Collective Nouns: ge- ... -te
Collective Nouns: Gebergte
Put ge- in front and -te at the end of a noun, and you get a word for the whole group: berg → gebergte (mountain range), been → gebeente (bones, remains).
How It Works
1. The pattern. A few Afrikaans nouns wrap an ordinary noun in ge- and -te. The result names a whole group or mass of that thing:
- berg (mountain) → gebergte (mountain range)
- been (bone) → gebeente (bones, a skeleton, human remains)
- steen (stone) → gesteente (rock, a type of rock)
- dier (animal) → gedierte (creatures, animals; the word for vermin is ongedierte)
- blaar (leaf) → gebladerte (foliage), with a changed base
2. A closed set. Linguists call ge-...-te a circumfix: two parts that work together. Neither part makes a word alone, so there is no *bergte. The pattern stopped being productive long ago. You cannot make *gehuiste for a group of houses; say 'n groep huise or simply die huise.
3. Meaning and style. Each word treats many things as one unit. Gebergte is the whole range, not one peak. Gebeente is all the bones together, not one bone. Most of these words feel formal, scientific or literary. Everyday speech often uses the plain plural instead: die berge, die bene.
4. Grammar. These are ordinary nouns with die. Some also take a plural in -s for several ranges or types: gebergtes, gesteentes.
5. Do not confuse with participles. The ge- of the past participle (het + ge-) is a different prefix. Gebergte is a noun, not a verb form. The -te is also different from the -te in lengte and hoogte, which turns adjectives into nouns.
Examples (5)
- Die Drakensberg is die hoogste gebergte in Suid-Afrika.
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in South Africa.
Word by Word: The Drakensberg is the highest mountain-range in South Africa.
- Die argeoloë het die gebeente van 'n ou koning gevind.
The archaeologists found the remains of an old king.
Word by Word: The archaeologists have the bones of an old king found.
- Hierdie gesteente is miljoene jare oud.
This rock is millions of years old.
Word by Word: This rock is millions years old.
- Allerhande gedierte het in die ou skuur gewoon.
All kinds of creatures lived in the old barn.
Word by Word: All-kinds creatures have in the old barn lived.
- Die wind ruis deur die gebladerte.
The wind rustles through the foliage.
Word by Word: The wind rustles through the foliage.
A literary word; everyday speech might say die blare.
Common Mistakes
Making a new collective noun with ge- ... -te.
Ons ry verby 'n gehuiste langs die rivier.Ons ry verby 'n groep huise langs die rivier.The ge- ... -te pattern is closed. Only the existing words, such as gebergte and gebeente, are real Afrikaans.
Using a collective noun for a single thing.
Die hond kou aan 'n gebeente.Die hond kou aan 'n been.Gebeente means a set of bones or someone's remains. One bone is 'n been.
Calling a single mountain a gebergte.
Tafelberg is 'n gebergte.Tafelberg is 'n berg.A gebergte is a whole range of mountains, such as the Drakensberg. One mountain is 'n berg.
How It Connects
Learn This First
This old, closed pattern uses ge- and -te around a noun base to name a collection or mass.
Related Patterns
- One Concept, One Word
The productive way to make new nouns today, unlike the closed ge- ... -te pattern.
Level 2 - -e (Plural)Plurals with -e
The everyday alternative: die berge, die bene.
Level 1 - het + ge-The Past Tense: Het + Ge-
The ge- of the past participle, which is not the same as the ge- in gebergte.
Level 2 - -heidThe -heid Suffix
Another noun-making suffix, still productive, unlike ge- ... -te.
Level 3 - Literary and Biblical Afrikaans
Words like gebladerte and gedierte are common in literary and Bible language.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice Collective Nouns: ge- ... -te in Bubblegum
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