20 Afrikaans words with interesting English literal translations

When learning a new language, some of the issues we encounter are translating those crafty closed compound words – combinations of two or more words that function as a single unit and mean something different than the individual words they are built from.

Aasvoël

Direct translation: bait bird

Actual meaning: vulture

Aasvoël - bait bird - vulture — Aasvoël – bait bird – vulture

2. Jagluiperd

Direct translation: Hunting lazy horse

Actual meaning: cheetah

Jagluiperd - lazy horse - cheetah — Jagluiperd – lazy horse – cheetah

Lees: Die blitsige, eensame Jagluiperd

3. Keelvol

Direct translation: full throat

Actual meaning: sick of it all

Keelvol - full throat - sick of it all — Keelvol – full throat – sick of it all

4. Knormoer

Direct translation: Growl nut

Actual meaning: starter motor

Knormoer - Growl nut - starter motor — Knormoer – Growl nut – starter motor

5. Klapkassie

Direct translation: Little Flap cupboard

Actual meaning: cubby hole

Klapkassie - Little Flap cupboard - cubby hole — Klapkassie – Little Flap cupboard – cubby hole

6. Kameelperd

Direct translation: Camel horse

Actual meaning: Giraffe

Kameelperd - Camel horse - Giraffe. Hello :) — Kameelperd – Camel horse – Giraffe

You might enjoy: Die Kameelperd – The Giraffe Who Reached for God, Story-time

7. Kattekwaad

Direct translation: Cats mischief

Actual meaning: getting up to no good

Kattekwaad - Cats mischief - getting up to no good — Kattekwaad – Cats mischief – getting up to no good

8. Koggelmannetjie

Direct translation: teasing little man

Actual meaning: a male rock lizard

Koggelmannetjie - teasing little man - a male rock lizard — Koggelmannetjie – teasing little man – a male rock lizard

9. Luiperd

Direct translation: Lazy horse

Actual meaning: Leopard

Luiperd - Lazy horse - Leopard. A translation with spots — Luiperd – Lazy horse – Leopard

10. Laatlammetjie

Direct translation: late lamb

Actual meaning: a child born many years after its siblings

Laatlammetjie - late lamb - a child born many years after its siblings. Family — Laatlammetjie – late lamb – a child born many years after its siblings

11. Padkos

Direct translation: road food

Actual meaning: Southern African snacks and provisions for a journey

padkos - road food - Southern African snacks and provisions for a journey. Culinary translations — padkos – road food – Southern African snacks and provisions for a journey

12. Perdeby

Direct translation: horse fly

Actual meaning: wasp

perdeby - horse fly - wasp. A literal translation that could sting. — perdeby – horse fly – wasp

13. Pletterpet

Direct translation: falling hat

Actual meaning: helmet

Pletterpet - falling hat - helmet, Afrikaans English literal translations — Pletterpet – falling hat – helmet

14. Papier vampier

Direct translation: paper vampire

Actual meaning: stapler

Papier vampier - paper vampire - stapler. Fun example of literal translations — Papier vampier – paper vampire – stapler

Note: papier vampier (papiervampier) is slang and is included in Mzansi Taal online dictionary.
More common names are “kramdrukker” (staple presser), “krammasjien” (staple machine) or “krambinder” (staple binder). But how boring they sound 🙂 isn’t it?
[Undated 30 June 2020]

15. Springmielies

Direct translation: Jumping corn

Actual meaning: popcorn

Springmielies - Jumping corn - popcorn. Afrikaans English literal translations — Springmielies – Jumping corn – popcorn

16. Trapsuutjie

Direct translation: step softly

Actual meaning: chameleon

Trapsuutjie - step softly - chameleon. Afrikaans English literal translations — Trapsuutjie – step softly – chameleon

You might like: Die Krokodil – How the Crocodile Got its Scaly Skin

17. Verkykers

Direct translation: far lookers

Actual meaning: binoculars

Verkykers - far lookers - binoculars. Afrikaans English literal translations — Verkykers – far lookers – binoculars

18. Vergrootglas

Direct translation: making big glass

Actual meaning: magnifying glass

Vergrootglas - making big glass - magnifying glass. Afrikaans English literal translations — Vergrootglas – making big glass – magnifying glass. Afrikaans English literal translations

18.1. Vlakvark

Direct translation: flat face pig

Actual meaning: warthog

vlakvark - warthog - flat face pig — Vlakvark – warthog – flat face pig

You might like: Die Onooglike Vlakvark – Why the Warthog is on his Knees

19. Windmeulvliegtuig

Direct translation: wind mill flying plane

Actual meaning: helicopter

Windmeulvliegtuig - wind mill flying plane - helicopter. Afrikaans English literal translations — Windmeulvliegtuig – wind mill flying plane – helicopter

20. Ystervark

Direct translation: iron pig

Actual meaning: porcupine

Ystervark - iron pig – porcupine -Afrikaans English literal translations — Ystervark – iron pig – porcupine. Afrikaans – English literal translations

Nou in Afrikaans, geliefde kinderboeke:

Die Leeu en die Hond

Die Jagluiperd en die Hond

Die Olifant en die Skaap

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