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Lv 6
? asked in TravelAfrica & Middle EastSouth Africa · 1 decade ago

I'm Afrikaans, but in the term "gans en al" where did 'gans' originate and what does it mean?

I know 'gans' is a goose, but I mean in this particular context what does it mean?

Update:

Thanx Vonnie, but I know about the context you put it in.

Jack...now that you mention it...as a matter of fact I knew it, but I don't use that term very often...actually never so I forgot about. Thanx

3 Answers

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  • Homeboy
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Well, "gans" means "all", "entirely", "whole": e.g. "die ganse wêreld" = "everyone". It comes from Dutch, e.g. "de ganze stad" = "the whole city". Where it comes from before Dutch, who knows? Old Dutch? As you know, it's mainly used in "gans en al" = "absolutely".

    Source(s): Van Dale's, Wdbk v/d Afrikaanse Taal. I'm a translator.
  • G. #2
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    It comes from Dutch and means "whole".

    It also means goose in Dutch, lol.

    Anyways, I don't speak Afrikaans, but I speak Dutch, and when I read Afrikaans, I can understand everything because it very very similar, almost the same. Just the spelling are different, but I still manage to know what it means.

  • Vonnie S
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    I am not sure, but a lot of people use the word Goose as a slang word for a female. Example.

    "I am going to see my Goose". Maybe that helps.

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