ná
After: Ná
Ná, with an accent, means after: ná skool, ná die ete. Without the accent, na means to: na die winkel.
How It Works
1. After a time or event.
- ná skool (after school)
- ná die ete (after the meal)
- ná tienuur (after ten o'clock)
- ná die vakansie (after the holiday)
2. Why the accent? Na without an accent shows direction: Ek gaan na die dokter. (I'm going to the doctor.) Writing ná for after keeps the meaning clear: Ek bel jou ná die vergadering. (I'll call you after the meeting.)
3. Useful phrases. Ná jou! (After you!), een ná die ander (one after the other), jaar ná jaar (year after year).
4. Before a clause, use nadat. When after is followed by a subject and a verb, use nadat, which sends the verb to the end: Ons het gerus nadat ons geëet het. (We rested after we had eaten.)
5. Afterwards. Without a noun, after that is daarna: Ons eet eers, en daarna gaan ons stap. (First we eat, and afterwards we go for a walk.)
Tip: agter looks like English after, but it means behind, not after (see agter).
Examples (6)
- Ons speel ná skool sokker.
We play soccer after school.
Word by Word: We play after school soccer.
- Ná die ete drink ons koffie.
After the meal we drink coffee.
Word by Word: After the meal drink we coffee.
When ná die ete comes first, the verb drink comes next.
- Ek bel jou ná die vergadering.
I'll call you after the meeting.
Word by Word: I call you after the meeting.
- Die winkels is ná sesuur toe.
The shops are closed after six.
Word by Word: The shops are after six-o'clock closed.
- Hulle kom een ná die ander in.
They come in one after the other.
Word by Word: They come one after the other in.
- Ná jou!
After you!
Word by Word: After you!
A polite way to let someone go first.
Common Mistakes
Using agter to mean after.
Ek sien jou agter die les.Ek sien jou ná die les.Agter means behind, not after. For time, use ná.
Leaving the accent off when the meaning is after.
Ek kom na die werk.Ek kom ná die werk.Na die werk reads as to work, so the sentence says I'm coming to work. For I'm coming after work, write ná.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Ná with an accent means after, and it must be told apart from na.
Related Patterns
- nadatAfter (Nadat)
Nadat is the joining word for after when a whole clause follows.
Level 2 - voorIn Front of and Before
Voor (before) is the opposite of ná.
Level 2 - onder/agter/langs/tussenWhere Things Are: Onder, Agter, Langs, Tussen
Agter means behind, never after.
Level 2 - Stress Accents: móét, dít
The same acute accent also marks stress for emphasis.
Level 5 - Telling the Time
Ná with clock times: ná tienuur.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice ná in Bubblegum
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