Afrikaans Genealogical Word List
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
This list contains Afrikaans words with their English translations. The words included here are those that you are likely to find in genealogical sources. If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a Afrikaans-English dictionary. Afrikaans is a Germanic language derived from several European languages, primarily Dutch. Many of the words resemble Dutch, Flemish, and German words. Consequently, the German Genealogical Word List and Dutch Genealogical Word List may also be useful to you. Some Afrikaans records contain Latin words. See the Latin Genealogical Word List. Afrikaans is spoken in South Africa and Namibia and by many families who live in other countries in eastern and southern Africa, especially in Zimbabwe. Most early South African records are written in Dutch, while a smaller number are written in French and German. After 1795 many were written in English. Afrikaans did not become an official language until 1925. Afrikaans and English are now the official languages of South Africa. Seventeen official African languages are also spoken.
Language Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Variant Forms of Words[edit | edit source]
In Afrikaans, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in a sentence. Who—whose—whom and marry— marries—married are examples of words in English with variant forms. This word list gives the standard form of each Afrikaans word. As you read Afrikaans records, you will need to be aware that some words vary with usage.
The endings of words in a document also may differ from what you find in this list. For example, the suffix -es is added to words to indicate a feminine form of the word. In Afrikaans, which incorporates many elements of Dutch and German, some words are formed by joining two or more words together. Very few of these compound words are included in this list. You will need to look up each part of the word separately.For example, Geboortedag is a combination of two words, Geboorte (birth) and Dag (day).
Alphabetical Order[edit | edit source]
Written Afrikaans uses a basic English alphabet order. Most Afrikaans dictionaries and indexes as well as the FamilySearch Catalog use the following alphabetical order:
a b c* d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
- *The letter c was used in place-names and personal names but not in general Afrikaans words until 1985. The letters ê, ë, and ô are also used in some Afrikaans words.
If an ’n appears with a word, it indicates the English article a or an. For example, rak, ’n means a rack. Rok, ’n means a dress.
This word list is alphabetized according to English alphabetical order.
In Afrikaans indexes of surnames or of places, it is important to note that prefixes such as van der, de, or ter, and so forth are considered in alphabetization.For example, De Wetsdorp would come before van de Merwe or v/d Merwe.
Spelling[edit | edit source]
Spelling rules were not standardized in earlier centuries. Words were written as they sounded. The following letters could be interchanged:
- b used for p
- s used for z
- d used for t
- t used for d or dt
- i used for j
- v used for w or f
- p used for b
- y used for i or j
Additional Resources[edit | edit source]
This word list includes only the words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a Afrikaans-English dictionary. At the Family History Library, you can find these dictionaries in the AFR./MIDEAST collection. The call numbers begin with 439.36321. You can also find them by looking in the FamilySearch Catalog.
In the Subject Search, look under AFRIKAANS LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES.
In the Locality Search, look under SOUTH AFRICA - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES.
Key Words[edit | edit source]
To find and use specific types of Afrikaans records, you will need to know some key words in Afrikaans. This section gives key genealogical terms in English and the Afrikaans words with the same or similar meanings. For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriage. In the second column you will find Afrikaans words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined, and other words used in Afrikaans records to indicate marriage.
Genealogical Words[edit | edit source]
| English | Afrikaans |
|---|---|
| baptism | doop, gedoop |
| Baptist | Doper |
| birth | gebore, geboorte |
| burial | begrafnis, begrawe |
| Catholic | Katoliek |
| Roman Catholic | Rooms Katoliek |
| census | bevolking, sensusopname, volkstelling |
| child | kind, kinders |
| christening | see baptism |
| civil registration | burgerlikeregistrasie |
| death | dood, gestorwe, oorlede, sterfgeval |
| father | pa, vader |
| husband | eggenoot, man |
| index | indeks, inhoudsopgave, tafel, voorsien, wyser |
| Jewish | Jode, Joods |
| marriage/ marriages | Huwelik, huwelike, trouwe |
| Mennonite | Wederdoper |
| military | Krygskunde, Krygsmag, landmag, militêr |
| month | maand |
| mother | ma, moeder |
| name, given | doopnaam, gegewe naam, voornaam |
| name, surname | bynaam, familie naam, van parent, parents ouer, ouers |
| parish | gemeente, gemeentegebied, parogie |
| Protestant | protestant |
| wife | eggenote, huisvrou, vrou |
| year | jaar |
Numbers[edit | edit source]
In some genealogical records, numbers are spelled out. This is especially true with dates. The following list gives the cardinal (for example, 1, 2, 3) and the ordinal (for example, 1st, 2nd, 3rd) versions of each number. Days of the month are written in ordinal form.
| Cardinal | Ordinal | ||
| 1 | een | 1st | eerste |
| 2 | twee | 2nd | tweede |
| 3 | drie | 3rd | derde |
| 4 | vier | 4th | vierde |
| 5 | vyf | 5th | vyfde |
| 6 | ses | 6th | sesde |
| 7 | sewe | 7th | sewende |
| 8 | agt | 8th | agste |
| 9 | nege | 9th | negende |
| 10 | tien | 10th | tiende |
| 11 | elf | 11th | elfde |
| 12 | twaalf | 12th | twaalfde |
| 13 | dertien | 13th | dertiende |
| 14 | veertien | 14th | veertiende |
| 15 | vyftien | 15th | vyftiende |
| 16 | sestien | 16th | sestiende |
| 17 | sewentien | 17th | sewentiende |
| 18 | agtien | 18th | agtiende |
| 19 | negetien | 19th | negentiende |
| 20 | twintig | 20th | twintigste |
| 21 | ee-en-twintig | 21th | een-en-twintigste |
| 22 | twee-en-twintig | 22th | twee-en-twintigste |
| 23 | drie-en-twintig | 23th | drie-en-twintigste |
| 24 | vier-en-twintig | 24th | vier-en-twintigste |
| 25 | vyf-en-twintig | 25th | vyf-en-twintigste |
| 26 | ses-en-twintig | 26th | ses-en-twintigste |
| 27 | sewe-en-twintig | 27th | sewe-en-twintigste |
| 28 | agt-en-twintig | 28th | agt-en-twintigste |
| 29 | nege-en-twintig | 29th | nege-en-twintigste |
| 30 | dertig | 30th | dertigste |
| 31 | ee-en-dertig | 31st | een-en-dertigste |
| 40 | veertig | 40th | veertigste |
| 50 | vyftig | 50th | vyftigste |
| 60 | sestig | 60th | sestigse |
| 70 | sewentig | 70th | sewentigste |
| 80 | tagtig | 80th | tagtigste |
| 90 | negentig | 90th | negentigste |
| 100 | eenhonderd | 100th | eenhonderdste |
| 200 | tweehonderd | 200th | tweehonderdste |
| 1000 | eenduisend | 1000th | eenduisendste |
Dates and Time[edit | edit source]
In early Afrikaans records and in records kept in Dutch or German, dates were often spelled out. For example:
- Afrikaans. Donderdag,drie en twintig maart in die jaar van ons Heer een duisend agt honderd en sesendertig(Thursday,three and twenty March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six and thirty)
- Dutch. Donderdag, drie en twintig maart in het jaar van onse heer een duizend acht hondert en zesendertig (Thursday, three and twenty March, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred six and thirty)
- German. Donnerstag, den drei und zwanzigsten märz achtzehnhundert sechs und dreißig (Thursday, the 23rd of March, eighteen hundred six and thirty)
To understand Afrikaans dates, use the following lists as well as the preceding “Numbers” section.
Months[edit | edit source]
| English | Afrikaans | ||
| I | January | Januarie | |
| II | February | Februarie | |
| III | March | Maart | |
| IV | April | April | |
| V | May | Mei | |
| VI | June | Junie | |
| VII | July | Julie | |
| VIII | August | Augustus | |
| IX | September | September | 7ber, 7bris |
| X | October | Oktober | 8ber, 8bris |
| XI | November | November | 9ber, 9bris |
| XII | December | Desember | 10ber, 10bris, Xber, Xbris |
Days of the Week[edit | edit source]
| English | Afrikaans |
| Sunday | Sondag |
| Monday | Maandag |
| Tuesday | Dinsdag |
| Wednesday | Woensdag |
| Thursday | Dondersdag |
| Friday | Vrydag |
| Saturday | Saterdag |
Times of the Day[edit | edit source]
Afrikaans (and German- and Dutch-language) birth and death records often indicated the exact time of day when the birth or death occurred. This is usually written out.
| Afrikaans | English |
| dertig minute | thirty minutes (half hour) |
| drie uur | three o'clock |
| een uur | one o'clock |
| half een | half one or 12:30 |
| half twee | half two or 1:30 |
| laat | late (9p.m.) |
| middag | at noon |
| middernag | at midnight |
| namiddag | in the midafternoon |
| oggend | in the midmorning |
| saans | in the evening |
| smiddags | in the afternoon |
| snags | in the night |
| soggens | in the morning |
| twee uur | two o'clock |
| uur | hour |
| voormiddag | in the forenoon |
| vroeg | early (a.m.) |
General Word List[edit | edit source]
This general word list includes words commonly seen in genealogical sources. Numbers, months, and days of the week are listed both here and in separate sections that follow this list. In this list, optional versions of Afrikaans words or variable endings (such as some plural or feminine endings), are given in parentheses. Parentheses in the English column clarify the definition.
In Afrikaans some words have both a male and female form, such as:
| Diaken | male deacon |
| Diakenes | female deacon |
| Onderwyser | male teacher |
| Onderwyseres | female teacher |
When a word has both a male and female version, this word list gives the masculine form of the word. The feminine form of the word will end with an es.
|
A[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| aan | to |
| aand | evening |
| aangenome naam | alias |
| aangeneem | adopted |
| aanneem | adopt ( a child) |
| aanstaande | betrothed, future spouse, next |
| aarde | earth (buried in) |
| aardrykskundige | gazetteer |
| woordeboek | dictionary |
| advokaat | advocate, lawyer |
| afskrif(te) | duplicate, transcript |
| ag, agt | eight |
| agste | eighth |
| agt-en-twintig | twenty-eight |
| agt-en-twintigste | twenty-eighth |
| agterkleindogter | great-granddaughter |
| agterkleinkind | great-grandchild |
| agterkleinseun | great-grandson |
| agtien | eighteen |
| agtiende | eighteenth |
| albei | both |
| alias | alias, known as, otherwise |
| alleen | alone, single |
| alles | all, everything |
| altyd | always |
| ambagsman | artisan, tradesman, workman |
| amptenaar | official |
| ander (s) | different, other (s) |
| anders genoem | alias, also known as, differently called |
| Apostolies | Apostolic |
| April | April |
| arbeider | laborer |
| argief | archive |
| asma | asthma |
| Augutus | August |
B[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| baba | baby |
| bakker | baker |
| bedelaar | beggar |
| bekendmaking | declaration |
| bedrag | fee, amount (of money) |
| bedryf | occupation, trade |
| begraafplass | cemetery |
| begrafnis | burial, funeral |
| begrawe | to bury |
| behoeftig | indigent, needy |
| behoort | belongs |
| beide | both |
| bejaarde | aged |
| bekende | acquaintance |
| belasting | tax |
| belastingheffer | tax collector |
| Belgie | Belgium |
| Belgies | Belgian |
| beroep | occupation |
| beroerte | apoplexy, stroke |
| beskrywing | description |
| betrekking | concerning, in relation to, position (employment) |
| betuiging | giving (as in giving thanks or legal testimony) |
| bevestiging | confirmation |
| bevolking | population |
| bewys | evidence, proof |
| binnekant | inside |
| biografie | biography |
| bisdom | diocese |
| blad (sy) | page |
| bloeding | bleeding, hemorrhage |
| bloedverwant | blood relative or kinsman |
| bloei | bleeding |
| boek | book |
| boer | farmer |
| boerearbeider | farmhand (laborer) |
| boerekneg | farmworker |
| boot | boat, barge, ship |
| bosbouer | forester, warden |
| boswagter | forester |
| bo | above, on top of |
| broer(s) | brother (s) |
| brouer | brewer |
| bruid | bride |
| bruidegom | bridegroom |
| buitekant | outside |
| buitendien | besides |
| burgemeester | mayor |
| burger | citizen |
| burgerskap | citizenship |
| buurman | neighbor |
| buurt | neighborhood |
| byna | almost, nearly |
| bynaam | nickname |
| byvrou | concubine |
C[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| Christelik | Christianlike, religious |
| Christen | Christian |
D[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| daagliks | daily |
| daar | there |
| dag | day |
| dagloner | day laborer |
| dat | that (to know) |
| dateer | to date (document) |
| datum | date |
| deel, deel van | volume, part of |
| Deen (s) | Dane, Danish |
| derde | third |
| dertien (de) | thirteen (th) |
| dertig (ste) | thirty (thirtieth) |
| Desember | December |
| deur | by, through |
| diarree | diarrhea |
| die | the |
| diens | duty, in service of |
| diensbode (archaic) | courier, domestic servant |
| dienskneg | domestic servant |
| diensmeisie | maid |
| dikwels | frequently, often |
| Dinsdag | Tuesday |
| disenteri | dysentery |
| dogter (tjie) | daughter (little daughter or girl) |
| dominee | minister |
| Donderdag | Thursday |
| dood | dead, death |
| dood gebore | stillborn |
| doop | baptism, christening |
| doopregister | baptism register |
| Doper | Baptist |
| dorp | town, village |
| drie | three |
| drie-en-twintig | twenty-three |
| drie-an-twintigste | twenty-third |
| duisend (ste) | thousand (th) |
| Duits (er) | German |
| Duitsland | Germany |
| duplikaat | duplicate |
E[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| edel | nobility |
| edelman | nobleman |
| een | one |
| eenduisend | one thousand |
| eenduisendste | one thousandth |
| een-en-dertig | thirty-one |
| een-endertigste | thirty-first |
| een-en-twintig | twenty-one |
| een-entwintigste | twenty-first |
| eenhonderd | one hundred |
| eenhonderdste | one hundredth |
| eenjarig | annual, yearly |
| eerder | before, previously |
| eergister | day before yesterday |
| eerlik(e) | honest |
| eerste | first |
| eertyds | formerly |
| eeu | century |
| eg(verbintenis) | marriage, matrimony |
| egbreekster | adulteress |
| egbreker | adulterer |
| eggenoot | husband, spouse |
| eggenote | spouse, wife |
| egpaar | married couple |
| egskeiding | divorce |
| egteliede (archaic) | married couple |
| eienaar | owner, proprietor |
| eiland | island |
| elf (de) | eleven (th) |
| elke | each, every |
| emigrant | emigrant |
| emigrasie papiere | emigration papers |
| emigreer | to emigrate |
| en | and |
| Engelse | Englishwoman (Englanders) |
| Engelsman | Englishman |
| Engels vertaal | English (language) |
| enig(e) | any, only |
| erf(e)nis | inheritance |
| Evangelies | Evangelical |
F[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| fabriek | factory |
| familie | family, relatives |
| familiegeskiedenis | family history |
| familielid | family member |
| familienaam | family name, surname |
| familiewapen | coat of arms |
| Februarie | February |
| Frans | French |
G[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| geboorte | birth |
| geboortebewys | birth certificate |
| geboorteplaas (-plek) | birth place, place of birth |
| gebore | born, born (maiden name),née |
| gebore te | born at, native of |
| gedoen | done |
| gedoop | christened |
| gee | bestow, give |
| geelsug | jaundice |
| geen | none |
| gehad | had |
| gehude | married person |
| geld | money |
| geloof | religion |
| gelyk | the same, similar |
| gemeenskap | community, township |
| gemeente | congregation, parish |
| genaamd | called, named |
| genealogie | genealogy |
| Gereformeerd | Calvinist Reformed |
| geseën | blessed |
| gesin | family (immediate) |
| geskei | divorced |
| geskenk | gift, present |
| geskiedenis | history |
| geslag | gender, sex |
| geslagboom | family tree, pedigree |
| gesterf | died |
| gestorwe | deceased, died without issue (sonder nageslag) |
| geswel | growth, swollen, tumor |
| gesworene | juror |
| getroud | married |
| getui(e) | deponent |
| getuienis (se) | witness (es) |
| gewees | former |
| gister | yesterday |
| godsdiens | religion |
| Godswil | God's will |
| goed | good, right (it is OK) |
| goiingsak | Hessian |
| graff | earl (England), count (continental) |
| grafgrawer | gravedigger, sexton |
| grens | border, boundary |
| groet | greet, greeting |
| grondbesitter (archaic) | aristocrat |
| grondeienaar | property owner |
| groot | big, great, large |
| groothandelaar | merchant, trader, wholesaler |
| grootoom | grand-uncle, great-uncle |
| grootouer | grandparent |
| groottante | grand-aunt, great-aunt |
| gulden (archaic) | guilder (unit of money) |
H[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| haar | her, hers (hair-singular) |
| half, halwe | half |
| halfbroer | half brother |
| halfsuster | half sister |
| handel | occupation, trade |
| handlanger | farmhand, laborer |
| handtekening | signature |
| hardlywig | constipation |
| hê | to have |
| heeltemal | altogether, entirely |
| heer | gentleman |
| Heer | Here the Lord |
| herberger | innkeeper, landlord |
| herder | herdsman, shepherd |
| herfs | Autumn |
| hertog | duke |
| hertogdom | duchy |
| hertogin | duchess |
| Hervormde | reformed |
| het | to have |
| heuwel | hill |
| hier | here, of this place |
| hoe | how |
| hoekom | why |
| hoer | harlot, prostitute |
| Hollandse gulden | guilder (unit of money) |
| huishulp | domestic servant |
| hulle | their, they |
| huwelik | marriage |
| huweliksdag | day of marriage |
| huweliksfees | wedding reception |
I[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| immigrant | immigrant |
| immigrasie | immigration |
| immigreer | immigrate |
| in | in |
| inhoud | contents |
| inhoudsopgawer | index |
| inwoner | inhabitant |
| is | is |
| Italiaans | Italian |
J[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| jaar | year |
| jaarliks | annual, yearly |
| jagter | hunter |
| Januarie | January |
| jare | years |
| jig (pondagra) | gout |
| jong | young |
| jong(e) | boy (archaic), young man |
| jongeling | unmarried, youth (archaic), young man (archaic) |
| jongkêrel | young man |
| Jood | Jew |
| Joodse | Jewish |
| juffrou | miss, unmarried lady |
| Julie | July |
| Junie | June |
K[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| kamer | room (in a house) |
| kan | can, could |
| kanaal | canal |
| kanker | cancer |
| kasteel | castle |
| katoliek | Catholic |
| keiserlik | imperial |
| keiserryk | empire |
| kerk | church |
| kerkboek | churchbook |
| kerkgenoodskap | denomination, sect |
| kerkhof | cemetery |
| kerklik | churchly, ecclesiastical |
| kerkraad | church council |
| kerkvoog | churchwarden |
| kind | child |
| kinders | children |
| kinkhoes | whooping cough |
| klein | small, little |
| kleindogter | granddaughter |
| kleiner | smaller |
| kleinseun | grandson |
| klerehandelaar | outfitter |
| kleremaker | tailor |
| km | kilometer |
| kneg | servant |
| koetsier | coachman |
| konfirmasie | confirmation |
| koning | king |
| koningin | queen |
| koningkryk | kingdom |
| koninglike | royal |
| koop | to buy |
| koopman | dealer, merchant, wholesaler |
| koperslaer (archaic) | coppersmith |
| kopersmid | coppersmith |
| kopie | copy |
| koster | sexton |
| kraambed | childbed (died in childbirth), maternity bed |
| kraambedkoors | puerperal fever |
| kramer (archaic) | haberdasher, hawker, pedlar |
| kry | to receive |
| kuiper | cooper |
| kwaal | complaint, disease |
| kwaliteit | quality |
L[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| lasste | last, latter |
| lasste tyd | lately |
| laat | late (P.M.) |
| laken | sheet |
| land | country, land |
| landbouer (boer) | farmer |
| landgoed | estate |
| landkaart | map |
| landverhuiser (archaic) | emigrant |
| lê | to lie down |
| leeftyd | lifetime |
| leerling | apprentice, pupil |
| leg (archaic) | to place, to put |
| lente | spring (season) |
| lewe | to live |
| lewend | living |
| lewensbeskrywing | biography |
| lid | member |
| lidmaat | member |
| lismaatskap | membership |
| linker | left (directional) |
| linnewewer | clothier, linen weaver |
| lynslaer | rope |
M[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| Maagd | maiden, virgin |
| maagkoors | typhoid |
| maagongesteldheid | diarrhea |
| maand | month |
| Maandag | Monday |
| maar | but |
| Maart | March (month) |
| mag | may, might have |
| makelaar | broker |
| man | husband, man |
| manlik | male |
| mark | market |
| masels | measles |
| meer | moor or lake |
| meerderjarig | come of legal age |
| Mei | May (month) |
| meise | girl |
| melkery, melkfabriek | dairy, milk factory |
| meneer | Mr., Sir |
| meng | mingle, mix |
| messelaar | bricklayer, mason |
| met | with |
| met | name alias, named |
| meubelmaker | furniture maker |
| meul | mill |
| middag | midday, afternoon |
| middernag | midnight |
| militêr | military |
| minderjarige | minor, below legal age |
| minnares | mistress |
| mis | to miss, mist |
| miskien | maybe, perhaps |
| moeder | mother |
| moet | must |
| mondig verklaring | declaration of legal age |
| môre | morning, tomorrow |
| morg | morgen (unit of land measure--about two acres) |
| myl | mile |
| mynwerker | miner |
N[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| na | after, near, to , toward |
| naaister | seamstress |
| naam | name |
| naas | beside, next to |
| nag | night |
| nagmaal | communion |
| namiddag | afternoon |
| Nederduitse Gereformeerd | Dutch Reformed |
| Nederduitse Gereformeerd kerk | Dutch Reformed Church |
| nederig | humble, lowly, modest |
| Nederlands | Dutch, Netherlands |
| nee | no |
| neef | male cousin, nephew |
| neersit | to place, put |
| nege | nine |
| nege-en-twintig | twenty-nine |
| nege-en-twintigste | twenty-ninth |
| negende | ninth |
| negentien | nineteen |
| negentiende | nineteenth |
| negentig | ninety |
| negentigste | ninetieth |
| neger | Negro |
| net | only |
| niggie | niece, female cousin |
| niks | none, nothing |
| nil | zero (0) |
| noem | to name, christen, to be called by |
| nog | still, yet |
| nommer | number |
| nooit | never |
| noord | north |
| Noors | Norwegian |
| notaris | notary |
| November | November |
| nuut | new |
O[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| of | of |
| oggend | in the midafternoon |
| Oktober | October |
| om dat | at, because of |
| onbekend | unknown |
| onder | under |
| ondergetekende | undersigned |
| onderwyser | male teacher |
| onderwyseres | female teacher |
| onegte | illegitimate |
| ongetroud | single, unmarried |
| ongetroude dogter | unmarried daughter |
| ongeveer | about, approximately, nearly |
| onmiddelik | immediately, right away |
| onmondig | minor, underage |
| ons | our, us, we, ounce |
| ontvang (er) | received (receiver) |
| onwettig | illegal |
| ook | also |
| ook bekend | as, alias |
| oom | uncle |
| oor | beyond, over, ear |
| ooreenkoms | agreement, contract |
| oorkonde | documents, records |
| oorlede | dead, deceased |
| oorlewende | survivor |
| oorneming | to take over |
| oorskryf | rewrite, transfer |
| oos | east |
| op | on, upon |
| opgetree | to make an appearance |
| op hoë leeftyd | at a great (old) age |
| opklim | staircase, step, to climb |
| opmerking | remarks |
| opreg | genuine, honest |
| opsiener | guardian |
| opsigter | overseer |
| organisasie | organization, society |
| oud | old (age) |
| ouderdom | age |
| oudste | eldest |
| ouers | parents |
| ouma | grandmother |
| oumagrootjie | great-grandmother |
| oupa | grandfather |
| oupagrootjie | great-grandfather |
P[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| paas | Easter |
| pag | lease |
| palatinaat | Palatinate |
| parogie (archaic) | parish |
| parogie registrasie (archaic) | parish register |
| pastoor | minister, pastor, priest |
| patron | employer, master, patron saint |
| patroon | cartridge, pattern, template |
| peet | godfather, godparent |
| peetmoeder | godmother |
| peetouers | godparents |
| peetpa | godfather |
| pensionering | retirement |
| pes | plague |
| plaas | farm, in place of, place |
| planter | planter of soil |
| pokke | smallpox |
| pondagra | gout |
| Pools | Polish |
| portier | porter |
| Portugees | Portuguese |
| predikant | clergyman, minister |
| priester | Priest |
| prins | prince |
| prinses | princess |
| protestant | Protestant |
| protokol | protocol |
| provinsiaal | provincial |
| provenisie | province |
| pruis | Prussian |
| publiseer | publish |
R[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| raad | council |
| reg | right, correct |
| regering | administration, government |
| register | register (book) |
| registrasie | registration |
| registrateur | registrar |
| registreer | to register |
| regter | judge, justice |
| regterkant | right side (directional) |
| regterlik | judicial |
| rekening | account |
| retireer | to retire (archaic), to retreat, to withdraw |
| rivier | river |
| roede | cane, rod |
| rond | round |
| rooivonk (archaic) | scarlet fever |
| Rooms Katoliek | Roman Catholic |
| ruim | spacious |
| Rus | Russian |
| ryk | rich, wealthy |
S[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| saam | together |
| saans | evening |
| sakser | Saxon |
| Saterdag | Saturday |
| seeman | sailor |
| seep | soap |
| selfde | same |
| sensus | census |
| September | September |
| sertificate | certificate |
| ses | six |
| sesde | sixth |
| ses-en-twintig | twenty-six |
| ses-en-twintigste | twenty-sixth |
| sestien | sixteen |
| sestiende | sixteenth |
| sestig | sixty |
| sestigste | sixtieth |
| seun | son |
| seuntjie | little son |
| sewe | seven |
| sewe-en-twintig | twenty-seven |
| sewe-en-twintigste | twenty-seventh |
| sewende | seventh |
| sewentien | seventeen |
| sewentiende | seventeenth |
| sewentig | seventy |
| sewentigste | seventieth |
| siekte | disease |
| sien | see |
| skaapherder (archaic) | shepherd |
| skarlakenkoors | scarlet fever |
| skenking | donations |
| skilder | painter |
| skip | ship |
| skipper | boatman, sea captain |
| skoenmaker | shoemaker |
| skool | school |
| skoondogter | daughter-in-law |
| skoonseun | son-in-law |
| skoonsuster | sister-in-law |
| skrifgeleerde | scribe |
| skrynwerker | cabinetmaker, joiner |
| skuit | small boat |
| slag | blow, hit, slaughter, stroke (heart) |
| slagter | butcher |
| slegs | but, merely, only |
| sloot | ditch |
| slotmaker | locksmith |
| smid | blacksmith |
| smiddags | in the afternoon |
| smous | hawker, peddler |
| snags | in the night |
| soggens | in the morning |
| soldaat | soldier |
| somer | summer |
| soms | besides, sometimes |
| Sondag | Sunday |
| sonder | without |
| Spaans | Spanish |
| spoedig | quickly, soon, speedy |
| spruit | brrok, creek, stream |
| staat | state |
| stad | city, town |
| stamboek | genealogy register |
| steeds | always, still |
| stel | calibrate, put, to place |
| sterf | to die |
| straat | street |
| stroom | stream |
| suid | south |
| suster | sister |
| swaer | brother-in-law |
| swak | weak |
| swanger | pregnant |
| Sweeds | Swedish |
| sweer | abscess, boil |
| sweer | take an oath, to curse, to swear, vow |
| sweet | perspiration, sweat |
| swelling | swelling |
| Switser | Swiss |
T[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| taal | language |
| tafel | index, table |
| tagtig | eighty |
| tagtigste | eightieth |
| tante | aunt |
| te | at, to |
| teenoor | contrary, opposite |
| teraarde bestelling | burial |
| tering | tuberculosis |
| tesame | together |
| testament | last will, testament |
| tien | ten |
| tiende | tenth |
| tienjarige tafels | ten-year tables or indexes |
| tiental | decade |
| tifeus | typhoid |
| timmerman | carpenter |
| toekoms (tig) | future |
| toestaan | to allow, grant or permit |
| toestem | consent |
| toestemming | to give consent |
| touslaer | rope maker |
| trekker | emigrant |
| trou | to marry |
| trouboek | marriage book |
| troudag | day of marriage |
| tuin | garden, yard |
| tuinier | gardener |
| tuisland | home, homeland, native country |
| tussen | between |
| twaalf | twelve |
| twaalfde | twelfth |
| twee | two |
| tweede | second |
| twee-en-twentig | twenty-two |
| twee-en-twintigste | twenty-second |
| tweehonderd | two hundred |
| tweehonderdste | two hundredth |
| tweeling | twins |
| twintig | twenty |
| twintigste | twentieth |
| tyd | time |
| tydelik | temporary |
| tydskrif | magazine, periodical |
U[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| uit | from, out of |
| uiterlik | external, outward |
| uitreksel | extract |
| uur | hour |
V[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| vader | father |
| vallende siekte | epilepsy |
| van | surname |
| van | from, of |
| vandag | today |
| veeretien | fourteen |
| veertiende | fourteenth |
| veertig | forty |
| veertigste | fortieth |
| veewagter | herdsman |
| veld | field |
| verdrinking | drowning |
| vergunning | permission |
| verjaarsdag | birthday |
| verklaar | declare, explain |
| verklaring | declaration, explanation |
| verkondig | proclaim |
| verlede | past |
| verlof | leave, vacation |
| verloof | betrothal, engagement |
| verloofde | betrothed, engaged couple |
| verlowing | betrothal |
| verpanding | mortgaging, pawning, pledging |
| verskeie (archaic) | different, various |
| verskyn | appear |
| versoek | request |
| verstopping | constipation, obstruction |
| vertrek | apartment, room |
| vertrek | depart, to leave |
| verwanskap | relationship |
| verwant | related |
| verwer | painter |
| verwyder | dispose, get rid of, remove |
| vestig | to establish, settle |
| vesting | fortress, stronghold |
| vier | four |
| vierde | fourth |
| vier-en-twintig | twenty-four |
| vier-en-twintigste | twenty-fourth |
| visser | fisherman |
| vlei | marsh, swamp |
| volbreging | fulfillment |
| volbring | accomplish, perform |
| volgende | following, next |
| volgens | accordingly |
| volkstelling | census, population |
| volmagtig | authorize, give power of attorney |
| voltooi | to complete, finish |
| volwassen | adult |
| vondeling | foundling |
| voog | guardian |
| voor | before, furrow, in front of |
| voorafgaan | lead, led |
| voorafgaande | foregoing, preliminary |
| voorheen | formerly, in the past |
| voormeld | above mentioned, before |
| voormiddag | forenoon, morning |
| voornaam | given name |
| voorouer | ancestor |
| voorteken | omen, sign, symptom |
| voortrekker | pioneer |
| voorvader | ancestor, forefather |
| vorig | previous |
| vorige | former, previous |
| vormer | framer, molder |
| vorstedom | principality |
| votrekking | solemnization |
| vreemd | foreign, strange |
| vriend | friend |
| vroedmeester | male midwife |
| vroedvrou | midwife |
| vroeër | earlier, formerly |
| vroeg | early (A.M.) |
| vroegtydig | early, in good time |
| vrou | wife |
| vroulik | female |
| vryboer | yeoman |
| Vrydag | Friday |
| vrygesel | bachelor |
| vyf | five |
| vyfde | fifth |
| vyf-en-twintig | twenty-five |
| vyf-en-twintigste | twenty-fifth |
| vyftien | fifteen |
| vyftiende | fifteenth |
| vyftig | fifty |
| vyftigste | fiftieth |
W[edit | edit source]
| Afrikaans | English |
| wa | carriage, wagon |
| waar | where |
| waarheen | where to |
| wanneer | when |
| wapen | coat of arms, crest, weapon |
| warmbad | resort, spa |
| was | was, were |
| wat | what |
| watersug | dropsy |
| weduwer | widow |
| week | week |
| weeskamer | orphan chamber |
| weeskind | orphan |
| wes | west |
| wet | law |
| wethouer | alderman |
| wetlik | legal |
| wettig | lawful, legal |
| wewenaar | widower |
| wewer | weaver |
| wie | who |
| wielmaker | wheelwright |
| wil | want |
| wild | untamed, wild |
| winkelier | shopkeeper |
| winter | winter |
| wit | white |
| Woensdag | Wednesday |
| woning | residence |
| woon | reside |
| woonstrel | apartment |
| woordeboek | dictionary |
| word | to become |
| woud | forest, woodland |
| wyle | deceased, late |
Wiki articles decribing online collections are found at:
- South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives) - FamilySearch Historical Records
- South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
- Zimbabwe, Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
