Afrikaans phrasebook

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

Pronunciation guide

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: as in ay in say, which is the Dutch equivalent ij,
'n: in 'a' as in 'a dog' or 'a song'. This is the article; it is never capitalised even if used at the start of a sentence: the word that follows is capitalised.

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

Consonants

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

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

A rukkie in Afrikaans is a short period of time, not a sexual act performed on oneself. Common use examples are Ek gaan 'n rukkie slaap or Ek sal oor 'n rukkie daar wees

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

Phrase list

Basics

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? ("...")

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