Afrikaans Expressions Explained

[GregRedd]

I'm a through and through Engelsman, rooi nek soutpiel who always struggled with Afrikaans at school. If memory serves, I managed an E for it in matric. Despite the struggles though, I always found two things about the language fascinating: colloquial expressions, and the way short words were often combined to make one much longer word.

One of my first business cards when I worked at a city hotel had my job title in Afrikaans on the reverse: Voorkantoorbestuurder. And I've always wanted to go visit Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein just to say I did.

In terms of colloquial expressions though, Afrikaans often tends to go the other way with lots of word shortening going on. Got sent these pics recently which amused me no end. (I was going to type some of the better ones, but I'm so tired of fighting with autocorrect right now, pics will have to do.)





I mean how can anyone not appreciate the poetic nature of "magtig swarrie, ek het n moerse babelaas!" ?

[brendanvb]

While I'm English, I speak Afrikaans fruently and even got an A for it in Matric, but if I'm honest (and mean no offense), I actually really hate the language. I have just never liked the sound of it, although I speak it daily. Think it has a lot to do with the pronunciation of the G's, almost like you're clearing your throat, a sound I have a bit of a hate for, and a lot of commonly used words (like hol) just sound dirtier than ass, in English, for example. Hard to explain, but it's just, in my opinion, not a beautiful sounding language and most of the Afr slang just rubs me the wrong way. But again, nothing personal and my best friends are Afrikaans[emoji14]

[Avantar]

Had a laugh at 'Moerseklap' with the explanation: 'Slap that can bring a grown man to the ground'

[Avatar]

While I'm English, I speak Afrikaans fruently and even got an A for it in Matric, but if I'm honest (and mean no offense), I actually really hate the language. I have just never liked the sound of it, although I speak it daily. Think it has a lot to do with the pronunciation of the G's, almost like you're clearing your throat, a sound I have a bit of a hate for, and a lot of commonly used words (like hol) just sound dirtier than ass, in English, for example. Hard to explain, but it's just, in my opinion, not a beautiful sounding language and most of the Afr slang just rubs me the wrong way. But again, nothing personal and my best friends are Afrikaans[emoji14]

Ja-nee, our slang is pretty tapit, it's real easy to sound like a moegoe. But don't let the guttural, throaty sound of Afrikaans fool you into thinking it can't be beautiful.. There's a lot of room for beauty in the language.
[MENTION=15883]GregRedd[/MENTION]: I've never heard anyone call them matchies. It's vuurhoutjies, and nothing else. I also don't agree with "gril" being translated to "whim".. But great post!

[Jaco Smit]

Afrikaans is mos lekker man!

[Avantar]

I've never heard anyone call them matchies. It's vuurhoutjies, and nothing else. I also don't agree with "gril" being translated to "whim".. But great post!

Some Capetonians of the older generation or some coloreds will say 'Metjies' Rarely heard that expression. Therefore Avantar will agree with Avatar that there is only 'vuurhoutjies'

[Avatar]

Some Capetonians of the older generation or some coloreds will say 'Metjies' Rarely heard that expression. Therefore Avantar will agree with Avatar that there is only 'vuurhoutjies'

Fair enough. In spite of being born in the WP, I've never spent long enough there to pick up the local colourful language.

[Jaco Smit]

Hey, born and bred in Blue Bull country, not some white and blue stripe society

[blaaislaai]

Ek is afrikaans en gebruik skaars enige van die bogenoemde gesegdes!

[Avantar]

Hey, born and bred in Blue Bull country, not some white and blue stripe society

Born there, but staying in Gauteng for...eh *Avantar ran out of fingers - taking of shoe* 18 years :-) I am still a Stormer