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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
Anrika • Annika • Anika • Afrikaans • adrika • afrikaaner • anikait • arika • afrika • anaika

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
Unique and eccentric, meeting an Annika is like crossing paths with a unicorn; rare, enchanting, and impressionable. Most people never meet her, and go their whole lives thinking she's a myth. Known for her artistic ability and extreme love for music, Annika is often busy day dreaming and stuck in her own little world. She is constantly reading, drawing, or singing. Annika loves all things creative and is highly influenced by nature. Although a bit awkward at times, Annika is beautiful, hilarious, and full of life.
"I think I just met an Annika."

"How do you know?"

"Well, she was standing next to that unicorn over there, and I've never seen one of those before either, so it must be her."

"You're right! I read somewhere that all Annika's ride unicorns. Let's go introduce ourselves!"
Annika by StandOut December 26, 2012

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
Unique and beutiful, Annika is one of the smartest and best looking girls that you'll ever meet. She is shy, and introverted, but once you get through to her, she is the most trustworthy friend that you'll ever have.And maybe more. ;)
Guy 1: Wait, you passed up an Annika? The hell is wrong with you?
Guy 2: Oh shit.
Annika by Turtles:_dealwithit February 18, 2019
More from Urban Dictionary

proper lad 

a lad that is such a lad that he is a proper lad
person1:did you see bob
person2: ya he was a proper lad
Word of the Day on October 29, 2026
The number of years you are still sexually active
While our lifespan is the number of years we will live, our healthspan is the number of healthy years we will have and our sexspan is is the number of years we will continue to be healthy enough to continue having an active sex life.
sexspan by Dr Kat April 21, 2022
Word of the Day on October 28, 2026
A lighthearted reaction upon receiving disappointing news of some sort. Usually something that isn't a particularly a big deal, esp. when it primarily affects someone else - sort of a mild schadenfreude. Sometimes doubled or tripled, and possibly said in a sing-songy voice for added comedic effect to imitate a muted trumpet, which is how the meme originated.
You didn't get any napkins with your takeout pork fried rice? Womp womp.
womp by 175623226 November 3, 2011
Word of the Day on October 27, 2026
When your wife’s boyfriend let you sleep past 8pm 😎😎
Wife’s boyfriend: You have 5 more minutes
Me: Poggers!
Poggers by Just_Charles April 14, 2020
Word of the Day on October 26, 2026

Oblication 

A vacation, feeling more like an obligation, that involves visiting or staying with family.
So Joe where are you taking the kids for spring break vacation? We are going on an oblication to Boca to visit my mother-in-law.
Oblication by kimmerr May 5, 2011
Word of the Day on October 25, 2026

Surf Dracula Syndrome 

A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.

For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!
Word of the Day on October 24, 2026
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