Lanklaas gesien!

Lanklaas means a long time ago or not for a long time.

In this expression, it gives the idea that a lot of time has passed since the last meeting. It is a very common Afrikaans word and is often used in everyday speech.

Gesien is the past participle of sien, meaning to see.

So literally, gesien means seen. In Lanklaas gesien!, it helps create the idea of haven’t seen you in a long time.

Because this is an elliptical expression: a shortened phrase where some words are left out because they are understood from the situation.

A fuller version could be something like:

• Ek het jou lanklaas gesien. = I haven’t seen you in a long time
• or more naturally in context, Dis lanklaas dat ek jou gesien het.

But in greetings, Afrikaans often allows short, punchy expressions, just like English Long time no see!

So Lanklaas gesien! is natural even though it is not a complete sentence by itself.

In Afrikaans, lanklaas is normally written as one word. It functions as a fixed adverb.

So write:

• lanklaas

not:

• lank laas

Even though a learner might want to separate the parts, the normal standard spelling is the single word lanklaas.

It is informal and friendly.

You would use it:

• with friends
• relatives
• colleagues you know well
• people you have not met for a while in casual conversation

In a very formal setting, you would normally use a fuller sentence instead of this short exclamation.

Yes. That is exactly the kind of situation where it fits best.

You say it when:

• you run into someone unexpectedly
• you meet an old friend again
• you greet someone you have not seen for months or years

It works much like English Long time no see!

Yes, but mainly in informal writing.

For example, it would sound natural in:

• text messages
• social media comments
• casual emails
• chat messages

It is less suitable for formal writing because it is conversational and shortened.

A rough guide for English speakers is:

• lanklaas ≈ LUNK-lahs
• gesien ≈ khuh-SEEN or guh-SEEN, depending on how strongly the g is pronounced

A few notes:

• aa is a long a sound
• sien sounds like seen
• the Afrikaans g is usually a throaty sound, not the English g

So the whole phrase is roughly:

LUNK-lahs khuh-SEEN

That is only an approximation, but it helps get close.

Yes, very often you can.

Lanklaas! by itself can already express:

• It’s been a long time!
• Long time no see!

Adding gesien makes the idea a bit more explicit, but both are natural in casual speech.

Yes. Some fuller alternatives are:

• Ek het jou lanklaas gesien.
• Dis lanklaas dat ek jou gesien het.
• Ons het mekaar lanklaas gesien. = We haven’t seen each other in a long time

These are more complete grammatically, while Lanklaas gesien! is the short, lively greeting version.

People still say it. It sounds natural and familiar in modern everyday Afrikaans.

It is a normal, recognizable phrase, especially in speech. It does not sound strange or outdated to most speakers.