Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: A Startup's Christmas: Gifts Beyond the Startup Grind
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-12-16-08-38-20-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die startup-inkubator gonste van energie.
En: The startup incubator buzzes with energy.

Af: Jong entrepreneurs sit by hul skerms, vingers vinnig op klawerborde, hoofde vol groot drome.
En: Young entrepreneurs sit by their screens, fingers quickly on keyboards, heads full of big dreams.

Af: Tussen die rekenaars en verwarrende idees staan Annelie en Pieter.
En: Amid the computers and confusing ideas stand Annelie and Pieter.

Af: Hulle is vennote in 'n tegnologiestartup, vasbeslote om die wêreld te verander.
En: They are partners in a technology startup, determined to change the world.

Af: Dis Desember.
En: It's December.

Af: In sommige plekke beteken dit die gesnyde geure van kaneel en vryetyd by die see.
En: In some places, it means the sliced scents of cinnamon and leisure time by the sea.

Af: Maar vir Annelie, vol bekommernis, beteken dit Kersgeskenke koop.
En: But for Annelie, full of worry, it means buying Christmas gifts.

Af: Annelie vou haar arms voor haar bors.
En: Annelie folds her arms across her chest.

Af: Sy kyk na die witborde vol notas oor innovasie.
En: She looks at the whiteboards full of notes about innovation.

Af: “Ek weet nie wat om te koop nie,” sug sy.
En: "I don't know what to buy," she sighs.

Af: Pieter glimlag gemaklik.
En: Pieter smiles easily.

Af: Hy neem dinge altyd rustig.
En: He always takes things calmly.

Af: “Moenie so gestres wees nie, Annelie.
En: "Don't be so stressed, Annelie.

Af: Geskenke gaan oor die gedagte daaragter, nie die prys nie.
En: Gifts are about the thought behind them, not the price."

Af: ”Maar Annelie maak hom nie heeltemal stil nie.
En: But Annelie doesn't quiet him entirely.

Af: Sy is 'n perfeksionis.
En: She's a perfectionist.

Af: Kersfees is net 'n week weg en sy wil hê haar familie moet weet hoeveel sy omgee.
En: Christmas is just a week away, and she wants her family to know how much she cares.

Af: Nadat sy die derde lysie van moontlike geskenke naweek, skud sy haar kop.
En: After revising the third list of possible gifts over the weekend, she shakes her head.

Af: Haar begroting is knap, en die druk om suksesvol te wees in die besigheid stook haar angs.
En: Her budget is tight, and the pressure to be successful in business fuels her anxiety.

Af: “Wat van dinge wat hulle eintlik sal gebruik?
En: "What about things they'll actually use?"

Af: ” stel Pieter voor.
En: suggests Pieter.

Af: Hy wys na sy skootrekenaar.
En: He points to his laptop.

Af: “Praktiese geskenke.
En: "Practical gifts.

Af: Soos ‘n mooi koffiebeker of ‘n handige notaboek.
En: Like a nice coffee mug or a handy notebook.

Af: En jy kan dit verpersoonlik.
En: And you can personalize it."

Af: ”Annelie byt op haar onderlip.
En: Annelie bites her lower lip.

Af: Prakties is goed, maar is dit genoeg?
En: Practical is good, but is it enough?

Af: Op 'n oggend, toe die son helder oor die stad skyn, hou Pieter vir Annelie 'n klein, toegeknoopte boksie aan.
En: One morning, when the sun shines brightly over the city, Pieter holds out a small, tied-up box to Annelie.

Af: “Hier, dit is vir jou,” sê hy.
En: "Here, this is for you," he says.

Af: Annelie maak die boksie oop en vind daarin 'n sleutelhouer met 'n eenvoudige inskripsie: “Vir avonture saam.
En: Annelie opens the box and finds a keychain inside with a simple inscription: "For adventures together."

Af: ” In die oomblik van duidelikheid besef sy dat die vreugde in die gee van geskenke lê in die opregtheid daarvan.
En: In a moment of clarity, she realizes that the joy in giving gifts lies in the sincerity of it.

Af: Geïnspireerd deur Pieter se gawe, neem Annelie 'n besluit.
En: Inspired by Pieter's gift, Annelie makes a decision.

Af: Sy kies eenvoudige geskenke vir haar familie—handgemaakte kerse, 'n vriendelike kaartjie, 'n gesellige kombers—alles met ‘n klein persoonlike aanraking.
En: She chooses simple gifts for her family—handmade candles, a friendly card, a cozy blanket—each with a little personal touch.

Af: 'n Boodskap van min of meer eenvoudige geluk vir elkeen.
En: A message of simple, more or less, happiness for each one.

Af: Toe die Kersfeesaand aanbreek, en die geskenke onder die versierde boom lê, voel Annelie kalm.
En: When Christmas Eve arrives, and the gifts lie under the decorated tree, Annelie feels calm.

Af: Sy weet nou die waarde van opregte verbinding.
En: She now knows the value of genuine connection.

Af: In die gesig van haar geliefdes se blye gesigte, leer sy dat die regte betekenis van die seisoen in die gedeelde gees van vreugde en liefde lê.
En: In the face of her loved ones' joyful faces, she learns that the true meaning of the season lies in the shared spirit of joy and love.

Af: En so, onder die liggies van die Kersboom, besef Annelie dat perfek nie altyd nodig is nie, maar liefdevol altyd genoeg is.
En: And so, under the lights of the Christmas tree, Annelie realizes that perfect is not always necessary, but loving is always enough.


Vocabulary Words:

• buzzes: gonste
• entrepreneurs: entrepreneurs
• incubator: inkubator
• partners: vennote
• determined: vasbeslote
• anxiety: angs
• perfectionist: perfeksionis
• confusing: verwarrende
• budget: begroting
• inspiration: inspirasie
• inscription: inskrywing
• clarity: duidelikheid
• personalize: verpersoonlik
• practical: praktiese
• genuine: opregte
• ventures: avonture
• sincerity: opregtheid
• scent: geure
• anxious: bekommernis
• leisure: vryetyd
• venture: ondekking
• adventures: avonture
• gesture: gebaar
• message: boodskap
• calm: kalm
• notebook: notaboek
• cozy: gesellige
• blanket: kombers
• shared: gedeelde
• connection: verbinding