In most cultures, it is custom to express gratitude in some way or another. The dictionary defines gratitude as follows: it is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Giving a sincere, thankful response to someone’s actions or words is often the ‘glue’ that keeps relationships together. This is true in most societies! Doing so in a foreign country also shows your respect and appreciation for the culture. Words have great power – use these ones sincerely and often!
Table of Contents
- 12 Ways to say ‘Thank you’ in Afrikaans
- Video Lesson: Learn to Say ‘Thank You’ in 3 Minutes
- Infographic & Audio Lesson: Survival Phrases – Thank You
- Video Lesson: ‘Thank You’ in 31 Languages
- How AfrikaansPod101 Can Help You
So, how do you say ‘Thank you’ in Afrikaans? You can learn easily! Below, AfrikaansPod101 brings you perfect translations and pronunciation as you learn the most common ways Afrikaans speakers say ‘Thanks’ in various situations.
1. 12 Ways to say ‘Thank you’ in Afrikaans
1- Thank you.
Dankie.
The magical words that can bring a smile to any face. For one day, truly mean it whenever you say these words, and see how this lifts your spirit too!
2- That’s very kind of you.
Dit is baie gaaf van jou.
This phrase is appropriate when someone clearly goes out of their way to give good service, or to offer you a kindness.
3- Thanks for your kind words!
Dankie vir jou vriendelike woorde!
Someone paid you a compliment and made you feel good? That is kind of him/her, so express your gratitude!
4- Thank you for coming today.
Dankie dat julle gekom het vandag.
This welcoming phrase should be part of your arsenal if you’re conducting more formal meetings with Afrikaans speakers. If you’re hosting a party, this is also a good phrase when you greet your Afrikaans guests!
5- Thank you for your consideration.
Dankie dat julle dit oorweeg.
This is a more formal, almost solemn way to thank someone for their thoughtfulness and sensitivity towards you. It is also suitable to use when a native speaker has to consider something you submit, like a job application, a project or a proposal. You are thanking them, in essence, for time and effort they are about to, or have spent on your submission.
6- Thanks a lot!
Baie dankie!
This means the same as ‘Thank you’, but with energy and enthusiasm added! It means almost the same as ‘thank you so much’ in Afrikaans. Use this in an informal setting with your Afrikaans friends or teachers.
7- Teachers like you are not easy to find.
Onderwysers soos jy is nie maklik om te vind nie.
Some phrases are compliments, which express gratitude by inference. This is one of them. If you’re particularly impressed with your AfrikaansPod101 teacher, this is an excellent phrase to memorize!
8- Thank you for spending time with us.
Dankie dat julle tyd saam ons spandeer het.
Any host at a gathering with Afrikaans speakers, such as a meeting or a party, should have this under his/her belt! Use it when you’re saying goodbye or busy closing a meeting. It could also be another lovely way to thank your Afrikaans language teacher for her time.
9- Thank you for being patient and helping me improve.
Baie dankie dat jy geduldig is en my help om te verbeter.
This phrase is another sure way to melt any formal or informal Afrikaans teacher’s heart! Teaching is not easy, and often a lot of patience is required from the teacher. Thank him/her for it! It’s also a good phrase to use if you work in South Africa, and want to thank your trainer or employer. You will go a long way towards making yourself a popular employee – gratitude is the most attractive trait in any person!
10- You’re the best teacher ever!
Jy is die beste onderwyser ooit!
This is also an enthusiastic way to thank your teacher by means of a compliment. It could just make their day!
11- Thank you for the gift.
Dankie vir die geskenk.
This is a good phrase to remember when you’re the lucky recipient of a gift. Show your respect and gratitude with these words.
12- I have learned so much thanks to you.
Ek het so baie geleer te danke aan jou.
What a wonderful compliment to give a good teacher! It means they have succeeded in their goal, and you’re thankful for it.
2. Video Lesson: Learn to Say ‘Thank You’ in 3 Minutes
Wherever your destination maybe, manners are a must! And in this respect, South Afrika is no different.
1. Dankie
The most important lesson to remember is that In Afrikaans, “Thank you” is dankie.
2. Baie Dankie Vir Alles
Another useful phrase is Baie dankie vir alles. Baie and dankie together mean “Thank you very much”. Next, the component vir, means “for” and the component alles means “everything”. So the whole phrase for “Thank you for everything” is Baie dankie vir alles.
3. Baie Dankie Meneer
If you want to be really polite, you could say Baie dankie meneer. It means “Thank you, sir.” Say “Thank you” or baie dankie then add the word meneer which means “sir” or “mister.” With a female speaker, you can say Baie dankie mevrou which means “Thank you, madam.” You would use this phrase to show your respect for older people, or people that you don’t know.
Cultural Insights
Quick Tip
Baie dankie is the most common way to say “Thank you” by far. Remember, when in doubt, keeping it simple is your safest bet. It doesn’t matter if it’s a formal or informal situation; you can use Baie dankie with just about anyone, anywhere, at anytime. You can say Baie dankie when the waiter brings your food or drinks, when the clerk in the hotel takes your luggage to your room (of course, tipping them won’t hurt either!), or when someone welcomes or congratulates you. It doesn’t matter who the person is; Baie dankie will always be an appropriate response.
On the run to South Africa? Wait! You can’t go without some basic language phrases under your belt! Especially if you’re heading to meet your prospective employer! Either in person or online, knowing how to say ‘Thank you’ in the Afrikaans language will only improve their impression of you! AfrikaansPod101 saves you time with this short lesson that nevertheless packs a punch. Learn to say ‘Thank you’ in Afrikaans in no time!
3. Audio Lesson: Survival Phrases – Thank You
Perhaps you think it’s unimportant that you don’t know what ‘Thank you’ is in Afrikaans, or that it’s too difficult a language to learn. Yet, as a traveler or visitor, you will be surprised at how far you can go using a little bit of Afrikaans in South Africa!
Click Here to Listen to the Free Audio Lesson!
At AfrikaansPod101, we offer you a few ways of saying ‘Thank you’ in Afrikaans that you have no excuse not knowing, as they’re so simple and easy to learn. The lesson is geared to aid your ‘survival’ in formal and informal situations in South Africa, so don’t wait! You will never have to google ‘How do you say thanks in Afrikaans’ again…!
4. ‘Thank You’ in 31 Languages
For the global traveler in a hurry, here are 31 ways to say ‘Thank you’! These are the first words you need to learn in any foreign language – it is sure to smooth your way with native speakers by showing your gratitude for services rendered, and your respect for their culture! Learn and know how to correctly say ‘Thank you’ in 31 different languages in this short video.
5. Why would AfrikaansPod101 be the perfect choice to learn Afrikaans?
However, you need not stop at ‘Thank you’ in Afrikaans – why not learn to speak the language?! You have absolutely nothing to lose. Research has shown that learning a new language increases intelligence and combats brain-aging. Also, the ability to communicate with native speakers in their own language is an instant way to make friends and win respect! Or imagine you know how to write ‘Thank you’ to that special Afrikaans friend after a date…he/she will be so impressed!
AfrikaansPod101 Has Special Lessons, Tools and Resources to Teach You How to Say Thank You and Other Key Phrases
With more than a decade of experience behind us, we have taught thousands of satisfied users to speak foreign languages. How do we do this? First, we take the pain out of learning! At AfrikaansPod101, 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 for you to learn at your own pace and in your own space! Resources include thousands of video and audio recordings, downloadable PDF lessons and plenty of learning apps for your mobile devices. Each month, we add benefits with FREE bonuses and gifts to improve your experience.
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Best of all is that you’re never alone! We believe that practice is the holy grail of learning any new language, and we gear our courses to ensure lots of it. Enroll with us, and you gain immediate access to our lively forum where we meet and greet, and discuss your burning questions. Our certified teachers are friendly and helpful, and you are very likely to practice your first ‘Thanks!’ in Afrikaans on him/her, AND mean it! Hurry up, and sign up now – you will thank us for it.
