Safekipedia

Afrikaans

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

The Afrikaans Language Monument in Paarl, South Africa, celebrating the Afrikaans language.

Afrikaans

Afrikaans is a special language spoken by many people in South Africa and Namibia. It is easy to learn and fun to speak!

People began using Afrikaans from old Dutch words. Dutch settlers brought their language to South Africa long ago. Over time, the language changed and became its own. Today, it is one of the official languages in South Africa.

Afrikaans is mostly spoken at home and in schools. Many books, songs, and movies are made in Afrikaans. It is also used on the radio and television. You can even find parts of the Bible written in Afrikaans!

The language has some special sounds and ways of writing words. For example, the letter "ê" makes a long “ay” sound, like in “say.” Afrikaans also uses some words from other languages, such as “baie,” meaning “very” or “much,” which came from Malay.

Afrikaans is loved by many people, and it helps bring communities together. Learning even a few words can be a fun way to explore this rich culture!

Images

The Afrikaans Language Monument features tall obelisks and symbolic designs near Paarl, South Africa.
An old advertisement from Stuttafords, a department store in South Africa, featuring Dutch and Afrikaans text.
The Pretoria Art Museum in Arcadia, Pretoria, showcasing its distinctive architecture and bilingual signage.
Map showing where Afrikaans is spoken in Namibia.
Map showing where the Afrikaans language is spoken around the world.

Related articles

South Africa
Namibia

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Afrikaans, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.