If you are interested in linguistics, you will be fascinated by extraordinary Dutch and Afrikaans similarities. In addition, if you live in South Africa and already have some knowledge of Afrikaans, learning Dutch could be a breeze. It’s worth considering especially as adding a European language to your skill set can certainly be a boost for your credentials.
In this article we will be comparing Dutch and Afrikaans similarities, as well as their differences. As closely related languages that share a common ancestry, it is interesting to ask, how similar are Afrikaans and Dutch today? Can you understand one if you only know the other?
We look at these questions as well as the historical connections and influences that that have impacted the development of Afrikaans.
Ultimately, the difference between Dutch and Afrikaans raises questions about their mutual intelligibility, key differences in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, and the influence of other languages on their development.
Join us as we delve into the Dutch and Afrikaans similarities that make learning Dutch for South Africans an easy way to gain a new language.
Mutual Intelligibility: Dutch and Afrikaans Similarities
In comparing Dutch vs Afrikaans similarities, it is necessary to consider their shared historic roots. In asking how similar Afrikaans and Dutch are, it is important to remember that Afrikaans first originated from Dutch settlers in South Africa during the 17th century which is why there is a high degree of mutual intelligibility between the two languages.
Native speakers of Dutch and Afrikaans can often understand each other without extensive or prior exposure to the other's language. However, how similar are Afrikaans and Dutch when it comes to pronunciation?
It is worth noting that spoken communication can be more challenging due to the subtle difference between Dutch and Afrikaans pronunciation.
Degree of Mutual Intelligibility: Just How Similar are Afrikaans and Dutch?
In measuring mutual intelligibility, studies comparing Dutch and Afrikaans have shown that the difference between Dutch and Afrikaans is in fact so minimal that Dutch speakers can understand about 90% of written Afrikaans, while Afrikaans speakers understand about 70-80% of written Dutch. Interestingly, the spoken word poses more of a challenge with mutual intelligibility dropping to around 50-60% for both groups.
How Similar are Afrikaans and Dutch in Vocabulary, Grammar, and Pronunciation
In comparing Dutch and Afrikaans vocabulary, it is immediately clear that the two languages share same roots. A few examples:
| English | Dutch | Afrikaans |
| Bicycle | Fiets | Fiets |
| School | School | Skool |
| Train | Trein | Trein |
| Apple | Appel | Appel |
| Bread | Brood | Brood |
| Cat | Kat | Kat |
| Child | Kind | Kind |
| Cold | Koud | Koud |
| Day | Dag | Dag |
| Fish | Vis | Vis |
| Flower | Bloem | Blom |
| Friend | Vriend | Vriend |
| Garden | Tuin | Tuin |
| House | Huis | Huis |
| Milk | Melk | Melk |
| Love | Liefde | Liefde |
| Mountain | Berg | Berg |
| Water | Water | Water |
| Wind | Wind | Wind |
| Moon | Maan | Maan |
| Sun | Zon | Son |
One Major Difference Between Dutch and Afrikaans
When considering how similar are Afrikaans and Dutch, it is important to note the influence of other languages which have contributed to it. These include incorporated elements from indigenous African languages as well as Malay, Portuguese, and even French all of which reflect its diverse cultural influences. Interestingly, in looking at Dutch vs Afrikaans, it can be noted that while less influenced by non-European languages, Dutch has also absorbed vocabulary from French, German, and English.
Dutch Loanwords from Other Languages
| French | English | German |
| Paraplu (umbrella) | Weekend (weekend) | Rucksack (backpack) |
| Restaurant (restaurant) | Laptop (laptop) | Kuchen (cake) |
| Garage (garage) | Computer (computer) | Angst (fear) |
| Toilet (toilet) | Manager (manager | Schuld (debt) |
| Bureau (office) | Lehrer (teacher) |
Afrikaans Loanwords from Other Languages
| Malay | Portuguese | Indigenous African Languages |
| Amper (almost) | Sambreel (umbrella) | Indaba (conference) |
| Blatjang (chutney) | Kombuis (kitchen) | Donga (gully) |
| baie (very) | meubel (furniture) | |
| piesang (banana) | venster (window) | |
| baklei (fight) |
Dutch vs Afrikaans Grammar
Afrikaans grammar is notably simpler than Dutch grammar. For instance, Afrikaans does not use grammatical gender or conjugate verbs based on the subject, unlike Dutch.
| Aspect | Dutch | Afrikaans |
| Definite Article | De (common), Het (neuter) | Die |
| Plural Formation | Huis-Huizen | Huis-Huise |
| Verb Conjugation | Ik ben, Jij bentt, Hij/Zij is | Ek is, Jy is, Hy/Sy is |
The Difference Between Dutch and Afrikaans Pronunciation
Pronunciation is another aspect where you would find the difference between Dutch and Afrikaans. Afrikaans has a more phonetic spelling system, whereas Dutch pronunciation can be more complex. Here are a few typical examples:
| Word in English | Dutch Word & Pronunciation | Afrikaans Word & Pronunciation |
| Water | water (ʋaː.tər) | water (vɑː.tər) |
| Book | boek (buk) | boek (bʊk) |
| Good | goed (yut) | goed (gut) |
| House | huis (hoeys) | huis (hoeys) |
False Friends
Most languages have what are called False Friends and these are found when comparing Dutch and Afrikaans too. False friends are words that appear similar in Dutch and Afrikaans but have different meanings. Of course, these can be particularly tricky for speakers of either language.
| Dutch Word | Meaning in Dutch | Afrikaans Word | Meaning in Afrikaans |
| Af | Off | Af | Down, Off |
| Brave | Good | Braaf | Brave |
| Dik | Fat | Dik | Thick |
| Enkel | Single | Enkel | Ankle |
| Heerlijk | Delicious | Heerlik | Pleasant, Delicious |
| Leer | Leather | Leer | Learn, Leather |
| Slim | Smart | Slim | Clever |
| Woon | Live | Woon | Reside |
As these tables above indicate, it is clear when comparing Dutch and Afrikaans that a fascinating linguistic evolution from very distinct shared roots has occurred. While Afrikaans retains much of its Dutch roots, it has also simplified and adapted over time to incorporate elements from various other languages and cultures too.
Remarkably, the mutual intelligibility between the two languages, despite some challenges in pronunciation and vocabulary differences, certainly highlights their shared heritage.
There’s no doubt, understanding the key similarities as well as the difference between Dutch and Afrikaans vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, along with the influence of other languages, provides deeper insights into the unique identities of the two languages.
If you live in South Africa and are fortunate to have a knowledge of Afrikaans, you could learn Dutch very easily.
Learn Dutch with a Private Tutor
Using a tutor from Superprof can help you leverage your Afrikaans background to fast-track fluency in Dutch. Given the similarities between Afrikaans and Dutch, a tutor can tailor lessons to easily bridge the gap between your current Afrikaans knowledge and your Dutch fluency goals. Not only that but Superprof offers several benefits to enhance this learning journey.
Firstly, Superprof provides a free first lesson which allows you to assess the tutor's compatibility with your learning style and objectives. This initial session can also help to establish a customised learning plan to maximise your existing Afrikaans proficiency. In addition, for your peace of mind, all tutors on Superprof are pre-verified which ensures that you receive high-quality instruction from qualified professionals.
You will also notice that there is a diverse range of tutoring options when it comes to learning Dutch or any other subject. These include in-person or online lessons that cater to your unique scheduling and learning preferences. While you are making the most of Dutch and Afrikaans similarities, you will find that tutors can focus on your specific goals whether those are honing your Dutch vocabulary, grammar or cultural knowledge. In the end, with Afrikaans as your basis, you are likely to easily accelerate your path to fluency.
By using Superprof, you have the advantage of leveraging expert guidance that can help you make the transition from Afrikaans to Dutch, fast, efficient and effective. Good luck!
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