goeie dag
The English phrase "good day" is translated into Afrikaans as goeie dag.
This greeting is used between sunrise and sunset. The form Goeiedag can be used from morning until late afternoon.
Meaning: greeting between sunrise and sunset (intj)
Which one should you use?
Goeiedag is the standard translation of "good day" in Afrikaans. For much more casual interactions, you might use the informal Haai to say hi or hello or the informal Lekker dag to wish someone a nice day.
Did you know?
- The Afrikaans word dag shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'day' and comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to burn' or 'to be illuminated'.
- While goeie dag is a greeting, the related phrase lekker dag uses the word lekker, which is one of the most versatile words in Afrikaans and can describe food, weather or a feeling of comfort.
- While goeie dag is a polite greeting, the word dag can also be part of the Dutch-derived term goedendag, which was historically used more often as a way to say 'goodbye' than a way to say 'hello'.
Examples in context
- Ek wens jou 'n goeie dag.I wish you a good day.
- Goeie dag, mevrou van Wyk.Good day, Mrs. van Wyk.
Example conversation
Anika meets Stefan at a local outdoor market during the afternoon.
- AnikaGoeie dag, Stefan!Good day, Stefan!
- StefanGoeie dag, Anika. Hoe gaan dit?Good day, Anika. How are you?
- AnikaDit gaan baie goed, dankie.It is going very well, thank you.
- StefanEk is bly om dit te hoor.I am happy to hear that.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dag, CC BY-SA 4.0.
