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

2. Jagluiperd
Direct translation: Hunting lazy horse
Actual meaning: cheetah

3. Keelvol
Direct translation: full throat
Actual meaning: sick of it all

4. Knormoer
Direct translation: Growl nut
Actual meaning: starter motor

5. Klapkassie
Direct translation: Little Flap cupboard
Actual meaning: cubby hole

6. Kameelperd
Direct translation: Camel horse
Actual meaning: Giraffe

7. Kattekwaad
Direct translation: Cats mischief
Actual meaning: getting up to no good

8. Koggelmannetjie
Direct translation: teasing little man
Actual meaning: a male rock lizard

9. Luiperd
Direct translation: Lazy horse
Actual meaning: Leopard

10. Laatlammetjie
Direct translation: late lamb
Actual meaning: a child born many years after its siblings

11. Padkos
Direct translation: road food
Actual meaning: Southern African snacks and provisions for a journey

12. Perdeby
Direct translation: horse fly
Actual meaning: wasp

13. Pletterpet
Direct translation: falling hat
Actual meaning: helmet

14. Papier vampier
Direct translation: paper vampire
Actual meaning: 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

16. Trapsuutjie
Direct translation: step softly
Actual meaning: chameleon

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17. Verkykers
Direct translation: far lookers
Actual meaning: binoculars

18. Vergrootglas
Direct translation: making big glass
Actual meaning: magnifying glass

18.1. Vlakvark
Direct translation: flat face pig
Actual meaning: warthog

You might like: Die Onooglike Vlakvark – Why the Warthog is on his Knees
19. Windmeulvliegtuig
Direct translation: wind mill flying plane
Actual meaning: helicopter

20. Ystervark
Direct translation: iron pig
Actual meaning: porcupine

Nou in Afrikaans, geliefde kinderboeke:

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A Journey through the Medieval City of Sighisoara.
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