Language/Afrikaans/Vocabulary/Animals
Hi Afrikaans learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn Afrikaans vocabulary related to animals. Afrikaans language has a rich history in the African continent and is widely spoken in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Afrikaans is a West Germanic language that evolved from Dutch in the 17th century. Afrikaans has many loanwords from local African languages such as Xhosa, Zulu, and Swahili. Using analogies, cultural information, and interesting facts, we will explore the animal kingdom and enrich our vocabulary. Let's dive in! 🐘 🦍 🦓 🐆 🐃 🦌
Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Idiomatic expressions, Afrikaans Vocabulary: Describing People and Appearance, How to Say Hello and Greetings & Family.
Basic Animal Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
To start, let's learn some basic animal vocabulary. You can use these words in daily conversations or while traveling in Africa.
| Afrikaans | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Leeu | /li:ʊ/ | Lion |
| Luiperd | /lœypert/ | Leopard |
| Olifant | /ɔlifant/ | Elephant |
| Seekoei | /sɛkui/ | Hippopotamus |
| Bok | /bɔk/ | Antelope |
| Slang | /slɑŋ/ | Snake |
| Krokodil | /krokodil/ | Crocodile |
| Nijlperd | /nɛilpert/ | Rhinoceros |
| Jagluiperd | /jœyuiperd/ | Cheetah |
Dialogue:
- Person 1: Be careful, daar is 'n leeu! (/Be careful, there is a lion!/)
- Person 2: Is dit 'n luiperd? (/Is it a leopard?/)
Domestic Animals[edit | edit source]
Now let's learn the Afrikaans names of some domestic animals you might find on a farm. The South African agricultural sector is dominated by livestock farming, so it's an essential part of Afrikaans culture.
| Afrikaans | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Koei | /ku:i/ | Cow |
| Skaap | /skɑ:p/ | Sheep |
| Bokkie | /bɔkki/ | Baby Antelope |
| Vark | /fɑrk/ | Pig |
| Hoen | /huin/ | Chicken |
| Eend | /int/ | Duck |
| Geit | /χeit/ | Goat |
| Perd | /pɛrt/ | Horse |
| Hond | /hɔnt/ | Dog |
Dialogue:
- Person 1: Ons baba bokkie is baie lief vir sy melk! (/Our baby antelope loves his milk so much!/)
- Person 2: My hond hou nie van water nie. (/My dog doesn't like water./)
Marine Animals[edit | edit source]
In this section, we will explore the Afrikaans names of some marine animals found on the coasts of South Africa. The South African coastline is washed by two oceans, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. In Cape Town, you can even see penguins hanging out on the beaches!
| Afrikaans | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Haai | /hɑi/ | Shark |
| Dolfyn | /dolfən/ | Dolphin |
| Seekat | /sɛikɑt/ | Octopus |
| Walvis | /vɑlvis/ | Whale |
| Skaapsteker | /skɑ:pstɛkər/ | Sea snake |
| Kreoolse visarend | /krəolsə əfisarənt/ | Osprey |
| Krap | /krɑp/ | Crab |
| Skulpvis | /skœlpfis/ | Cuttlefish |
| Seekoei | /sɛkui/ | Hippopotamus |
Dialogue:
- Person 1: Sal ons gaan dolfyn kyk aan die kus? (/Shall we go watch dolphins on the coast?/)
- Person 2: Ja, ek het nog nooit 'n seekat gesien nie. (/Yes, I have never seen an octopus before./)
Wild Animals[edit | edit source]
In the African savanna, you can find various wild animals such as the king of the jungle, the lion, and the tallest animal, the giraffe. In this section, we will learn the Afrikaans names of some famous African animals.
| Afrikaans | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kameelperd | /kɑmeilpərt/ | Giraffe |
| Leeu | /li:ʊ/ | Lion |
| Njala | /njalɑ/ | Njala |
| Olifant | /ɔlifant/ | Elephant |
| Renoster | /rɛnostər/ | Rhinoceros |
| Gemsbok | /ʒɛmsbɔk/ | Gemsbok |
| Koedo | /kudɔ/ | Kudu |
| Jakkals | /jəkəls/ | Jackal |
| Wrattenvrugtevreter | /vratənfrœktəvretər/ | Warthog |
Dialogue:
- Person 1: Kameelperd se tong is 45 cm lank. (/The tongue of a giraffe is 45 cm long./)
- Person 2: Renoster is in groot gevaar van afsterwe. (/Rhinoceros is in great danger of extinction./)
Insects[edit | edit source]
Insects play an essential role in the ecosystem. In South Africa, you can find various fascinating insects such as dung beetles, termite mounds, and spiders.
| Afrikaans | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| By | /bəi/ | Bee |
| Kakkerlak | /kɑkərlɑk/ | Cockroach |
| Spinnekop | /spinəkop/ | Spider |
| Tannie Fanie se vlerkmyl | /tɑni: fɑni se flɛrkmail/ | Butterfly |
| Miere | /mi:ərə/ | Ants |
| Luiwurm | /lœiwoerm/ | Worm |
| Taks | /tɑks/ | Tick |
| Skoenlapper | /skœnlapər/ | Moth |
| Kewer | /kewər/ | Beetle |
Dialogue:
- Person 1: Wat is die verskil tussen 'n skoenlapper en 'n vlermuis? (/What is the difference between a moth and a bat?/)
- Person 2: 'n Skoenlapper is nie 'n nagdier nie, maar 'n insek. (/A moth is not a nocturnal animal but an insect./)
I hope you enjoyed learning Afrikaans animal vocabulary! 🐘 🦍 🦓 🐆 🐃 🦌
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Videos[edit | edit source]
Animals in Afrikaans|Updated - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Count to 10
- Days of the Week
- Food
- Education
- How to say Good Bye?
- Health
- Problems
- Languages
- Verbs
- Time
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Afrikaans/Vocabulary/Animals - Wikibooks, open books for an open ...
- Learn Afrikaans online with games and flashcards
- List of English words of Afrikaans origin - Wikipedia