Afrikaans
Native Speakers: 7.2 million; L2 Speakers: 10.3 million
South Africa, Namibia
Official: South Africa
Indo-European, West Germanic
Known for its simplified grammar, it features no gendered nouns, verb conjugation by person, or case system. Afrikaans uses phonetic spelling, double negatives, and a direct, clear style. While most of its vocabulary comes from Dutch, it also includes words from Malay, Portuguese, indigenous African languages, and English. Its straightforward structure and rich idiomatic expressions make it both accessible and expressive.
Afrikaans has several regional dialects, including Western Cape Afrikaans, influenced by Malay and Khoisan languages; Northern Cape Afrikaans, spoken along the Orange River with unique rural traits; Eastern Cape Afrikaans, shaped by contact with Xhosa and English; and Standard Afrikaans, common in the Free State, Gauteng, and Namibia, forming the basis for formal usage. While mutually intelligible, these dialects differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, and cultural expression.
Latin script
In the U.S., Afrikaans is spoken by an estimated 35,000–40,000 people, primarily among South African and Namibian immigrants. It is most commonly found in states like California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Colorado, and North Carolina. While mainly used in homes and community settings, Afrikaans speakers maintain cultural ties through social groups, churches, and online communities.
