What does "afrikaans" mean?
A person from South Africa or Namibia who speaks Afrikaans. (More properly called "Afrikaans people" or Afrikaners.)
Afrikaans
/ˌafɹɪˈkɑːnz/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person from South Africa or Namibia who speaks Afrikaans. (More properly called "Afrikaans people" or Afrikaners.)
- Grammar: afrikaans is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: afrikaans cultural, afrikaans language, afrikaans-language, afrikaans-speaking.
- Useful contrasts: colloquial Afrikaans, nonlanguage.
- Usage evidence: South Africa is called "Suid-Afrika" in Afrikaans.
How to use "afrikaans"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "afrikaans" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "afrikaans" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "afrikaans" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "afrikaans" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "afrikaans" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "afrikaans cultural" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person from South Africa or Namibia who speaks Afrikaans. (More properly called "Afrikaans people" or Afrikaners.)
- 2 an official language of the Republic of South Africa; closely related to Dutch and Flemish wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of or pertaining to the Afrikaans language. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 belonging or relating to white people of South Africa whose ancestors were Dutch or to their language wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 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.
Synonyms
All synonyms afrikaans culturalafrikaans languageafrikaans-languageafrikaans-speakingafrikanerdutch-based language
Antonyms
colloquial Afrikaansnonlanguage
Example
"South Africa is called "Suid-Afrika" in Afrikaans."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "afrikaans"?
Common synonyms include: afrikaans cultural, afrikaans language, afrikaans-language, afrikaans-speaking, afrikaner, dutch-based language.
How do you use "afrikaans" in a sentence?
South Africa is called "Suid-Afrika" in Afrikaans.
How do you pronounce "afrikaans"?
Pronounced /ˌafɹɪˈkɑːnz/.
Etymology
From Afrikaans Afrikaans or Dutch Afrikaans.