What does veld mean?
The veld is a broad area of open grassland, usually with few trees, and is especially associated with southern Africa. In South African English, the word can refer both to a particular landscape and, in phrases such as “the veld,” to the wider grassland environment of the region. The veld includes the High Veld, the broad uplands around South Africa’s interior, as well as lower and more wooded areas such as the Bushveld. It is different from a field in the ordinary English sense: a field is usually cultivated, enclosed, or used for a specific agricultural purpose, while the veld is naturally open country extending across a large area. The word has a strongly regional character and conveys openness, distance, and the distinctive ecology of southern Africa. It is also useful in writing because it evokes a landscape more specifically than the general word “plain,” while remaining more particular than “country.”
nounAn open area of grassland or sparsely treed country, especially in southern Africa.
- Open grassland or sparsely treed country, especially in southern Africa.
- A broad, open stretch of land or countryside, particularly in South African English.
"They drove across the open veld as the sun set behind the distant hills."
"After the rains, the veld turned green and wildflowers appeared along the roadside."
"The novel depicts life on a remote South African farm in the veld."
The standard plural is “velds,” though the singular collective “the veld” is much more common and plural marking is often unnecessary.
"The velds of the interior support farming, ranching, and a rich variety of wildlife."
In South Africa, the veld is not simply a landscape; it is shorthand for an entire grassland world of farms, wildlife, and open horizons.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does veld come from?
Veld was borrowed into English from Afrikaans, where it means open country or grassland. Afrikaans inherited the word from Dutch veld, which is cognate with English field and with related forms in other Germanic languages, including German Feld and Norwegian fjeld. These words ultimately derive from a common Germanic root meaning an open or cleared area of land.
How veld is actually used
The term is especially associated with South African English. It is regional rather than general English, though its distinctive sound and strong association with the southern African landscape have made it familiar beyond that region.
Easily confused with veld
A field is a cultivated or enclosed piece of land, whereas the veld is a broad, naturally occurring grassland or open plain, especially in southern Africa.