Family is important in every culture, no matter what size or form it takes. Interaction with this group of people gives us our first relationship lessons in life. If these are disrupted, it can have an impact not only on all of our other relationships and the way we bond with others, but also how we see and experience ourselves. At AfrikaansPod101, we’re aware of how important it is to know how to talk about families in Afrikaans. That’s why we’ve crafted this insightful article about Afrikaans words for family and family in Afrikaans culture, just for you! What is the role of family in your culture? And how important is family to you personally? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section! Table of Contents Family in... Show more

On the Day of Reconciliation, South Africa both remembers its rocky, violent history and strives to move forward in peace and hope. The significance of Reconciliation Day in South Africa can’t be overstated, and if you want to really dig deep into the country’s culture, there may be no better place to start than here. In this article, you’ll learn about the importance of Reconciliation Day in South Africa, as well as its history and modern-day observations. Let’s get started. 1. What is Reconciliation Day in South Africa? Like many of the nation's public holidays, the Day of Reconciliation was instituted in 1994 after apartheid ended and all South Africans were enfranchised. So what is the purpose of Reconciliation Day? ... Show more

Sometimes, traveling to a foreign country where the natives speak a language completely different from your own can be rather challenging. In South Africa, you have more of a choice! English is one of the country's eleven national languages, and so is Afrikaans. While you'll be able to find your way using English, having useful Afrikaans travel phrases under your belt will definitely make for much easier traveling in this gorgeous country! The native speakers will also appreciate your effort to learn travel words in Afrikaans. Certainly, in Afrikaans language-learning, travel phrases are essential. We teach you the best basic Afrikaans travel phrases at AfrikaansPod101! With easy, online access to excellent learning materials and tools... Show more

Without language, numbers make no sense. Yet it’s also true that numbers are a language all of their own! So, when you learn a new language, familiarizing yourself with its numeral system should be one of your first priorities, as numbers are a way to indicate value and meaning of all kinds. In Afrikaans language-learning, numbers are equally essential. At AfrikaansPod101, we understand that numbers are vitally important in all languages, and that's why we take extra effort to help you master them. Learn Afrikaans numbers 1 to 30 easily and in fun ways, starting right here with our numbers in Afrikaans dictionary/guide! Table of Contents Numbers vs. Numerals Afrikaans Numbers 1 to 20 Numbers in Afrikaans 21 to 30, etc. Tips to... Show more

Apologizing by saying "I'm sorry," in Afrikaans, or any other language, is a very important relationship skill to have. It can make or break things between people, meaning that learning how to say sorry when learning Afrikaans is so important. How do you say sorry in Afrikaans? There are many ways of expressing "sorry" in South Africa. Saying "I'm sorry" in Afrikaans has different applications, and its use depends on circumstances, situations, etc. Sometimes it sounds like an apology, but it's actually a sort of interjection used to smoothe over interactions in different social situations. Other times, it's a sincere apology for a transgression. As said, this is a very important relationship skill that no close partnership or friendship... Show more

Each year, South Africans celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of their country’s many cultures and peoples. Essentially, the meaning of Heritage Day in South Africa is that of unity and togetherness in spirit as a country; this is especially vital for the country when considering the rough South Africa heritage history of apartheid leading up to this holiday’s creation. In this article, you’ll learn some valuable information about Heritage Day in South Africa. In doing so, you should have a greater understanding of South African culture in general, and the significance of diversity therein. At AfrikaansPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your learning journey both fun and informative! So let’s get started, and delve into... Show more

Being understood in any language goes far beyond the spoken word. Everyone communicates with their entire body, not just with what they say. To muddy up communication even more, add cultural differences to the mix (take, for example, gestures in South Africa vs. the United States). This is succinctly explained in a quote from an article by Cynthia Ntuli, a student at the University of South Africa: "As human beings, we use language, i.e., verbal and nonverbal signals to communicate and interact with one another and to link us to the world. Much of what we do when we interact with others is based on our cultural values and background. In this interaction we often encounter people who not only use different languages but who also come... Show more

South Africans call themselves ''The rainbow nation,” and with good reason. South Africa is home to a variety of very diverse cultures, with eleven official languages! Approximately 14% of the population speaks Afrikaans, which is a unique cousin of Dutch that was born on the African continent centuries ago. Learn to speak this beautiful language with us at AfrikaansPod101.com—starting with the most commonly used Afrikaans text and internet slang! You can use any of these in voice-conversations too, of course. One thing you'll notice is that most of these expressions are filler words. Afrikaans native speakers, locally called "Afrikaners," just love them. You can safely and prolifically use most of these in almost any social... Show more

Nelson Mandela is a respected and well-known person all around the world, and this is especially true for South Africa. It’s no surprise that in South Africa, Nelson Mandela is such an admired figure. Because of Nelson Mandela, South Africa became the "Rainbow Nation," a name representing its post-apartheid status. In this article, we’ll be going over Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy (including the development of the Mandela Rainbow Nation), as well as common Nelson Mandela Day celebrations. By learning about this important figure in South Africa’s history and development, you’re putting the right foot forward in mastering the Afrikaans language. And at AfrikaansPod101.com, we hope to make your learning journey both fun and... Show more

At AfrikaansPod101, we know that language is a wondrous thing! It gives 'shape' to people's thoughts and experiences, but is also much more than that. As humans, we share a "consensus reality," which comprises experiences, traits, concepts, and so on. (Everyone experiences food and air, and can breathe and eat, for instance.) Yet all of these are filtered through different lenses, such as geography, history, religion, and a host of other factors. Our differences, in turn, can be enriching, informative, and fun to share with others, and language is the tool to confer this magic! What a great incentive to learn! Take the untranslatable Afrikaans word springmielies, for instance. Literally translated, it means "jumping corn," but... Show more