South Africa & Namibia
Afrikaans culture stories
The food, names, greetings, sayings and everyday life behind Afrikaans, a first language for millions across South Africa and Namibia, and a wide lingua franca. Each story links to words you can hear and practise in a free five-minute lesson.
Culture stories
Culture stories
Culture stories for Afrikaans will appear here
We will email you when a new one is published, or you can read the culture guide now.
Words to know
- Hallohah-LOH · Hello
- Hihuy · Hi
- GoeiemôreGHOO-yuh-MAW-ruh · Good morning
Culture guide
Afrikaans sayings and traditions
Compiled from the public sources listed under each section. Pronunciations are simple sound-it-out guides. Not yet reviewed by a native speaker: if something looks wrong, tell us.
Afrikaans sayings
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Die appel val nie ver van die boom af nie
Say it: dee AH-pel fahl nee fair fahn dee bohm ahf nee
"The apple does not fall far from the tree"
Family members carry similar traits across generations.
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Aanhouer wen
Say it: AHN-how-er vehn
"The persister wins"
Persistence, more than talent, carries people to success.
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Die oggendstond het goud in die mond
Say it: dee OH-khent-stont het khout in dee mont
"The morning hour has gold in its mouth"
Early effort is the most productive, a cousin of "the early bird".
Sources: AfrikaansPod101: Afrikaans proverbs
The braai
A braai is a wood or charcoal barbecue and the centre of Afrikaans social life. The host grills meat, often boerewors sausage, while guests bring side dishes, turning an ordinary evening into a shared occasion.
Say it: Braai BRY, rhymes with skyBoerewors BOO-reh-vors
Volkspele: folk games and dance
Volkspele ("folk games") is a tradition of Afrikaans folk dance that began in 1914, when a teacher in Boshof taught his pupils dances he had brought back from Sweden.
It spread nationally in the 1930s as dance groups formed around the country, and it is still danced at cultural festivals and heritage events.
Sources: Wikipedia: Volkspele · Encyclopaedia of South African Theatre: Dance
Learning Afrikaans on Bantu Plaza
Where is Afrikaans spoken?
Afrikaans is spoken in South Africa & Namibia. It is a first language for millions across South Africa and Namibia, and a wide lingua franca.
Can I try Afrikaans for free?
Yes. The free five-minute Afrikaans lesson runs in your browser with no account needed. You learn a few real greetings and phrases from the Bantu Plaza Afrikaans course.
Can I learn Afrikaans with a live tutor?
Yes. Bantu Plaza lists Afrikaans tutors for one-to-one online lessons. You can compare tutors, prices and open times on the Find a tutor page.
What does the Afrikaans Complete Language Pack cost?
The Afrikaans Complete Language Pack costs $99 and covers levels A1 to C2 of Afrikaans, with interactive lessons you use inside your Bantu Plaza account.
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