AfrikaansPod101.com Blog

Did you know that one of the oldest animals in the world was discovered in South Africa over two decades ago? Scientists named the skeleton, which was distinctly ape-like, "Little Foot." So aap ("ape") would be an appropriate first word on our list of animals in Afrikaans! Little Foot is touted to be the evolutionary predecessor of humans. It was found by accident in 1998 among fossilized bones already obtained from a well-known excavation site called the "Cradle of Humankind" near Johannesburg. The skeleton is thought to be over three million years old. Whether you believe this ape is our ancestor or not, animals have been part of our lives since time immemorial. So naturally, any language study would include these nouns, which is why... Show more

The very first telephone in South Africa entered Cape Town around 1878. Apparently, a watchmaker named Adolph Boettger imported it from Germany, and it was first used in the post office. That phone was even more primitive than the model in this image, which was called a "candlestick telephone." Kandelaar telefone is vervaardig in die vroeë negentiende eeu. / "Candlestick telephones were manufactured in the early nineteenth century." Like the rest of the world, South Africa hasn't looked back since. Cell phones arrived on the scene in 1994, and just like in most other countries, these devices basically took over the telecommunication industry. But while there has never been a more critical time to pick up Afrikaans phone phrases,... Show more

After the alphabet, mastering Afrikaans beginner words is the best place to start your Afrikaans learning journey. (Don't have the Afrikaans alphabet under the belt yet? No problem! You should find this article and the free downloadable Guide for Beginners very useful.) Learning beginner words is essential in building vocabulary for basic communication. If you're busy trying to get your foot in the door and learn the basics of Afrikaans, then this is your one-stop vocabulary list for the most important Afrikaans words for beginners! For your convenience, we’ve grouped them into the main word types and included a few sample sentences to illustrate their use. → Also consider these 10 Great Reasons Why You Should Learn Afrikaans. ... Show more

Very few people can talk without using filler words or phrases, which would sound a little unnatural, like a speech that's been rehearsed from a script. Lexically, pause fillers are words, phrases, or sounds without meaning, despite being so commonplace in the vernacular of probably every language. Let’s have a brief look at their function in speech before proceeding to discuss some of the most common Afrikaans filler words. Filler words are commonplace in the vernacular of probably every language. Table of Contents The Purpose of Filler Words in Afrikaans 11 Types of Useful Afrikaans Filler Words and How to Use Them Correctly Learn Afrikaans Filler Words with Ease on AfrikaansPod101.com! 1. The Purpose of Filler... Show more

L'amour, die Liebe, die liefde, любовь (lyubov')...all of these mean "love."  Love is a universal language spoken mostly with the heart, but what a wonderful thing to express in any language! Therefore, it makes sense that when people study to acquire a new language, one of the first things they learn (not long after hello and goodbye) is "I love you." For some, being able to communicate with someone they love is their reason for learning the language in the first place!  If you’re wondering how to say "I love you," in Afrikaans, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve compiled for you a collection of Afrikaans love phrases you can use to express your feelings in no uncertain terms. Better still? It’s all framed in the context... Show more

Negation is, very simply put, the so-called "negative form" in a language. We use it when we want to express the opposite of a positive or affirmative statement. What is the negative form in Afrikaans? Let's dig in! One of the most fascinating features of the Afrikaans language is its use of the double negative, which means that two negatives resolve into one negative. For instance, in English one would say, "He cannot speak Afrikaans," and only use the word ‘not’ once. However, to express the negative in Afrikaans, we usually have to use the negating word twice:    Sy kan nie Afrikaans praat nie. Literally: "She cannot Afrikaans speak not." The negating word in the example above is nie and, as you will have gathered, nie... Show more

Why learn Afrikaans?  Well, there are plenty of good reasons to learn a new language. Some might be inspired to learn the language because of its unique appeal. Or, perhaps they wish to acquire proficiency in a language other than their mother tongue, because it’s bound to open many doors for them. Perhaps you have your own, special reason for wanting to learn Afrikaans—or perhaps you’re still deciding whether you’d like to start learning it. In that case, it might help if I tell you what I, as a native speaker, love about the Afrikaans language! Table of Contents It is uniquely expressive. It's full of humor! It has lovely nuutskeppings ("neologisms"). It can broaden your job horizons. It has a significant... Show more

Tenses in Afrikaans are not as hard to master as those of many older languages. In fact, there's no need to feel tense about tenses! Dis nie nodig om gespanne te voel oor Afrikaanse tye nie! / "There's no need to feel tense about Afrikaans tenses!" How Do We Indicate Afrikaans Tenses? In Afrikaans, the verbs usually inflect for time, just as in English. This is called "conjugation" (werkwoord verbuiging) and it’s characterized by a change to the form of the verb—in this case, to indicate the tense. (Think "walk" vs. "walked." Here, the verb has a suffix to indicate that the action took place in the past.) → Sound complex? It isn't, really, once you get the hang of it. Read more about Afrikaans conjugations in our blogpost... Show more

Hoe lank neem dit om Afrikaans te leer? (How long does it take to learn Afrikaans?)  Well, it's not possible to tell this with 100% accuracy, because the speed of one’s learning progress depends on a few variables. Any answer to this question should probably start with the sober truth, though, which is that learning any new language (at least to a level of reasonable proficiency) normally takes many hours of study and practice. That's simply the nature of language studies. Of course, one can speed up the process with good learning tools and study habits. But mastering it overnight or in only a couple of weeks from scratch? That only happens in the movies. But don't be discouraged! It is possible to be a winner at learning... Show more

The word "proverb" (spreekwoord in Afrikaans) is derived from the Latin proverbium. Collins Dictionary defines it as a short sentence that people often quote to give advice, or one that says something about life. Proverbs also tend to employ the same vivid imagery and metaphoric language common in children's stories. So, perhaps they’re an adult throwback to children’s fiction—who knows? Proverbs touch us on a very deep level, as they go beyond nationality, gender, race, religion, and time. In this way, they connect us to one another with their universal truths and wisdom. The Afrikaans proverbs I'm going to cover in this article are sure to ignite your imagination and make you feel more connected to Afrikaner culture. Ma en... Show more