The Afrikaans language evolved from 17th-century Dutch during the 18th century. It developed as a distinct language through interactions among Dutch settlers, indigenous Khoisan peoples, and enslaved individuals, incorporating elements from various languages, including Malay and Portuguese.
The language uses many words that sound Dutch but have different meanings. For example, hoërskool in Afrikaans is a high school but in Dutch, it’s a school for prostitutes.
