There’s something wonderfully grounding about numbers. They measure our days, track our milestones, and give shape to the stories of our lives. From the time you tell a taxi driver you’ll arrive in “vyf minute” to the way a teacher writes a date on the board, counting in Afrikaans is part of the everyday South African life. Whether you’re learning the language for the first time, helping your child with homework, or brushing up before joining a new community, numbers are a surprisingly good place to start.
Finding Familiarity Through Numbers
When people think about learning a new language, they often imagine long lists of vocabulary and complex grammar. Yet the moment you start counting in Afrikaans, it becomes surprisingly familiar.
The first ten numbers:
These form the building blocks for everything that follows.
They pop up in everyday conversation more often than you’d think: the number of items you’re buying at a market, the amount of petrol you need, the score in a friendly rugby match, or the age of a child telling you proudly, “Ek is vyf jaar oud!”
The numbers 21 to 99:
These are formed using the unit + "en" (which means "and") + tens structure.
Although this is the reverse of English, they follow a very regular pattern. For example, 25 is twenty-five in English and vyf-en-twintig (literally “five-and-twenty”) in Afrikaans.
Here are some more examples:
Number
21
32
47
58
69
73
84
99
Afrikaans
een-en-twintig
twee-en-dertig
sewe-en-veertig
agt-en-vyftig
nege-en-sestig
drie-en-sewentig
vier-en-tagtig
nege-en-negentig
Literal translation
one-and-twenty
two-and-thirty
seven-and-forty
eight-and-fifty
nine-and-sixty
three-and-seventy
four-and-eighty
nine-and-ninety
There’s a lovely logic to the way Afrikaans numbers work. From elf and twaalf, the pattern continues with dertien, veertien, and so on, up to twintig and dertig. Once you reach honderd, duisend, and miljoen, the combinations start to make perfect sense. Even een komma vyf (1,5) for decimals, or een honderd drie en twintig rand en vyf en veertig sent (R123,45), follows a pattern that’s easy to pick up with a little practice.
Sound complicated? No, practice makes perfect.
More Than Just Counting
Learning numbers isn’t just about maths; it’s about connection. In many communities, greeting someone and chatting briefly about the day often involves a mention of time or number. For example: how long you’ve been waiting, how many children you have, or what time the next taxi is leaving. So, remember that knowing how to express time in Afrikaans helps you join in these conversations naturally.
Imagine sitting at a small café in Bloemfontein, glancing at your watch and saying, “Dit is tien oor agt,” meaning “It’s ten past eight.” Or perhaps you’re arranging to meet someone after work, saying, “Ons sien mekaar om sesuur.” These small exchanges create rhythm and routine, allowing you to feel part of the flow of daily life rather than just an observer.
Once you start listening for it, you’ll notice time in Afrikaans everywhere. From the radio when the news announces the hour and the digital clock at school to when a friend texts to say, “Ek’s laat, gee my vyf minute!”
The Classroom Connection
If you’ve ever attended an Afrikaans class, you’ll know how quickly numbers become part of every lesson. Teachers often start with counting exercises not because they’re easy, but because they help learners build confidence. Reciting een, twee, drie aloud has a rhythm that encourages listening and pronunciation. In schools across South Africa, from Cape Town to Kimberley, children learn to count through songs, rhymes, and playful repetition. Adults learning later in life find the same methods surprisingly effective. After all, music and rhythm are great teachers.
But an Afrikaans class is about more than memorising vocabulary. It’s where you begin to understand how numbers shape communication. You might practice phrases like “Ek het drie boeke” or “Ek is twintig jaar oud,” learning how numbers fit naturally into sentences. Over time, those patterns become second nature. The more you speak them aloud, the more you’ll find yourself thinking in Afrikaans without even realising it.
You don’t need to wait for a formal Afrikaans class to practise. You can turn ordinary moments into learning opportunities. Count the steps as you climb stairs, say the prices out loud when shopping, or read license plates as you drive through your neighbourhood.
The Colour of Language
Once you get comfortable with numbers, you start to hear how they fit alongside other Afrikaans words that paint a picture of daily life. For example, when someone says, “Dis net een van daardie dae,” you hear how een (one) slips naturally into a phrase that means “It’s just one of those days.”
You’ll find Afrikaans words that use numbers everywhere: on road signs, newspaper headlines, even local radio jingles.
Another thing that makes Afrikaans special is its playfulness. South Africans love mixing languages, and that’s where Afrikaans slang words come in. You might hear someone say “hou duim vas” when wishing you luck. These phrases bring laughter and flavour to conversation, showing that language is as much about personality as precision.
When you combine Afrikaans slang words with your growing confidence in numbers, conversations become far more colourful. Imagine bargaining at a local market, jokingly saying, “Ag, kom nou, maak dit twee honderd!”
Everyday Encounters
Whether you’re counting coins at a till in Pretoria, reading the departure times at Cape Town Station, or helping your child study for an Afrikaans class test, numbers are everywhere. They sneak into conversations, into plans, and into the small exchanges that make up daily life.
The way people use Afrikaans words and numbers also reflects the country’s diversity. In some areas, like Port Elizabeth, you’ll hear Afrikaans blended gently with isiXhosa or English, creating a melody that’s unmistakably South African. Understanding that mix is part of the joy of learning and reminds you that language is alive and constantly evolving.
And let’s not forget the humour. Afrikaans slang words have a way of sneaking into even the most serious conversations to lighten the mood instantly. Even in schools, you’ll often hear students using them playfully with teachers who grew up speaking the same way. It’s part of the camaraderie that keeps classrooms vibrant and communities connected.
Numbers That Tell Stories
Counting doesn’t stop at ten. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you start to see how larger numbers are woven into storytelling. A grandmother in Worcester might tell her grandchildren about “drie en sestig jaar” of memories. A sports commentator might shout excitedly about “twintig punte” scored by the Springboks. And when you talk about birthdays, anniversaries, or milestones, knowing how to express time in Afrikaans helps you share those moments meaningfully.
Think about how often you use numbers to talk about your own life. From the date of your wedding and the year your first child was born to the number of kilometres on a family road trip from Johannesburg to Mossel Bay. These are more than digits; they’re memories. Learning to express them through counting in Afrikaans lets you tell your story in a new language.
The Confidence of Connection
There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from realising you can express something as simple as time in Afrikaans without pausing to think. When you say, “Dis kwart oor nege,” or “Ons eet om half agt,” you’re no longer translating in your head, but rather, you’re speaking naturally. That ease builds confidence, and confidence builds connection.
When you sprinkle in a few friendly Afrikaans slang words, regardless of what language you're talking, people often respond with laughter or a knowing nod. It’s a way of saying, “You’re one of us.”
Using Afrikaans words tends to bring a smille. It shows respect, interest, and a willingness to engage. And when you sprinkle in a few friendly Afrikaans slang words, regardless of what language you talking, people often respond with laughter or a knowing nod. It’s a way of saying, “You’re one of us.”
Language is never just about words. It’s about belonging. And through numbers, counting, telling time, and using them in conversation, you tap into a shared human experience.
Learning Through Living
The best way to learn isn’t through textbooks alone. It’s through living the language. Every time you check the price of a loaf of bread, tell a friend what time to meet, or celebrate a birthday, you have a chance to practise counting in Afrikaans.
The more you use it, the more natural it feels.
If you’re part of an evening Afrikaans class at a local community centre, you’ll know the joy of practising with others, laughing over small mistakes, and discovering how much you already understand. And if you’re teaching a child, make it playful. Count apples, steps, or clouds together. Rember, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s participation.
When you think about learning numbers, phrases, and even Afrikaans slang, each new phrase is an opportunity to connect more deeply with the people around you. It’s about hearing a familiar accent, sharing a moment, and realising that language is one of the simplest, most human ways to belong.
So next time you find yourself saying “Een, twee, drie,” pause for a moment and smile. You’re not just practising pronunciation, you’re learning the heartbeat of a culture. And that’s something worth counting on.
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