Afrikaans Headstone Inscriptions and Phrases

Many South African families have settled in Canada and the US. A line in Afrikaans on the stone keeps a connection to home and family.

Common phrases

Faith lines

Many Afrikaans-speaking families belong to Reformed churches. Popular verses include:

• Die Here is my Herder — The Lord is my Shepherd (Psalm 23).
• Ek is die opstanding en die lewe — I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).

Use the Bible translation your church uses.

Bilingual layouts

Many families put the name and dates in English with an Afrikaans line beneath, or the other way round. Keep the languages in separate blocks for clarity. See Dutch inscriptions — Afrikaans developed from Dutch, and some families use both.

Symbols

• A cross or open Bible.
• Protea — South Africa's national flower.
• African landscape — acacia trees at sunset.

Always have a fluent speaker check the proof, and confirm your monument company's font supports every character. See multilingual inscriptions.

Including family history

South African families abroad often record a place of birth — "Gebore in Pretoria" (born in Pretoria) — or the family's home town. It's a meaningful link for children and grandchildren growing up in Canada or the US. A short bilingual note on the back can explain the family's journey. Keep the main front inscription simple so it reads clearly in both languages. See memorials for someone buried abroad.

Key Takeaways

• "Rus in vrede" means rest in peace.
• "Tot weersiens" means until we meet again.
• Psalm 23 in Afrikaans is a popular verse.
• The protea honours South African roots.

Next Step

See headstone quotes about faith.