy”
Use: bedompige dag
Translation: “stuffy day”

Afrikaans Adjective: bewolkte
Translation: “cloudy”
Use: bewolkte weer
Translation: “cloudy weather”

Afrikaans Adjective: stormagtige
Translation: “stormy”
Use: stormagtige see
Translation: “stormy sea”

When the weather is described using an adverb, it’s mostly with the above-mentioned nouns: dag, weer, see / “day, weather, sea.” Following is a list of useful Afrikaans adjectives you can use to describe the weather with these nouns:

helder – “bright”

Sample: Dis ‘n helder dag.
Translation: “It’s a bright day.”

koue and warm – “cold” and “hot”

Sample: Op koue dae dra ons warm klere.
Translation: “On cold days, we wear warm clothes.”

nat and droë – “wet” and “dry”

Sample: Maak die nat vloer met ‘n droë lap droog.
Translation: “Dry up the wet floor with a dry cloth.”

oop and skoon – “open” and “clear”

Sample: Die dag is oop en skoon.
Translation: “The day is open and clear.”

sonnige – “sunny”

Sample: Die sonnige stoep is warm.
Translation: “The sunny porch is warm.”

koel – “cool”

Sample: Dis koel buitekant.
Translation: “It’s cool outside.”

mistige – “misty”

Sample: Kyk na die mistige bergtoppe.
Translation: “Look at the misty mountaintops.”

winderige – “windy”

Sample: Longbeach is nie ‘n winderige strand nie.
Translation: “Longbeach is not a windy beach.”

windstil – “quiet”

Sample: Dis ‘n windstil middag.
Translation: “It’s a quiet afternoon.”
Note: Here, windstil specifically means that there’s no wind blowing.

–winters and somers and lente and herfs – “winter” and “summer” and “spring” and “autumn”

Sample: Ons winters klere is nie geskik vir somers dae nie.
Translation: “Our winter clothes are unsuitable for summer days.”
Sample: Die lentedae is koel en vars, amper soos herfsdae.
Translation: “Spring days are cool and fresh, almost like autumn days.”

4- Using Colors to Describe Things

Colors in Afrikaans are used to describe things, like in English. Such as:

Afrikaans Adjective and Sample Phrase: blou — die blou Maandag
Translation: “blue” — “the blue Monday”

Afrikaans Adjective and Sample Phrase: bruin — ‘n bruin skoen
Translation: “brown” — “a brown shoe”

As adverbs, all color words are used the same way as in these examples.

• rooi — “red”
• geel — “yellow”
• groen — “green”
• oranje — “orange”
• pers — “purple”
• bruin — “brown”
• wit — “white”
• swart — “black”
• grys — “gray”

3. Short Exercise to Spot Afrikaans Adjectives

Now that you have some good Afrikaans adjectives under your belt, read the following paragraph in easy Afrikaans, and write down all the adjectives you can find in the comments below! Ask your teacher if your answers are correct…

Die stil man staan op. Hy kyk na die jong vrou in die rooi jas. Sy is lank, met gladde, bruin hare. Hy wil met haar praat, maar voel skaam. Hy gaan sit weer stadig en kyk net na haar mooi profiel.

“The quiet man stands up. He looks at the young woman in the red coat. She is tall, with smooth, brown hair. He wants to talk with her, but feels shy. He slowly sits down again and just looks at her pretty profile.”

4. AfrikaansPod101 Can Help You Use Afrikaans Adjectives Like a Boss!

Learn adjectives and so much more in easy, fun ways from a native speaker! Also, get access to free tools, such as hundreds of Vocabulary Lists, a comprehensive Core Word List, a Key Phrase List, and a Word of the Day every day!

Sign up for a free lifetime account with AfrikaansPod101, and you’ll immediately have access to other tools, such as helpful flashcards, and space to create your own personalized Word Bank.

With application, persistence, and the help of our fantastic team, you’ll be able to speak Afrikaans like a native in no time at all! Enroll today.

What better way to learn a language than through movies and TV shows?! At AfrikaansPod101, we encourage you to binge-watch these—a fantastic way to train your ear to Afrikaans dialects and accents, get used to how it’s spoken by native speakers, and learn about the culture!

Fortunately, these days it’s not so difficult to find Afrikaans shows and movies, using Showmax. Showmax South Africa is an online video-streaming service similar to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, with a great collection of Afrikaans gems of the screen. Further, Showmax Afrikaans content covers a wide variety of genres and storylines.

Subscription works the same as it does on other online streaming services. The only drawback is that it may not be available where you live. It is, for instance, not yet available in Japan or other Asian countries. Fortunately, Showmax South Africa subscription reach keeps expanding, so soon you could well have dozens of Afrikaans films and TV shows at your fingertips!

In this article, we discuss some of the best Afrikaans movies and TV shows currently available on Showmax—there’s truly something for everyone’s taste. So book off your next weekend and prepare to remain entertained as you binge-watch with friends (or by yourself). You can stay in, keep your pajamas on, and prepare all your favorite snack supplies…!

Tip: To better learn Afrikaans on Showmax, keep a notebook by your side and take note of language questions you may have for your AfrikaansPod101 host or teacher. Learn from a native speaker, and you’ll soon sound like one yourself!

Table of Contents

1. Afrikaans Films and TV Shows on Showmax
2. AfrikaansPod101 Teaches Culturally Relevant Lessons

1. Afrikaans Films and TV Shows on Showmax

As mentioned earlier, you’ll be spoiled for choice, since the Showmax selection of Afrikaans movies and shows is probably the largest collection you’ll find anywhere.

Let’s start with the lighthearted Afrikaans programs on Showmax!

1- Afrikaans Comedy Movie Shows

Laughter is good for you! Start with funny Afrikaans movies to lift your spirit and keep learning easy!

1.1 Fanie Fourie’s Lobola / “Fanie Fourie’s Dowry”

Fanie Fourie’s Lobola is one of those romantic comedies that entertains while simultaneously warming the cockles of the heart.

Fanie Fourie, a young man who loves restoring old cars—and the proverbial black sheep of his family—battles to launch financially. Dinky, a gorgeous Zulu entrepreneur with big dreams, sees something in this oddball with a golden heart, and a romance develops. The plot centers around this interracial romance and Fanie Fourie’s woes with “dowry” or lobola, when he finally proposes to Dinky.

This is one of the best Showmax Afrikaans movies and is a genuinely funny study of cultural differences that manages to avoid saccharine, improbable dialogue and plotlines. Thematically, the film tackles difficult racial issues and views, still painfully prominent in South African culture and society. Yet, it does so with honesty, gentleness, and humor.

The cast includes well-known singer and musician Chris Chameleon, and Jerry Mofokeng, a prominent South African actor. Chameleon plays Fanie’s older brother in a wonderful parody of himself, while Mofokeng is perfectly cast as Dinky’s slightly goofy dad. Eduan van Jaarsveldt shines as the hapless yet endearing Fanie Fourie, while stunning Zethu Dlomo often steals the show as the headstrong, clever Dinky Magubane. All actors excel in their roles under Henk Pretorius’ skillful directing.

This Afrikaans movie on Showmax won a local award, as well as the Golden Space Needle Audience Award for Best Film at the Seattle International Film Festival in 2013. It’s furthermore shot in English, Afrikaans, and Zulu, so a fairly easy, entertaining watch!

Vocabulary and Phrases to Memorize:

• trou — “marry”
• ruk jouself reg — “pull yourself together”
• Ek ken daai een — “I know that one”

1.2 Boetie Gaan Border Toe / “Little Brother Goes to the Border”

This golden oldie comedy-satire was a huge hit among the South African Afrikaner public in the Eighties. Directed by well-known South African actor-director Richard Van Den Bergh, it also launched the career of lead actor Arnold Vosloo. Vosloo, who later became well-known in the U.S. for his role as Imhotep in the Mummy franchise, also featured in Darkman I and II, Blood Diamonds, Hard Target, GI Joe, and other international productions.

In Boetie gaan border toe, a young Vosloo plays the title role as a spoiled brat who gets paid by his stepdad to join the army. Very resistant, though—and therefore devising schemes to avoid enlisting—Boetie eventually does land up in the army, and learns the few positive lessons the military often does teach young men and women: the value of cameradie, loyalty, endurance, and bravery. Set in Angola during the war, it’s a lighthearted take on a young man’s coming of age.

The movie, which was followed by a sequel, Boetie Op Manoeuvres, was not without its critics. Literary analyst Monica Popescu criticized what she felt was the romanticization of the Afrikaner Boer War, and exaggeration of South African soldiers’ chivalrous conduct. An academic from the University of Johannesburg called the movie “propagandistic.”

Apart from Vosloo, the film also sports Afrikaans actor heavyweights like Jana Cilliers, comedy man Frank Opperman, and Guys de Villiers.

So, as long as you don’t take the movie’s aggrandizing of the erstwhile South African soldiers and the war seriously, it’s an easy, entertaining watch for the more advanced Afrikaans student (the film doesn’t have English subtitles).

Vocabulary and Phrases to Memorize:

• grens — “border”
• soldate — “soldiers”
• Veg — “fight”
• geveg — “battle”

1.3 Konfetti / “Confetti”

Konfetti, while funny, is far from the standard fare of wedding rom-coms. Less loaded in political content, it tells the tale of a well-meaning, but bungling and very flawed best man, Lukas, played by Louw Venter. He tries to hold his own chaotic stuff together so as to ensure an at least civil wedding for his best friends Sheryl (Casey B. Dolan) and Jean (handsome Nico Panagio). But, well, human nature gets in the way.

While not five-star material, it does avoid a pat, Disney handling of the subject matter. In fact, it manages to fairly successfully, sympathetically, and humorously showcase the messiness of being human and very flawed in relationships and in life. A worthwhile watch, despite its unfairly low ratings by some critics.

Veteran comedian Casper de Vries plays a role in Konfetti.

Vocabulary and Phrases to Memorize:

• Ek is jammer — “I am sorry”
• so maklik soos dit — “as easy as that”
• tent — “tent”
• bruid — “bride”
• bruidegom — “bridegroom”

1.4 Snaaks Genoeg / “Funny Enough”

Looking for Afrikaans films on Showmax that are funny, but not necessarily light? To round off our selection of funny movies, Snaaks Genoeg has quite the macabre offering.

Touted by one critic to be “an entertaining and poignant dark comedy,” the movie “explores the pain inflicted by humor on the average human being.”

If you think that’s a bizarre theme synopsis, wait for the plot. It revolves around down-on-his-luck comedian Casper de Vries, played by himself. Over the years, the showman has alienated audiences with his too-acidic insults and crudeness, so now he travels around in the remote countryside, doing shows in exchange for food and lodging.

Then a series of very funny murders take place—all involving the sadistic torturing and murders of successful South African comedians, one after the other. But why? And is Casper a target, despite being unsuccessful?

Watch and find out, while being entertained by renowned South African actors and comedy stalwarts like Tobie Cronje, Sandra Prinsloo, and Shaleen Surtie-Richards, all playing themselves in some way. Expect the unexpected in this rather surprising movie, which was shot in the atmospheric, arid Karoo and Northern Cape regions of the country.

Vocabulary and Phrases to Memorize:

• wat gebeur het is ongelooflik — “what happened is unbelievable”
• komediant — “comedian”
• komedie — “comedy”

2- Afrikaans Dramas and Thrillers

If your taste is for the more serious and dark, Afrikaans Showmax in South Africa has a selection of choices.

2.1. Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey / “The Rebellion of Lafras Verwey”

In Afrikaans, there’s the saying: Stille waters, diepe grond. Onder draai die duiwel rond. Literally, it translates as “Quiet waters, deep bottom, where the devil circles below.” This is commonly used to refer to suspicious conduct by a normal-looking, quiet, and unassuming person. Such a person was the civil servant and office worker Lafras Verwey…

Verwey, masterfully depicted by renowned South African actor Tobie Cronje, is more than a little bit mad in his secret hatred of the establishment. Appearing normal and run-of-the-mill to office colleagues, he’s also a courier of secret parcels for a clandestine rebellion movement.

He takes a hapless pregnant woman under his wing, and this seems to mark the start of his mental unraveling.

The somewhat disturbing drama, based on a script written by famous South African author Chris Barnard, showcases the acting skills of Cronje. But, according to some critics, this movie fails to convince or impress otherwise. Decide for yourself…!

Vocabulary and Phrases to Memorize:

• kantoor — “office”
• Jy trek nou jou sokkies op, en jy ruk jouself reg. — “You pull up your socks and gather yourself.”
• Ja Meneer — “Yes Sir”

2.2 Fiela se Kind / “Fiela’s Child”

This gripping, poignant tale of identity, family, and belonging takes place in the nineteenth century against the lush backdrop of the Knysna forest in the Eastern Cape region of the country. The screenplay is based on a hugely popular Afrikaans book of the same name, written by Dalene Matthee.

On one side of the mountain, Fiela Komoetie, a woman of color, wakes up one night to the pitiful sobbing of a child. At the door of their humble home stands a white blue-eyed boy child, clearly lost and afraid, so she takes him in and opens more than her home to this foundling. He becomes a member of their humble household, and is raised with the name Benjamin Komoetie.

On the other side of the mountain, the white wife of woodcutter Elias Van Rooyen experiences the heartbreak of losing her three-year-old son, Lukas Van Rooyen.

Nine years later, a census worker discovers blue-eyed Benjamin and demands that he be returned home to his white parents, the Van Rooyens.

Sensitively directed by veteran actor-director Katinka Heyns, the movie adaptation proved as popular and successful as the book. It won an award for its editing at the All African Film Award in 1988.

Vocabulary and Phrases to Memorize:

• God vergewe ons baie, maar God vergewe ons nie die kwaad wat ons ‘n kind aandoen nie. — “God forgives us a lot, but not the harm done to a child.”
• woud — “forest”
• verlore kind — “lost child”

2.3 Die Wonderwerker / “The Miracle Worker”

Another Heyns-directed drama of great acclaim is Die Wonderwerker, which is loosely based on a fictional event in the life of famous South African poet, scientist, naturalist, ethologist, lawyer, and champion of Afrikaans, Eugene Marais. Marais, a complex, somewhat tortured man, was also addicted to morphine and opium. These addictions ultimately cost him his life.

The film is a character drama, focusing on the intricacies of Marais’ enigmatic character and his tangled interactions with two women in a remote setting. Without giving away too much, the quote from Bizzcommunity aptly sums up the main theme of this beautifully executed and highly acclaimed Afrikaans movie:

“Emotionally challenging and evocative, it provokes the imagination and shows that, indeed, extraordinary things can materialise out of ordinary circumstances.”

A must-watch for movie aficionados and those liking substance and nuance in their theater fare!

Vocabulary and Phrases to Memorize:

• digter — “poet”
• gedigte — “poems”
• wonderwerke — “miracles”
• verslaafde — “addict”

2.4 Die Spreeus / “The Sparrows”

If your taste is for mystery, the supernatural, and suspense, don’t miss out on Die Spreeus. This short Showmax Afrikaans series revolves around two police detectives, investigators Bas Koorts and Beatrice Mack from the Spreeus unit, who are tasked by Brigadier Rosa Scheffers to investigate murders with a twist. Their searches lead them to places way beyond the world they’re familiar and comfortable with.

Old South African ghost stories and other hair-raising tales of the supernatural are used as the backbone of each episode’s plot. These get tweaked with plot twists and stunning visual effects for modern times and current viewers’ taste for the macabre and horrific. Add to that the complex characters of two police officers, each with their own tale of sorrow and regret, and you have a concoction readymade to chill.

The two main characters, Bas and Beatrice, are played by soapie stars Monique Rockman and Chris Vorster, with Sandi Schultz playing the Brigadier. The actors insist that the series is about more than special effects and cheap thrills, with a breathtaking secret to be revealed…

Says Chris, talking to Channel24: “We are telling well-known stories from South Africa’s many cultures. We have everything, from myths and fables to ghost stories and goblins, like the Ghost of Uniondale and the Tokoloshe (a dwarf-like water sprite revered in the Zulu culture for its mischief and evil powers).”

Don’t miss out on Showmax Afrikaans shows like this one that can teach you an interesting lesson in cultural mythology!

Vocabulary and Phrases to Memorize:

• speurder — “detective”
• ondersoek — “investigate”
• moord — “murder”
• bonatuurlik — “supernatural”

2.5 Die Siener / “The Seer”

Still in the vein of the supernatural and otherworldly, this reality Afrikaans series is nothing like fiction, though.

Gerald Burger is one of South Africa’s most prominent seers and so-called fortune tellers. Living a simple life in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, this gentleman feels it his duty and calling from God to help the living and the dead in any way he can with his gift.

Gerald grew up in very difficult circumstances, and was brutally abused by a sadistic foster care father and later, his step dad. He was seven years old when he had his first vision. Fortunately, he had protective women in his life who loved him and taught him to be wise about his gift.

Over the years, Gerald has predicted major national disasters and events, such as the Laingsburg Flood of 1981, which took the lives of at least 100 people. His true work and calling, though, is helping people by looking at their current lives and how their choices are shaping their future. He offers wise counsel and support, especially helping his clients to gain closure when a loved one has passed. Gerald also clears dwellings of ghosts, entities, and poltergeists, with exceptional insight into their being and origin.

What strikes most is his compassion, which is extended not only to people and animals (he has seven dogs!), but the souls of the departed. He deeply feels the unresolved pain of those who have passed over, but not moved on, and helps them with ritual and prayer to leave the earth plane and rest. A truly uncommon philanthropist!

Every week, Gerald stuns viewers and clients alike with uncanny knowledge and insight into personal details. Hoe’t hy dit geweet?! / “How did he know that?!” is gasped in every episode.

Vocabulary and Phrases to Memorize:

• spook or gees — “ghost” or “spirit”
• bang — “scared”
• die toekoms — “the future”

2.6 Dwaalster / “Roaming Star”

For something uncommon and magical, yet not necessarily scary, Dwaalster is a good choice. This drama series tells of the lives of many eccentric, kooky characters living in Maanhaarsdrif, a small town in the dry Karoo region.

Maanhaarsdrift is also the home of a giant observatory and astronomical telescope on the outskirts, and in that, it’s similar to a real, rather famous Karoo town—Sutherland. (A few kilometers outside of Sutherland lives the Southern African Large Telescope, a.k.a. SALT. It’s the southern hemisphere’s largest single optical telescope, and one of the largest worldwide.)

However, the series was inspired by a different area, the Hoeko Valley in Ladismith in the far western reaches of the Klein Karoo. The area is also known for its colorful, magical characters and mystical events. Yet the script deals with a lot more than weird. It also explores very human and universal themes such as social integration, homosexuality, interracial relationships, environmental protection, and so forth, making it a pot with something for everyone.

Showmax South Africa offers a wide variety of superb offerings in Afrikaans, ready to be enjoyed if you love the language!

Before we finish, what are your favorite TV shows and movies in your own language? Tell us about these in the comments!

2. AfrikaansPod101 Teaches Culturally Relevant Lessons

AfrikaansPod101 stands head and shoulders above other online learning platforms, with many free learning tools to help you master Afrikaans easily.

For instance, sharpen your comprehension skills with audio conversations, such as this one about going to the movies! Also, gain cultural understanding in multiple lessons, such as with this introduction to South African pop culture.

Other tools include:

1. Quick, easy access to the Afrikaans Core 100 Word List
2. A new Afrikaans word to learn every day!
3. An extensive vocabulary list section, regularly updated
4. A free Afrikaans online dictionary
5. Key phrases in Afrikaans you must master!

Sign up now! We’ll assist you every step of the way to make this a wonderful learning experience.

Depending on where you live, you most likely know what Valentine’s Day is, and celebrate (or dread) it every year. But what do Valentine’s Day traditions in South Africa look like?

In this article, you’ll learn about how South Africans express their love for significant others on this day and more fun facts about Valentine’s Day in South Africa.

If you want to learn romantic Afrikaans phrases to use on Valentine’s Day, check out our Afrikaans Love Phrases blog too!

1. What is Valentine’s Day?

As you probably know, Valentine’s Day is a special holiday for couples to express their love (liefde) and appreciation for each other. In South Africa, Valentine’s Day is a huge deal, and lovers will go out of their way for each other to ensure a romantic and fun holiday.

Traditionally, St. Valentine’s Day was a religious feast day set aside to honor the third-century Christian martyr St. Valentine, who himself was primarily associated with love. In particular, St. Valentine was thought to have married couples even during a marriage ban. Over time, however, the holiday took on a more romantic and love-related connotation.

Keep reading for some Valentine’s Day ideas in South Africa, and what to expect!

2. When is Valentine’s Day in South Africa?

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 each year in South Africa.

3. How Does South Africa Celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Couples in South Africa celebrate Valentine’s Day similarly to those in other countries. The main theme is romanties, or “romance,” and young couples, in particular, reflect this by going on a nice date together. In South Africa, Valentine’s Day traditions for dates often include going out and doing things with each other. For example, many people favor a romantic walk on the beach while others opt for a more public outing like the zoo, or even hiking. A delicious dinner and chocolate (sjokolade) are always welcome too!

South Africans often give their kêrel ( “boyfriend” ) or meisie ( “girlfriend” ) a thoughtful gift. In fact, advertisements for Valentine’s Day gifts in South Africa begin way ahead of the actual holiday, giving people a lot of time to choose what to buy their sweetheart.

Valentine’s Day traditions also include long festivals, sometimes beginning days before the holiday. During the Valentine’s Day season, it’s common to see younger women with their lovers’ names attached to their sleeves.

And of course, a few kind and romantic words are a great way to reach someone’s heart. Many couples will give their better half a Valentyns Kaarjie, or “Valentine’s card,” to express their great affection.

→ Are you at a loss for words? Make your sweetheart blush and smile with these Valentine’s Day expressions in Afrikaans!

→ Do you have bigger plans in mind? In that case, maybe you’ll want to have a look at our Afrikaans Marriage Proposal Lines.

4. Something Sweet

Do you feel like being extra soet ( “sweet” ) for your Valentine this year? Why not try and make a popular South African dessert? Some of the most common are:

You can likely find great recipes for these treats by searching for them online or borrowing a South African cookbook. (Of course, if you’re not very handy in the kitchen, just buying a chocolate bar should do the trick.)

5. Valentine’s Day Vocabulary

Ready to review some of the Afrikaans vocabulary words from this article? Here are the most important Valentine’s Day words!

• Liefde — “Love”
• Geskenk — “Present”
• Kêrel — “Boyfriend”
• Meisie — “Girlfriend”
• Lekkergoed — “Candy”
• Pienk — “Pink”
• Rooi — “Red”
• Hart — “Heart”
• Romanties — “Romance”
• Roos — “Rose”
• Lekkergoed hart — “Candy heart”
• Valentyns Kaarjie — “Valentine’s card”
• Date — “Date”
• Ruiker — “Bouquet”
• Kupido — “Cupid”
• Soen — “Kiss”
• Drukkie — “Hug”
• Teddiebeer — “Teddy bear”
• Sjokolade — “Chocolate”
• Soet — “Sweet”
• Valentynsdag — “Valentine’s Day”

To hear the pronunciation of each word, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Afrikaans Valentine’s Day vocabulary list! Also, be sure to read our article on how to tell the love of your life how you feel.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Valentine’s Day traditions in South Africa are both unique and pretty similar to what you would expect elsewhere in the world.

Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day in your country? If so, how? We look forward to hearing from you!

If you’re interested in learning even more about South Africa’s colorful and vivid culture and holidays, you may find the following pages useful:

• Pop and Traditional Culture in South Africa
• An Introduction to South African Pop Culture
• Afrikaans Etiquette in South Africa: What You Need to Know
• Celebrating Cultural Heritage Day in South Africa
• Day of Reconciliation in South Africa

Whatever your reasons for wanting to explore South African culture or learn the Afrikaans language, know that AfrikaansPod101.com is the best place for you to expand your knowledge and increase your language skills. With tons of lessons for beginners, intermediate learners, and more advanced students, there’s something for everyone!

What are you waiting for? Create your free lifetime account today and start learning!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

If you’re looking to find a formal Afrikaans school of etiquette, South Africa will disappoint you, as there is none. This is mainly because the country is home to over a dozen different ethnicities and cultures, and they all have their own etiquette! Some overlap, but this is often called a South African trait, such as their gregarious nature. Most Afrikaners will treat you as well as—or better than—you treat them!

Don’t let the lack of distinct etiquette guidelines worry you, though, because at AfrikaansPod101, we teach you culturally-relevant lessons! This will prepare you properly for a visit to the country, speaking Afrikaans.

In this lesson, we look at etiquette in Afrikaans-speaking populations in South Africa and how it’s used in different situations. The Afrikaans culture is a hot-pot of a mix, as said, but it’s mostly modeled after the U.K. English and the Dutch culture. Therefore, a lot of the Do’s and Don’ts are still somewhat British or Dutch, yet with a distinct South African flavor. As a guest, you’ll soon know what’s accepted and what’s frowned upon in South African culture!

Table of Contents

1. Afrikaans Etiquette in General
2. Dining Etiquette in South Africa
3. Make Use of AfrikaansPod101’s Lessons & Tools to Learn About South African Culture!

1. Afrikaans Etiquette in General

So, what is the meaning of etiquette in Afrikaans-speaking populations?

Afrikaners are, by nature, a friendly, loyal, and gregarious—but also no-nonsense—bunch of people. The latter may be due to their Dutch heritage, a nation known for its straightforward manner. This behavior can be somewhat disconcerting, as Afrikaners may come across as blunt and rude to some. Yet, the upside is that you’ll always know where you stand with an Afrikaner. They tend to avoid playing games, and as a rule, what you see is what you get.

Also, Afrikaners are pretty pragmatic. If there’s a problem, they tend to fix it, no questions asked. They’re usually trusting, and their nature is to be generous and helpful when they can be. Rural communities in particular can be incredibly close-knit and supportive of one another, as well as visitors. In cities, Afrikaners tend to be a bit more reclusive, as are most city-dwellers across the world; but if approached, they’ll rarely turn down someone in real need. You can say they’re somewhat gruff on the outside, but softies on the inside!

1- Do’s

1. Do be Straightforward and Honest

What does all of this mean, in terms of general social etiquette in South Africa? Simply this—do return the favor. Straightforward, honest dealings will win you friends and influence people in South Africa. You’ll find that you make loyal friends when you’re transparent in your actions, and when you make an effort to show heartfelt respect and loyalty.

2. Greeting Etiquette in South Africa: Initial Greetings

In terms of behavior, this means that when you meet someone for the first time, greet them immediately and by their title. Allow your newly-met Afrikaner to indicate that you don’t have to address them formally. Look them straight in the eye, smile as you introduce yourself, and reach out for a handshake, especially if you’re male. Wait for the lady to extend her hand first. This shows respect for the other person, as well as an openness in your dealings with them—traits Afrikaners appreciate in everyone.

3. Making Friends & Body Language

If you get to know them better and become friends, the women may greet you with a friendly, casual hug, and men may hand out pats on the back with lots of guffawing and “How are you?”s. Some gregarious men may even hug you too. This may not be great workplace etiquette in South Africa, but in private social settings, a male hug means a lot.

Usually, Afrikaners will be sensitive to your body language, and won’t overstep personal boundaries. Yet, if they start hugging you, it most often means you’ve been accepted into their inner circle of friends. Cherish this, because it’s not easily won, and you can know that you’ve made friends for life. They tend to forgive a lot, but their friendship can be easily lost at any sign of disrespect and/or duplicity.

4. Ask How They Are

When you greet, don’t forget to inquire after your Afrikaner friend, host, or acquaintance’s wellbeing, as this is considered respectful and shows that you care about them. Paying close attention to their response and reacting appropriately will go down well and will demonstrate even more respect. Afrikaners like to see and connect with people, and in return, they like to be seen and appreciated (or, at least, respected). This is a fairly common human need, but among Afrikaners, it’s an easily-detectable, important aspect of cultural etiquette in South Africa.

Here’s an AfrikaansPod101 blog post to learn How to Say Hello in Afrikaans; it has some pointers with regards to etiquette, too.

5. Gift-Giving Etiquette in South Africa

Afrikaners don’t expect their guests to bring gifts when invited to a social event or a get-together. However, such a gesture is always appreciated, and the more thoughtful and personal the gift, the bigger their appreciation often is. Wine and/or chocolate are common gifts to offer a host you don’t really know.

Taking something pertaining to your culture or country, especially if it’s very different from the South Africans’, is normally welcome. Offering a friendly thank-you card written by yourself in Afrikaans will also very likely win you a lot of favor! Any person likes it when you make an effort to learn their language; it warms the cockles of the heart. Learn in this blog post how to say thank you in Afrikaans!

6. Wedding Etiquette

Regarding South African social etiquette for weddings, South Africa is a country with diverse habits dictated by the culture you find yourself in. Afrikaans newly-weds greatly appreciate, but don’t expect, lavish wedding gifts. Your presence will very likely be the only present they want. But simultaneously, a gift will remind them of your good wedding wishes. In the cities and more sophisticated Afrikaans societies, wedding gift-lists are made available by the bride prior to the wedding, often at the shop where the items are sold.

7. Etiquette Rules in South Africa for Expressing Condolences

If an Afrikaner acquaintance or friend loses someone to death, it’s proper etiquette to express your condolences, either in person or with a bouquet of flowers and a sympathy card. Especially if your relationship is close, a call or personal email will be well-received.

8. Hygiene and Dress Code

Hygiene is an important part of both social and business etiquette in South Africa.

Most Afrikaners are appearance- and hygiene-sensitive, especially given the climate they live in. Going without a bath or a change of clothes for days could result in unhygienic personal care. While your host won’t ban you from their company if you’re not up to standard, it’s considered a subtle show of respect when you arrive at any event clean, neat-looking, and smelling fresh.

While they like to dress up for the occasion, Afrikaners aren’t sensitive about ostentatious clothing, and the Kardashians are not huge on their radar. So, as long as you stick to the basic standards of cleanliness, you’ll be welcome in any garb you choose!

Dress code is important and mostly determined by the event. Creative expression in clothing will certainly attract attention, but it’s unlikely to get you ostracized anywhere. So, if you want to make a good impression, don’t arrive in old shorts and sneakers at a wedding or a meeting with your new CEO, for instance.

2- Don’ts

Because Afrikaners are a pretty fuss-free people, there aren’t that many societal don’ts. These tips about the etiquette of South Africa are also apparent and not difficult to fathom.

1. Don’t be Disrespectful or Dishonest

Afrikaners don’t take kindly to people who play games with them (except in jokes or sport), or abuse their generosity. This is true of business etiquette in South Africa, and also in social relationships. So, acting disrespectfully and dishonestly will get you pushed out into the cold very swiftly. Also, don’t show any disrespect to an Afrikaner’s family or close friends. They’re very loyal, and if you seriously offend one, you may find yourself unwelcome in the whole community.

2. No Spitting in Public

Don’t spit in public, and take care to cough and sneeze away from people. If you’re sick with a cold or flu, blow your nose often and discard dirty tissues in the dustbin.

3. Cover Your Mouth When Yawning

Don’t yawn with your mouth open. Cover your mouth with your hand.

4. Avoid Political Discussions

In both social and business etiquette in southern Africa, it’s best to refrain from discussing politics.

South Africa’s history of apartheid and social injustice is all but addressed, and still painfully raw in the minds of her citizens. If such a conversation starts, let your Afrikaans friends speak and listen sympathetically, with sensitivity. If you find the conversation offensive (this is possible in the company of some, unfortunately), find a way to change the topic, or discreetly excuse yourself. It’s always good to remember that every person in the country was negatively affected in some way by South Africa’s political history, and the topic is complex. There’s no easy answer to anyone’s problems.

5. Avoid Religious Discussions

Also, don’t discuss religion, especially if your Afrikaner friend, colleague, or host is a Christian and you’re not. Many Afrikaners align themselves with the Christian faith, and their religion is often a cornerstone in their lives not to be trifled with! Again, discretion and sensitivity are advisable if you don’t want to offend.

2. Dining Etiquette in South Africa

1- Table Manners

Table manners in South Africa among Afrikaners are pretty upper-middle-class British—eat with a knife and fork, don’t take humongous bites, chew with your mouth closed, and don’t slurp when you drink anything. Also, refrain from talking with your mouth full of food. Remaining attentive to your companions’ needs at a table is usually viewed favorably.

2- Tipping Etiquette in South Africa

Tipping etiquette in South Africa is pretty standard. If the service was good, 15% minimum is acceptable, while more will be highly appreciated. Less will indicate that you weren’t pleased with the service.

If you feel very aggrieved about any experience in a restaurant or hotel, it would be in order to complain. Afrikaner business owners pride themselves in making their guests feel welcome, and they normally take complaints seriously. Avoid being rude or offensive, as this behavior is very unlikely to draw the best from your hosts. Polite and respectful are good go-to mannerisms.

3- Saying Thank You

Saying thank you is big among Afrikaans people. It’s considered somewhat rude not to say thanks when someone hands you a drink, passes the salt, etc.

3. Make Use of AfrikaansPod101‘s Lessons & Tools to Learn About South African Culture!

Do any of the Afrikaans do’s and don’ts remind you of those in your own country? Are any of them very different? Be sure to let us know in the comments; we always love to hear from you!

With more than a decade of experience behind us, we’ve taught thousands of satisfied users to speak foreign languages. How do we do this? First, we inject fun and ease into learning!

With us, students are assisted as they master vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation through state-of-the-art and fun online learning methods.

A library replete with learning resources allows self-paced learning, and in your own space at home! Resources include thousands of video and audio recordings, culturally-relevant lessons, and plenty of learning apps for your mobile devices. Each month, we add benefits with FREE bonuses and gifts to improve your experience. Our online Afrikaans Dictionary is indispensable and free!

Speed up your learning by enrolling in Premium Plus, and get your own teacher! Our lively, friendly native-Afrikaans hosts will do an assessment test to determine your level, and then tailor lessons to suit your needs.

It’s obvious that knowing how to read the calendar in another culture’s language is very important, especially if you’re planning to work in that country. Showing up on the wrong day for an interview because you didn’t know that Dinsdag meant “Tuesday” could cost you a lot! At AfrikaansPod101, we teach you the Afrikaans months of the year, as well as the days of the week and much more, to ensure this never happens!

Read on for simple vocabulary, and learn how to say “week,” “month,” and “date,” in Afrikaans. And afterwards, we’ll also be taking a look at important dates pertaining to South African holidays.

Table of Contents

1. Background – The Gregorian Calendar
2. The Calendar Months of the Year in Afrikaans
3. The Calendar Days of the Week in Afrikaans
4. Vocabulary Related to Dates
5. Important Days on the South African Calendar
6. How Can AfrikaansPod101 Help You Learn Dates and Much More?

1. Background – The Gregorian Calendar

Like most countries in the world, South Africa follows the Gregorian calendar. As explained by Wikipedia, this calendar was named after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it in October, 1582. Based on the earth’s revolutions around the sun, the average year is 365 days long. However, because the sun doesn’t orbit earth in exactly that many days, a 365.2422-day tropical year is approximated, which occurs every four years. This is called a “leap year.”

In simpler terms, this means that the Gregorian calendar groups approximately 365 days into twelve months per year, each with thirty or thirty-one days, except for February. The month of February has only twenty-eight days most years, because in every fourth one (the aforementioned leap year), February is twenty-nine days long. Imagine being born on the 29th of February. Would this mean you’d age slower than other people? Wouldn’t that be awesome!

Silly joke, before we proceed: What do calendars eat?

Dates!

Do you have any funny jokes that have to do with calendars and dates? Share with us in the comments!

2. The Calendar Months of the Year in Afrikaans

The names of months in Afrikaans sound pretty similar to their English counterparts. For instance, January in Afrikaans is Januarie. Since Afrikaans is a phonetic language, meaning that we pronounce words the way they’re written, you should be able to easily derive what words mean if you understand some of the basic phonetics of the language.

As you’ll see, there’s very little difference in spelling between English and Afrikaans months. This should make how to say dates in Afrikaans a piece of cake!

3. The Calendar Days of the Week in Afrikaans

The days of the week are a somewhat different story, but it’s still not that difficult to memorize.

Dates are indicated with numbers, so therefore, it’s best to familiarize yourself with the Afrikaans numeric system first.

Learn more about the system here, in this blogpost, and practice pronouncing Afrikaans numbers with this Beginner Vocabulary List on AfrikaansPod101.

The way dates are used in Afrikaans is pretty easy, like in English. It’s based on the U.K. system of dates, which means the numeral precedes the name of the day, such as in:

1 Januarie
or
30 Desember

The same goes if you prefer to use the rank term of the day, such as in:

Afrikaans: Ons vakansie begin die eerste Januarie.
Translation: “Our holiday starts on the first of January.”

or

Afrikaans: Sy verjaarsdag val op Vrydag, die twee-en-twintigste November.
Translation: “His birthday falls on Friday, the twenty-second of November.”

4. Vocabulary Related to Dates

Here’s some Afrikaans vocabulary to explain the calendar. These words are used the same way as their English counterparts, and will make saying dates in Afrikaans so much easier for you.

1- “Day” / Dag

A: “Vir watter dag beplan jy die vlug?”
Translation: “For which day are you planning the flight?”

2- “Date” / Datum

B: “Wil jy die dag of die datum weet?”
Translation: “Would you like to know the day or the date?”

3- “Month” / Maand

A: “Die dag en die maand, asseblief.”
Translation: “The day and the month, please.”

B: “Ek gaan die vlug bespreek vir Sondag, die agt-en-twintigste Julie.”
Translation: “I’m going to book the flight for Sunday, the twenty-eighth of July.”

4- “Week” / Week

A: “Dis goed, die laaste week van Julie pas my.”
Translation: “That’s good, the last week of July suits me.”

5- “Weekend” / Naweek

B: “Ek is bly jy is tevrede. Daardie naweek vlug na Skotland behoort nie te vol te wees nie.”
Translation: “I’m happy it suits you. That weekend flight to Scotland shouldn’t be too full.”

5. Important Days on the South African Calendar

Like other countries, South Africa has special days during which events of national significance are celebrated. Knowing the date in Afrikaans for each of these holidays is sure to win the hearts of the South Africans in your life!

The most important national holidays are the following:

1- March 21 – Human Rights Day / Menseregte Dag

Human rights as such is self-explanatory in terms of importance for any modern society, but in South Africa, human rights have special significance. The country has a sad history of gross human-right crimes, spanning over many centuries, and affecting the lives of all the people of South Africa.

Strife and war in South Africa, which were borne from people’s desire to be treated with equality and dignity, reached a critical point during the sixties. In Sharpeville, a small settlement close to Vereeniging, Gauteng, an infamous massacre took place on March 21, 1960. The protesters had gathered to petition against an old South African law, the so-called Pass Law, which was grossly unfair and derogatory toward South Africans of color. Members of the South African police force fired bullets to disperse a peaceful protest crowd, and on that sad day, sixty-nine people died and 180 were wounded.

The event became symbolic of the South African battle for true democracy and people’s human rights, which are rooted in the simple fact of their humanity. This battle took many decades, and the country is all but free from its turbulent past. Yet currently, the South African Constitution is of the most progressive in the world, and it includes indivisible human rights in its Bill of Rights, Chapter 2. The twenty-first of March is the day on which South Africans commemorate their hard-won rights as free and equal citizens.

2- April 27 – Freedom Day / Vryheidsdag

For the largest part of its history, the majority of people in South Africa could not vote democratically, and thus had no say in how to run the country. This all changed on the 27th of April, 1994, when the first-ever democratic vote was held.

Back then, the day was characterized with much joy and jubilation as the first-ever democratic referendum. It was symbolic of freedom for millions of South Africans. This is commemorated every year as Freedom Day.

3- June 16 -Youth Day / Jeugdag

This is another day of commemoration with a devastating history. In 1976, the repressive previous regime announced that Afrikaans would be added to English as one of the two main languages of education. (Many saw Afrikaans and English as the languages of the oppressor for decades.) This sparked an uprising by the youth in Soweto, a settlement just out of Johannesburg, Gauteng.

The students not only protested against the unfairness of getting taught in a language other than their native tongue, they also fought against the repressive and unfair schooling system. Schools were racially segregated, which was the crux of the uprising, as it added to the view that some citizens were less human and worthy than others in South Africa. Approximately 20,000 students took part in the protests in the streets of Soweto on that day.

Yet again, the South African police used blunt-force brutality against unarmed citizens, and it’s estimated that up to 700 civilians died that day.

Today, their sacrifice is commemorated as Youth Day.

4- August 9 – National Women’s Day / Nasionale Vrouedag

The protests against unfair laws didn’t start in the sixties—these had been going on for many years. On August 9, 1956, tens of thousands of South African women of all races marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, which is the official seat of the South African government. They petitioned against the previously mentioned Pass Act, which, as explained by Wikipedia, required South Africans who were classified as “black” under The Population Registration Act, to carry an internal passport (commonly called a “pass” by people). This pass served to maintain population segregation, to control urbanization, and to manage migrant labor during the apartheid era.

After leaving approximately 14,000 petitions on the steps of the Union Buildings for then-President J.G. Strijdom, they sang a protest song which has since been turned into a national incantation: Wathint’Abafazi Wathint’ imbokodo! Literally, it translates as: “Now that you have touched the women, you have struck a rock,” or, as is more commonly used these days: “You strike a woman, you strike a rock.”

This protest was peaceful, fortunately, and to this day, it’s commemorated to draw attention to significant societal problems South African women still face. Many men have joined their ranks to continue addressing issues such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, discrimination in the workplace, unequal education, and so forth.

5- September 24 – Heritage Day / Erfenisdag

In 1996, the South African Department of Arts, Culture, Science, and Technology, released a statement that declared the 24th of September a public holiday on which all South Africans’ cultural heritage is celebrated. They defined heritage as such: “That which we inherit: the sum total of wildlife and scenic parks, sites of scientific or historical importance, national monuments, historic buildings, works of art, literature and music, oral traditions and museum collections together with their documentation.”

They furthermore expressed the notion that Heritage Day’s commemorative events each year are a powerful agent for promulgating a South African identity, fostering reconciliation, and promoting the idea that variety is a national asset, as opposed to igniting conflict.

So, Heritage Day is also about reconciliation and building a new identity together.

6- December 16 – Reconciliation Day / Herenigingsdag

This used to be a commemorative holiday based on an event in the history of the Boers—Caucasian immigrants who entered the country for the first time in the 1600s. The event was an epic battle between the Boere soldiers and a Zulu tribe in Kwazulu Natal. According to Boere lore, those soldiers vowed to God to commemorate the day if they won the battle, which they did. The Stryd van Bloedrivier (Battle of Blood River) was said to have taken place in the late 1800s.

However, against the backdrop of the enormous social injustice that followed over the next century, it was impossible to keep this holiday commemoration as is in the new, democratic South Africa. Therefore, in the spirit of reconciling painful histories and working together rather than fighting, Reconciliation Day was born.

What are the important national holidays in your country? Share with us in the comments!

6. How Can AfrikaansPod101 Help You Learn Dates and Much More?

We hope you enjoyed this lesson about how to say dates in Afrikaans, and that you gained some valuable insight about Afrikaans culture through our section on special dates.

AfrikaansPod101 brings you culturally significant language-learning, teaching you about the most important commemorative holidays in Afrikaans. We provide the following lessons and materials, and so much more:

a) Vocabulary for South African National Holidays
b) Recordings about Human Rights Day as part of our Advanced Lessons presented in Afrikaans. Similar ones are available for all other important holidays.
c) Tips on how to spend your South African holidays.
d) Access to other free tools, such as this Afrikaans Key Phrase list, the 100 Most Common Afrikaans words, and nearly inexhaustible Vocabulary Lists.

Whether you’re interested in learning more about South African history, or planning to visit or work in the country, knowing your dates and months in Afrikaans will only help you. At AfrikaansPod101, we make sure that you understand the vocabulary related to these holidays, and speak like a native would!