South African languages number 11.
What are the official languages?
There are 11 officially recognised languages – English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, Sepedi, Xhosa, Venda, Tswana, Southern Sotho, Zulu, Swazi, or SiSwati, and Tsonga.
And dialects?
There are further dialects as well. For instance the languages of the Khoi, San and Nama people, considered the First People of the Cape, Hindi, Sign language and even Portuguese.
Why so many languages?
Whilst most South Africans speak an indigenous mother language, they often end up using either English or Afrikaans at work and school, which has led to a claim by experts at a local university (Wits) that indigenous South African languages are on the decline.
If you consider that the decision to recognise so many South African languages was to promote indigenous tongues that, before 1994, were disregarded by government, this decline is sad.
Will I get away with English?
If you are travelling to South Africa, the good news is that you will get away with speaking English just about everywhere. English is used in business, public service and commerce.
Interestingly, English is spoken only by about 8% of the country’s population as a mother tongue, but is used by just about everyone when it comes to communicating across the language barrier.
What about South African?
The South African accent is an acquired sound (some have gone as far as to call it ‘sexy’!).
And there are certain South Africanisms you can’t be without.
How to say ‘hello’ in as many of South African languages as possible:
1. Afrikaans…
How to say good day, good morning and good evening (this video gets to grips with the Afrikaans ‘ggggg’).
2. Xhosa
How to say ‘hello’, ‘how are you?’, ‘what is your name?’ (the language of Nelson Mandela and Bishop Tutu).
… and Master your Xhosa click.
3. Venda
Tondani teaches you ‘hello’ (you get to practice your aaahs).
4. Zulu
Learn how to say ‘hello’ and more, besides.
5. Sesotho
Learn the basics, including ‘hello’ in a little over a minute.
6. Shona
Basic introductions.
7. Siswati
Hello, how are you, thank you, goodbye – short and simple.
Which language, in which parts of South Africa?
Zulu – mostly in KwaZulu-Natal.
Xhosa – the Eastern Cape originally, but you’ll find many Xhosa all over the country.
Sepedi – is the language of the Pedi people in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Tsonga – is spoken by the Batsonga people of the Limpopo Lowveld.
Setswana – spoken by the Batswana, comes from the North West of the country.
Venda – is spoken by the Venda people in the Mapungubwe area of Limpopo.
Ndebele – is spoken throughout Gauteng (and also in Limpopo and Mpumalanga).
Sotho comes mainly from Lesotho.
SiSwati – a third of the people living in Mpumalanga speak SiSwati, but it originates in Swaziland.
Plan your trip to South Africa
Photo Credit
Xhosa Ladies photograph Courtesy of and © South Africa Tourism
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