What is “in” in Afrikaans?
English “in” says that something is inside something else (“in the kitchen”), that it happens within a stretch of time (“in December”, “in winter”), and that something is said in a particular language (“in English”). Afrikaans uses one small word for all three: in, pronounced /ən/. You have already met it many times: die melk is in die yskas (1.10), my broer is ’n dokter in Kaapstad (4.8), tot in Kaapstad (6.24). This lesson puts those examples together and teaches in as the headword.
In is a preposition, and it never changes its form: in die huis, in my tas, in Pretoria, in hom. It usually stands before the noun, as in English. But Afrikaans has a second place for it, which English lacks. When the sentence is about moving inside, in can come after the place: die kamer in, die swembad in, “into the room, into the swimming pool”. This is the same idea as toe after the place in Lesson 6. When you put or cut something into something, in stands first, as in English: in die laai (3.13), in ses stukke (7.10).
Afrikaans divides the work of English “in”, “at” and “on” a little differently from English. In means inside an enclosed space: in die yskas, in die kar. Op is for a surface: op die tafel. By means “at” or “at the place of”: by my ma, “at my mum’s”, by die huis, “at the house”. The three are often in the same sentence: die kat slaap op die vensterbank in die son (1.24).
In is also the word for time. Afrikaans says in Desember, in die winter, in die middag (1.28), and in 1933 for a year. But “in a week’s time”, a week from now, is not in but oor: oor ’n week. Languages are introduced by in as well, with no die: in Afrikaans, in Engels.
In comes from Dutch in, which goes back to Proto-Germanic *in. English “in” is a true cousin: the two words come from the same ancestor. Related Afrikaans words are daarin, “in it, in there”, hierin, “in this”, and waarin, “in which”, built as waarheen was in Lesson 6.
FAQ: How do you say “in” in Afrikaans?
Q: What is “in” in Afrikaans? A: In, pronounced /ən/: in die huis, “in the house”; in Pretoria, “in Pretoria”.
Q: How do I say “in December”, “in the morning”? A: In Desember, in die oggend. Months take a capital letter, and parts of the day take die.
Q: How do I say “in a week”, meaning a week from now? A: Oor ’n week, not ✗ in ’n week.
Q: How do I say “in Afrikaans”? A: In Afrikaans, with no die before the name of the language: Hoe sê jy dankie in Engels?
Q: How do I say “at my mum’s”? A: By my ma. In would mean “inside” her.
Q: How do I say “into the room”? A: Die kamer in, with in after the place. With putting and cutting, in comes first: in die laai, in ses stukke.
Key Takeaways:
- In /ən/ means “in, inside”: in die huis, in Pretoria, in die yskas, in hom - In is also used for time and language: in Desember, in die winter, in die oggend, in Afrikaans, in Engels; but “a week from now” is oor ’n week - For “into” a place Afrikaans puts in after it: die kamer in, die swembad in; with putting and cutting, in comes first: in die laai, in ses stukke - Use op for a surface and by for “at someone’s place”: op die tafel, by my ma - For “in it” about a thing say daarin, not ✗ in dit; for a person say in hom, in haar
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in /ən/ — short and weak, like the unstressed “un” of English “button” with the n said clearly. The vowel is not the “i” of English “in” /ɪn/. In a sentence it is hardly stressed: in die huis /ən di ɦœɪs/.
op /ɔp/ and by /bəɪ/ — op is a short “op”; by is like English “buy”, but with the first part of the vowel weak.
oor /ʊər/ — a gliding oo, followed by a rolled or tapped r.
daarin /ˈdɑːrən/, hierin /ˈɦirən/, waarin /ˈvɑːrən/ — the stress is on the first syllable, and the last syllable is the weak in.
Sounds that recur in this lesson:
w /v/ — woon /vʊən/, winter /ˈvəntər/, winkel /ˈvəŋkəl/, week /vɪək/, weer /vɪər/, swem /svɛm/.
g /χ/ — graag /χrɑːχ/, geld /χɛlt/, gespring /χəˈsprəŋ/, gekyk /χəˈkəɪk/, gesoek /χəˈsuk/.
oe /u/ — boek /buk/, koek /kuk/, gesoek /χəˈsuk/, broeksak /ˈbruksak/. Oe is always /u/.
ee /ɪə/ and oo /ʊə/ — eet /ɪət/, see /sɪə/, weer /vɪər/, woon /vʊən/, oom /ʊəm/, oor /ʊər/, gekoop /χəˈkʊəp/, nooit /nʊəjt/.
ui /œɪ/ — tuin /tœɪn/, kombuis /kɔmˈbœɪs/, huis /ɦœɪs/, uitkom /ˈœɪtkɔm/, trui /trœɪ/.
y and ei /əɪ/ — gesny /χəˈsnəɪ/, sy /səɪ/, kyk /kəɪk/, ry /rəɪ/, altyd /ˈaltəɪt/, yskas /ˈəɪskas/.
ê /ɛː/ — lê /lɛː/, nêrens /ˈnɛːrəns/, sê /sɛː/.
Final d is /t/: geld /χɛlt/, swembad /ˈsvɛmbat/, Woord /vʊərt/, God /χɔt/.
Stress falls on the first syllable unless the word begins with an unstressed prefix such as ge-, ver- or be-: ˈsitkamer, ˈwinter, but geˈsoek, begin /bəˈχən/. Vanoggend is stressed on the second part: fanˈɔχənt. Kombuis is stressed on the second syllable: kɔmˈbœɪs.
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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.
7.1a Ek I woon live in in Pretoria Pretoria
7.1b Ek /ɛk/ I.1SG woon /vʊən/ live.PRES in /ən/ in.PREP Pretoria /prəˈtʊəria/ Pretoria
7.2a Die the boek book is is in in my my tas bag
7.2b Die /di/ the.DEF boek /buk/ book.SG is /əs/ be.PRES in /ən/ in.PREP my /məɪ/ my.1SG.POSS tas /tas/ bag.SG
7.3a Hulle they is are in in die the tuin garden
7.3b Hulle /ˈɦœlə/ they.3PL is /əs/ be.PRES in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF tuin /tœɪn/ garden.SG
7.4a Ons we eet eat in in die the kombuis kitchen
7.4b Ons /ɔns/ we.1PL eet /ɪət/ eat.PRES in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF kombuis /kɔmˈbœɪs/ kitchen.SG
7.5a In in Desember December is is dit it warm warm
7.5b In /ən/ in.PREP Desember /dəˈsɛmbər/ December is /əs/ be.PRES dit /dət/ it.3SG.N warm /varm/ warm
7.6a Die the kinders children swem swim graag gladly in in die the see sea
7.6b Die /di/ the.DEF kinders /ˈkəndərs/ child.PL swem /svɛm/ swim.PRES graag /χrɑːχ/ gladly in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF see /sɪə/ sea.SG
7.7a In in die the winter winter dra wear ek I altyd always ’n a trui sweater
7.7b In /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF winter /ˈvəntər/ winter.SG dra /drɑː/ wear.PRES ek /ɛk/ I.1SG altyd /ˈaltəɪt/ always ’n /ə/ a.INDEF trui /trœɪ/ sweater.SG
7.8a Ek I het have dit it in in die the koerant newspaper gelees read
7.8b Ek /ɛk/ I.1SG het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF dit /dət/ it.3SG.N in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF koerant /kuˈrant/ newspaper.SG gelees /χəˈlɪəs/ read.PTCP
7.9a Hy he het has die the geld money in in sy his sak pocket gesit put
7.9b Hy /ɦəɪ/ he.3SG het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF die /di/ the.DEF geld /χɛlt/ money.SG in /ən/ in.PREP sy /səɪ/ his.3SG.POSS sak /sak/ pocket.SG gesit /χəˈsət/ put.PTCP
7.10a Ons we het have die the koek cake in into ses six stukke pieces gesny cut
7.10b Ons /ɔns/ we.1PL het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF die /di/ the.DEF koek /kuk/ cake.SG in /ən/ in.PREP (into) ses /sɛs/ six.NUM stukke /ˈstœkə/ piece.PL gesny /χəˈsnəɪ/ cut.PTCP
7.11a Hoe how sê say jy you dankie thanks in in Engels English
7.11b Hoe /ɦu/ how sê /sɛː/ say.PRES jy /jəɪ/ you.2SG dankie /ˈdaŋki/ thanks in /ən/ in.PREP Engels /ˈɛŋəls/ English
7.12a Die the man man in in die the blou blue hemp shirt is is my my oom uncle
7.12b Die /di/ the.DEF man /man/ man.SG in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF blou /blœʊ/ blue.ATTR hemp /ɦɛmp/ shirt.SG is /əs/ be.PRES my /məɪ/ my.1SG.POSS oom /ʊəm/ uncle.SG
7.13a Oor over ’n a week week is am ek I weer again in in Kaapstad Cape-Town
7.13b Oor /ʊər/ over.PREP (time ahead) ’n /ə/ a.INDEF week /vɪək/ week.SG is /əs/ be.PRES ek /ɛk/ I.1SG weer /vɪər/ again in /ən/ in.PREP Kaapstad /ˈkɑːpstat/ Cape-Town
7.14a Die the kinders children het have die the hele whole middag afternoon in in die the swembad swimming-pool gespeel played
7.14b Die /di/ the.DEF kinders /ˈkəndərs/ child.PL het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF die /di/ the.DEF hele /ˈɦɪələ/ whole.ATTR middag /ˈmədaχ/ afternoon.SG in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF swembad /ˈsvɛmbat/ swim-bath.SG gespeel /χəˈspɪəl/ play.PTCP
7.15a Toe when die the son sun uitkom comes-out het have die the kinders children die the swembad swimming-pool in into gespring jumped
7.15b Toe /tu/ when.SUBORD die /di/ the.DEF son /sɔn/ sun.SG uitkom /ˈœɪtkɔm/ out-come.PRES het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF die /di/ the.DEF kinders /ˈkəndərs/ child.PL die /di/ the.DEF swembad /ˈsvɛmbat/ swim-bath.SG in /ən/ in.POSTP gespring /χəˈsprəŋ/ jump.PTCP
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7.1 Ek woon in Pretoria. → “I live in Pretoria.”
7.2 Die boek is in my tas. → “The book is in my bag.”
7.3 Hulle is in die tuin. → “They are in the garden.”
7.4 Ons eet in die kombuis. → “We eat in the kitchen.”
7.5 In Desember is dit warm. → “In December it is warm.”
7.6 Die kinders swem graag in die see. → “The children like swimming in the sea.”
7.7 In die winter dra ek altyd ’n trui. → “In winter I always wear a sweater.”
7.8 Ek het dit in die koerant gelees. → “I read it in the newspaper.”
7.9 Hy het die geld in sy sak gesit. → “He put the money in his pocket.”
7.10 Ons het die koek in ses stukke gesny. → “We cut the cake into six pieces.”
7.11 Hoe sê jy dankie in Engels? → “How do you say dankie in English?”
7.12 Die man in die blou hemp is my oom. → “The man in the blue shirt is my uncle.”
7.13 Oor ’n week is ek weer in Kaapstad. → “In a week I’ll be back in Cape Town.”
7.14 Die kinders het die hele middag in die swembad gespeel. → “The children played in the swimming pool all afternoon.”
7.15 Toe die son uitkom, het die kinders die swembad in gespring. → “When the sun came out, the children jumped into the swimming pool.”
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7.1 Ek woon in Pretoria.
7.2 Die boek is in my tas.
7.3 Hulle is in die tuin.
7.4 Ons eet in die kombuis.
7.5 In Desember is dit warm.
7.6 Die kinders swem graag in die see.
7.7 In die winter dra ek altyd ’n trui.
7.8 Ek het dit in die koerant gelees.
7.9 Hy het die geld in sy sak gesit.
7.10 Ons het die koek in ses stukke gesny.
7.11 Hoe sê jy dankie in Engels?
7.12 Die man in die blou hemp is my oom.
7.13 Oor ’n week is ek weer in Kaapstad.
7.14 Die kinders het die hele middag in die swembad gespeel.
7.15 Toe die son uitkom, het die kinders die swembad in gespring.
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These are the grammar rules for “in” (in) in Afrikaans:
1. In never changes
In has one form. It stands before a noun, a name or a pronoun and does not change for number, person or the noun that follows: in die huis, in die huise, in my tas, in Pretoria, in hom, in haar. After in, a pronoun for a person has the object form: in hom, “in him”, in haar, “in her”, in my, “in me”.
2. In: inside a place
In says that something is inside a place or container: in die tuin (7.3), in die kombuis (7.4), in die see (7.6), in die koerant (7.8), in die yskas (1.10), in die kar (7.23). With a town, country or other name, there is no article: in Pretoria (7.1), in Kaapstad (7.13), in Londen (5.14). With a common noun there is usually die: in die dorp, in die stad (5.11), in die berge (2.20). With a person, in is figurative: In Hom was lewe, “in Him was life” (F.3).
3. In, op and by
Afrikaans separates three ideas that English often mixes. In is inside an enclosed space. Op is on a surface: die kat slaap op die vensterbank (1.24). By is “at” or “at the place of”, and with a person it means “at his or her place”: by my suster (6.28), by die dokter, by Ouma. So Ons eet vanaand by Ouma is “We’re eating at Grandma’s tonight”. Where English says “at the doctor’s”, Afrikaans also has by.
4. In with time
In introduces a month, a season, a part of the day and a year: in Desember (7.5), in die winter (7.7), in die middag (1.28), in die oggend, and a year, as in In 1933 het die eerste volledige Bybel in Afrikaans verskyn, “In 1933 the first complete Bible appeared in Afrikaans”. Months are written with a capital letter, seasons with a small one, and a part of the day takes die. In is not used for a time on the clock (om drie-uur, “at three o’clock”), and not for a time a stretch ahead of now: that is oor, as in Oor ’n week is ek weer in Kaapstad (7.13), “A week from now I’m back in Cape Town”.
5. In with a language
The names of languages follow in without die: in Afrikaans, in Engels (7.11), in Latyn. Sy skryf in Afrikaans, “She writes in Afrikaans”. Not ✗ in die Afrikaans.
6. In to say which one
An in phrase after a noun says where it is or what it is wearing, and tells you which one is meant: die man in die blou hemp (7.12), “the man in the blue shirt”; die mense in die dorp (1.11); my suster in Londen (5.14); die uil in die boom (4.7). It follows the noun directly and is part of the noun phrase.
7. In: “into”
Afrikaans says “into” in three ways, all with the same word.
First, with verbs of putting and cutting, in comes before the thing, as in English: dit in die laai gesit (3.13), die vulsel in die kors (5.22), in agt stukke (5.25), in ses stukke (7.10).
Second, with verbs of movement, in can stand after the place and make the movement end inside it: die swembad in gespring (7.15), die kamer in, die tuin in, die water in. Compare in die swembad gespeel (7.14): the children are already in the pool and the action takes place there. The final in is the counterpart of toe in Lesson 6: na die hek toe takes you to the gate; die kamer in takes you through the door.
Third, you may hear a speaker use in on both sides of the place, as in in die water in; this is a spoken habit, and the plain forms in die water and die water in are the ones to learn. When in doubt, die kamer in is safe after a verb of movement.
8. Daarin, hierin, waarin
When “in it” is about a thing, Afrikaans does not say ✗ in dit. It joins daar, “there”, and in: daarin. Ek sit ’n bietjie suiker daarin, “I put a little sugar in it”. In the same way, hierin is “in this” and waarin is “in which”: die huis waarin ek woon, “the house I live in”. For a person, use the object form: in hom, in haar.
9. Fixed phrases with in
In plaas van, “instead of”: Ek drink tee in plaas van koffie. In elk geval, “in any case”. In die middel van, “in the middle of”: in die middel van die kamer. In Afrikaans or in Engels with a language.
“Come in!” is Kom binne!, not ✗ Kom in!. Binne means “inside, indoors”.
10. Word order
An in phrase of place or time can take the first place: In die kombuis maak die boer se vrou koffie (1.20); In die middag is die werf stil (1.28); In Hom was lewe (F.3); In Desember is dit warm (7.5). The verb stays second and the subject follows it. In a sentence in the perfect tense, the in phrase usually stands before the participle: in die koerant gelees (7.8), in die winkel gekoop (7.22). In a subordinate clause the verb goes to the end: Ek weet dat die sleutels in die yskas lê, “I know that the keys are in the fridge”.
Common mistakes for English speakers:
Mistake: Using in for “at someone’s place”. ✗ Ons eet vanaand in Ouma. → ✓ Ons eet vanaand by Ouma.
Mistake: Using in for a surface. ✗ Die boek is in die tafel. → ✓ Die boek is op die tafel.
Mistake: Saying “in a week” for a week from now. ✗ Ek is in ’n week weer in Kaapstad. → ✓ Ek is oor ’n week weer in Kaapstad.
Mistake: Putting die before a language. ✗ in die Afrikaans, ✗ in die Engels. → ✓ in Afrikaans, in Engels.
Mistake: Leaving out die before a part of the day. ✗ in oggend. → ✓ in die oggend.
Mistake: Using in dit for a thing. ✗ ’n Bietjie suiker in dit. → ✓ ’n Bietjie suiker daarin.
Mistake: Saying in with the English “i”. ✗ /ɪn/ → ✓ /ən/.
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Frequency
In is the seventh most frequent word in the course’s list. Every South African conversation about where someone lives, works or has been is full of it: Waar woon jy? Ek woon in Pretoria. You will also see it in newspaper headlines and on road signs, since in is the usual word for “in”.
In, op and by on the map
Afrikaans and English do not always agree. A South African lives in Pretoria, in a town, in the city; but a farm is op die plaas, as in the title of the Genre Section of Lesson 1, ’n Dag op die plaas, and the countryside is op die platteland. Afrikaans says op there where English may say “in”. Learn such places as units, and ask yourself how the speaker sees the place: from inside, in; as a surface, op; or at a person’s home, by.
Parts of the day
For a single day, Afrikaans says in die oggend, in die middag, in die aand. For something that happens regularly, “in the mornings”, there are one-word forms such as soggens; in writing, in die oggend is the safe choice.
Afrikaans and Dutch
Dutch has the same little word. Dutch in de tuin, “in the garden”, is Afrikaans in die tuin; Dutch de tuin in, “into the garden”, is Afrikaans die tuin in. Dutch speakers will recognise both. Afrikaans differs from Dutch in having lost the articles de and het in favour of the one die, and in saying the vowel of in weakly, /ə/ instead of the fuller Dutch vowel.
Kom binne!
At a door, a South African most often says Kom binne!, “Come in!”, or Binne is dit warmer, “It’s warmer inside”. Binne is the adverb for “inside”; in is the preposition. Compare buite, “outside”, in 1.7.
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Source: John 1:1–2 and 4–5, 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 word for word with the 1933/1953 text on bibliaonline.com.br. Verse 3 is left out.
Context: Lesson 2 read Genesis 1:2–4 in this translation. The verse before it, Genesis 1:1, begins with the same three words, IN die begin, and John begins his Gospel with them on purpose. In these four verses Afrikaans uses in four times: twice for time (in die begin, in die begin), once for a person (In Hom) and once for a setting (in die duisternis). The capitals of IN at the opening are the printed text’s own.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
F.1a IN in die the begin beginning was was die the Woord Word en and die the Woord Word was was by with God God en and die the Woord Word was was God God
F.1b IN /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF begin /bəˈχən/ beginning.SG was /vas/ be.PAST die /di/ the.DEF Woord /vʊərt/ word.SG en /ɛn/ and.CONJ die /di/ the.DEF Woord /vʊərt/ word.SG was /vas/ be.PAST by /bəɪ/ with God /χɔt/ God en /ɛn/ and.CONJ die /di/ the.DEF Woord /vʊərt/ word.SG was /vas/ be.PAST God /χɔt/ God
F.2a Hy he was was in in die the begin beginning by with God God
F.2b Hy /ɦəɪ/ he.3SG was /vas/ be.PAST in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF begin /bəˈχən/ beginning.SG by /bəɪ/ with God /χɔt/ God
F.3a In in Hom Him was was lewe life en and die the lewe life was was die the lig light van of die the mense people
F.3b In /ən/ in.PREP Hom /ɦɔm/ him.3SG.REV was /vas/ be.PAST lewe /ˈlɪəvə/ life.SG en /ɛn/ and.CONJ die /di/ the.DEF lewe /ˈlɪəvə/ life.SG was /vas/ be.PAST die /di/ the.DEF lig /ləχ/ light.SG van /fan/ of die /di/ the.DEF mense /ˈmɛnsə/ person.PL
F.4a En and die the lig light skyn shines in in die the duisternis darkness en and die the duisternis darkness het has dit it nie not oorweldig overpowered nie not
F.4b En /ɛn/ and.CONJ die /di/ the.DEF lig /ləχ/ light.SG skyn /skəɪn/ shine.PRES in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF duisternis /ˈdœɪstərnəs/ darkness.SG en /ɛn/ and.CONJ die /di/ the.DEF duisternis /ˈdœɪstərnəs/ darkness.SG het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF dit /dət/ it.3SG.N nie /ni/ not.NEG1 oorweldig /ʊərˈvɛldəχ/ overpower.PTCP nie /ni/ not.NEG2
F-B: Authentic Text with Idiomatic English Translation
IN die begin was die Woord, en die Woord was by God, en die Woord was God. Hy was in die begin by God. In Hom was lewe, en die lewe was die lig van die mense. En die lig skyn in die duisternis, en die duisternis het dit nie oorweldig nie.
→ “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. In Him was life, and the life was the light of people. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Latinum Institute.)
F-C: Authentic Text Only
IN die begin was die Woord, en die Woord was by God, en die Woord was God. Hy was in die begin by God. In Hom was lewe, en die lewe was die lig van die mense. En die lig skyn in die duisternis, en die duisternis het dit nie oorweldig nie.
F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
IN die begin (F.1, F.2) — in with a point in time, followed by die: the beginning is the one beginning there is. Genesis 1:1 in the same translation opens with the same three words, so that Afrikaans readers hear the Gospel as an echo of Genesis. Compare in die middag (1.28): in with a part of time, as in Section D, 4.
Was by God (F.1) — here by does not mean “at someone’s place” but simply “with”: the Word was with God. The two small words stand side by side with different work in F.2: in die begin by God, in for the time, by for the company.
In Hom was lewe (F.3) — in with a person: Hom, with a capital letter, is the form the translation gives to God and to Christ, as Hy in F.2 and HY in Lesson 4. Because the in phrase stands first, the verb was comes before its subject lewe (Section D, 10). Lewe has no article the first time, “life” in general; the next time it is die lewe, now the life just named.
Die lig skyn in die duisternis (F.4) — in with a setting: the light shines in the dark. Duisternis is the Bible’s word; in everyday speech Afrikaans says in die donker, as in voor donker (6.12). The present skyn, “shines”, is a present that is always true.
Het dit nie oorweldig nie (F.4) — the double negative of Lesson 4 closes the clause: nie before the participle and nie at the end. Oorweldig has no ge- in the participle because oor- is here an unstressed prefix, like ver- in vergeet (6.10).
The style is the plain Afrikaans of 1933, linked by en, as in Genesis (Lesson 2): short statements set side by side, four of them opened or carried by in.
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A conversation written for this lesson. In the morning, at home, Johan cannot find his car keys, and his wife Elna asks where he has looked. Johan speaks first (7.16), and they take turns; every place they look is an in phrase. The speakers are named in Part C.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
7.16a Elna Elna ek I kan can my my sleutels keys nêrens nowhere in in die the huis house kry find nie not
7.16b Elna /ˈɛlna/ Elna ek /ɛk/ I.1SG kan /kan/ can.AUX.MOD my /məɪ/ my.1SG.POSS sleutels /ˈslʏətəls/ key.PL nêrens /ˈnɛːrəns/ nowhere.NEG1 in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF huis /ɦœɪs/ house.SG kry /krəɪ/ find.INF nie /ni/ not.NEG2
7.17a Het have jy you in in die the kombuis kitchen gekyk looked
7.17b Het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF jy /jəɪ/ you.2SG in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF kombuis /kɔmˈbœɪs/ kitchen.SG gekyk /χəˈkəɪk/ look.PTCP
7.18a Ek I het have in in die the kombuis kitchen en and in in die the sitkamer living-room gesoek searched
7.18b Ek /ɛk/ I.1SG het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF kombuis /kɔmˈbœɪs/ kitchen.SG en /ɛn/ and.CONJ in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF sitkamer /ˈsətkɑːmər/ sit-room.SG gesoek /χəˈsuk/ search.PTCP
7.19a Miskien perhaps is are hulle they in in jou your broeksak trouser-pocket
7.19b Miskien /məsˈkin/ perhaps is /əs/ be.PRES hulle /ˈɦœlə/ they.3PL in /ən/ in.PREP jou /jœʊ/ your.2SG.POSS broeksak /ˈbruksak/ trouser-pocket.SG
7.20a Nee no daar there is is net only my my selfoon mobile-phone in in my my broeksak trouser-pocket
7.20b Nee /nɪə/ no daar /dɑːr/ there.EXIST is /əs/ be.PRES net /nɛt/ only my /məɪ/ my.1SG.POSS selfoon /ˈsɛlfʊən/ mobile-phone.SG in /ən/ in.PREP my /məɪ/ my.1SG.POSS broeksak /ˈbruksak/ trouser-pocket.SG
7.21a Was were jy you vanoggend this-morning in in die the winkel shop
7.21b Was /vas/ be.PAST jy /jəɪ/ you.2SG vanoggend /fanˈɔχənt/ this-morning in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF winkel /ˈvəŋkəl/ shop.SG
7.22a Ja yes ek I het have in in die the winkel shop melk milk en and botter butter gekoop bought
7.22b Ja /ja/ yes ek /ɛk/ I.1SG het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF winkel /ˈvəŋkəl/ shop.SG melk /mɛlk/ milk.SG en /ɛn/ and.CONJ botter /ˈbɔtər/ butter.SG gekoop /χəˈkʊəp/ buy.PTCP
7.23a Is are die the sleutels keys dalk perhaps in in die the kar car
7.23b Is /əs/ be.PRES die /di/ the.DEF sleutels /ˈslʏətəls/ key.PL dalk /dalk/ perhaps in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF kar /kar/ car.SG
7.24a Ek I het have in in die the kar car gekyk looked maar but hulle they is are ook also nie not daar there nie not
7.24b Ek /ɛk/ I.1SG het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF kar /kar/ car.SG gekyk /χəˈkəɪk/ look.PTCP maar /mɑːr/ but.CONJ hulle /ˈɦœlə/ they.3PL is /əs/ be.PRES ook /ʊək/ also nie /ni/ not.NEG1 daar /dɑːr/ there nie /ni/ not.NEG2
7.25a Het have jy you die the melk milk in in die the yskas fridge gesit put
7.25b Het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF jy /jəɪ/ you.2SG die /di/ the.DEF melk /mɛlk/ milk.SG in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF yskas /ˈəɪskas/ fridge.SG gesit /χəˈsət/ put.PTCP
7.26a Ja yes ek I het have die the melk milk en and die the botter butter in in die the yskas fridge gesit put
7.26b Ja /ja/ yes ek /ɛk/ I.1SG het /ɦɛt/ have.AUX.PERF die /di/ the.DEF melk /mɛlk/ milk.SG en /ɛn/ and.CONJ die /di/ the.DEF botter /ˈbɔtər/ butter.SG in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF yskas /ˈəɪskas/ fridge.SG gesit /χəˈsət/ put.PTCP
7.27a Gaan go kyk look in in die the yskas fridge
7.27b Gaan /χɑːn/ go.IMP kyk /kəɪk/ look.INF in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF yskas /ˈəɪskas/ fridge.SG
7.28a Hier here is are hulle they Hulle they lê lie in in die the yskas fridge langs next-to die the botter butter
7.28b Hier /ɦir/ here is /əs/ be.PRES hulle /ˈɦœlə/ they.3PL Hulle /ˈɦœlə/ they.3PL lê /lɛː/ lie.PRES in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF yskas /ˈəɪskas/ fridge.SG langs /laŋs/ beside die /di/ the.DEF botter /ˈbɔtər/ butter.SG
7.29a Sit put hulle them nou now in in jou your sak pocket dan then kan can ons we ry drive
7.29b Sit /sət/ put.IMP hulle /ˈɦœlə/ them.3PL nou /nœʊ/ now in /ən/ in.PREP jou /jœʊ/ your.2SG.POSS sak /sak/ pocket.SG dan /dan/ then kan /kan/ can.AUX.MOD ons /ɔns/ we.1PL ry /rəɪ/ drive.INF
7.30a Dankie thanks Elna Elna Ek I sal shall die the sleutels keys nooit never weer again in in die the yskas fridge sit put nie not
7.30b Dankie /ˈdaŋki/ thanks Elna /ˈɛlna/ Elna Ek /ɛk/ I.1SG sal /sal/ shall.AUX.FUT die /di/ the.DEF sleutels /ˈslʏətəls/ key.PL nooit /nʊəjt/ never.NEG1 weer /vɪər/ again in /ən/ in.PREP die /di/ the.DEF yskas /ˈəɪskas/ fridge.SG sit /sət/ put.INF nie /ni/ not.NEG2
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Part B: Natural Text with Idiomatic Translation
7.16 Elna, ek kan my sleutels nêrens in die huis kry nie. → “Elna, I can’t find my keys anywhere in the house.”
7.17 Het jy in die kombuis gekyk? → “Did you look in the kitchen?”
7.18 Ek het in die kombuis en in die sitkamer gesoek. → “I searched in the kitchen and in the living room.”
7.19 Miskien is hulle in jou broeksak. → “Perhaps they’re in your trouser pocket.”
7.20 Nee, daar is net my selfoon in my broeksak. → “No, there’s only my phone in my pocket.”
7.21 Was jy vanoggend in die winkel? → “Were you in the shop this morning?”
7.22 Ja, ek het in die winkel melk en botter gekoop. → “Yes, I bought milk and butter in the shop.”
7.23 Is die sleutels dalk in die kar? → “Could the keys be in the car?”
7.24 Ek het in die kar gekyk, maar hulle is ook nie daar nie. → “I looked in the car, but they aren’t there either.”
7.25 Het jy die melk in die yskas gesit? → “Did you put the milk in the fridge?”
7.26 Ja, ek het die melk en die botter in die yskas gesit. → “Yes, I put the milk and the butter in the fridge.”
7.27 Gaan kyk in die yskas! → “Go and look in the fridge!”
7.28 Hier is hulle! Hulle lê in die yskas, langs die botter! → “Here they are! They’re lying in the fridge, next to the butter!”
7.29 Sit hulle nou in jou sak, dan kan ons ry. → “Put them in your pocket now, then we can go.”
7.30 Dankie, Elna! Ek sal die sleutels nooit weer in die yskas sit nie. → “Thanks, Elna! I’ll never put the keys in the fridge again.”
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Part C: Text in Afrikaans Only
Die sleutels in die yskas
Johan: Elna, ek kan my sleutels nêrens in die huis kry nie.
Elna: Het jy in die kombuis gekyk?
Johan: Ek het in die kombuis en in die sitkamer gesoek.
Elna: Miskien is hulle in jou broeksak.
Johan: Nee, daar is net my selfoon in my broeksak.
Elna: Was jy vanoggend in die winkel?
Johan: Ja, ek het in die winkel melk en botter gekoop.
Elna: Is die sleutels dalk in die kar?
Johan: Ek het in die kar gekyk, maar hulle is ook nie daar nie.
Elna: Het jy die melk in die yskas gesit?
Johan: Ja, ek het die melk en die botter in die yskas gesit.
Elna: Gaan kyk in die yskas!
Johan: Hier is hulle! Hulle lê in die yskas, langs die botter!
Elna: Sit hulle nou in jou sak, dan kan ons ry.
Johan: Dankie, Elna! Ek sal die sleutels nooit weer in die yskas sit nie.
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Part D: Grammar Notes for the Genre Section
In with a place: in die huis (7.16), in die kombuis (7.17, 7.18), in die sitkamer (7.18), in die winkel (7.21, 7.22), in die kar (7.23, 7.24) and in die yskas (7.25 to 7.30). Each time in means “inside”, and each time the place takes die. In die kombuis en in die sitkamer (7.18): in is said again before the second place, which keeps the two places apart.
In with a possessive: in jou broeksak (7.19), in my broeksak (7.20), in jou sak (7.29). When the owner is named by my, jou or sy, there is no die.
Nêrens … nie (7.16): nêrens, “nowhere”, is itself a negative word, and nie closes the clause, as in Lesson 4. In the same way nooit … nie (7.30) and ook nie daar nie (7.24) have two negatives.
Questions: a yes-or-no question puts the verb first: Het jy in die kombuis gekyk? (7.17), Was jy vanoggend in die winkel? (7.21), Is die sleutels dalk in die kar? (7.23), Het jy die melk in die yskas gesit? (7.25). In all of them the in phrase stands before the participle. Is can go with a plural subject, because is is the one present form for every person (Lesson 2): die sleutels is.
Lê, “lie”: Hulle lê in die yskas (7.28). Afrikaans often says that things lie, stand or sit where English only says that they are. Sit is also “put”: Sit hulle in jou sak (7.29), and the participle is gesit (7.25, 7.26).
Gaan kyk (7.27): gaan with a second verb, “go and look”, as gaan lê in Lesson 4 (4.21).
Vanoggend (7.21): “this morning”, written as one word. Vanmiddag, “this afternoon”, and vanaand, “this evening”, are made in the same way.
Hulle is both “they” (7.19, 7.28) and “them” (7.29).
Dankie (7.30), “thank you”, is said /ˈdaŋki/, as in 7.11.
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In /ən/: a short, weak vowel; the i of Afrikaans in is never said like the i of English “in”. The same short i is /ə/ in is /əs/, dit /dət/, sit /sət/, kinders /ˈkəndərs/.
Daarin, hierin and waarin are written as one word: daar + in, hier + in, waar + in.
Compounds are written as one word: broeksak (7.19), sitkamer (7.18), selfoon (7.20), swembad (7.14), vanoggend (7.21), uitkom (7.15).
Nêrens /ˈnɛːrəns/ has a circumflex on the e: it marks the long open vowel, like ê in lê /lɛː/ and sê /sɛː/.
Oe is always /u/: boek /buk/, koek /kuk/, gesoek /χəˈsuk/, broeksak /ˈbruksak/.
Ui is /œɪ/: tuin /tœɪn/, trui /trœɪ/, duisternis /ˈdœɪstərnəs/. Y and ei are /əɪ/: sy /səɪ/, gesny /χəˈsnəɪ/, skyn /skəɪn/, yskas /ˈəɪskas/.
Capital letters: months and the names of languages take a capital (Desember, Afrikaans, Engels); the seasons and parts of the day do not (winter, middag).
Final d is /t/: geld /χɛlt/, Woord /vʊərt/, God /χɔt/, swembad /ˈsvɛmbat/.
The IPA in this lesson follows standard Afrikaans, with each word said on its own, as in Lessons 1 to 6.
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✓ Lesson 7 Afrikaans complete — in (in)
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Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)