mening: Die openbare mening. Die sienswyse van die meeste mense oor ‘n saak. *The public view.

Question

moedverloor: Op moedverloor se vlakte wees. Baie moedeloos voel. *Be down in the dumps.
mooi: Die mooiste van alles is. Om alles te kroon/Die toppunt is. *The best of all is.
moses: Jou moses teenkom. Jou meerdere teëkom. *Meet one's match.
Moses hier hou verband met moesoek (Maleis vir 'n opponent, meerdere).
muur: Oor die muur wees. Gedaan wees. *Be done for.
naelskraap: Dit het naelskraap gegaan/Hy het naelskraap gewen. Hy het net-net gewen. *It was a close shave. +It was just in time.
nek: Deur jou nek betaal. Baie duur betaal. Pay through the nose.
neus: Op jou neus kyk. Teleurgesteld of verleë wees. *Look sheepish. +Seem taken aback.
nippertjie: Op die nippertjie. Op die laaste oomblik. +Dit het byna gebeur, *In the nick of time. +At the last moment.
Nippertjie is afgelei van Nederlands nijpen "om te knyp". As die nood 'knyp', dan doen 'n mens iets, al is dit op die laaste oomblik.
nuuskierigheid: Van nuuskierigheid is die tronk vol (en die kerk leeg). 'n Mens moenie te nuuskierig wees nie. *Curiosity killed the cat.
onbekend: Onbekend maak onbemind. 'n Mens wantrou 'n onbekende persoon of saak. *Unknown, unloved.
translate afrikaans words in english

Answer 1

Here are the translations of the provided Afrikaans words and phrases into English:

1. mening: The public opinion. The viewpoint of most people on a matter. *The public view.

2. moedverloor: To be down in the dumps. Feeling very disheartened. *Be down in the dumps.

3. mooi: The best of all is. To crown everything/The peak is. *The best of all is.

4. moses: To meet one's match. To come across your superior. *Meet one's match.

   • Moses here is related to 'moesoek' (Malay for an opponent, superior).

5. muur: To be done for. To be finished. *Be done for.

6. naelskraap: He just barely won. He won by a narrow margin. *It was a close shave. +It was just in time.

7. nek: To pay through the nose. To pay very dearly. *Pay through the nose.

8. neus: To look sheepish. To feel disappointed or embarrassed. *Look sheepish. +Seem taken aback.

9. nippertjie: At the last moment. Just in time. *In the nick of time. +At the last moment.

   • Nippertjie is derived from Dutch "nijpen" meaning "to pinch." When necessity "pinches," a person does something, even if it is at the last moment.

10. nuuskierigheid: Curiosity killed the cat. One should not be too curious. *Curiosity killed the cat.

11. onbekend: Unknown, unloved. An unknown person or matter is often distrusted. *Unknown, unloved.