Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: A Gardener's Secret Battle Amidst Spring Blossoms
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-11-18-23-34-02-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die lente in die Kirstenbosch Nasionale Botaniese Tuin is 'n wonderlike tyd.
En: Spring in the Kirstenbosch Nasionale Botaniese Tuin is a wonderful time.

Af: Die lug is dik met die geur van blomblare en daar is 'n simfonie van kleur.
En: The air is thick with the scent of petals and there is a symphony of color.

Af: Johan, 'n toegewyde tuinier met 'n liefde vir groenigheid, onthaal homself in hierdie prag.
En: Johan, a dedicated gardener with a love for greenery, immerses himself in this splendor.

Af: Hy stap saam met sy vriendin, Elmarie, en haar broer, Pieter, tussen die blombeddings.
En: He walks with his girlfriend, Elmarie, and her brother, Pieter, among the flowerbeds.

Af: Vandag is 'n helder dag.
En: Today is a bright day.

Af: 'n Perfekte dag vir 'n uitstappie in die tuin.
En: A perfect day for an outing in the garden.

Af: Maar Johan dra 'n geheime las.
En: But Johan carries a secret burden.

Af: Sy gesondheid is broos wanneer die pollen in die lug is.
En: His health is fragile when the pollen is in the air.

Af: Hy het allergies vir pollen, maar niks kan sy liefde vir tuinmaak demp nie.
En: He is allergic to pollen, but nothing can dampen his love for gardening.

Af: Hy het sy sakdoekie gereed en 'n botteltjie tabletjies vir noodgevalle diep in sy rugsak.
En: He has his handkerchief ready and a small bottle of tablets for emergencies deep in his backpack.

Af: “Die blomme is pragtig, nie waar nie?” Elmarie sê, glimlaggend en opgewonde.
En: “The flowers are beautiful, aren't they?” Elmarie says, smiling and excited.

Af: Johan knik, probeer sy nies te onderdruk.
En: Johan nods, trying to suppress his sneeze.

Af: Hulle stap verder.
En: They walk further.

Af: Die pad kronkel tussen die ryk gestruktureerde plantegroei.
En: The path winds between the richly structured vegetation.

Af: Johan voel 'n krap in sy keel.
En: Johan feels a scratch in his throat.

Af: Dit begin klein.
En: It starts small.

Af: Maar gou slaan 'n groot nies hom oorval.
En: But soon a large sneeze overtakes him.

Af: Sy oë water.
En: His eyes water.

Af: “Gaan dit goed, Johan?” Pieter vra, ligte bekommernis in sy stem.
En: “Are you okay, Johan?” Pieter asks, slight concern in his voice.

Af: Maar Johan wuif dit af, probeer om hul uitstappie nie te ontwrig nie.
En: But Johan waves it off, trying not to disrupt their outing.

Af: Die son sak laer oor die berg.
En: The sun sets lower over the mountain.

Af: Johan voel hoe sy asemhaling moeiliker raak.
En: Johan feels his breathing become more difficult.

Af: Hy weet hy het min tyd voordat sy simptome erger word.
En: He knows he has little time before his symptoms worsen.

Af: Elmarie en Pieter kyk terug en Johan struikel, probeer sy balans handhaaf.
En: Elmarie and Pieter look back and Johan stumbles, trying to maintain his balance.

Af: Hy weet wat kom.
En: He knows what's coming.

Af: Sy noodmedikasie is in sy tas, maar hy moet vinnig optree.
En: His emergency medication is in his bag, but he must act quickly.

Af: Pieter help Johan om rustig te sit terwyl Elmarie deur sy tas grawe, haar oë op hom en vol kommer.
En: Pieter helps Johan to sit quietly while Elmarie rummages through his bag, her eyes on him and full of concern.

Af: Johan wys met 'n bewerige vinger na die posisie van sy medikasie.
En: Johan points with a shaky finger to the location of his medication.

Af: Elmarie se hande bewe terwyl sy dit aan hom oorhandig.
En: Elmarie's hands shake as she hands it to him.

Af: Met sy laaste helder gedagte neem hy sy medikasie, voel hoe sy keel weer oopmaak en die druk op sy bors verminder.
En: With his last clear thought, he takes his medication, feeling his throat open up and the pressure on his chest decrease.

Af: Hy haal diep asem, die lug voel soeter en verligting spoel oor hom.
En: He takes a deep breath, the air feels sweeter and relief washes over him.

Af: Elmarie plaas haar hand op sy skouer.
En: Elmarie places her hand on his shoulder.

Af: “Ons kan gaan as jy wil.”
En: "We can go if you want."

Af: Maar Johan kyk om hom rond.
En: But Johan looks around him.

Af: Die tuin, vol lewe en kleur, kalmeer hom.
En: The garden, full of life and color, calms him.

Af: “Nee, ek is reg.
En: “No, I'm alright.

Af: Laat ons nog 'n rukkie bly.”
En: Let's stay a little longer.”

Af: Hy glimlag moeg, maar opreg.
En: He smiles, tired but genuine.

Af: Hulle stap stadig verder, Johan stadig meer seker van sy stappe.
En: They walk slowly further, Johan gradually more sure of his steps.

Af: Hy het geleer.
En: He has learned.

Af: Hy sal voortaan sy medikasie nader aan hom hou.
En: In the future, he will keep his medication closer to him.

Af: Maar vir nou koester hy in die skoonheid van die tuin.
En: But for now, he cherishes the beauty of the garden.

Af: Hy waardeer die oomblik, 'n geskenk van die natuur en sy eie vasberadenheid.
En: He appreciates the moment, a gift from nature and his own determination.


Vocabulary Words:

• scent: geur
• petals: blomblare
• symphony: simfonie
• dedicated: toegewyde
• splendor: prag
• fragile: broos
• pollen: pollen
• handkerchief: sakdoekie
• emergencies: noodgevalle
• suppress: onderdruk
• vegetation: plantegroei
• scratch: krap
• overtakes: oorval
• symptoms: simptome
• rummages: grawe
• concern: kommer
• medication: medikasie
• shaky: bewerige
• pressure: druk
• decrease: verminder
• relief: verligting
• calms: kalmeer
• cherishes: koester
• appreciates: waardeer
• determination: vasberadenheid
• wines: kronkel
• burden: las
• outbreak: ontwrig
• maintain: handhaaf
• gift: geskenk