A collection of useful phrases in Afrikaans, a West Germanic language descended from Dutch and spoken mainly in South Africa and Namibia.
To see these phrases in many other languages click on the English versions.
Key to abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person)
English | Afrikaans |
---|---|
Welcome | Welkom |
Hello (General greeting) |
Haai (inf) Hallo Goeie dag (frm) |
How are you? | Hoe gaan dit met jou? (inf) Hoe gaan dit met u? (frm) |
Reply to 'How are you?' | Goed, dankie, en met jou/u? Baie goed dankie, en self? |
What's your name? | Wat is jou naam? (inf) Wat is u naam? (frm) |
My name is ... | My naam is ... |
Where are you from? | Waarvandaan kom jy? (inf) Waarvandaan kom u? (frm) |
I'm from ... | Ek kom van ... af |
Pleased to meet you | Bly te kenne (frm) Aangename kennis (frm) Lekker om jou te ontmoet (inf) |
Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Goeiemôre Môre |
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Goeie middag |
Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Goeienaand |
Good night | Goeienag Nag |
Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Totsiens Mooi loop (go/walk well) |
Good luck | Sterkte! |
Congratulations! | Geluk! |
Cheers! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Gesondheid! |
Have a nice day | Lekker dag! |
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Smaaklike ete! Lekker eet! |
Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Veilige reis! Voorspoedige reis! |
I understand | Ek verstaan |
I don't understand | Ek verstaan nie |
Yes | Ja |
No | Nee |
Maybe | Miskien |
I don't know | Ek weet nie |
Please speak more slowly | Praat stadiger asseblief |
Please say that again | Kan jy dit weer sê? (inf) Kan u dit weer sê? (frm) Herhaal dit, asseblief |
Please write it down | Skryf dit neer asseblief! |
Do you speak English? | Praat jy Engels? (sg/inf) Praat julle Engels? (pl/inf) Praat U Engels? (frm/sg) Praat Meneer Engels? (frm/>m) Praat Mevrou Engels? (frm/>f) |
Do you speak Afrikaans? | Praat jy Afrikaans? (sg/inf) Praat julle Afrikaans? (pl/inf) Praat u Afrikaans? (frm/sg) Praat Meneer Afrikaans? (frm/>m) Praat Mevrou Afrikaans? (frm/>f) |
Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Ja, 'n bietjie |
Speak to me in Afrikaans | Jy kan Afrikaans praat met my |
How do you say ... in Afrikaans? | Hoe sê u ... in Afrikaans? (frm) Hoe sê jy ... in Afrikaans? (inf) |
Excuse me | Verskoon my! Ekskuus! |
How much is this? | Hoeveel kos dit? |
Sorry | Jammer! |
Please | Asseblief |
Thank you | Dankie Baie dankie |
Reply to thank you | Dis 'n plesier |
Where's the toilet? | Waar is die toilet? Waa issie toilet? (slang) |
This gentleman will pay for everything | Hierdie heer sal alles betaal |
This lady will pay for everything | Hierdie dame sal alles betaal |
Would you like to dance with me? | Sal jy met my dans, asseblief? |
I miss you | Ek mis jou |
I love you | Ek's lief vir jou Ek het jou lief |
Get well soon | Word gou gesond! |
Go away! | Gaan weg! |
Leave me alone! | Laat my met rus! Los my uit asseblief! |
Help! | Help! |
Fire! | Brand! |
Stop! | Stop! |
Call the police! | Bel die polisie! |
Christmas and New Year greetings | Geseënde Kersfees en 'n voorspoedige Nuwe jaar Geseënde Kersfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar |
Easter greetings | Geseënde Paasfees |
Birthday greetings | Gelukkige Verjaarsdag |
One language is never enough | Een taal is nooit genoeg nie |
My hovercraft is full of eels Why this phrase? |
My skeertuig is vol palings |