afrikaner
C1Historical, political, cultural, academic, journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
A member of the white South African people descended primarily from Dutch settlers of the 17th and 18th centuries.
An Afrikaans-speaking person, typically of European descent, who identifies with South African Boer heritage and culture; may sometimes be used to refer to the Afrikaans-speaking community more broadly, though this is less precise.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Capitalized. The term is specific to South African history and identity politics. While 'Afrikaans' refers to the language, 'Afrikaner' refers specifically to a cultural and ethnic group. The term 'Boer' (farmer) is a historical subset, referring specifically to the early Dutch settlers and their descendants involved in agriculture and the Great Trek.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. British media, due to historical colonial ties, may use the term slightly more frequently in historical contexts. American usage is often in academic or news reporting contexts.
Connotations
Strongly associated with the history of apartheid. In both regions, it carries historical and political weight.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language; primarily appears in historical, political, or South Africa-specific discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[determiner] AfrikanerAfrikaner of [descent/heritage]the Afrikaners who [verb]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in discussions of South African economic history or demographics.
Academic
Common in historical, political science, and sociological texts on South Africa, colonialism, and apartheid.
Everyday
Rare in general conversation outside South Africa or discussions of its history.
Technical
Used in demographics, ethnography, and political history.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The term is not used as a verb.
American English
- The term is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- The term is not used as an adverb.
American English
- The term is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Afrikaner traditions were preserved in the rural communities.
- He comes from an Afrikaner family.
American English
- Afrikaner political power was consolidated in the 20th century.
- She studied Afrikaner art and literature.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- South Africa has many different people, like the Afrikaners.
- Many Afrikaners speak Afrikaans as their first language.
- Afrikaner nationalism played a key role in establishing the apartheid system.
- The negotiation process involved reconciling the aspirations of the Afrikaner minority with the demands of the black majority.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AFRIKAANS speakER' -> AFRIKANER. They are the people who speak Afrikaans and have a distinct cultural identity in South Africa.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often framed as 'FOUNDER' or 'PIONEER' (of the modern South African state from a European perspective), or historically as 'SEPARATIST' or 'RULER' (in apartheid context).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'африканец' (African – a person from Africa). 'Afrikaner' is a specific ethnic term, not a geographical one. It is better transliterated: 'африканер'.
- Not synonymous with 'южноафриканец' (South African – a citizen of South Africa). An Afrikaner is a subset.
Common Mistakes
- Writing it in lowercase ('afrikaner').
- Using it to mean any white South African (it excludes those of British descent).
- Using it interchangeably with 'Afrikaans' (the language).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is the most accurate description of an 'Afrikaner'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'South African' is a nationality. 'Afrikaner' refers to a specific cultural and ethnic group within South Africa, primarily white and Afrikaans-speaking with Dutch descent.
'Boer' (meaning 'farmer') is a historical term for the Dutch settlers and their descendants who were involved in agriculture and the Great Trek in the 19th century. 'Afrikaner' is a broader 20th-century term encompassing the entire Afrikaans-speaking white population with that heritage, including urban professionals.
No. While the Afrikaner-led National Party instituted apartheid, there was and is a diversity of political opinion within the Afrikaner community, including significant opposition from some individuals and groups.
Yes, always. It is a proper noun referring to a specific people, similar to 'Frenchman' or 'German'.