lekker naweek
/ˈlækər ˈnɑː.vɪə̯k/word by word
To say "have a good weekend" in Afrikaans, use lekker naweek.
lekker naweek is used as a parting salutation when leaving someone on a Friday or before a weekend break.
Meaning: wish of a good weekend (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "nice weekend", where lekker means nice or tasty and naweek means weekend.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Afrikaans, you do not need to include a verb like "have" to express this wish. The noun phrase alone functions as the complete greeting.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlækər ˈnɑː.vɪə̯k/ (3 syllables, stress on the 1st syllable)
When do people say it?
When someone says lekker naweek, a common response is Jy ook!, which means "You too!" You might also use the phrases Geniet jou naweek. (Enjoy your weekend) or Geniet die naweek! (Enjoy the weekend).
Did you know?
- In South Africa, lekker has transitioned from a standard Afrikaans word into a common slang term used by English speakers of all races to describe something 'cool' or 'great'.
- The word lekker comes from the Middle Dutch word for 'lick'. It originally described something so tasty that it makes you want to lick your lips.
- The word lekker is so versatile in Afrikaans that it can be used as an adverb to describe almost any pleasant action, not just a state of being.
Examples in context
- Lekker naweek!Have a good weekend!
- Ek wens jou 'n lekker naweek toe.I wish you a good weekend.
- Goeiedag, en 'n lekker naweek vir jou.Good day, and a good weekend to you.
Example conversation
Johan and Liezel are leaving the office on a Friday afternoon.
- JohanTotsiens, Liezel, lekker naweek!Goodbye, Liezel, have a good weekend!
- LiezelDankie, Johan, jy ook!Thanks, Johan, you too!
- JohanSien jou Maandag weer.See you again on Monday.
- LiezelReg so, sien jou dan.Alright, see you then.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (lekker, naweek) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lekker, naweek, CC BY-SA 4.0.
