Learn Afrikaans

If any readers out there are thinking about taking a trip to Africa I thought it would be helpful to learn a few key phrases to aid in your traveling experience. Here are some common translations:

Afrikaans: This will only take about 15 minutes

English: This will take at least an hour

Afrikaans: This should take about an hour

English: Pack up a sack lunch and beverage; you’ll likely be here all afternoon

Afrikaans: Let’s discuss this in my office

English: Let’s go behind that tree where I will accept your bribe

Afrikaans: You can’t bring that across the border

English: That looks good to me and I would like that

Afrikaans: what, what, what

English: so on and so forth; as in “we went to his office and what, what, what”

Afrikaans: You’re on Africa time

English: Be patient. I will not work any faster.

Afrikaans: It tastes like beef           

English: It really does taste like beef, sometimes even better

Afrikaans: Hwange (pronounced wanekey)- a game reserve in northern Zimbabwe

English: also a game reserve in northern Zimbabwe; alternately used as an adjective “Upon entering the area the elephants just passed through, the air smelled rather hwange.”

Afrikaans: Enter at your own risk

(This was a trick one…there aren’t any such signs. You need to have common sense to survive- or at least be willing to endure some uncomfortable experiences.)