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I see they ref. to a "Ring-neck Spitting Cobra"

Tok-tokkie, the beetle?

Fun topic, Gjorgi

Amarula,
Klippes

Albatros..

Thanks MM :-)......there must be more. Eland and Njala only has one name although the pronunciation might differ slightly depending on your home language.

Amarula???? doubtful but Marula yes!
Klippes.....
Albatros is Albatross


How about Kannie-dood-nie (the plant not the dam!)
Dubbeldoring
Half-mens

Gogga and kakalak and slak
Insect, cocroach and snail just dont have same ring to them

Slakke tells it like it is, not escargots, that sounds exotic!

I just had a thought I love a gemsbok but what on earth is its name in English??? Its like a wildebeest in English its a Gnu but everyone refers to it as a wildebeest odd don't you think??

Oryx

Is it really? I thought that other white buck is an oryx If I remember correctly I saw one in the pretoria zoo once years ago???

But LOL ive got to say your version sounds good I was aiming for a Gemsbuck what do you think?? Lol

Good Q, Sheenaugh-Lee, and absolutely correct, RichardJ. The gemsbok as we know it down here in the arid areas of Southern Africa is indeed one of the four listed oryx species (Oryx gazella). However, I don't think I've ever heard anyone call it by the English name, as gemsbok has so much of a nicer ring to it (ring=gem? ), in my opinion.
(BTW, an Afrikaans friend of mine has just sent me an e-mail talking about gems for their bokkies on Valentine's; so there may be something in that! )

LOL One

its odd to think that these animals have names in English and afrikaans but for some or other reason they get referred to by the afrikaans name lol its quite classic when one directly translates the afrikaans word directly into English like kameelperd -- camelhorse or Olifant - Oil fountain or a impala - to my kids they only see it as a Bok Bokkie their is no such thing as an impala in their dictionary Lol

The early dutch settlers named the gemsbok . They named it after the chamois ( a alpine antelope ) , apparently because the colour of the gemsbok is similar to that of the chamois , but more so because the facial markings are very much the same .

Not everybody. It is a gnu to us.

My family loves to play on the word.

"No gnus is good gnus' etc...

I think ppl just go with the flow as far as names are concerned.

Like mossie for sparrow, and witogie for white-eye.

At least the 'borrowed' words are more or less pronounced as in the original, not like brekvis, hensop, Braakenvel etc.

BTW, we also call them oryx, and honey badger.