What is “to be” in Afrikaans?
The English verb “to be” links a subject to what it is, where it is, or how it is: “I am tired”, “the milk is in the fridge”, “we were happy”. Afrikaans does the same with the verb wees. The learner meets it in almost every sentence, and in Afrikaans it is as simple as a verb can be.
English has am, is, are, was, were, be, been. Afrikaans has, in practice, three forms: is for the present, was for the past, and wees after another verb and in commands. There is no change for the person: ek is, “I am”; jy is, “you are”; hy is, “he is”; ons is, “we are”; hulle is, “they are”. In the past, likewise: ek was, “I was”; ons was, “we were”.
The infinitive wees comes from Dutch wezen, “to be, being”, an old Germanic verb; English “was” and “were” come from the same root. The present is, like English “is”, belongs to a different old root. Dutch still says ik ben, jij bent, hij is, wij zijn; Afrikaans gave up all the persons and kept is for everyone.
You already met is in Lesson 1: die water is koud (1.4), waar is die kinders? (1.3). This lesson sets out the whole verb.
FAQ: How do you say “to be” in Afrikaans?
Q: What is “to be” in Afrikaans? A: Wees. In the present it is is for every person: ek is, jy is, ons is, hulle is.
Q: How do you say “was” and “were”? A: Was, for every person: ek was, jy was, ons was, hulle was.
Q: When do I use wees itself? A: After sal, kan, moet and the other helping verbs (dit sal koud wees, “it will be cold”), after om … te (om tuis te wees, “to be at home”), and in commands (wees stil! “be quiet!”).
Q: How do you say “there is” and “there are”? A: Daar is, for one thing or many: daar is ’n probleem, “there is a problem”.
Q: What does dis mean? A: Dis is the everyday contraction of dit is, “it is”: dis koud, “it’s cold”.
Key Takeaways:
- Wees has one present form, is, and one past form, was, for every person and number - The infinitive wees follows sal, kan, moet and om … te, and stands at the end of its clause - Wees alone is the command form: Wees stil! Wees versigtig! - Daar is means “there is” and “there are”; dis is short for dit is - Is also forms the past passive: die kerk is gebou, “the church was built”
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Wees /vɪəs/ — w is said v; ee is the gliding vowel “ee-uh”: “vee-uhs”, one syllable.
Is /əs/ — the written i in a closed syllable is the weak vowel of English “the”: “uhs”, never “iss”.
Was /vas/ — w as v, a short a as in Northern English “cat”: “vass”. Never English “woz”.
Gewees /χəˈvɪəs/ — the past participle; ge- is unstressed, with the rough g of “loch”.
Dis /dəs/ — the contraction of dit is: “duhs”.
Sounds that recur in this lesson:
g /χ/ — as in Scottish “loch”: gister /ˈχəstər/, gelukkig /χəˈlœkəχ/.
-ig at the end of a word /əχ/: gelukkig, versigtig /fərˈsəχtəχ/, sonnig /ˈsɔnəχ/.
v /f/: versigtig, vandag /fanˈdaχ/, verlede /fərˈlɪədə/.
ô /ɔː/ — the circumflex lengthens the o: môre /ˈmɔːrə/, “tomorrow”.
u in a closed syllable /œ/: julle /ˈjœlə/, hulle /ˈɦœlə/, kus /kœs/.
Stress falls on the first syllable unless the word begins with an unstressed prefix such as ge-, be- or ver-: gister, but gewees, bekommerd /bəˈkɔmərt/, verlede.
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Duplex Method: line a gives each Afrikaans word with its meaning; line b gives the same words with IPA and grammatical glosses.
2.1a Ek I is am moeg tired
2.1b Ek /ɛk/ I.1SG is /əs/ be.PRES moeg /muχ/ tired
2.2a Jy you is are laat late
2.2b Jy /jəɪ/ you.2SG is /əs/ be.PRES laat /lɑːt/ late
2.3a Dit it is is koud cold
2.3b Dit /dət/ it.3SG.N is /əs/ be.PRES koud /kœʊt/ cold
2.4a Wees be stil quiet
2.4b Wees /vɪəs/ be.IMP stil /stəl/ quiet
2.5a Ons we was were gelukkig happy
2.5b Ons /ɔns/ we.1PL was /vas/ be.PAST gelukkig /χəˈlœkəχ/ happy
2.6a Hy he is is ’n a onderwyser teacher by at die the skool school
2.6b Hy /ɦəɪ/ he.3SG is /əs/ be.PRES ’n /ə/ a.INDEF onderwyser /ˈɔndərvəɪsər/ teacher.SG by /bəɪ/ at die /di/ the.DEF skool /skʊəl/ school.SG
2.7a Daar there is is ’n a probleem problem met with die the motor car
2.7b Daar /dɑːr/ there.EXPL is /əs/ be.PRES ’n /ə/ a.INDEF probleem /prɔˈblɪəm/ problem.SG met /mɛt/ with die /di/ the.DEF motor /ˈmʊətɔr/ car.SG
2.8a Ek I was was gister yesterday die the hele whole dag day siek ill
2.8b Ek /ɛk/ I.1SG was /vas/ be.PAST gister /ˈχəstər/ yesterday die /di/ the.DEF hele /ˈɦɪələ/ whole.ATTR dag /daχ/ day.SG siek /sik/ ill
2.9a My my broer brother is is twintig twenty jaar year oud old
2.9b My /məɪ/ my.1SG.POSS broer /brur/ brother.SG is /əs/ be.PRES twintig /ˈtvəntəχ/ twenty jaar /jɑːr/ year.SG oud /œʊt/ old
2.10a Die the kinders children was were gister yesterday by at hulle their ouma grandmother
2.10b Die /di/ the.DEF kinders /ˈkənərs/ child.PL was /vas/ be.PAST gister /ˈχəstər/ yesterday by /bəɪ/ at hulle /ˈɦœlə/ their.3PL.POSS ouma /ˈœʊma/ grandmother.SG
2.11a Ek I weet know nie not of whether hy he al already by at die the huis house is is nie not
2.11b Ek /ɛk/ I.1SG weet /vɪət/ know.PRES nie /ni/ not.NEG1 of /ɔf/ whether.COMP hy /ɦəɪ/ he.3SG al /al/ already by /bəɪ/ at die /di/ the.DEF huis /ɦœɪs/ house.SG is /əs/ be.PRES nie /ni/ not.NEG2
2.12a Môre tomorrow sal will dit it warm warm en and sonnig sunny wees be
2.12b Môre /ˈmɔːrə/ tomorrow sal /sal/ will.AUX.FUT dit /dət/ it.3SG.N warm /varm/ warm en /ɛn/ and sonnig /ˈsɔnəχ/ sunny wees /vɪəs/ be.INF
2.13a Dit it is is lekker nice om for weer again tuis home te to wees be
2.13b Dit /dət/ it.3SG.N is /əs/ be.PRES lekker /ˈlɛkər/ nice om /ɔm/ for.COMP weer /vɪər/ again tuis /tœɪs/ at-home te /tə/ to.INF wees /vɪəs/ be.INF
2.14a Hulle they was were nie not by at die the vergadering meeting nie not omdat because hulle they siek ill was were
2.14b Hulle /ˈɦœlə/ they.3PL was /vas/ be.PAST nie /ni/ not.NEG1 by /bəɪ/ at die /di/ the.DEF vergadering /fərˈχɑːdərəŋ/ meeting.SG nie /ni/ not.NEG2 omdat /ɔmˈdat/ because.COMP hulle /ˈɦœlə/ they.3PL siek /sik/ ill was /vas/ be.PAST
2.15a Die the kerk church is was lank long gelede ago gebou built maar but dit it is is nog still altyd always mooi beautiful
2.15b Die /di/ the.DEF kerk /kɛrk/ church.SG is /əs/ be.AUX.PASS.PAST lank /laŋk/ long gelede /χəˈlɪədə/ ago gebou /χəˈbœʊ/ build.PTCP maar /mɑːr/ but dit /dət/ it.3SG.N is /əs/ be.PRES nog /nɔχ/ still altyd /ˈaltəɪt/ always mooi /moːi/ beautiful
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2.1 Ek is moeg. → “I’m tired.”
2.2 Jy is laat. → “You’re late.”
2.3 Dit is koud. → “It’s cold.”
2.4 Wees stil! → “Be quiet!”
2.5 Ons was gelukkig. → “We were happy.”
2.6 Hy is ’n onderwyser by die skool. → “He is a teacher at the school.”
2.7 Daar is ’n probleem met die motor. → “There’s a problem with the car.”
2.8 Ek was gister die hele dag siek. → “I was ill all day yesterday.”
2.9 My broer is twintig jaar oud. → “My brother is twenty years old.”
2.10 Die kinders was gister by hulle ouma. → “The children were at their grandmother’s yesterday.”
2.11 Ek weet nie of hy al by die huis is nie. → “I don’t know whether he’s home yet.”
2.12 Môre sal dit warm en sonnig wees. → “Tomorrow it will be warm and sunny.”
2.13 Dit is lekker om weer tuis te wees. → “It’s good to be home again.”
2.14 Hulle was nie by die vergadering nie, omdat hulle siek was. → “They weren’t at the meeting because they were ill.”
2.15 Die kerk is lank gelede gebou, maar dit is nog altyd mooi. → “The church was built long ago, but it is still beautiful.”
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2.1 Ek is moeg.
2.2 Jy is laat.
2.3 Dit is koud.
2.4 Wees stil!
2.5 Ons was gelukkig.
2.6 Hy is ’n onderwyser by die skool.
2.7 Daar is ’n probleem met die motor.
2.8 Ek was gister die hele dag siek.
2.9 My broer is twintig jaar oud.
2.10 Die kinders was gister by hulle ouma.
2.11 Ek weet nie of hy al by die huis is nie.
2.12 Môre sal dit warm en sonnig wees.
2.13 Dit is lekker om weer tuis te wees.
2.14 Hulle was nie by die vergadering nie, omdat hulle siek was.
2.15 Die kerk is lank gelede gebou, maar dit is nog altyd mooi.
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These are the grammar rules for “to be” (wees) in Afrikaans:
1. The forms
Infinitive: wees — “to be”
Present: ek is, jy is, u is, hy is, sy is, dit is, ons is, julle is, hulle is
Past: ek was, jy was, u was, hy was, sy was, dit was, ons was, julle was, hulle was
Command: wees! — “be!”
Past participle: gewees — “been”
There is no ending for the person and no ending for the number. Compare Dutch ik ben, jij bent, hij is, wij zijn, and German ich bin, du bist, er ist, wir sind. Afrikaans has is for all of them (2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 2.9).
2. Was: one of the few true past forms
Most Afrikaans verbs make their past with het and the participle: ek het gelees, “I read, I have read” (1.8). Wees is one of a small group of verbs that keep a simple past form of their own, and was is the ordinary way to say “was, were”: ons was gelukkig (2.5), ek was siek (2.8), die kinders was by hulle ouma (2.10). The participle gewees exists, but a learner should use was for the past.
3. Wees after another verb
After the future helper sal, and after modal verbs such as kan, “can”, and moet, “must”, the verb takes the infinitive wees, and wees goes to the end of the clause: môre sal dit warm en sonnig wees (2.12); die paaie kan gevaarlik wees (2.21).
After om … te, “to”, the same: om weer tuis te wees (2.13), “to be home again”. Om opens the phrase; te wees closes it.
4. The command
Wees by itself, at the start of the sentence, is the command: wees stil! (2.4); wees versigtig (2.22); wees veilig (2.30). It is used for one person or for several.
5. Daar is — “there is, there are”
Daar is introduces something that exists or is present, and is the same for singular and plural: daar is ’n probleem (2.7), “there is a problem”; daar is baie mense, “there are many people”. Its past is daar was: verlede jaar was daar ook min reën (2.25); en daar was lig (F.5), “and there was light”; its future daar sal … wees: daar sal sneeu wees (2.20).
6. Dit is and dis
Dit is, “it is”, is used for weather, time and general statements: dit is koud (2.3). In speech and informal writing it is shortened to dis: dis koud. Formal writing usually keeps dit is.
7. Word order
In a main clause is or was stands second: ek is moeg (2.1); môre sal dit … wees (2.12), where sal takes second place and wees goes to the end. In a question without a question word, is comes first: is jy moeg? “are you tired?”
In a clause introduced by of, omdat, dat, waar or wat, is or was goes to the end: of hy al by die huis is (2.11); omdat hulle siek was (2.14); dat die lig goed was (F.6).
8. Negation
Is and was take the double negative of Lesson 1: hulle was nie by die vergadering nie (2.14); ek weet nie of hy … is nie (2.11). The first nie follows the verb; the second closes the sentence.
9. Is in the passive
Is with a past participle makes the past passive: die kerk is lank gelede gebou (2.15), “the church was built long ago”. Here is translates English “was”, because the action is over and its result remains. The present passive uses word, “become”: die kerk word gebou, “the church is being built”. Later lessons treat the passive in full.
10. Where Afrikaans prefers another verb
For things standing, lying or sitting somewhere, Afrikaans often says lê, staan or sit where English says “is”: die boek lê op die tafel (1.15), “the book is (lying) on the table”. Is is also correct, but the posture verbs are more natural for objects.
Common mistakes for English speakers:
Mistake: Changing the verb for the person, from English, Dutch or German. ✗ ek ben, ons zijn → ✓ ek is, ons is.
Mistake: Using is for the past. ✗ gister is ek siek → ✓ gister was ek siek.
Mistake: Putting wees in the middle after sal. ✗ dit sal wees koud → ✓ dit sal koud wees.
Mistake: Keeping is in second place in a subordinate clause. ✗ omdat hulle was siek → ✓ omdat hulle siek was.
Mistake: Forgetting the second nie. ✗ ek is nie moeg → ✓ ek is nie moeg nie.
Mistake: Pronouncing is as English “iss” or was as English “woz”. Say /əs/ and /vas/.
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Frequency
Is is among the most frequent words in Afrikaans, and was is among the most frequent words of any story or report about the past. A learner who knows die, is and was can already follow the frame of many simple sentences.
Register
Dis, the contraction of dit is, belongs to speech, letters, messages and informal writing; a newspaper or an official text more often writes dit is in full. Both are standard.
The polite you, u, takes the same verb as everyone else: u is welkom, “you are welcome”. Nothing in the verb shows politeness; the pronoun does it all.
A language without persons
The loss of the personal endings is one of the clearest marks of Afrikaans against Dutch. A Dutch speaker says ik ben, jij bent, hij is; in the Afrikaans of the Cape, is spread to every person. For an English speaker who learned am, is and are as a child, this is the place where Afrikaans is simpler than English.
Everyday expressions with is and wees
Dis nou maar so — “that’s just how it is”: said of something that cannot be changed.
Hoe oud is jy? — “how old are you?”; the answer: ek is twintig jaar oud (2.9).
Wees gegroet — “greetings”, literally “be greeted”: a formal or warm greeting at the start of a letter or a speech.
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Source: Genesis 1:2–4, in Die Bybel, the Afrikaans translation of 1933 with the revision of 1953 (Bybelgenootskap van Suid-Afrika). The text follows the 1933/1953 translation (AFR53) on bible.com and agrees with the 1933/1953 text on bibliaonline.com.br.
Context: The first complete Bible in Afrikaans appeared in 1933, eight years after Afrikaans became an official language in 1925. Until then the churches of Afrikaans speakers read the Dutch Statenvertaling. For three generations the 1933/1953 text was the Bible of Afrikaans homes and churches, and its language shaped written Afrikaans. The opening of Genesis uses the past was four times and the infinitive wees once.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
F.1a En and die the aarde earth was was woes waste en and leeg empty
F.1b En /ɛn/ and die /di/ the.DEF aarde /ˈɑːrdə/ earth.SG was /vas/ be.PAST woes /vus/ waste en /ɛn/ and leeg /lɪəχ/ empty
F.2a en and duisternis darkness was was op on die the wêreldvloed world-flood
F.2b en /ɛn/ and duisternis /ˈdœɪstərnəs/ darkness.SG was /vas/ be.PAST op /ɔp/ on die /di/ the.DEF wêreldvloed /ˈvɛːrəltflut/ world-flood.SG
F.3a en and die the Gees Spirit van of God God het has gesweef hovered op on die the waters waters
F.3b en /ɛn/ and die /di/ the.DEF Gees /χɪəs/ Spirit.SG van /fan/ of God /χɔt/ God het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF gesweef /χəˈsvɪəf/ hover.PTCP op /ɔp/ on die /di/ the.DEF waters /ˈvɑːtərs/ water.PL
F.4a En and God God het has gesê said Laat let daar there lig light wees be
F.4b En /ɛn/ and God /χɔt/ God het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF gesê /χəˈsɛː/ say.PTCP Laat /lɑːt/ let.IMP daar /dɑːr/ there.EXPL lig /ləχ/ light.SG wees /vɪəs/ be.INF
F.5a En and daar there was was lig light
F.5b En /ɛn/ and daar /dɑːr/ there.EXPL was /vas/ be.PAST lig /ləχ/ light.SG
F.6a Toe then sien sees God God dat that die the lig light goed good was was
F.6b Toe /tu/ then sien /sin/ see.PRES God /χɔt/ God dat /dat/ that.COMP die /di/ the.DEF lig /ləχ/ light.SG goed /χut/ good was /vas/ be.PAST
F-B: Authentic Text with Idiomatic English Translation
En die aarde was woes en leeg, en duisternis was op die wêreldvloed, en die Gees van God het gesweef op die waters. En God het gesê: Laat daar lig wees! En daar was lig. Toe sien God dat die lig goed was.
→ “And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the flood of the world, and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. And God said: Let there be light! And there was light. Then God saw that the light was good.” (Latinum Institute.)
F-C: Authentic Text Only
En die aarde was woes en leeg, en duisternis was op die wêreldvloed, en die Gees van God het gesweef op die waters. En God het gesê: Laat daar lig wees! En daar was lig. Toe sien God dat die lig goed was.
F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
Die aarde was woes en leeg (F.1) — was, the past of wees, linking the subject to two adjectives. The same was serves every person: die aarde was, ons was (2.5).
Duisternis was op die wêreldvloed (F.2) — was for place, “was upon”. Wêreldvloed is a compound, wêreld, “world”, and vloed, “flood”: the waters that covered everything.
Die Gees van God het gesweef (F.3) — the other way of making the past, het with the participle gesweef, from sweef, “hover, float”. Wees does not need het: it has was.
Laat daar lig wees! (F.4) — laat, “let”, is followed by the infinitive wees at the end, as sal is in 2.12. Daar … wees is the infinitive of daar is, “there is” (Section D, 5).
En daar was lig (F.5) — the past of daar is: “and there was light”. The command of F.4 and its fulfilment in F.5 use the same verb, first as wees, then as was.
Toe sien God dat die lig goed was (F.6) — two points of word order. After toe, “then”, the verb sien comes second, before its subject God; the old narrative style uses the present sien for a past event. In the clause introduced by dat, “that”, was goes to the end (Section D, 7).
The four words Laat daar lig wees are among the best known in Afrikaans, and the verse shows the whole verb wees in miniature: the infinitive in the command, the past in the answer.
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A short weather report written for this lesson, in the style of a radio forecast. It moves from yesterday through today to the weekend, so that was, is and sal … wees follow one another, as they do in any report on the weather.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
2.16a Gister yesterday was was dit it warm warm en and sonnig sunny in in Kaapstad Cape-Town
2.16b Gister /ˈχəstər/ yesterday was /vas/ be.PAST dit /dət/ it.3SG.N warm /varm/ warm en /ɛn/ and sonnig /ˈsɔnəχ/ sunny in /ən/ in Kaapstad /ˈkɑːpstat/ Cape-Town
2.17a Vandag today is is die the lug sky grys grey en and bewolk cloudy
2.17b Vandag /fanˈdaχ/ today is /əs/ be.PRES die /di/ the.DEF lug /lœχ/ sky.SG grys /χrəɪs/ grey en /ɛn/ and bewolk /bəˈvɔlk/ cloudy
2.18a Die the wind wind is is sterk strong langs along die the kus coast
2.18b Die /di/ the.DEF wind /vənt/ wind.SG is /əs/ be.PRES sterk /stɛrk/ strong langs /laŋs/ along die /di/ the.DEF kus /kœs/ coast.SG
2.19a Môre tomorrow sal will dit it koud cold en and nat wet wees be
2.19b Môre /ˈmɔːrə/ tomorrow sal /sal/ will.AUX.FUT dit /dət/ it.3SG.N koud /kœʊt/ cold en /ɛn/ and nat /nat/ wet wees /vɪəs/ be.INF
2.20a In in die the berge mountains sal will daar there selfs even sneeu snow wees be
2.20b In /ən/ in die /di/ the.DEF berge /ˈbɛrχə/ mountain.PL sal /sal/ will.AUX.FUT daar /dɑːr/ there.EXPL selfs /sɛlfs/ even sneeu /sniu/ snow.SG wees /vɪəs/ be.INF
2.21a Die the paaie roads oor over die the passe passes kan can gevaarlik dangerous wees be
2.21b Die /di/ the.DEF paaie /ˈpɑːjə/ road.PL oor /ʊər/ over die /di/ the.DEF passe /ˈpasə/ pass.PL kan /kan/ can.AUX.MOD gevaarlik /χəˈfɑːrlək/ dangerous wees /vɪəs/ be.INF
2.22a Wees be versigtig careful as if jy you daar there ry drive
2.22b Wees /vɪəs/ be.IMP versigtig /fərˈsəχtəχ/ careful as /as/ if.COMP jy /jəɪ/ you.2SG daar /dɑːr/ there.LOC ry /rəɪ/ drive.PRES
2.23a In in die the Karoo Karoo is is dit it droog dry en and baie very warm warm
2.23b In /ən/ in die /di/ the.DEF Karoo /kaˈrʊə/ Karoo is /əs/ be.PRES dit /dət/ it.3SG.N droog /drʊəχ/ dry en /ɛn/ and baie /ˈbajə/ very warm /varm/ warm
2.24a Die the boere farmers is are bekommerd worried want for die the damme dams is are leeg empty
2.24b Die /di/ the.DEF boere /ˈburə/ farmer.PL is /əs/ be.PRES bekommerd /bəˈkɔmərt/ worried want /vant/ for.CONJ die /di/ the.DEF damme /ˈdamə/ dam.PL is /əs/ be.PRES leeg /lɪəχ/ empty
2.25a Verlede last jaar year was was daar there ook also min little reën rain
2.25b Verlede /fərˈlɪədə/ last jaar /jɑːr/ year.SG was /vas/ be.PAST daar /dɑːr/ there.EXPL ook /ʊək/ also min /mən/ little reën /ˈrɪən/ rain.SG
2.26a Teen by Vrydag Friday sal will die the lug sky weer again helder clear wees be
2.26b Teen /tɪən/ by Vrydag /ˈfrəɪdaχ/ Friday sal /sal/ will.AUX.FUT die /di/ the.DEF lug /lœχ/ sky.SG weer /vɪər/ again helder /ˈɦɛldər/ clear wees /vɪəs/ be.INF
2.27a Die the naweek weekend is is perfek perfect vir for ’n an uitstappie outing
2.27b Die /di/ the.DEF naweek /ˈnɑːvɪək/ weekend.SG is /əs/ be.PRES perfek /pərˈfɛk/ perfect vir /fər/ for ’n /ə/ a.INDEF uitstappie /ˈœɪtstapi/ outing.DIM.SG
2.28a Die the see sea is is nog still koud cold maar but die the strand beach is is mooi beautiful
2.28b Die /di/ the.DEF see /sɪə/ sea.SG is /əs/ be.PRES nog /nɔχ/ still koud /kœʊt/ cold maar /mɑːr/ but die /di/ the.DEF strand /strant/ beach.SG is /əs/ be.PRES mooi /moːi/ beautiful
2.29a Dit that was was die the weerberig weather-report vir for vandag today
2.29b Dit /dət/ that.3SG.N was /vas/ be.PAST die /di/ the.DEF weerberig /ˈvɪərbərəχ/ weather-report.SG vir /fər/ for vandag /fanˈdaχ/ today
2.30a Wees be veilig safe en and geniet enjoy die the naweek weekend
2.30b Wees /vɪəs/ be.IMP veilig /ˈfəɪləχ/ safe en /ɛn/ and geniet /χəˈnit/ enjoy.IMP die /di/ the.DEF naweek /ˈnɑːvɪək/ weekend.SG
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Part B: Natural Text with Idiomatic Translation
2.16 Gister was dit warm en sonnig in Kaapstad. → “Yesterday it was warm and sunny in Cape Town.”
2.17 Vandag is die lug grys en bewolk. → “Today the sky is grey and cloudy.”
2.18 Die wind is sterk langs die kus. → “The wind is strong along the coast.”
2.19 Môre sal dit koud en nat wees. → “Tomorrow it will be cold and wet.”
2.20 In die berge sal daar selfs sneeu wees. → “In the mountains there will even be snow.”
2.21 Die paaie oor die passe kan gevaarlik wees. → “The roads over the passes may be dangerous.”
2.22 Wees versigtig as jy daar ry. → “Be careful if you drive there.”
2.23 In die Karoo is dit droog en baie warm. → “In the Karoo it is dry and very hot.”
2.24 Die boere is bekommerd, want die damme is leeg. → “The farmers are worried, because the dams are empty.”
2.25 Verlede jaar was daar ook min reën. → “Last year there was little rain as well.”
2.26 Teen Vrydag sal die lug weer helder wees. → “By Friday the sky will be clear again.”
2.27 Die naweek is perfek vir ’n uitstappie. → “The weekend is perfect for an outing.”
2.28 Die see is nog koud, maar die strand is mooi. → “The sea is still cold, but the beach is lovely.”
2.29 Dit was die weerberig vir vandag. → “That was the weather report for today.”
2.30 Wees veilig, en geniet die naweek! → “Stay safe, and enjoy the weekend!”
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Part C: Text in Afrikaans Only
Die weerberig
Gister was dit warm en sonnig in Kaapstad. Vandag is die lug grys en bewolk. Die wind is sterk langs die kus.
Môre sal dit koud en nat wees. In die berge sal daar selfs sneeu wees. Die paaie oor die passe kan gevaarlik wees. Wees versigtig as jy daar ry.
In die Karoo is dit droog en baie warm. Die boere is bekommerd, want die damme is leeg. Verlede jaar was daar ook min reën.
Teen Vrydag sal die lug weer helder wees. Die naweek is perfek vir ’n uitstappie. Die see is nog koud, maar die strand is mooi.
Dit was die weerberig vir vandag. Wees veilig, en geniet die naweek!
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Part D: Grammar Notes for the Genre Section
The three times of the report: was for yesterday (2.16, 2.25), is for today (2.17, 2.18, 2.23, 2.24, 2.27, 2.28), sal … wees for tomorrow and the weekend (2.19, 2.20, 2.26). The future is sal with wees at the end of the clause.
Verb second after a time or place: Gister was dit (2.16), Vandag is die lug (2.17), Môre sal dit (2.19), In die Karoo is dit (2.23), Verlede jaar was daar (2.25), Teen Vrydag sal die lug (2.26). Whatever stands first, is, was or sal stands second.
Daar sal … wees (2.20): the future of daar is. Selfs, “even”, stands inside the frame.
Kan … wees (2.21): the modal kan, “can, may”, with wees at the end. Here kan says what is possible: the roads may be dangerous.
Want (2.24): “for, because”. Unlike omdat (2.14), want does not send the verb to the end: want die damme is leeg, but omdat die damme leeg is.
Wees versigtig, wees veilig (2.22, 2.30): the command. Wees veilig is the usual Afrikaans close to a broadcast or a message, as English says “stay safe”.
Uitstappie (2.27): the diminutive ending -ie, here on uitstap, “outing”. Afrikaans uses the diminutive freely, often with a sense of something small and pleasant.
Reën (2.25): the diaeresis on ë shows that e and ë are said as separate vowels, re-ën /ˈrɪən/.
The Karoo: the dry plateau of the interior of South Africa, a byword for heat and drought.
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Wees /vɪəs/, is /əs/, was /vas/, gewees /χəˈvɪəs/: the four forms of this lesson. W is always /v/; is has the weak vowel /ə/.
Dis is written without an apostrophe: dis koud. It is a standard contraction, not a mistake.
The circumflex lengthens a vowel: môre /ˈmɔːrə/, gesê /χəˈsɛː/ (F.4), wêreld /ˈvɛːrəlt/ (F.2).
The diaeresis separates vowels: reën /ˈrɪən/ (2.25), and geërf, “inherited”, from Lesson 1.
The ending -ig is said /əχ/: sonnig, gelukkig, versigtig, veilig, weerberig.
Final d is /t/: koud /kœʊt/, oud /œʊt/, Kaapstad /ˈkɑːpstat/. Final g is /χ/: moeg /muχ/, dag /daχ/, droog /drʊəχ/, leeg /lɪəχ/.
Days of the week and place names take a capital: Vrydag, Kaapstad, die Karoo. God and Gees take a capital in the Bible text.
The IPA in this lesson follows standard Afrikaans, with each word said on its own, as in Lesson 1.
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✓ Lesson 2 Afrikaans complete — wees (to be)
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Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)