# Learn Afrikaans with NativePal > Learn Afrikaans with NativePal: levelled reading, vocabulary with spaced repetition, and pronunciation coaching. Free app for iOS and Android. ## Quick facts - Native name: Afrikaans - Speakers: 7+ million speakers worldwide - Spoken in: South Africa and Namibia - Writing system: Latin alphabet, 26 letters - Proficiency framework: CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) ## What English speakers find hardest about Afrikaans - **Verbs do not conjugate**: One form covers every person and number: ek is, jy is, hulle is. Afrikaans has the simplest verb system of any Germanic language. - **Double negation**: A negative sentence needs nie twice, once where English puts "not" and again at the end of the clause. It feels redundant but is compulsory. - **Verb-second and verb-final word order**: Despite the simplified endings, Afrikaans kept Dutch clause structure, so the verb moves to second position or to the end depending on the clause. - **One past tense**: Almost everything in the past uses het plus a ge- participle, so the tense distinctions English makes between "I went" and "I have gone" collapse into one form. ## How you practise Afrikaans in NativePal - [Reading Lessons](https://nativepal.app/features/reading-lessons/): Afrikaans stories generated for your level, every word tappable for a translation, comprehension quiz at the end. - [Vocabulary & Dictionary](https://nativepal.app/features/vocabulary-and-dictionary/): themed Afrikaans vocabulary lessons plus a personal dictionary feeding spaced-repetition flashcards. - [Speaking Practice](https://nativepal.app/features/speaking-practice/): read Afrikaans aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual sounds, prosody, fluency, and connected speech. - [Daily Challenges](https://nativepal.app/features/daily-challenges/): 60 seconds of freeform Afrikaans every day, analysed for grammar, vocabulary, and phrasing. - [Learning Scenarios](https://nativepal.app/features/learning-scenarios/): structured Afrikaans lessons from the alphabet for absolute beginners. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to learn Afrikaans? There is no official study-hour figure published for Afrikaans. As a rough guide, the US Foreign Service Institute budgets 600 to 750 hours for the languages closest to English and around 1,100 for those further away. Holding a simple conversation comes much sooner than full proficiency. NativePal shortens the part you control: reading at your level every day, vocabulary that returns before you forget it, and speaking practice that scores your pronunciation instead of just ticking a box. ### What is hardest about Afrikaans grammar? Verbs do not conjugate: One form covers every person and number: ek is, jy is, hulle is. Afrikaans has the simplest verb system of any Germanic language. Double negation: A negative sentence needs nie twice, once where English puts "not" and again at the end of the clause. It feels redundant but is compulsory. Verb-second and verb-final word order: Despite the simplified endings, Afrikaans kept Dutch clause structure, so the verb moves to second position or to the end depending on the clause. One past tense: Almost everything in the past uses het plus a ge- participle, so the tense distinctions English makes between "I went" and "I have gone" collapse into one form. ### Is Afrikaans hard for English speakers? Arguably the easiest language for English speakers. Identical to English apart from a few diacritics such as ê and ë. Nothing new to learn. ### What proficiency levels does NativePal use for Afrikaans? NativePal levels your Afrikaans practice with CEFR, so reading lessons, vocabulary, and speaking prompts are generated for the level you select rather than a generic average. The ladder runs A1 through to C2. ### Where is Afrikaans spoken? Afrikaans is spoken in South Africa and Namibia, with 7+ million speakers worldwide. ### Can I learn Afrikaans as a complete beginner? Yes. NativePal's Learning Scenarios start from the alphabet, numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself, with no prior Afrikaans assumed. Once those land, reading lessons and vocabulary packs pick up from wherever you are. ### Does NativePal correct my Afrikaans pronunciation? Yes. You read Afrikaans aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual vowels and consonants, stress, rhythm and intonation, fluency, and connected speech — not just a pass or fail. The 60-second daily speaking challenge adds freeform practice on top. ### Can I practise speaking Afrikaans, not just reading it? Yes, and it is the most-used part of the app. Speaking Practice is a teleprompter you read aloud for scored pronunciation feedback, the daily challenge gives you 60 seconds of freeform talk, and you can reply with your voice in any chat or roleplay scenario. ### Is NativePal free for learning Afrikaans? NativePal is free to start, with a daily allowance across reading, vocabulary, speaking practice, and chats. A premium subscription removes the daily limits and unlocks the longer formats. Prices are set in the App Store and Google Play and vary by region. ### Do I need an account to start learning Afrikaans? No. NativePal uses anonymous sign-in, so you can start practising Afrikaans without an email address or social login. ## More - [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html) - [All features](https://nativepal.app/features/) - [Compare NativePal with other apps](https://nativepal.app/compare/) - [llms.txt](https://nativepal.app/llms.txt)