Khoikhoi

About

The Khoikhoi language, also known as Khoekhoegowab, or Nama/Damara, was one of the most influential languages spoken in Southern Africa before Dutch colonisation.

Today, the Khoikhoi language still exists in parts of the Northern Cape, South Africa, and in large parts of Southern Namibia, where the Namaqua have largely retained the language. Whilst the Khoikhoi language has largely been erased in South Africa, South Africans still use many of its words.

Words like "kak," "abba," "karoo," "karos," "dagga," "nai," and "aitsa" are all Khoikhoi in origin. Additionally, many South African place names such as Kamdeboo, Tsitsikamma, Keiskamma, Knysna, Prieska, Leeu-Gamka, Outeniqua, Tarka, Kuruman, Keimoes, etc., are all derived from the Khoikhoi language.