Adjectives Used as Nouns
Leave out the noun and keep the adjective: die rooi hemp → die rooie (the red one). Add -s for more than one: die armes (the poor).
How It Works
1. Always -e. Before a noun, many adjectives stay plain: 'n rooi hemp, 'n groot huis. When the adjective stands alone, it always ends in -e:
- rooi → die rooie (the red one)
- groot → die grote (the big one)
- klein → die kleine (the little one)
2. Plural -s. For more than one, add -s: die grotes (the big ones), die armes (the poor), die rykes (the rich), die siekes (the sick).
3. Groups of people. Plural forms often mean a whole group of people: Ons moet die armes help. (We must help the poor.)
4. Sound changes stay. An adjective that changes its sound before -e changes here too: goed → die goeie (the good one), oud → die oues (the old ones). Do not mix up die oues with the noun ou (guy), whose plural is ouens.
5. The een option. You can also say die rooi een or 'n groot een. Then the adjective stands before a noun again, so it follows the normal -e rules.
6. Superlatives work the same way: Sy is die slimste in die klas. (She is the smartest in the class.)
Watch out: ander is an exception. It stays ander, even in the plural: die ander (the others).
Tip: after iets and niks, adjectives take -s instead: iets lekkers.
Examples (6)
- Watter hemp wil jy hê? Die rooie, asseblief.
Which shirt do you want? The red one, please.
Word by Word: Which shirt want you have? The red-E, please.
Rooi has no -e before a noun, but it takes -e when it stands alone.
- Ons moet die armes help.
We must help the poor.
Word by Word: We must the poor-E-S help.
- Die rykes word ryker en die armes armer.
The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Word by Word: The rich-E-S become richer and the poor-E-S poorer.
- Die klein appels is suur, maar die grotes is soet.
The small apples are sour, but the big ones are sweet.
Word by Word: The small apples are sour, but the big-E-S are sweet.
- Die siekes lê in die hospitaal.
The sick are in hospital.
Word by Word: The sick-E-S lie in the hospital.
- Sy is die slimste in die klas.
She is the smartest in the class.
Word by Word: She is the smartest in the class.
A superlative can also stand in for a noun.
Common Mistakes
Leaving off -e and -s when talking about a group of people.
Ons moet die arm help.Ons moet die armes help.Die arm means "the arm", the body part. For "the poor" the adjective needs -e and the plural -s: die armes.
Using the plain adjective when it stands alone.
Watter hemp wil jy hê? Die rooi, asseblief.Watter hemp wil jy hê? Die rooie, asseblief.Without a noun after it, the adjective must end in -e. You can also say die rooi een.
Adding -s to ander.
Die anders het by die huis gebly.Die ander het by die huis gebly.Ander is the exception. It stays ander when it means "the others".
How It Connects
Learn This First
An adjective used as a noun generally takes -e and adds -s for the plural.
Related Patterns
- goed → goeieGoed Becomes Goeie
Goed becomes goeie and oud becomes oue here as well.
Level 2 - Superlative -ste
Superlatives are often used as nouns: die beste, die slimste.
Level 2 - iets/niks + Adjective + -sSomething Nice: Iets Lekkers
After iets and niks the adjective takes -s instead: iets lekkers.
Level 3 - Participles Before Nouns: gekookte, gesteelde
Participles can also stand in for a noun in the same way: die beseerdes (the injured).
Level 3 - -s (Plural)Plurals with -s
The plural -s on die armes is the same ending many nouns take.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Adjectives Used as Nouns in Bubblegum
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