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Memorize the most common words in African

An effective method for memorizing the most common words in African is based on muscle memory. By repeatedly typing the words, you enhance your ability to remember them. Dedicate 10 minutes of practice each day, and you could learn all the essential words within two-three months.


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Why the First 1000 Words in African Are Crucial

There's no magic number of African words that will unlock conversational fluency, as language proficiency hinges on multiple factors. These include the intrinsic complexity of African, the specific scenarios in which you aim to communicate, and your skill in applying the language creatively and flexibly. Nonetheless, in the realm of African language learning, the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) offers a guideline for gauging language proficiency levels.

The CEFR's A1 tier, labeled as the Beginner level, corresponds to a basic familiarity with African. At this initial stage, a learner is equipped to grasp and employ common, day-to-day expressions as well as elementary phrases designed for meeting immediate needs. This includes self-introduction, fielding and posing questions about personal details, and engaging in straightforward interactions, assuming the conversation partner speaks slowly, articulately, and is patient. While the exact vocabulary for an A1 level student may differ, it often ranges from 500 to 1,000 words, a foundation robust enough for crafting simple sentences and framing queries related to numbers, dates, essential personal details, commonplace objects, and uncomplicated activities in African.

Further analysis suggests that a vocabulary tallying at the A2 level is where basic conversational fluency in African begins to crystallize. At this stage, having a command of roughly 1,200 to 2,000 words may suffice for elementary dialogue encompassing familiar subjects.

Hence, accruing a lexicon of 1,000 African words is deemed a highly effective strategy for a broad understanding of written and spoken contexts, alongside the capability to articulate oneself in a swath of routine scenarios. Achieving this lexicon is to equip yourself with the critical vocabulary needed for communicating with a measure of ease and is a tangible target for most learners of the language.

It's important to note that mere knowledge of individual African words won't suffice. The key to language mastery lies in the ability to weave these words into coherent, meaningful exchanges and to navigate conversations with confidence in African. This includes not only vocabulary but also a grasp of basic African grammar principles, pronunciation patterns, and familiar expressions—all vital elements to truly leveraging your 1,000-word arsenal.


List of 1000 most common words (African)

ek I
hy he
sy she
Dit it
ons we
hulle they
ek me
jy you
hom him
ons us
hulle them
my my
jou your
haar her
sy its
ons our
hulle their
myne mine
joune yours
syne his
hare hers
ons s'n ours
hulle s'n theirs
hierdie this
almal all
eers first
tweede second
derde third
volgende next
laaste last
een one
twee two
drie three
vier four
vyf five
ses six
sewe seven
agt eight
nege nine
tien ten
weer again
altyd always
nooit never
'n ander another
ander other
dieselfde same
anders different
baie a lot
en and
aan to
in in
is is
daardie that
was was
vir for
aan on
is are
as as
met with
by at
wees be
het have
van from
of or
gehad het had
deur by
woord word
maar but
nie not
wat what
was were
wanneer when
kan can
gesê said
daar there
gebruik use
nul zero
elk each
watter which
doen do
hoe how
as if
sal will
op up
oor about
uit out
baie many
dan then
hierdie these
so so
sommige some
sou would
maak make
hou van like
in into
tyd time
het has
kyk look
meer more
skryf write
gaan go
sien see
nommer number
geen no
manier way
kon could
mense people
as than
water water
gewees been
bel call
WHO who
olie oil
nou now
vind find
lank long
af down
dag day
gedoen did
kry get
kom come
gemaak made
mag may
deel part
oor over
say
stel set
nuut new
puik great
sit put
klank sound
waar where
einde end
neem take
help help
doen does
enigste only
deur through
min little
veel much
wel well
werk work
voor before
groot large
weet know
lyn line
moet must
plek place
reg right
groot big
jaar year
ook too
selfs even
leef live
beteken mean
so such
oud old
want because
terug back
enige any
draai turn
gee give
hier here
meeste most
vertel tell
hoekom why
baie very
seuntjie boy
vra ask
na after
volg follow
gegaan went
ding thing
gekom came
mans men
wil hê want
lees read
net just
Wys show
behoefte need
naam name
ook also
land land
goed good
rond around
sin sentence
vorm form
tuis home
man man
dink think
klein small
beweeg move
probeer try
soort kind
hand hand
prent picture
verander change
af off
speel play
spel spell
lug air
weg away
dier animal
huis house
punt point
bladsy page
brief letter
ma mother
antwoord answer
gevind found
studeer study
steeds still
leer learn
behoort should
Amerika America
wêreld world
hoog high
elke every
elf eleven
twaalf twelve
dertien thirteen
veertien fourteen
vyftien fifteen
sestien sixteen
sewentien seventeen
agtien eighteen
negentien nineteen
twintig twenty
naby near
byvoeg add
kos food
tussen between
eie own
hieronder below
land country
plant plant
skool school
vader father
hou keep
boom tree
begin start
Stad city
aarde earth
oog eye
lig light
gedink thought
kop head
onder under
storie story
gesien het saw
belangrik important
links left
tot until
moenie don't
kinders children
min few
kant side
terwyl while
voete feet
saam along
voertuig car
mag might
myl mile
naby close
nag night
iets something
loop walk
blyk seem
wit white
see sea
hard hard
begin het began
oopmaak open
groei grow
voorbeeld example
geneem took
begin begin
rivier river
lewe life
dra carry
dié those
staat state
albei both
een keer once
papier paper
boek book
saam together
Hoor hear
gekry got
stop stop
groep group
sonder without
dikwels often
hardloop run
later later
mis miss
idee idea
genoeg enough
eet eat
gesig face
kyk watch
ver far
Indiese Indian
regtig really
amper almost
laat let
hierbo above
meisie girl
soms sometimes
berg mountain
sny cut
jonk young
praat talk
binnekort soon
lys list
liedjie song
wese being
verlaat leave
familie family
dit is it's
liggaam body
musiek music
kleur color
staan stand
son sun
vraag question
vis fish
gebied area
merk mark
hond dog
perd horse
voëls birds
probleem problem
voltooi complete
kamer room
geweet knew
sedert since
ooit ever
stuk piece
vertel told
gewoonlik usually
het nie didn't
vriende friends
maklik easy
gehoor heard
orde order
rooi red
deur door
seker sure
word become
Top top
skip ship
oorkant across
vandag today
tydens during
kort short
beter better
beste best
egter however
laag low
ure hours
swart black
produkte products
gebeur het happened
hele whole
meet measure
onthou remember
vroeg early
golwe waves
bereik reached
gedoen done
Engels English
pad road
stop halt
vlieg fly
gegee het gave
boks box
uiteindelik finally
wag wait
korrek correct
o oh
vinnig quickly
persoon person
geword het became
gewys shown
minute minutes
sterk strong
werkwoord verb
sterre stars
voor front
voel feel
feit fact
duim inches
straat street
besluit decided
bevat contain
kursus course
oppervlak surface
produseer produce
gebou building
oseaan ocean
klas class
nota note
niks nothing
rus rest
versigtig carefully
wetenskaplikes scientists
binne inside
wiele wheels
bly stay
groen green
bekend known
eiland island
week week
minder less
masjien machine
basis base
gelede ago
gestaan stood
vliegtuig plane
stelsel system
agter behind
gehardloop ran
rond round
boot boat
speletjie game
krag force
gebring brought
verstaan understand
warm warm
algemene common
bring bring
verduidelik explain
droog dry
wel though
Taal language
vorm shape
diep deep
duisende thousands
ja yes
duidelik clear
vergelyking equation
nog yet
regering government
gevul filled
hitte heat
vol full
warm hot
tjek check
voorwerp object
vm am
reël rule
onder among
selfstandige naamwoord noun
krag power
kan nie cannot
in staat is able
grootte size
donker dark
bal ball
materiaal material
spesiaal special
swaar heavy
fyn fine
paar pair
sirkel circle
insluit include
gebou built
kan nie can't
saak matter
vierkantig square
lettergrepe syllables
miskien perhaps
rekening bill
gevoel felt
skielik suddenly
toets test
rigting direction
sentrum center
boere farmers
gereed ready
enigiets anything
verdeel divided
algemeen general
energie energy
onderwerp subject
Europa Europe
maan moon
streek region
terugkeer return
glo believe
dans dance
lede members
gekies picked
eenvoudig simple
selle cells
verf paint
verstand mind
liefde love
oorsaak cause
reën rain
oefen exercise
eiers eggs
trein train
blou blue
wens wish
laat val drop
ontwikkel developed
venster window
verskil difference
afstand distance
hart heart
sit sit
som sum
somer summer
muur wall
woud forest
waarskynlik probably
bene legs
gesit sat
hoof main
winter winter
wyd wide
geskryf written
lengte length
rede reason
gehou kept
belangstelling interest
arms arms
broer brother
ras race
teenwoordig present
pragtige beautiful
winkel store
werk job
rand edge
verlede past
teken sign
rekord record
klaar finished
ontdek discovered
wild wild
gelukkig happy
langsaan beside
weg gone
lug sky
glas glass
miljoen million
wes west
lay
weer weather
wortel root
instrumente instruments
ontmoet meet
maande months
paragraaf paragraph
opgewek raised
verteenwoordig represent
sag soft
of whether
klere clothes
blomme flowers
sal shall
onderwyser teacher
gehou held
beskryf describe
ry drive
kwaad cross
praat speak
oplos solve
verskyn appear
metaal metal
seun son
óf either
ys ice
slaap sleep
dorpie village
faktore factors
resultaat result
gespring jumped
sneeu snow
ry ride
sorg care
vloer floor
heuwel hill
gedruk pushed
baba baby
koop buy
eeu century
buite outside
alles everything
lank tall
reeds already
in plaas daarvan instead
frase phrase
grond soil
bed bed
kopieer copy
vry free
hoop hope
lente spring
geval case
gelag laughed
nasie nation
nogal quite
tipe type
hulself themselves
temperatuur temperature
helder bright
lei lead
almal everyone
metode method
afdeling section
meer lake
konsonant consonant
binne within
woordeboek dictionary
hare hair
ouderdom age
bedrag amount
skaal scale
pond pounds
hoewel although
per per
stukkend broken
oomblik moment
klein tiny
moontlik possible
goud gold
melk milk
stil quiet
natuurlike natural
baie lot
klip stone
daad act
bou build
middel middle
spoed speed
tel count
kat cat
iemand someone
seil sail
gerol rolled
beer bear
wonder wonder
geglimlag smiled
hoek angle
breuk fraction
Afrika Africa
vermoor killed
melodie melody
onderkant bottom
reis trip
gat hole
arm poor
kom ons let's
veg fight
verras surprise
Frans French
gesterf het died
klop beat
presies exactly
bly remain
aantrek dress
yster iron
kon nie couldn't
vingers fingers
ry row
minste least
vang catch
geklim het climbed
geskryf het wrote
het geskree shouted
voortgesit continued
self itself
anders else
vlaktes plains
gas gas
Engeland England
brand burning
ontwerp design
aangesluit joined
voet foot
wet law
ore ears
gras grass
jy is you're
gegroei het grew
vel skin
vallei valley
sente cents
sleutel key
president president
bruin brown
moeilikheid trouble
koel cool
wolk cloud
verlore lost
gestuur sent
simbole symbols
dra wear
sleg bad
red save
eksperimenteer experiment
enjin engine
alleen alone
tekening drawing
oos east
betaal pay
enkellopend single
raak touch
inligting information
uit te druk express
mond mouth
erf yard
gelyk equal
desimale decimal
jouself yourself
beheer control
oefen practice
rapporteer report
reguit straight
styg rise
verklaring statement
stok stick
partytjie party
sade seeds
veronderstel suppose
vrou woman
kus coast
bank bank
tydperk period
draad wire
kies choose
skoon clean
besoek visit
bietjie bit
wie se whose
ontvang received
tuin garden
asseblief please
vreemde strange
gevang caught
geval het fell
span team
God God
kaptein captain
direk direct
ring ring
bedien serve
kind child
woestyn desert
Verhoog increase
geskiedenis history
koste cost
kan wees maybe
besigheid business
skei separate
breek break
oom uncle
jag hunting
vloei flow
dame lady
studente students
mens human
kuns art
gevoel feeling
verskaf supply
hoek corner
elektriese electric
insekte insects
gewasse crops
toon tone
getref hit
sand sand
dokter doctor
voorsien provide
dus thus
sal nie won't
kok cook
bene bones
stert tail
bord board
modern modern
samestelling compound
was nie wasn't
pas fit
toevoeging addition
behoort belong
veilig safe
soldate soldiers
raai guess
stil silent
handel dryf trade
eerder rather
vergelyk compare
skare crowd
gedig poem
geniet enjoy
elemente elements
aandui indicate
behalwe except
verwag expect
plat flat
interessant interesting
sin sense
string string
blaas blow
beroemde famous
waarde value
vlerke wings
beweging movement
paal pole
opwindend exciting
takke branches
dik thick
bloed blood
lieg lie
plek spot
klok bell
pret fun
hard loud
oorweeg consider
voorgestel suggested
dun thin
posisie position
ingeskryf entered
vrugte fruit
vasgebind tied
ryk rich
dollars dollars
stuur send
sig sight
hoof chief
Japannese Japanese
stroom stream
planete planets
ritme rhythm
wetenskap science
hoofvak major
waarneem observe
buis tube
nodig necessary
gewig weight
vleis meat
opgehef lifted
proses process
weermag army
hoed hat
eiendom property
besonders particular
swem swim
terme terms
huidige current
park park
verkoop sell
skouer shoulder
bedryf industry
was wash
blok block
versprei spread
beeste cattle
vrou wife
skerp sharp
maatskappy company
radio radio
ons sal we'll
aksie action
kapitaal capital
fabrieke factories
afgehandel settled
geel yellow
is nie isn't
suidelike southern
vragmotor truck
regverdig fair
gedruk printed
sou nie wouldn't
vorentoe ahead
kans chance
gebore born
vlak level
driehoek triangle
molekules molecules
Frankryk France
herhaal repeated
kolom column
westers western
kerk church
suster sister
suurstof oxygen
meervoud plural
verskeie various
ingestem agreed
teenoorgestelde opposite
verkeerde wrong
grafiek chart
voorberei prepared
mooi pretty
oplossing solution
vars fresh
winkel shop
veral especially
skoene shoes
eintlik actually
neus nose
bang afraid
dood dead
suiker sugar
byvoeglike naamwoord adjective
fig fig
kantoor office
groot huge
geweer gun
soortgelyk similar
dood death
telling score
vorentoe forward
uitgerek stretched
ondervinding experience
roos rose
toelaat allow
vrees fear
werkers workers
Washington Washington
Grieks Greek
vroue women
gekoop bought
led led
optog march
noordelike northern
skep create
moeilik difficult
pas match
wen win
nie doesn't
staal steel
totaal total
ooreenkoms deal
bepaal determine
aand evening
ook nie nor
tou rope
katoen cotton
appel apple
besonderhede details
geheel entire
mielies corn
stowwe substances
reuk smell
gereedskap tools
voorwaardes conditions
koeie cows
spoor track
aangekom arrived
geleë is located
meneer sir
sitplek seat
verdeling division
effek effect
onderstreep underline
beskou view
hartseer sad
lelik ugly
vervelig boring
besig busy
laat late
erger worse
verskeie several
geen none
teen against
selde rarely
ook nie neither
môre tomorrow
gister yesterday
middag afternoon
maand month
Sondag Sunday
Maandag Monday
Dinsdag Tuesday
Woensdag Wednesday
Donderdag Thursday
Vrydag Friday
Saterdag Saturday
herfs autumn
noord north
suid south
honger hungry
dors thirsty
nat wet
gevaarlik dangerous
vriend friend
ouer parent
dogter daughter
man husband
kombuis kitchen
badkamer bathroom
slaapkamer bedroom
sitkamer living room
dorp town
student student
pen pen
ontbyt breakfast
middagete lunch
aandete dinner
ete meal
piesang banana
oranje orange
suurlemoen lemon
groente vegetable
aartappel potato
tamatie tomato
ui onion
slaai salad
beesvleis beef
varkvleis pork
hoender chicken
brood bread
botter butter
kaas cheese
eier egg
rys rice
pasta pasta
sop soup
koek cake
koffie coffee
tee tea
sap juice
sout salt
peper pepper
drink drink
bak bake
smaak taste
pak suit
hemp shirt
romp skirt
broek pants
Jas coat
sak bag
grys gray
pienk pink

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