How you greet people shows the respect you have for them - and yourself.
Nelson Mandela
If you have ever walked through a small town in the Western Cape, wandered along the streets of Pretoria, or queued for a coffee in Bloemfontein, you may have noticed something quite lovely about how people acknowledge each other. A nod, a smile, a few warm words, sometimes even a short chat about the weather or the weekend’s rugby. These moments of human connection, often so fleeting, are built around something simple yet powerful: greetings in Afrikaans.
In many Afrikaans-speaking communities, greeting someone isn’t just polite, it’s expected. .
It’s a show of respect and a little thread that ties people together in daily life. Whether you are new to the language, brushing up on old school lessons, or simply keen to connect more deeply with South Africans around you, learning about Afrikaans greetings can change your experience in South Africa.
The Role of Greetings in Afrikaans Culture
In Afrikaans a greeting is more than a routine phrase; it signals friendliness, respect, and belonging. In towns like Stellenbosch or Paarl, you might notice that shopkeepers greet every customer who walks in the door. In schools, teachers are addressed respectfully, often as Meneer or Mevrou, and children are taught from a young age to say “Goeiemôre, juffrou!” before the first bell rings.
You’ll find that people everywhere acknowledge one another even if they’re strangers. It’s a gesture that says, “I see you.” And in a country as beautifully diverse as South Africa, that recognition matters.
Starting Simply: Everyday Greetings
Let’s start with the basics. The word “Hallo” (pronounced “hah-lo”) is the go-to casual hello, suitable for almost any situation. You can also say “Haai” if you want to sound particularly relaxed or friendly, much like saying “hey” in English. For something a bit more formal, “Goeie dag” meaning “good day” also works well, especially in settings like offices or schools.
Then we have the time-specific greetings. “Goeiemôre” means “good morning,” “Goeie middag” means “good afternoon,” and “Goeienaand” means “good evening.” These are used widely across the country. Whether you’re greeting your neighbour in George, your teacher in Polokwane, or your colleague in Cape Town, a simple “Goeiemôre” brightens the moment. If you’re learning the language, it helps to remember that these words change with time of day.
How Are You?
After the initial greeting, conversation usually flows naturally into a friendly “Hoe gaan dit met jou?” which means “How are you?” For a more formal situation, say you’re greeting an older person, a teacher, or your boss, you would say “Hoe gaan dit met u?” The difference between “jy/jou” and “u” is important, as it shows respect.
Common responses include “Baie goed, dankie” (very well, thank you), “Dit gaan goed” (it’s going well), or “Nie te sleg nie” (not too bad). If you’re chatting with someone you know well, you might even add a lighthearted comment about the weather or a joke about the Springboks’ latest match. Afrikaans greetings often open the door to friendly small talk, where humour and shared experience shine through.
Farewells and Goodbyes
Saying goodbye in Afrikaans has its own charm. “Totsiens” is the standard “goodbye,” while “Tot later” means “see you later.” You might also hear “Tot môre” which means “see you tomorrow” from colleagues or classmates. In letters or WhatsApp messages, “Groete” is often used to sign off, meaning “regards.”
There’s something warm and human about these phrases. They make even an ordinary day feel connected. If you’ve ever lived in a neighbourhood like Durbanville or Potchefstroom, you’ll know the comfort of hearing “Tot later!” as your neighbour waves across the garden wall.
Afrikaans Phrase
English Translation
Politeness, Titles, and Respect
In Afrikaans-speaking communities, politeness carries deep cultural significance. Addressing people correctly shows you understand and respect community norms. The titles “Meneer” (Mr) and “Mevrou” (Mrs or Ms) are used in formal situations. For instance, when speaking to a teacher, elder, or someone you’ve just met. In schools, it’s common to hear students calling out “Goeiemôre, Meneer van der Merwe!” or “Dankie, Mevrou Jacobs.”
There’s a very charming use of “oom” and “tannie” in Afrikaans. These words literally mean “uncle” and “aunt,” but they are often used as respectful forms of address for older people, even if they’re not related to you.
Calling your neighbour “Oom Piet” or your friend’s mom “Tannie Marita” can go a long way towards adding respect and warmth.
Learning by Living It
The beauty of greetings in Afrikaans lies in how they live and breathe in everyday spaces. You can’t really master them by memorising a list when they’re best learned through experience. Of course, working with a tutor helps but listening to how people speak in markets, taxi queues, schools, or on the radio helps you pick up tone and rhythm. Every real-life interaction helps you sound less like a tourist and more like someone who belongs.
Speaking of practice, it can be fun to turn daily routines into mini language sessions. You could label your calendar with the months in Afrikaans - Januarie, Februarie, Maart - and so on. Try saying the days of the week out loud as you plan your week, or greet your colleagues in Afrikaans at least once a day. Before you know it, your mornings will start naturally with a cheerful “Goeiemôre!”
Sounding Local
There’s a special kind of joy that comes with sounding like a local. Not perfect, not rehearsed, just genuine. Afrikaans speakers appreciate effort and warmth far more than precision. If you stumble over pronunciation, just laugh it off and remember that is part of the charm.
What better way to practice than by turning each interaction into an informal Afrikaans lesson? Whether it’s chatting to a classmate, ordering coffee, or talking to a neighbour, over time, your confidence will grow.
The Deeper Meaning Behind Greetings
In rural areas or smaller towns, not greeting someone you pass on the street can come across as unfriendly. Even in big cities like Johannesburg or Cape Town, where life moves fast, a warm “Goeiedag” can soften the rush of daily life.
In multicultural spaces, greeting someone in their language is an act of respect. It shows willingness to meet them halfway. Learning to say good morning in Afrikaans or knowing how to respond to “Hoe gaan dit met jou?” is beyond language, it’s empathy in action.
You’ll notice too that elders are greeted first in Afrikaans culture, especially in family or community gatherings. This tradition honours age and wisdom, and it’s something you’ll see echoed at family braais or Sunday church services. Also, when you switch from “u” to “jy” after being invited to do so, it marks a gentle transition from formality to friendship.
Learning Through Connection
If you’ve ever taken an Afrikaans lesson, you might remember the teacher stressing grammar, verbs, and pronunciation. But real fluency comes from the heart, not just the head. Learning greetings like how to say good morning in Afrikaans, through real-life situations makes them stick because they’re tied to genuine experiences.
Visit a local market, like the Neighbourgoods in Joburg or the Oranjezicht City Farm Market in Cape Town, and listen to how vendors interact. Or pop into a school fundraiser, a community bazaar, or even a rugby game. All of these are perfect spots to hear the nuances of Afrikaans conversation. Remember that the tone of Afrikaans greetings shifts depending on the context. Formal or friendly, lively or laid-back, there’s always warmth in the words.
A Touch of Humour
Afrikaans is full of expressive sounds and colourful phrases. Once you start using them, you’ll see how easily they bring people closer.
Humour is also woven into daily Afrikaans life. From witty sayings like “Ag, man, dis niks nie” (Oh man, it’s nothing) to playful banter at a braai, laughter keeps the language alive. These are so ingrained in South African culture that they are even interwoven into other spoken languages like English or isiXhosa!
From Good Morning in Afrikaans to Laughing Along
Whether you are mastering greetings in Afrikaans, learning months in Afrikaans or finding colloquial phrases, it isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection. Every “Hallo,” every “Totsiens,” and every “Goeiemôre” helps build a bridge between people. In a country as wonderfully diverse as South Africa, where multiple languages share the same streets, greeting someone in their mother tongue shows kindness and openness.
So, take each day as a new opportunity for an Afrikaans lesson, one that happens not in a classroom, but out there in the real world. Mark your planner with the months in Afrikaans, greet your friends with confidence, and embrace the rhythm of this warm, expressive language.
You don’t need to sound flawless or fluent. You just need to sound sincere.
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