Afrikaans phrasebook

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

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a 

as in sun

e 

as in met but sometimes as in meet or angel

ê 

as in apple

ë 

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

i 

as in bit

o 

as in fort or mood or boy

ô 

as in cauldron

u 

as in u in hut with rounded lips

y 

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

'n 

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

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

Consonants

b 

as in bat

c 

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

d 

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

f 

as in fan

g 

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

h 

as in hat

j 

as in yak

k 

as in king

l 

as in lamp

m 

as in man

n 

as in nap

p 

as in pet

r 

as in rant, but the sound is rolled

s 

as in set

t 

as in tale

v 

same as the English 'f'

w 

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

x 

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

z 

as in blitz

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

Digraphs and trigraphs

aa 

as in father

ae 

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

ch 

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

kk 

as in cane

nn 

as in man

sj 

as in machine

ee 

as in fear

eë 

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

ië 

same as eë

ei 

as is sale

eu 

pronounced two ways: as in ear or as in mew

gh 

same as English 'gh'. For example: ghost

ll 

as in lamp

mm 

as in mend

ie 

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

kn 

as in pick 'n pay

ng 

as in sing

nk 

as in think

oe 

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

oë 

as in English doer

oo 

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

ou 

as in coat

rs 

like farse, but the 'r' is rolled

tj 

as in chunk

tj 

combined with ie as in kid

ui 

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

uu 

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

aai 

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

eeu 

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

oei 

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

ooi 

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

uie 

similar to player but pronounced much longer

Note on Afrikaans

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

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

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

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

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

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

Important differences between Dutch and Afrikaans

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

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

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

Phrase list

Basics

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

Hello. (formal) 

Goeie dag. ("...")

Hello. (informal) 

Hallo. ("...")

How are you? 

Hoe gaan dit? ("...")

Fine, thank you. 

Goed, dankie. ("...")

What is your name? 

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

My name is ______. 

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

Nice to meet you. 

Aangename kennis. ("...")

Please. 

Asseblief. ("...")

Thank you. 

Dankie. ("...")

You're welcome. 

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

Yes. 

Ja. ("...")

No. 

Nee. ("...")

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

Verskoon my. ("...")

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

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

I'm sorry. 

Ek is jammer. ("...")

Goodbye 

Totsiens. ("...")

Goodbye (informal) 

Baai. ("...")

I can't speak Afrikaans [well]. 

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

Do you speak English? 

Praat jy Engels? ("...")

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

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

Help! 

Help! ("...")

Look out! 

Oppas! ("...")

Good morning. 

Goeie môre. ("...")

Good evening. 

Goeie naand. ("...")

Good night. (to sleep) 

Goeie nag. ("...")

I don't understand. 

Ek verstaan nie. ("...")

Where is the toilet? 

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

I am wearing jeans. 

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

Problems

Leave me alone. 

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

Don't touch me! 

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

I'll call the police. 

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

Police! 

Polisie! (POLI-see)

Stop! Thief! 

Stop! Dief! (...)

I need your help. 

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

It's an emergency. 

Dit is 'n noodgeval. (...)

I'm lost. 

Ek is verdwaald. (...)

I lost my bag. 

Ek het my sak verloor. (...)

I lost my wallet. 

Ek het my beursie verloor. (...)

I'm sick. 

Ek is siek. (...)

I've been injured. 

Ek is beseer. (...)

I need a doctor. 

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

Can I use your phone? 

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

Numbers

1

een ("...")

2

twee ("...")

3

drie ("...")

4

vier ("...")

5

vyf ("...")

6

ses ("...")

7

sewe ("...")

8

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

9

nege ("...")

10

tien ("...")

11

elf ("...")

12

twaalf ("...")

13

dertien ("...")

14

veertien ("...")

15

vyftien ("...")

16

sestien ("...")

17

sewentien ("...")

18

agtien ("...")

19

negentien ("...")

20

twintig ("...")

21

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

22

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

23

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

...

30

dertig ("...")

40

veertig ("...")

50

vyftig ("...")

60

sestig ("...")

70

sewentig ("...")

80

tagtig ("...")

90

neëntig / negentig ("...")

100

eenhonderd ("...")

200

tweehonderd ("...")

300

driehonderd ("...")

...

900

negehonderd ("...")

1000

eenduisend ("...")

2000

tweeduisend ("...")

1,000,000

een miljoen ("...")

1,000,000,000

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

1,000,000,000,000

een biljoen ("...")

Ordinal Numbers

1

eerste ("...")

2

tweede ("...")

3

derde ("...")

4

vierde ("...")

5

vyfde ("...")

6

sesde ("...")

7

sewende ("...")

8

agste ("...")

9

negende ("...")

10

tiende ("...")

11

elfde ("...")

...

20

twintigste ("...")

...

100

honderdste ("...")

101

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

Time

now

nou (know)

later

later (...)

before

voor (...)

morning

oggend (...)

afternoon

middag (...)

evening

aand (...)

night

nag (...)

Clock time

What time is it?

Hoe laat is dit?

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

een uur

half past one (when AM/PM are obvious)

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

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

twee uur

one o'clock AM

een uur in die oggend

two o'clock AM

twee uur in die oggend

noon

middag

at noon

om twaalf in die middag

one o'clock PM

een uur in die middag

two o'clock PM

twee uur in die middag

midnight

middernag

at midnight

om middernag

Duration

_____ minute(s)

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

_____ hour(s)

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

_____ day(s)

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

_____ week(s)

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

_____ month(s)

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

_____ year(s)

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

Days

today 

vandag (...)

yesterday 

gister (...)

the day before yesterday 

eergister (...)

tomorrow 

môre (...)

the day after tomorrow 

oormôre (...)

this week 

die week (...)

last week 

verlede week (...)

next week 

volgende week (...)

Monday 

Maandag ("...")

Tuesday 

Dinsdag ("...")

Wednesday 

Woensdag ("...")

Thursday 

Donderdag ("...")

Friday 

Vrydag ("...")

Saturday 

Saterdag ("...")

Sunday 

Sondag ("...")

Weekend 

Naweek ("...")

Months

January 

Januarie (YAN-ua-ree)

February 

Februarie (VEE-brua-ree)

March 

Maart ("...")

April 

April (AH-pril)

May 

Mei (May)

June 

Junie (YOU-knee)

July 

Julie (YOU-lee)

August 

Augustus ("...")

September 

September ("...")

October 

Oktober ("...")

November 

November ("...")

December 

Desember ("...")

Writing time and date

Day 

Dag ("...")

Week 

Week ("...")

Month 

Maand ("...")

Year 

Jaar ("...")

Century 

Eeu ("...")

Leap Year 

Skrikkel-jaar ("...")

1:00 PM 

13:00 / 13h00

2:00 PM 

14:00 / 14h00

3:00 PM 

15:00 / 15h00

...

12:00 PM 

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

Colors

Red 

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

Yellow 

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

Green 

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

Blue 

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

Black 

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

White 

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

Purple 

Pers ("...")

Orange 

Oranje ("...")

Brown 

Bruin ("...")

Grey 

Grys ("...")

Pink 

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

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

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

One ticket to _____, please. 

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

Where does this train/bus go? 

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

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

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

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

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

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

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

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

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

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

Hoe kom ek tot in _____ ? (...)

...the train station? 

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

...the bus station? 

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

...the airport? 

...die lughawe? (...)

...downtown? 

...middedorp? (...)

...the youth hostel? 

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

...the _____ hotel? 

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

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

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

Where are there a lot of... 

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

...hotels? 

...hotelle? (...)

...restaurants? 

...restaurante? (...)

...bars? 

...kroeë ? (...)

...sites to see? 

...besienswaardighede? (...)

Can you show me on the map? 

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

street 

straat (...)

Turn left. 

Draai links. (...)

Turn right. 

Draai regs. (...)

left 

links (...)

right 

regs (...)

straight ahead 

reguit vorentoe (...)

towards the _____ 

in die rigting van _____ (...)

past the _____ 

verby die _____ (...)

before the _____ 

voor die _____ (...)

Watch for the _____. 

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

intersection 

kruising (...)

north 

noord (...)

south 

suid (...)

east 

oos (...)

west 

wes (...)

go uphill 

gaan op teen die heuwel (...)

go downhill 

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

It is uphill 

Dit is opdraande (...)

It is downhill 

Dit is afdraande (...)

Taxi

Taxi! 

Taxi! (...)

Take me to _____, please. 

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

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

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

Take me there, please. 

Vat my soontoe, asseblief. (...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

Het u enige kamers beskikbaar? (...)

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

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

Does the room come with bedsheets 

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

Does the room come with... 

Het die kamer... (...)

...a bathroom? 

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

...a telephone? 

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

...a TV? 

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

May I see the room first? 

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

Do you have anything quieter 

Het u enige iets stiller? (...)

Do you have anything... 

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

...bigger? 

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

...cleaner? 

...skoner (...)

...cheaper? 

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

OK, I'll take it. 

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

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

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

Can you suggest another hotel? 

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

Do you have a safe? 

Het u 'n kluis? (...)

...lockers? 

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

Is breakfast/supper included? 

Is ontbyt/aandete ingesluit? (...)

What time is breakfast/supper? 

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

Please clean my room. 

Maak asseblief my kamer skoon. (...)

Can you wake me at _____? 

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

I want to check out. 

Ek wil uitteken. (...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

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

Do you accept British pounds? 

Aanvaar u Britse ponde? (...)

Do you accept credit cards? 

Aanvaar u kredietkaarte? (...)

Can you change money for me? 

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

Where can I get money changed? 

Waar kan ek geld verwissel? (...)

Can you change a traveler's cheque for me? 

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

Where can I get a traveler's cheque changed? 

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

What is the exchange rate? 

Wat is die wisselkoers? (...)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

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

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

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

Can I look at the menu, please? 

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

Can I look in the kitchen? 

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

Is there a house specialty? 

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

Is there a local specialty? 

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

I'm a vegetarian. 

Ek's/Ek is 'n vegetariër. (...)

I don't eat pork. 

Ek eet nie varkvleis nie. (...)

I only eat kosher food. 

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

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

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

fixed-price meal 

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

à la carte 

à la carte (...)

breakfast 

ontbyt (...)

lunch 

middag-ete (...)

tea (meal) 

tee (...)

supper 

aandete (...)

I want _____. 

Ek wil _____ hê. (...)

I want a dish containing _____. 

Ek wil 'n gereg met _____ hê. (...)

chicken 

hoender (...)

beef 

beesvleis (...)

fish 

vis (...)

ham 

ham (...)

sausage 

wors (...)

cheese 

kaas (...)

eggs 

eiers (...)

salad 

slaai (...)

(fresh) vegetables 

(vars) groente (...)

(fresh) fruit 

(vars) vrugte (...)

bread 

brood (...)

toast 

roosterbrood (...)

noodles 

noedels/pasta (...)

rice 

rys (...)

beans 

bone/boontjies (...)

May I have a glass of _____? 

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

May I have a cup of _____? 

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

May I have a bottle of _____? 

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

coffee 

koffie (...)

tea (drink) 

tee (...)

juice 

sap (...)

sparkling water 

vonkelwater (...)

water 

water (...)

beer 

bier (...)

red/white wine 

rooi/wit wyn (...)

May I have some _____? 

Mag ek _____ kry? (...)

salt 

sout (...)

black pepper 

swart peper (...)

butter 

botter (...)

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

Verskoon my? (...)

I'm finished. 

Ek is klaar. (...)

It was delicious. 

Dit was heerlik. (...)

Please clear the plates. 

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

The check, please. 

Die rekening, asseblief. (...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

Bedien u alkohol? (...)

Is there table service? 

Is daar tafel-diens? (...)

A beer/two beers, please. 

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

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

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

A pint, please. 

'n Pint, asseblief. (...)

A bottle, please. 

'n Bottel, asseblief. (...)

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

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

whiskey 

whiskey (...)

vodka 

wodka (...)

rum 

rum (...)

water 

water (...)

club soda 

soda (...)

tonic water 

tonic (...)

orange juice 

lemoensap (...)

Coke (soda) 

Coke (koeldrank)

Do you have any bar snacks? 

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

One more, please. 

Nog een, asseblief. (...)

Another round, please. 

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

When is closing time? 

Hoe laat is toemaaktyd? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

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

How much is this? 

Hoeveel kos dit? (...)

That's too expensive. 

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

Would you take _____? 

Sal u _____ aanvaar? (...)

expensive 

duur (...)

cheap 

goedkoop (...)

I can't afford it. 

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

I don't want it. 

Ek wil dit nie hê nie. (...)

You're cheating me. 

Jy kul/verneuk my. (...)

I'm not interested. 

Ek stel nie belang nie. (..)

OK, I'll take it. 

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

Can I have a bag? 

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

Do you ship (overseas)? 

Verskeep u (oorsee)? (...)

I need... 

Ek het ... nodig (...)

...toothpaste. 

...tandepaste. (...)

...a toothbrush. 

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

...tampons. 

...tampons. (...)

...soap. 

...seep. (...)

...shampoo. 

...shampoe. (...)

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

...pyntablet (...)

...cold medicine. 

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

...stomach medicine. 

...maagmedisyne. (...)

...a razor. 

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

...an umbrella. 

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

...sunblock lotion. 

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

...a postcard. 

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

...postage stamps. 

...seëls. (...)

...batteries. 

...batterye. (...)

...writing paper. 

...skryfpapier. (...)

...a pen. 

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

...English-language books. 

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

...English-language magazines. 

...Engelse tydskrifte. (...)

...an English-language newspaper. 

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

...an Afrikaans-English dictionary. 

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

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

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

Can I get insurance? 

Kan ek assuransie kry? (...)

stop (on a street sign) 

stop (op 'n straat teken)

one way 

een-rigting (...)

yield 

gee toe (...)

no parking 

geen parkering (...)

speed limit 

spoed-beperking (...)

gas (petrol) station 

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

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

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

It was a misunderstanding. 

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

Where are you taking me? 

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

Am I under arrest? 

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

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

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

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

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

I want to speak to a lawyer. 

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

Can I just pay a fine now? 

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