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Afrikaans is a beautiful language that is spoken by over 15 million people around the world. It originated in South Africa as a result of the arrival of European colonists.
European colonists came to Cape Town to establish the Dutch East India Company. This was the start of slavery in South Africa and slave trading. Afrikaans came to be the way of communication between the European settlers, who were mostly Dutch, and the slaves who were mostly Malays and the San people of South Africa.
This language is very similar to Dutch as it was considered a Dutch dialect in the past. Now, Afrikaans is one of the official languages in South Africa and is also spoken in Namibia, Swaziland, and other parts of the world.
Its resemblance to Dutch — which shares a lot of similarities with English — makes Afrikaans easy to learn for English speakers. Plus, there are several books to learn Afrikaans that make the process easier.
If you’re ready to claim fluency in this language, here are the 8 best books to learn Afrikaans. Let’s get started!
Top books to learn Afrikaans
1. Colloquial Afrikaans: The Complete Course for Beginners
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There’s a reason why I started this list with this book specifically. It’s one of the best books for beginners to guide you through learning the basics of the language. This course provides you with progressive coverage of the essential skills you need for listening, speaking, reading, and writing Afrikaans.
Grammar can be challenging for some people. Luckily, this course follows a well-structured, jargon-free approach to learning grammar.
The best thing about this course is that it’s more than just a book to read. The book contains exercises so you can practice and test yourself during your learning experience.
To take full advantage of this course, it’s recommended to purchase either the CD or the MP3 for the audio exercise and dialogues. You can also access pronunciation exercises online.
On top of all that, you can find additional materials at the end of the book, such as a grammar summary, full answer key, and glossaries.
Key features:
- No prior knowledge of the language needed
- Includes vocabulary list at the end of each chapter
- Audio learning and practice exercises are available
2. Teach Yourself Afrikaans: A Complete Course for Beginners
- Amazon Kindle Edition
This is the 2012 version of this book, which is the completely revised and updated edition of the Teach Yourself Afrikaans 2005 version.
What’s great about this book is that it’s written specifically for students of Afrikaans language, whether in the classroom or for self-taught students. It’s a beginner-friendly book that focuses on introducing you to the syntax, grammar, and vocabulary of the language with no previous knowledge of the language needed.
This edition of Teach Yourself Afrikaans includes examples and exercises for a better understanding of the language. Also, you can find a dedicated section for pronunciation.
Key features:
- Illustrated with examples and practice exercises
- Suitable for beginners
- A dedicated section for pronunciation
3. Complete Afrikaans Beginner to Intermediate Book and Audio Course
As you can see from the name of this book, it’s perfect for beginners looking to transition to the intermediate level.
The best thing about Complete Afrikaans is that it’s structured to focus mostly on communication. It equips you with the needed skills to deal with everyday situations where you need to interact with native speakers.
You’ll find easy-to-follow grammar building blocks, useful vocabulary, everyday dialogues, and pronunciation tips. Simply put, you’ll find everything you need to interact in Afrikaans fluently in this book.
The author claims that by the end of this book, you’ll be at Level B2 of the Common European Framework for Languages. The book also includes in-book and online tests and a CD to make the best out of your learning experience.
Key features:
- Suitable for beginner and intermediate levels
- Most of its emphasis is placed on communication
- In-book and online tests are included as well as a CD for the best learning experience
4. Afrikaans Language: The Afrikaans Phrasebook
Phrasebooks are indispensable when it comes to learning a new language. Whether you’re a complete beginner or you speak the language confidently, a good phrasebook will get you to a better level.
This phrasebook contains the most common phrases and expressions. All of them are translated into English with labeled stress to help you pronounce the words.
I recommend this book as an extra way to learn and add new phrases and expressions to your Afrikaans dictionary. However, I don’t think you should rely solely on it. Pair with a book that discusses grammar and other technical aspects of the language to get a holistic experience.
Key features:
- Includes the common phrases and expressions
- English translation is available for every expression
- Labeled stress to help you with pronunciations
5. 50 Languages – Afrikaans for Beginners
This multilingual book is good for beginners to learn new words and phrases to strengthen their Afrikaans. It also includes grammar lessons in addition to covering many day-to-day situations.
While the book doesn’t contain any practice exercises, 50 Languages offers a comprehensive Afrikaan course that includes tests and games for better understanding.
50 Languages started as an app for learning 50 languages, and they also publish books for self-learning. This textbook, combined with the online platform of 50 Languages, can help beginners gain a strong foundation on Afrikaans.
Key features:
- Complemenrs the 50 Languages app and website
- Strengthens learner’s vocabulary and phrases
- Includes lessons for grammar learning
6. My First Afrikaans Alphabets Picture Book
Kids deserve to learn a new language too, so I decided to add this picture book for those who are looking for a book to teach their kids Afrikaan.
This book focuses mainly on teaching the alphabet and some simple words related to each letter. It combines both words with pictures to keep your kids interested while learning.
With the help of this book, you’ll also be able to teach your kid to write the alphabet. I think this book is great to combine with a couple of stories in Afrikaans to help your kid like the language. And because it’s designed for young learners, it would make for an interesting intro to beginners, too.
Key features:
- Teaches kids alphabet and simple words
- A picture book for better understanding and more fun
- Includes English translation for the words
7. Afrikaans Vocabulary for English Speakers – 9000 WordsÂ
I know this isn’t a textbook or workbook to learn Afrikaans; it’s a dictionary. However, this Afrikaans edition of 9000 Words is not a typical dictionary.
This book is organized by topics, not in alphabetical order as it normally is. This is a great way to learn the necessary vocabulary for certain situations and how to use them.
Learning lots of vocabulary is essential for learning any new language, and Afrikaans isn’t an exception. As this book’s name makes clear, it includes 9,000 words, which should be more than enough for a beginner or intermediate learner.
Imagine learning only half of these words — you’ll know enough to express your thoughts in Afrikaans in a clear way!
Key features:
- Best for vocabulary building
- Organized according to categories, such as clothes, food, etc
- Suitable for beginner to advanced levels
8. Learn Afrikaans for Beginners
Part travel guidebook, part phrasebook, this book by Shuk Institute aims to give you a well-rounded understanding of Afrikaans. This means you will not be merely learning words and phrases but also getting a good grasp of the culture and history of South Africa.
With this book, you’ll learn letters, sounds, numbers, primary conversation starters, how to express emotions in Afrikaans, common questions when traveling, fun facts about South Africa, and more.
Since this book is uniquely written for travelers, it contains many essential words and phrases that you’ll likely need while traveling. But even if you don’t have plans to travel to South Africa or other Afrikaans-speaking places yet, you’ll still find this guide useful.
Key features:
- Ideal for travelers and beginners who want a solid introduction to Afrikaans
- 13 chapters of useful vocabulary and basic grammar lessons
- Includes facts about Afrikaans and South African history
Final thoughts
While there aren’t many books to learn Afrikaans for English speakers (compared to other languages), these books meet the needs of many learners.
I recommend you start with Colloquial Afrikaans: The Complete Course for Beginners and pair it with a good app to learn Afrikaans. I believe the book offers everything an absolute beginner needs to learn Afrikaans. Good luck!