The two main languages here in Namibia are English and Afrikaans. Afrikaans is a bit of a mixed language of english, german and maybe some other European languages from what I gather. All I know is that I don’t understand it. Lol I can sometimes understand if I know the context but even that is very hit and miss. And my French is really not helping me out at all. A few words do sound a lot like Danish (thank you Schanne for my limited Danish knowledge!) And to make it more challenge speaking it is that it is very heavy “r” sounds which I struggle with.
I know a few words like asseblief (please) and dankie (thank you).
One of the kids from one of the local lodges heard that I didn’t know Afrikaans but wanted to learn so she took it upon herself to teach me. Good little teacher considering she’s only 9.
A few other Afrikaans words:
Mother->ma
Father->pa
Oma -> grandmother
Opa -> grandfather
Oom->uncle
Tannie->aunty
School->skool
baum -> tree
Kar-> car
foto -> photo
Brick->steen
Hond->dog
Kat-> cat
Onder->under
Die-> the
Gras->grass
Lank->long
Skoen->shoe
When I fist got to Namibia, I always heard people saying “baie dankie” which I gathered was something to do with saying “thank you” which it does “many thanks”. But to me it always sounds like everyone talking about buying a donkey. I mentioned this to Maddy and my other Namibian friends the other day and they found it pretty entertaining. So it has become a joke here which I can’t help grinning every time someone says “ baie dankie”.
Now people need to quit talking about buying a donkey and just go buy one! Lol
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