Writing guide
Writing to a pen pal in South Africa
✍️ A few words to start and end with
Nobody expects a whole letter in their language. A greeting and a sign-off in it says you thought about who is reading — and gives them something to correct, which is a fine way to start a friendship.
- Hello
- Hallo
- Opening a letter
- Liewe …,
- Thank you for your letter
- Dankie vir jou brief.
- Signing off
- Groete,
- Hello
- Hello
- Opening a letter
- Dear …,
- Thank you for your letter
- Thank you for your letter.
- Signing off
- Best wishes,
🕰 What time it is there
It is 23:12 in South Africa right now. 🌸 spring there
Mention the time of day or the season you are writing in. It is the detail that makes a letter feel sent from somewhere, and the one they are most likely to answer in kind.
🧭 Members in South Africa, in numbers
Counts only, and only once at least 3 members share an answer.
- English 15
- Zulu 9
- Afrikaans 6
- Korean 7
- French 5
- Japanese 4
- Spanish 3
- Music 11
- Learning languages 8
- Food culture 7
- Writing 7
- Movies 6
- Books 5
- Cooking 5
- Dancing 5
If you speak one of the languages they are learning, say so in your first letter — a pen pal who can help is a pen pal worth answering.
🌍 How South Africa answered the world questions
Good openers: ask them about the one where they differ from everybody else.
What's a typical breakfast for you?