30 Afrikaans Language Quiz Questions and Answers

Afrikaans is a West Germanic language spoken primarily in South Africa and Namibia. It originated from Dutch and is one of the official languages of South Africa. Afrikaans has evolved over centuries, influenced by various languages such as Dutch, Khoisan languages, Portuguese, and Malay. Today, it is the native language of approximately 7 million people.

Afrikaans uses the Latin script and has similarities with Dutch, but it has undergone significant phonological and grammatical simplifications. It is known for its unique vocabulary and expressions, which reflect its diverse linguistic influences.

During South Africa’s colonial history, Afrikaans played a crucial role in the development of a distinct cultural identity, especially among the Afrikaner community. It became associated with resistance against British colonial rule and later became the language of apartheid policies. However, after the end of apartheid in the 1990s, Afrikaans has taken on a more inclusive and reconciliatory role, being embraced as a symbol of cultural heritage for all South Africans.

Afrikaans has made significant contributions to literature, music, and media in South Africa. It has a rich literary tradition, with famous authors like C.J. Langenhoven and Breyten Breytenbach. Afrikaans music, especially “Afrikaans pop,” enjoys popularity in the country.

Pro Tip

Want to assess your learners online? Create an online quiz for free!

Despite controversies surrounding its historical associations, Afrikaans continues to be an important language in South Africa, serving as a means of communication, cultural expression, and education for millions of people. It is a dynamic and evolving language that reflects the diverse and complex history of the region.

In this article

Part 1: 30 Afrikaans language quiz questions & answers

1. Which language family does Afrikaans belong to?
a) Romance
b) Germanic
c) Slavic
d) Celtic
Answer: b) Germanic

2. Where is Afrikaans primarily spoken?
a) South Africa and Namibia
b) Kenya and Tanzania
c) Egypt and Sudan
d) Nigeria and Ghana
Answer: a) South Africa and Namibia

3. What is the historical origin of Afrikaans?
a) French
b) Portuguese
c) Dutch
d) English
Answer: c) Dutch

4. How many speakers are there approximately for the Afrikaans language?
a) Over 10 million
b) Over 25 million
c) Over 50 million
d) Over 100 million
Answer: a) Over 10 million

5. Afrikaans is one of the official languages of which country?
a) South Africa
b) Kenya
c) Nigeria
d) Egypt
Answer: a) South Africa

6. Which script is used to write Afrikaans?
a) Cyrillic
b) Arabic
c) Latin
d) Devanagari
Answer: c) Latin

7. What linguistic influence has played a significant role in the development of Afrikaans?
a) French
b) Dutch
c) English
d) Spanish
Answer: b) Dutch

8. How does Afrikaans differ from Standard Dutch?
a) It uses a completely different writing system.
b) It has simplified grammar and phonetics.
c) It has a completely different vocabulary.
d) It is a tonal language.
Answer: b) It has simplified grammar and phonetics.

9. Which group of people is historically associated with the development of Afrikaans?
a) Zulu
b) Xhosa
c) Afrikaners
d) Sotho
Answer: c) Afrikaners

10. Afrikaans is widely spoken in which region of South Africa?
a) Western Cape
b) Gauteng
c) KwaZulu-Natal
d) Eastern Cape
Answer: a) Western Cape

11. What role did Afrikaans play during the apartheid era in South Africa?
a) It was the language of resistance against apartheid.
b) It was suppressed and discouraged by the government.
c) It was the language of the ruling class.
d) It had no significant role during apartheid.
Answer: c) It was the language of the ruling class.

12. What is the meaning of “goeie dag” in English?
a) Good night
b) Goodbye
c) Good morning
d) Good day
Answer: d) Good day

13. Which of the following is a famous Afrikaans writer and poet?
a) Nelson Mandela
b) Nadine Gordimer
c) Athol Fugard
d) Breyten Breytenbach
Answer: d) Breyten Breytenbach

14. How do you say “thank you” in Afrikaans?
a) Baie dankie
b) Totsiens
c) Ja
d) Goeie nag
Answer: a) Baie dankie

15. Which region in Namibia has a significant number of Afrikaans speakers?
a) Omaheke
b) Khomas
c) Hardap
d) Erongo
Answer: c) Hardap

Part 2: Download Afrikaans language questions & answers for free

Download questions & answers for free

Download quiz questions
Generate questions for any topic

16. What is the role of Afrikaans in Namibia?
a) It is the official language of Namibia.
b) It is widely spoken but not an official language.
c) It is only used in formal government settings.
d) It has no significant role in Namibia.
Answer: b) It is widely spoken but not an official language.

17. How many vowels are there in the Afrikaans alphabet?
a) 5
b) 10
c) 20
d) 26
Answer: a) 5

18. Which Afrikaans word means “yes” in English?
a) Nee
b) Baie dankie
c) Ja
d) Totsiens
Answer: c) Ja

19. What is the plural form of the Afrikaans word “hond” (dog)?
a) hondes
b) honden
c) honds
d) honde
Answer: d) hon

de

20. How do you say “goodbye” in Afrikaans?
a) Totsiens
b) Dankie
c) Goeie nag
d) Hallo
Answer: a) Totsiens

21. What is the meaning of “dankie” in English?
a) Goodbye
b) Thank you
c) Good night
d) Hello
Answer: b) Thank you

22. Which of the following languages has had the most significant influence on the Afrikaans vocabulary?
a) French
b) Dutch
c) English
d) Portuguese
Answer: b) Dutch

23. What is the official status of Afrikaans in the education system of South Africa?
a) It is the primary medium of instruction in schools.
b) It is only taught as an elective subject.
c) It is not used in the education system.
d) It is used only in higher education.
Answer: a) It is the primary medium of instruction in schools.

Just so you know

With OnlineExamMaker quiz software, anyone can create & share professional online assessments easily.

24. Which South African city is known for its vibrant Afrikaans cultural scene?
a) Cape Town
b) Johannesburg
c) Durban
d) Pretoria
Answer: b) Johannesburg

25. What is the role of Afrikaans in the media of South Africa?
a) It is the primary language used in all media outlets.
b) It is primarily used in traditional print media.
c) It is used only in government media.
d) It is one of the major languages used in various media platforms.
Answer: d) It is one of the major languages used in various media platforms.

26. How is Afrikaans perceived by different language communities in South Africa?
a) It is viewed as a unifying language that bridges linguistic divides.
b) It is widely embraced as the language of national identity.
c) It is considered a divisive language due to its historical associations.
d) It is seen as irrelevant and outdated in modern South Africa.
Answer: c) It is considered a divisive language due to its historical associations.

27. What is the historical significance of the Afrikaans language in South Africa?
a) It has always been the official language of the country.
b) It was the language of resistance against colonial rule.
c) It was introduced by the British during colonization.
d) It was the language of the ruling class during apartheid.
Answer: d) It was the language of the ruling class during apartheid.

28. Which religious text was translated into Afrikaans and is widely read among the Afrikaner community?
a) The Quran
b) The Bible
c) The Torah
d) The Tripitaka
Answer: b) The Bible

29. Which of the following is NOT a major city in Namibia with a significant Afrikaans-speaking population?
a) Windhoek
b) Swakopmund
c) Oshakati
d) Rundu
Answer: d) Rundu

30. Which linguistic feature distinguishes Afrikaans from Standard Dutch?
a) The writing system
b) The presence of tonal accents
c) The number of vowels
d) The simplified grammar and phonetics
Answer: d) The simplified grammar and phonetics

Part 3: Free online quiz maker – OnlineExamMaker

OnlineExamMaker makes it simple to design and launch interactive quizzes, calculators, assessments, and surveys. With the Question Editor, you can create multiple-choice, open-ended, matching, sequencing and many other types of questions for your tests, exams and inventories. You are allowed to enhance quizzes with multimedia elements like images, audio, and video to make them more interactive and visually appealing.

Create Your Next Quiz/Exam with OnlineExamMaker

SAAS, free forever
100% data ownership