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Afrikaans 

A Western Germanic language that developed in South Africa as a semi-creolised form of Dutch after Dutch colonists settled at the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th Century. It is spoken by over 6 million people as a first language and by a further 6 million as a second language.

The language's name Afrikaans simply means "African" and features a highly regularised, simplified grammar (there are fewer than 5 irregular verbs in the language), double negation (as in French) and pronounciation that is softer and less guttural than modern Dutch. Like English, it has only one gender for nouns (as opposed to two in Dutch).

Afrikaans and Dutch remain mutually intelligible and although the majority of its vocabulary derives from 17th Century Dutch, it has incorporated many words from indigenous and aboriginal Southern African languages (especially KhoiSan, Xhosa and Zulu), as well as Malaysian, French and German, reflecting the phenomenon of South Africa as a melting pot of cultures.

Cut off from Europe, the fledgeling language rapidly evolved unique features. There is strong evidence to suggest that proto-Afrikaans developed as a creole form of Dutch among slaves and servants; indeed, it was known (disparigingly) as "Kitchen Dutch" or "Kombuistaal" (Kitchen Language).

By the 19th Century Afrikaans had developed into a separate language and in the 1920s was formally recognised as an official language (co-equal in status with English) of the Union of South Africa.

As the preferred language of the Apartheid state, the language has been stigmatised in the past as the vehicle of an oppressive regime, most infamously as the cause of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, where several youths died protesting Afrikaans being enforced as the language of instruction in schools (as opposed to English). Today, however, the language has been largely depoliticised and proudly spoken by South Africans of all backgrounds.

Afrikaans has greatly influenced South African English and has contributed several words to modern international English - most famously perhaps "trek" (as in epic journey, as in Star Trek) and "veld" for grassland/savannah.

Following the advent of democracy in 1994, Afrikaans retained its official status along with 10 other languages.
My hand is in warm water - this sentence could be in either English or Afrikaans, means exactly the same and simply differs in pronounciation.
Afrikaans by adals September 6, 2009
Related Words
Airika • Airikah • Afrikaans • adrika • afrikaaner • Airidas • arika • afrika • Aarika • Airian

Afrikaner 

A term used for those of Dutch, French Huguenot, German Protestant (& others) descent who speak Afrikaans living in Southern Africa: The Republic of South Africa, Botswana & Namibia. The ancestors of Afrikaners arrived in the Cape begining in 1652 & are divided between those in the Cape & those of Voortrekker descent.
He spoke Afrikaans & was native to South Africa considering himself much more African than European hence he must be an Afrikaner.
Afrikaner by Ron Palmer. November 11, 2003
Adrika is the kind of person who is extremely strong headed and fierce willed. Leader by nature. She can be your anchor and destroy you if she wants to. She is more intuitive that intelligent. She will slap you in the face if she finds you doing something undesirable
You have to be an Adrika to pull this off
adrika by Deathcall May 23, 2017

Afrikaaner 

A white South African who speaks Afrikaans and is of Dutch descent. Known for their love biltong (dried meat), rugby and walking around barefoot in summer. You can easily spot an Afrikaaner, because they'll literally be the only ones wearing shorts and flip-flops in winter. They're also quite large compared to South Africans of British descent.
Frikkie is an Afrikaaner, that's why he's so muscular.
Afrikaaner by Cloudchild19 August 9, 2019

Barbi Afrika 

Barbi Afrika is kinda better than Ukiqurac, but she's bad too. They both have 9 year old fans, but she's slightly better than her. Stay pressed vaznekurci 😗
Girl 1: My idol is Barbi Afrika! What about you?
Girl 2: Same! She's slightly better than Ukiq.
Barbi Afrika by Did I ask lmao October 5, 2020
name for a short, cute girl who is loving and caring and would do anything for anyone. usually has a nice ass and gorgeous eyes. she has the best personality and best body ever. anyone wants to be friends with arika. she can be the best girlfriend ever and you will regret ever loosing her!
omg did you see arika today wow she's gorgeous!
Arika by josh referderger March 19, 2011
More from Urban Dictionary
Being ignored by someone when making a statement or asking a question. Also known as blanked and turfed.
Person 1: Did u watch ** last nite?
Person 2:......
Person 3: O no u got aired!
aired by Pietro February 9, 2005
Word of the Day on October 10, 2026

piddlefart

Instead of doing my homework, I decided to piddlefart around for two hours.
piddlefart by Rene April 25, 2005
Word of the Day on October 9, 2026
anyone who succeeds in disgracing/over indulging themselves in the throws of clubland
28 hours and 4 clubs later, gurning for england but still refusing to go home - a total wrongun!!
wrongun by bevvers March 21, 2007
Word of the Day on October 8, 2026

square grouper

Nickname given to bales of marijuana thrown overboard or out of airplanes. Origin is reportedly from members of the US Coast Guard in the area of Southern Florida.
"Base we've got some square groupers floating outside of Miami harbor."
square grouper by slipsheet November 6, 2004
Word of the Day on October 7, 2026
A girl who does ballet and only talks about ballet. Her schedule is filled with dance classes which does not allow her to do any other activity.
"Hey, do you know that girl Sally?"

"Yeah, she's kind of annoying. All she ever talks about it ballet."

"Wow, what a Bunhead."

"Hey Sally, you want to hang out this weekend?"
"I can't, I have dance."
"You're such a Bunhead."

"Yeah... I know."
Bunhead by Jen00 October 24, 2014
Word of the Day on October 6, 2026

trucker's tan 

A sunburn or suntan focused on the left arm. It is caused by the left side of the body being the only half that gets exposed to sunlight while driving. Presumably, it would be located on the right side of the body in countries where they drive on the left side of the road.
I had a trucker's tan after driving for 10 straight hours on a sunny day.
Word of the Day on October 5, 2026
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