Afrikaans and Dutch: 153 words that are the same
Among the two thousand words each language uses most, these are written identically and carry the same meaning in both. If you have one of the two, this is the part you do not have to learn.
A shared word is not proof of a shared root. Two languages can land on the same spelling by borrowing from a third — that is all tren and bomba are — and a word that looks the same can still be said quite differently. What this list is good for is the head start.
| Word | In English | Afrikaans | Dutch |
|---|---|---|---|
| en/ɛn/ | and | #10 | #9 |
| vanaf /fan/nl /vɑn/ | of | #14 | #10 |
| u/y/ | you | #26 | #33 |
| dataf /dat/nl /dɑt/ | that | #28 | #5 |
| ja/jaː/ | yes | #32 | #44 |
| hier/ɦir/ | here | #36 | #38 |
| daaraf /dɑːr/nl /daːr/ | there | #37 | #72 |
| aanaf /ɑːn/nl /aːn/ | on | #43 | #32 |
| neeaf /niəː/nl [neɪ̯] | no | #46 | #53 |
| doen/dun/ | to do | #47 | #59 |
| hoe/ɦu/ | how | #51 | #54 |
| of/ɔf/ | or | #67 | #63 |
| allesaf /ˈal(ə)s/nl /ˈɑləs/ | everything | #71 | #90 |
| niksaf /nəks/nl /nɪks/ | nothing | #73 | #188 |
| iets/its/ | something | #77 | #71 |
| wieaf /vi/nl /ʋi/ | who, whom | #78 | #89 |
| goeieaf /ˈxuɪə/nl /ˈɣu.jə/ | good | #83 | #804 |
| vertelaf /fərˈtæl/nl /vərˈtɛl/ | to tell | #91 | #297 |
| geenaf /χɪə̯n/nl /ɣeːn/ | no, not a, not an, not any | #92 | #42 |
| wegaf /vɛχ/nl /ʋɛx/ | away | #95 | #97 |
| nooit/noːit/ | never | #96 | #102 |
| welaf /ˈvæl/nl /ʋɛl/ | the opposite of not | #97 | #47 |
| anderaf /ˈanər/nl [ˈɑ̃.dər] | another, another person, someone else | #114 | #497 |
| helpaf /ˈɦɛlp/nl /ɦɛlp/ | to help | #117 | #400 |
| tweeaf /tvɪə̯/nl [tʋeɪ̯] | two | #130 | #126 |
| beteraf /ˈbɪətər/nl /ˈbeːtər/ | good | #137 | #181 |
| omdataf /ɔmˈdat/nl /ɔmˈdɑt/ | because | #151 | #132 |
| eersteaf /ˈɪərstə/nl /ˈeːr.stə/ | first | #158 | #222 |
| naamaf /nɑːm/nl /naːm/ | name | #161 | #241 |
| speelaf /spɪə̯l/nl /ˈspeːl/ | to play | #163 | #1,127 |
| genoegaf /xəˈnux/nl /ɣəˈnux/ | enough | #165 | #196 |
| vergeetaf /fərˈχɪə̯t/nl /vərˈɣeːt/ | to forget | #170 | #542 |
| luisteraf /ˈlœistər/nl /ˈlœy̯s.tər/ | to listen | #173 | #246 |
| liefde/ˈlif.də/ | love | #174 | #521 |
| kleinaf /kləi̯n/nl /klɛi̯n/ | small, little | #176 | #498 |
| geldaf /χɛlt/nl /ɣɛlt/ | money | #180 | #176 |
| eetaf /ɪət/nl [eɪ̯t] | to eat | #188 | #753 |
| vindaf /fənt/nl /vɪnt/ | to find | #192 | #195 |
| wanneeraf /ˈvɐniər/nl [ʋɑˈnɪːr] | when | #196 | #253 |
| leesaf /lɪəs/nl /leːs/ | to read | #202 | #1,340 |
| gelukaf /χəˈlœk/nl /ɣəˈlʏk/ | luck, good luck | #211 | #557 |
| vriendaf /ˈvrint/nl /vrint/ | friend | #213 | #259 |
| verlooraf /fərˈlʊər/nl /vərˈloːr/ | to lose | #214 | #1,451 |
| leefaf /lɪə̯f/nl /leːf/ | to live | #234 | #1,580 |
| drie/dri/ | three | #250 | #215 |
| noem/ˈnum/ | to call, to name | #267 | #829 |
| brief/brif/ | letter | #268 | #1,023 |
| oorlogaf /ˈʊər.lɔχ/nl /ˈoːr.lɔx/ | war | #270 | #550 |
| tussenaf /ˈtœ.sən/nl /ˈtʏsə(n)/ | between | #272 | #361 |
| luitenantaf /ˌlœi̯təˈnɐnt/nl /ˌlœy̯.təˈnɑnt/ | lieutenant | #289 | #949 |
| broeraf /ˈbruːr/nl /brur/ | brother | #292 | #380 |
| woordaf /vʊərt/nl /ʋoːrt/ | word | #294 | #587 |
| koffie/ˈkɔ.fi/ | coffee | #301 | #666 |
| ideeaf /iˈdiə/nl /iˈdeː/ | idea | #302 | #230 |
| volgaf /fɔlχ/nl /vɔlx/ | to follow | #305 | #1,000 |
| eeraf /ˈiər/nl /eːr/ | honour | #312 | #1,039 |
| probleemaf /pruˈbliəm/nl /ˌproːˈbleːm/ | problem | #318 | #300 |
| hoeveelaf /huːfeːl/nl /ɦuˈveːl/ | how much, how many | #320 | #383 |
| welkomaf /ˈvælkɔm/nl /ˈʋɛlkɔm/ | welcome | #321 | #579 |
| waarheidaf /ˈvɑːrhɛɪt/nl /ˈʋaːr.ɦɛi̯t/ | truth | #333 | #463 |
| tanteaf /ˈtɑ̃ntə/nl /ˈtɑn.tə/ | aunt | #345 | #1,118 |
| oomaf /oəm/nl /oːm/ | uncle | #355 | #768 |
| prinsesaf /prənˈsɛs/nl /prɪnˈsɛs/ | princess | #379 | #1,713 |
| kort/kɔrt/ | short | #382 | #1,104 |
| vieraf /fir/nl /vir/ | four | #392 | #392 |
| bos/bɔs/ | wood, forest | #412 | #1,267 |
| gevaaraf /χəˈfɑːr/nl /ɣəˈvaːr/ | danger, peril | #420 | #788 |
| misaf /məs/nl /mɪs/ | to miss | #433 | #419 |
| langsaf /laŋs/nl /lɑŋs/ | along, alongside | #445 | #533 |
| hond/ɦɔnt/ | dog | #454 | #638 |
| stilteaf /ˈstəl.tə/nl /ˈstɪl.tə/ | silence | #456 | #1,876 |
| bloed/blut/ | blood | #457 | #455 |
| soortaf /ˈsʊərt/nl /soːrt/ | sort, kind | #458 | #389 |
| gooiaf /ˈxɔɪ/nl /ɣoːi̯/ | to throw | #461 | #1,193 |
| voordataf /ˈfʊərdɐt/nl /ˈvɔːrdɑt/ | before | #462 | #402 |
| tafelaf /ˈtɑːfəl/nl /ˈtaːfəl/ | table | #468 | #920 |
| bier/bir/ | beer | #471 | #1,353 |
| muuraf [myr]nl /myr/ | wall | #481 | #1,081 |
| soms/sɔms/ | sometimes | #484 | #337 |
| melk/mɛlk/ | milk | #492 | #1,751 |
| halloaf /ɦaləu/nl [ɦɑˈlöʊ̯] | hello | #498 | #226 |
| grondaf /ˈχrɔnt/nl /ˈɣrɔnt/ | ground, dirt, soil | #499 | #698 |
| kansaf /kans/nl /kɑns/ | chance | #509 | #352 |
| koudaf /kœu̯t/nl /kɑu̯t/ | cold | #512 | #957 |
| donker/ˈdɔŋ.kər/ | dark | #518 | #1,179 |
| honger/ˈɦɔ.ŋər/ | hunger | #533 | #927 |
| spreekaf /spriə̯k/nl /spreːk/ | to speak | #535 | #939 |
| verrassingaf /fərˈrɐsəŋ/nl /vərˈrɑsɪŋ/ | surprise | #544 | #1,133 |
| treinaf /trəin/nl /trɛi̯n/ | train | #551 | #1,207 |
| mondaf [mɔnt]nl /mɔnt/ | mouth | #556 | #563 |
| witaf /vət/nl /ʋɪt/ | white | #564 | #1,912 |
| sluitaf /slœit/nl /slœy̯t/ | to close | #568 | #1,067 |
| weggaanaf /ˈvɛ.χɑːn/nl /ˈʋɛ.xaːn/ | to go away, to leave | #574 | #1,154 |
| hoogaf /ɦʊə̯χ/nl /ɦoːx/ | high | #594 | #1,054 |
| diep/dip/ | deep, down low | #595 | #1,008 |
| ringaf /rəŋ/nl /rɪŋ/ | ring, hollow circular object | #630 | #1,178 |
| derdeaf /ˈdæːrdə/nl /ˈdɛr.də/ | third | #631 | #940 |
| bekend/bəˈkɛnt/ | known | #670 | #764 |
| kantooraf /kɐnˈtʊər/nl /kɑnˈtoːr/ | office | #689 | #572 |
| wetaf /vɛt/nl /ʋɛt/ | law | #696 | #977 |
| glasaf /χlas/nl /ɣlɑs/ | glass | #697 | #1,257 |
| minuutaf /məˈnyt/nl /miˈnyt/ | minute | #714 | #1,488 |
| sommigeaf /ˈsɔməxə/nl /ˈsɔməɣə/ | some | #719 | #741 |
| veiligheidaf /ˈfəi̯.ləχˌɦəi̯t/nl /ˈvɛi̯ləxˌɦɛi̯t/ | safety, security | #729 | #1,279 |
| neusaf /nɪøs/nl /nøːs/ | nose | #735 | #1,122 |
| voetaf /ˈfut/nl /vut/ | foot | #745 | #1,292 |
| openaf /ˈʊə̯.pən/nl /ˈoː.pə(n)/ | to open | #746 | #345 |
| groepaf /χrup/nl /ɣrup/ | group | #752 | #888 |
| tien/tin/ | ten | #757 | #478 |
| taalaf /tɑːl/nl /taːl/ | language | #767 | #1,952 |
| dakaf /dak/nl /dɑk/ | roof | #786 | #1,329 |
| telefoonaf /ˌtɪə̯.ləˈfʊə̯n/nl /teː.ləˈfoːn/ | telephone | #814 | #510 |
| kelder/ˈkɛl.dər/ | cellar, basement | #815 | #1,739 |
| engelsaf /ˈɛ̃ˑŋəls/nl /ˈɛ.ŋəls/ | English | #822 | #1,531 |
| waardeeraf /vɑːrˈdɪe̯r/nl /ʋaːrˈdɪr/ | to appreciate, to value | #824 | #1,599 |
| vriendinaf /vrinˈdən/nl /vrinˈdɪn/ | female friend | #831 | #492 |
| hoekaf /ˈhuk/nl /ɦuk/ | corner | #849 | #1,280 |
| verjaardagaf /fərˈjɑːrˌdaχ/nl /vərˈjaːrˌdɑx/ | birthday | #852 | #1,197 |
| bootaf /bʊət/nl [boʊ̯t] | boat | #854 | #911 |
| papieraf /paˈpiːr/nl /paːˈpiːr/ | paper | #855 | #1,878 |
| gratisaf /ˈχrɑːtəs/nl /ˈɣraːtɪs/ | free, without charge | #876 | #1,317 |
| politiekaf /pɔləˈtik/nl /poːliˈtik/ | politics | #879 | #1,914 |
| vertalingaf /fərˈtɑːləŋ/nl /vərˈtaː.lɪŋ/ | translation | #942 | #855 |
| afstandaf /ˈaf.stant/nl /ˈɑf.stɑnt/ | distance | #1,001 | #1,282 |
| lidaf [lət]nl /lɪt/ | member | #1,005 | #1,663 |
| eilandaf /ˈəi̯.lant/nl /ˈɛi̯.lɑnt/ | island | #1,008 | #1,320 |
| boomaf /bʊə̯m/nl /boːm/ | tree | #1,015 | #1,327 |
| trapaf /trap/nl /trɑp/ | stairs, staircase | #1,023 | #1,503 |
| vingersaf /ˈfəŋərs/nl /ˈvɪ.ŋərs/ | finger | #1,037 | #1,722 |
| broersaf /ˈbruːrs/nl /ˈbrurs/ | brother | #1,041 | #1,694 |
| goudaf [χœu̯t]nl /ɣɑu̯t/ | gold | #1,052 | #1,306 |
| eenheidaf /ˈiənhɛɪt/nl /ˈeːn.ɦɛi̯t/ | unity | #1,091 | #1,894 |
| inderdaadaf /əndərˈdɑːt/nl /ˌɪn.dərˈdaːt/ | indeed | #1,097 | #547 |
| adviesaf /atˈfis/nl /ɑtˈfis/ | advice | #1,117 | #1,414 |
| maanaf /mɑːn/nl /maːn/ | moon | #1,138 | #1,425 |
| laagaf /lɑːχ/nl /laːx/ | low | #1,140 | #1,687 |
| parkaf /ˈpɐrk/nl /pɑrk/ | park | #1,148 | #1,094 |
| verslaanaf /fərˈslɑːn/nl /vərˈslaːn/ | to defeat | #1,151 | #1,646 |
| steenaf /stɪə̯n/nl [steɪ̯n] | stone | #1,175 | #1,634 |
| twaalfaf /ˈtwɑːlf/nl /tʋaːl(ə)f/ | twelve | #1,188 | #1,479 |
| kampaf /kamp/nl /kɑmp/ | camp | #1,223 | #1,579 |
| drankaf /ˈdrɐŋk/nl /drɑŋk/ | beverage, drink | #1,233 | #1,664 |
| invloedaf /ˈənflut/nl /ˈɪn.vlut/ | influence | #1,283 | #1,858 |
| twintigaf /ˈtwəntəχ/nl /ˈtʋɪn.təx/ | twenty | #1,356 | #1,618 |
| steraf /stɛr/nl [stɛ̈ə̆r̠] | star | #1,409 | #1,545 |
| slot/slɔt/ | lock | #1,422 | #1,397 |
| slaapkameraf /ˈslɑːpˌkɑː.mər/nl /ˈslaːpˌkaː.mər/ | bedroom | #1,439 | #1,910 |
| volledigaf /fɔledəχ/nl /vɔˈleː.dəx/ | complete | #1,479 | #1,061 |
| restaurantaf /rɛstʊə̯ˈrant/nl /rɛstoːˈrɑnt/ | restaurant | #1,496 | #1,376 |
| energieaf /ɛnərˈxi/nl /ˌeː.nərˈʒi/ | energy | #1,699 | #1,242 |
| keelaf /kiə̯l/nl /keːl/ | throat | #1,768 | #1,986 |
| klantaf /klant/nl /klɑnt/ | customer, client | #1,802 | #1,619 |
| honderdaf [ɦɔn.dərt]nl /ˈɦɔn.dərt/ | hundred | #1,859 | #1,583 |
The speaker plays the voice the LangX app uses for that language — synthesised, not a native speaker, so treat it as a guide.
The overlap is the easy part.
The rest comes from using it with someone who speaks it.