Start with basic vocabulary and essential phrases. Listen to podcasts in Afrikaans or Afrikaans audio courses to get familiar with the tonation. Find an Afrikaans-speaking partner through online language courses or language teaching platforms. Find free Afrikaans lessons online for extra support.
Is it easy to learn Afrikaans?
Afrikaans is one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn because–like many of the languages on this list–it’s part of the Germanic language family. It’s spoken in South Africa, Namibia, and a few other countries.
Is Afrikaans very difficult to learn?
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. The verb conjugations were removed, simplifying the language even further.
Is Afrikaans easier than English?
English is more complex in this way compared to Afrikaans, as two or more verbs are needed: “Do/does” + Verb. In most instances, this is not the case in Afrikaans. Depending on what it is we want to say, only one verb is necessary in simple questions.
Is Afrikaans a useful language?
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.
What is the easiest language to learn Afrikaans?
Afrikaans – the easiest language to learn for both English and Dutch speakers. Afrikaans, the same as English, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, is a Germanic language. This is what makes it obviously easier to learn by a native English speaker.
Is Afrikaans easier than German?
The challenging. Grammar: Much like Dutch, Afrikaans grammar is a lot simpler than German. If you’re someone who likes the German rules about articles, genders, etc., then you might find Afrikaans a bit frustrating.
What country speaks the most Afrikaans?
Afrikaans speaking countries
As a percentage of the total population, the largest share of around 14 percent is in South Africa.
What is difficult about Afrikaans?
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.
What countries use Afrikaans?
Afrikaans developed in Africa, but over 90 percent of Afrikaans vocabulary draws from its parent language — Dutch — and it’s not spoken just in South Africa: It’s also spoken in Namibia and (to a lesser extent) in Australia, Botswana, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.
Is Afrikaans a dying language?
According to the projections that we’ve made, by 2041 you’re going to have 7.1 million Afrikaans speakers. So, there is clear growth. It’s not much growth, but it is growing.
What is the hardest African language to learn?
Xhosa is one of the most difficult languages to learn because of its complex structure. It is spoken by 8 million people in South Africa and by 11 million people throughout Africa. Most of its speakers live in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng, and Northern Cape.
Is Afrikaans more Dutch or German?
An estimated 90 to 95% of Afrikaans vocabulary is ultimately of Dutch origin, so there are few lexical differences between the two languages, however Afrikaans has a considerably more regular morphology, grammar, and spelling.
Is Afrikaans a white language?
Afrikaans is home language of 2.7-million white South Africans, or about six in every 10 (60.8%) white people. Next up is English, the first language of 1.6-million white South Africans.
Do black South Africans 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.
What is the easiest language to learn Afrikaans?
Afrikaans – the easiest language to learn for both English and Dutch speakers. Afrikaans, the same as English, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, is a Germanic language. This is what makes it obviously easier to learn by a native English speaker.
Will duolingo add Afrikaans?
Afrikaans may not be taught on Duolingo yet, and it may never be, but this doesn’t need to be the end of your language aspirations. Luckily, you have plenty of other brilliant options where you can develop your skills from your own home.
What is the easiest South African language to learn?
Around five million people speak Swahili as a native language. Further, up to 135 million speak it as a second language. Swahili is said to be the easiest African language for an English speaker to learn.
Is Afrikaans easier than German?
The challenging. Grammar: Much like Dutch, Afrikaans grammar is a lot simpler than German. If you’re someone who likes the German rules about articles, genders, etc., then you might find Afrikaans a bit frustrating.