Definition of Afrikaans

1. Noun. An official language of the Republic of South Africa; closely related to Dutch and Flemish.

Exact synonyms: South African Dutch, Taal
Generic synonyms: Dutch

2. Adjective. Belonging or relating to white people of South Africa whose ancestors were Dutch or to their language. "Afrikaner support"
Exact synonyms: Afrikaner
Partainyms: South Africa, South Africa
Derivative terms: Afrikaner

Definition of Afrikaans

1. Proper noun. 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. ¹

2. Proper noun. A term sometimes used of people from South Africa and Namibia (who speak Afrikaans), more properly called "Afrikaans people" or Afrikaners. ¹

3. Adjective. Of or pertaining to the Afrikaans language. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Afrikaans

Africanism
Africanisms
Africanist
Africanist dance
Africanists
Africanization
Africanize
Africanized
Africanized bee
Africanized honey bee
Africanizes
Africanizing
Africanness
Africans
Afrihili
Afrikaans
Afrikander
Afrikaner
Afrikanerdom
Afrikaners
Afrindian
Afro
Afro-
Afro-American
Afro-Americans
Afro-Argentine
Afro-Argentines
Afro-Argentinian
Afro-Argentinians
Afro-Asian

Literary usage of Afrikaans

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Reflective Practice: Psychodynamic Ideas in the Community by Leslie Swartz, Kerry Gibson, Tamara Gelman (2002)
"When I began working with Ms L, I determined to speak afrikaans in spite of my lack of facility with this language. I felt that this was very important both ..."

2. Much Bigger Than Grownups: Chronicles of a Native South Africanby Shelley Wood Gauld by Shelley Wood Gauld (2006)
"It was launched off the beach through the surf; often a hazardous procedure skiet en donner (skeet en donner): shoot and beat-up (afrikaans) skirting: base ..."

3. The Wandering Jew (and Jewess)by R D Manning by R D Manning (2003)
"... afrikaans, ARABIC, BRAILLE, CHINESE, DANISH, DUTCH, ENGLISH, FINNISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, GREEK, HEBREW, HINDI, HUNGARIAN, ICELANDIC, ITALIAN, JAPANESE, ..."

4. Deracialisation And Migration of Learners in South African Schools by Patience Sekete, Mmamajoro Shilubane, Badiri Moila (2001)
"In their quest to accommodate learners who were not afrikaans speaking, ... The principals in the former afrikaans schools described the process of change ..."

5. South Africa's Magnifying Glass: A Profile of Gauteng Province by Pieter Kok, Ronelle Brandt (1998)
"Central Pretoria MSS, Centurion and Bronkhorstspruit were areas with a moderate-to-high concentration (40%-60%) of afrikaans speakers. ..."

Other Resources:

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