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Learn Afrikaans: the words and phrases you'll use first

Afrikaans is spoken by 6M+ people in South Africa · Namibia. Start with these 101 everyday phrases, each with a say-it-like guide, checked by native-speaking tutors. Tap Listen to hear 64 of them.

101 starter phrases
64 to listen to
950 in the full Afrikaans library

Practise: 20 phrases to know first

0 / 20 known

How do you say "Hello"?

Greetings & courtesy

HalloHellohah-LOH›
HiHihuy›
GoeiemôreGood morningGHOO-yuh-MAW-ruh›
GoeiemiddagGood afternoonGHOO-yuh-MID-dakh›
GoeienaandGood eveningGHOO-yuh-NAHNT›
GoeienagGood nightGHOO-yuh-NAKH›
TotsiensGoodbyetot-SEENS›
Tot laterSee you latertot LAH-ter›
AssebliefPleaseus-suh-BLEEF›
DankieThank youDUN-kee›
Baie dankieThank you very muchBUY-uh DUN-kee›
PlesierYou're welcome / my pleasurepluh-SEER›
Verskoon myExcuse mefer-SKOHN may›
JammerSorryYUM-mer›
WelkomWelcomeVEL-kom›

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Introducing yourself

Wat is jou naam?What is your name?vut iss yoh nahm›
My naam is …My name is …may nahm iss›
Ek is …I am …ek iss›
Aangename kennisPleased to meet youAHN-ghuh-nah-muh KEN-niss›
Hoe gaan dit?How are you?hoo ghahn dit›
Goed, dankieGood, thank youghoot DUN-kee›
En met jou?And with you?en met yoh›
Waar kom jy vandaan?Where are you from?vahr kom yay fun-DAHN›
Ek kom van …I come from …ek kom fun›
Ek bly in …I live in …ek blay in›

See all 15 phrases →

Speaking like a local

Howzit / HoesitHi / Hey . More a 'hello' than a real 'how are you'HOW-zit›
HaaiHi . A relaxed greeting among friends and familyhigh›
Aweh / AweHey / yes / cool / later: a street greeting and a way of agreeing . Very common, use it with peersAH-weh›
Alles reg? / Alles kwaai?How's it going? / You good?AH-less rehh? / AH-less KWY?›
Goed dankie / Dis regI'm fine, thanks / All goodghoot DUN-kee / dis rekh›
DankieThanksDUNK-ee›
Ja / Ja-neeYeah . 'Ja-nee' is a very South African way to agree or add emphasis , though it can also signal hesitationyah / yah-NEH›
NeeNo / nope . Tone makes it casualnay›
Sien jou / Tot laterSee you / see you later . 'Aweh' also works as a casual 'later'seen yoh / tot LAH-ter›
LekkerNice / great / tasty: the all-purpose 'good' wordLECK-er›