tante
The Afrikaans word for aunt is tante.
tante is a noun used to refer to a parent's sister or sister-in-law.
Meaning: a parent's sister or sister-in-law (noun)
Which one should you use?
While tante is the standard term for aunt, tantie is used as a more affectionate or informal way to say 'auntie'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to more than one aunt, use the plural form tantes.
Did you know?
- In many Afrikaans households, even if there is no biological relation, a younger woman might affectionately call an older woman tantie as a sign of respect.
- The word tante is a loanword that traveled from French into Dutch and then into Afrikaans.
- If you are addressing an aunt directly, you often use her name immediately after the title, such as Tante Marie, rather than using the word alone.
Examples in context
- My tante woon in Kaapstad.My aunt lives in Cape Town.
- Ek gaan vir my tante 'n geskenk koop.I am going to buy a gift for my aunt.
- Sy is my gunsteling tante.She is my favorite aunt.
Example conversation
Anika and Johan are looking at old family photos.
- AnikaWie is hierdie vrou op die foto?Who is this woman in the photo?
- JohanDit is my tante Sarah.This is my aunt Sarah.
- AnikaSy lyk baie vriendelik.She looks very friendly.
- JohanJa, sy is 'n wonderlike tante.Yes, she is a wonderful aunt.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “aunt” translations and entries tante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tante, CC BY-SA 4.0.
