“Lekker”: American Woman Shares Her 3 Favourite Afrikaans Words, Internet Swoons Over SA Husband

• An American woman married to a South African man charmed viewers by sharing her three favourite Afrikaans words after learning the language for five years
• The couple's sweet video showed how "lekker," "babalaas," and "kuier" have become part of her vocabulary
• Comments flooded in with viewers praising her Afrikaans skills, but many were more charmed by her handsome South African husband

An American woman has melted hearts across social media after sharing her journey of learning Afrikaans from her South African husband.

Content creator @hannah.swanepoel4 posted a charming video on 27 August 2025 that quickly went viral with over 28,800 reactions and 600 comments.

In the video, the couple sits outside their American home as she explains her top three Afrikaans words. She starts with "lekker," which her husband describes as a word used for many things - from enjoying a good meal to describing joy and pleasure. Next comes "babalaas," the perfect word for a hangover, and finally "kuier," which means hanging out with friends, usually involving a braai around warm coals.

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What impressed viewers most was how naturally she pronounced each word, sounding almost like a native speaker after just five years of learning. Her husband proudly explained each term while she demonstrated proper usage, showing the beautiful way couples can share their cultures with each other. The video perfectly captured how language learning becomes a love language when you're married to someone from another culture.

Internet swoons over SA husband's charm

Comments revealed that many viewers were completely smitten with the South African gentleman, praising his patient teaching style and charming personality. Several women jokingly expressed their desire to find their own South African partner, showing how the video sparked interest in cross-cultural relationships.

@isabel_de_bruyn gushed:

"Our South African men are just so fine 😂👏"

@josh commented:

"She sounds more Afrikaans than me."

@katie_sandiego joked:

"I'd like to order one South African significant other, please."

@kk asked playfully:

"Does he have a brother🤣🤣🤣?"

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@jilly_mcg was impressed:

"I'm impressed with your pronunciation and 'begrip' of the Afrikaans language."

@tacos_margs wrote:

"Me booking a flight to South Africa 🤣"

@realtor_gladysflores declared:

"Ladies, we're going to Africa."

@lynettedeb_123 agreed with their explanation:

"Braai is baie better than a barbeque!"

Learning new languages takes time and dedication

According to an expert on Medium, becoming fluent in a new language is a lifelong journey that requires consistency rather than speed. Research shows that adults can actually learn grammar and vocabulary more efficiently than children due to their developed thinking skills.

The Foreign Service Institute estimates it takes 575-600 hours for easier languages and up to 2,200 hours for more complex ones like Korean or Arabic. The key is daily practice, focusing on common vocabulary, and embracing mistakes as learning opportunities.

Watch the TikTok clip below:

American wife surprised by unique South African lingo

On 26 August 2025, the couple shared another video that had viewers smiling once again. In this clip, the American wife was surprised to learn just how different South African vocabulary is compared to what she is used to in the United States.

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While scrolling through photos on her phone, she asked her husband to name everyday objects, and he effortlessly listed the local terms: garage, robot, swimming costume, bakkie, plakkies, aluminium, hose pipe, and tekkies. The differences left her stunned and amused.

"These are the things that I have learned being married to a South African."

People from both South Africa and the US loved the wholesome exchange, appreciating the fun mix of cultures on display. Some viewers were even surprised to discover how unique South African lingo is, making the video both entertaining and educational for audiences on both sides.

See the TikTok clip below:

3 Other American-related viral stories

• Briefly News recently reported on a South African nurse working in America who explained why people there barely sleep.
• A South African musician shared footage from Miami showing how Mzansi vibes completely took over an American party.
• Two American food influencers had a terrifying experience when something unexpected crashed into their restaurant mid-review.

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Hilary Sekgota, human interest head of desk at Briefly News, contributed to this article.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News