Why is Afrikaans so hard?

Afrikaans is spoken with several different accents in South Africa. Therefore, what sounds correct to one group of speakers, is foreign to another. The way Afrikaans words are pronounced depends largely upon the situation (literally and figuratively) you find yourself in.

Is it difficult to learn Afrikaans?

Afrikaans is actually quite simple to learn, and many language learners consider it one of the easiest languages to master. Most Germanic languages have two or even three genders, but Afrikaans, like English, uses a singular gender.

How long does it take to learn Afrikaans fluently?

about 575 hours
Germanic languages

Is Afrikaans easier than Dutch?

You might have heard that Afrikaans is related to Dutch. It is, but they're by no means identical twins! Afrikaans is its own language – and a lot easier to pick up than Dutch.

Is Afrikaans a rare language?

About 13.5% of the South African population (7 million people) speak Afrikaans as a first language, making it the third most common natively-spoken language in the country, after Zulu and Xhosa.

Is Afrikaans more like German or Dutch?

In this article, Afrikaans was compared to three West Germanic standard languages (Dutch, Frisian and German). Unsurprisingly, Afrikaans was found to be most closely related to Dutch. When Afrikaans was compared to 361 Dutch and Frisian dialects, the South-Hollandic varieties were found to be closest to Afrikaans.

Can a Dutch person understand Afrikaans?

Intelligibility between Dutch and Afrikaans

Although Afrikaans is a daughter of Dutch, Dutch speakers might take some time to understand the language but they can understand Afrikaans. On the other hand, speakers of Afrikaans might not be able to readily comprehend the Dutch language.

Is duolingo good for Afrikaans?

Can You Learn Afrikaans on Duolingo? We are sorry to break it to you, but there's no Afrikaans course available on Duolingo at the moment. We are not sure when or if it will be available, so here we present you with some excellent alternatives of apps with bite-sized, engaging Afrikaans lessons.

Is Afrikaans useful to learn?

Although the majority of native speakers reside in South Africa, you'll run into others in many major cities around the world. London has a large population of people who speak Afrikaans, so business people who regularly make trips to both Europe and South Africa will benefit from learning the language.

Is Afrikaans just old Dutch?

Although Afrikaans is very similar to Dutch, it is clearly a separate language, differing from Standard Dutch in its sound system and its loss of case and gender distinctions. Afrikaans was adopted for use in schools in 1914 and in the Dutch Reformed Church in 1919.

Can Dutch people read Afrikaans?

Intelligibility between Dutch and Afrikaans

Although Afrikaans is a daughter of Dutch, Dutch speakers might take some time to understand the language but they can understand Afrikaans. On the other hand, speakers of Afrikaans might not be able to readily comprehend the Dutch language.

Is Afrikaans older than Dutch?

Afrikaans can trace its roots back to 17th and 18th century Dutch. The language, which is spoken in South Africa and Namibia, as well as some areas of Botswana, began to evolve independently from Dutch in the 18th century.

How useful is Afrikaans?

The majority of the country's population can speak Afrikaans as a second or third language, or they are at least able to communicate well enough in it to get what they need. If you plan to work or travel in rural areas, you'll find English almost useless.

How to be fluent in Afrikaans?

That being said, you'll probably want some balance in your Afrikaans studies. Drill vocabulary with flashcards, keep a diary to improve your fluency and practice your listening frequently – especially if you can't spend a lot of time with native speakers. Read aloud to focus on your pronunciation.

Do Black speak Afrikaans?

Most black South Africans do not speak Afrikaans, although many learn it at school. For older generations, the language still symbolises the brutality of apartheid regime and a time they would rather forget.

Do Boers still exist?

Boer, (Dutch: “husbandman,” or “farmer”), a South African of Dutch, German, or Huguenot descent, especially one of the early settlers of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. Today, descendants of the Boers are commonly referred to as Afrikaners.

Does Afrikaans sound like Dutch?

Although Afrikaans is very similar to Dutch, it is clearly a separate language, differing from Standard Dutch in its sound system and its loss of case and gender distinctions. Afrikaans was adopted for use in schools in 1914 and in the Dutch Reformed Church in 1919.

What country speaks Afrikaans the most?

South Africa

Afrikaans speaking countries

As a percentage of the total population, the largest share of around 14 percent is in South Africa.

What is Z in Afrikaans?

i. e. r. ehr. The letters c, q, x and z are not native to Afrikaans but of course can be found in loan words.

Why did so many Dutch go to South Africa?

Resentment against English rule led some colonists of Dutch descent to embark on the “Great Trek” of the 1820s and 30s—a sustained effort, much larger in scale than the 18th-century trek, to achieve both white control over African land and autonomy from the English.

Why did the Boers not like the British?

Britain took possession of the Dutch Cape colony in 1806 during the Napoleonic wars, sparking resistance from the independence-minded Boers, who resented the Anglicization of South Africa and Britain's anti-slavery policies.

Is Afrikaans close to Dutch?

Although Afrikaans is very similar to Dutch, it is clearly a separate language, differing from Standard Dutch in its sound system and its loss of case and gender distinctions. Afrikaans was adopted for use in schools in 1914 and in the Dutch Reformed Church in 1919.

What is pretty girl in Afrikaans?

Afrikaans Translation. mooi meisie.

What does Kaka mean in Afrikaans?

Noun. kak m (nominative plural kaka) uncle.

What are the Dutch in South Africa called?

Boer, (Dutch: “husbandman,” or “farmer”), a South African of Dutch, German, or Huguenot descent, especially one of the early settlers of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. Today, descendants of the Boers are commonly referred to as Afrikaners.

What did the Dutch call South Africa?

Dutch Cape Colony – Wikipedia.