Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

afrikaans

/ˌɑːfɹɪˈkɑːnz/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.81 in modern English

Syllables: afrikaans
IPA: /ˌɑːfɹɪˈkɑːnz/

16

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

name

A Germanic language descending from Dutch; the primary language of the descendants of Dutch and other European settlers, as well as many mixed-race (e.g. Rehoboth Basters) living in South Africa and in Namibia. Also, one of the eleven official languages of South Africa and until 1990 one of three official languages of Namibia.

noun

A person from South Africa or Namibia who speaks Afrikaans. (More properly called "Afrikaans people" or Afrikaners.)

adj

Of or pertaining to the Afrikaans language.

Example Sentences

"Some of the most contentious issues included the clear threat the Bill posed for the future of single-medium Afrikaans schools, a minority language in South Africa, and also a language often attacked and targeted by populist politicians."

Etymology

Borrowed from Afrikaans Afrikaans (“African”) itself from earlier Dutch Afrikaansch (“African”).

Origin

Source language: Dutch

Word Breakdown

Root: Afrikaansch

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌɑːfɹɪˈkɑːnz/
British English: /ˌafɹɪˈkɑːnz/

Inflected Forms

Africaans (alternative) Afrikaansch (alternative)

Derived Forms

Afrikaansness

Synonyms

Afrikaner taal taal language afrikaans language

Rhymes With

bronze johns cons john's ons put-ons run-ons come-ons swans dons salons alphonse

Questions

How do you pronounce afrikaans?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌɑːfɹɪˈkɑːnz/.
What does afrikaans mean?: A Germanic language descending from Dutch; the primary language of the descendants of Dutch and other European settlers, as well as many mixed-race (e.g. Rehoboth Basters) living in South Africa and in Namibia. Also, one of the eleven official languages of South Africa and until 1990 one of three official languages of Namibia.
Where does afrikaans come from?: It is traced to Dutch.

How to pronounce afrikaans

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “afrikaans”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌɑːfɹɪˈkɑːnz/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “afrikaans”.
Repeat and practice — Say “afrikaans” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.