List of English words of Afrikaans origin


Words of Afrikaans origin have entered other languages. British English has absorbed Afrikaans words primarily via British soldiers who served in the Boer Wars. Many more words have entered common usage in South African English due to the parallel nature of the English and Afrikaner cultures in South Africa. Afrikaans words have unusual spelling patterns.
Most of these words describe the African flora, fauna or landscape.

Internationally common

Afrikaans common names for plants and animals often entered the English vernacular:
There are also several English words derived from Cape Dutch, a forerunner of Afrikaans:
There are almost innumerable borrowings from Afrikaans in South African English.