Lekker dag!
/ˈlækər daχ/word by word
The English phrase "have a good day" is translated into Afrikaans as Lekker dag!
Lekker dag! is a common, slightly informal way to wish someone a good day when parting ways.
What does it mean word for word?
Lekker literally means "nice, pleasant or tasty", while dag means "day".
Which one should you use?
While Lekker dag! is used to say "Have a good day", you can also use Geniet jou dag to say "Enjoy your day".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlækər daχ/
Did you know?
- In South Africa, lekker has crossed linguistic boundaries and is frequently used by English speakers as a loanword in colloquial South African English.
- Because lekker is related to the verb lek (to lick), the word's history is rooted in the physical sensation of something being tasty enough to lick.
- While lekker is used in Lekker dag!, it is also used as a standalone exclamation to express approval or contentment, similar to saying 'Awesome!' in English.
Examples in context
- Sien jou môre, lekker dag!See you tomorrow, have a good day!
Example conversation
Stefan and Marelize are saying goodbye after a quick meeting.
- StefanDankie vir die tyd, Marelize.Thanks for the time, Marelize.
- MarelizeDis 'n plesier, Stefan.It is a pleasure, Stefan.
- StefanLekker dag!Have a good day!
- MarelizeJy ook!You too!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (lekker, dag) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dag, lekker, CC BY-SA 4.0.
