Word order, or syntax, in any language is often a challenging thing to master, and Afrikaans is no exception. But once you're familiar with the most basic Afrikaans sentence structure rules, you'll find that the rest comes with less difficulty. At AfrikaansPod101.com, we know how to make it easy for you, so with a bit of effort, you'll have Afrikaans word order under your belt in no time! Table of Contents Structural Patterns in Languages Afrikaans Sentence Structure Rules STOMPI Explanation of the Sentence Elements in Sv1TOMPv2I More Examples of the Basic Afrikaans Sentence Structure: STOMPI Why AfrikaansPod101 is the Best Choice to Learn Afrikaans Sentence Structures! 1. Structural Patterns in Languages To... Show more

Like knowing your way around dates in Afrikaans (learn about that in our blog!), being able to tell time in Afrikaans is an equally important conversational skill to master. Also, it could save you a lot of embarrassment.  What good would it be if you knew you had to pitch somewhere on Dinsdag (Tuesday), but you didn't know the meaning of agtuur ("eight o'clock")? Or which agtuur of the day was being referred to?  Let AfrikaansPod101 make it easy for you. If you want, you can start with recorded vocabulary lessons like Talking about Time and dialogue examples such as Arriving at the Right Time in South Africa!  First, let's quickly get clarity on the two ways we tell time. Both are used to indicate time in Afrikaans. ... Show more

Getting lost is never fun, even less so in a foreign country. Knowing how to give or ask for directions in Afrikaans is therefore a very helpful skill to have when visiting South Africa! Fortunately, most South Africans speak English, Afrikaans, and/or Zulu, three of the country's eleven national languages. They’re normally a helpful, friendly people. So, if you know all about asking for directions in Afrikaans, you won’t easily get lost! Learn the basics about how to give directions in Afrikaans (and ask for them), and more, at AfrikaansPod101. It's our goal to keep your learning fun and easy! Let's start with the basic vocabulary you need to master. Whether you're asking or giving directions in Afrikaans, knowing certain words and... Show more

A noun in Afrikaans is called a selfstandige naamwoord, which literally translates as "independent name word." That makes sense, considering that nouns are the names of people, places, animals, things, and ideas or concepts. Yet, when looking at any sentence, what is a noun in Afrikaans? The answer to that isn’t overly simple, like in any other language, but that's the nature of grammar for you. That said, it's not impossibly difficult, so why not learn the difference between a common noun in Afrikaans and a collective noun in Afrikaans at AfrikaansPod101? We make it easy for you! Take a look at this list of the Fifty Most Common Nouns in Afrikaans, for instance. It's possible to speak like a native Afrikaner with our help! For... Show more

Who doesn't love receiving compliments?! If they're sincere, they can make our whole being light up like a Christmas tree. Giving compliments also has benefits, and Afrikaners know this! Praising people makes us feel connected to them, and this improves our own sense of well-being. After all, South Africans believe in and uphold the spirit of ubuntu. This popular philosophy implies that our own humanity is only fulfilled through the recognition and appreciation of another's uniqueness and humanity. So, spread ubuntu by learning to give Afrikaans compliments (komplimente) like a native speaker at AfrikaansPod101.com—we make it fast, easy, and fun! Table of Contents Why is it Important to Know How to Give and Receive Compliments in... Show more

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.... Show more

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... Show more

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 What are Adjectives in Afrikaans? List of the Top 100+ Afrikaans Adjectives Short Exercise to Spot Afrikaans Adjectives AfrikaansPod101 Can Help You Use Afrikaans Adjectives... Show more

Before learning about Afrikaans rules for conjunctions, do you know what a conjunction is? Conjunctions are the type of words in a language that "glue" two words, phrases, and sentences or clauses together. For instance: 1- Joining Words: "Pepper and salt." Here, and is the conjunction that joins the words "pepper" and "salt." 2- Joining Phrases: "...in the air but not too high." In this sentence, the conjunction but joins the two phrases "in the air" and "not too high." 3- Joining Clauses/Sentences: "The man walks into the room as she gets ready to leave." In this instance, as joins the two clauses "The man walks into the room" and "she gets ready to leave." Afrikaans conjunctions (called voegwoorde in Afrikaans) obviously have the... Show more

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... Show more