darem
Darem (At Least)
Darem means at least, after all or really: Dit is darem warm vandag. (It really is warm today.)
How It Works
1. At least, after all. Darem often points to a bright side. It usually follows a disappointment or a maar:
- Dit reën, maar dit is darem nie koud nie. (It's raining, but at least it isn't cold.)
- Ons het verloor, maar ons het darem goed gespeel. (We lost, but at least we played well.)
- Hy het dit darem reggekry. (He managed it after all.)
2. Really, truly. Darem can stress that something is so, often with surprise or admiration: Jy is darem slim! (You really are clever!) Dis darem ver. (It really is far.)
3. A gentle complaint. With kan, darem can suggest that someone should at least have done something: Jy kan darem groet! (You could at least say hello!)
4. Where it goes. Like mos and tog, darem sits in the middle of the sentence, after the conjugated verb and short pronouns, and before nie: Dit is darem nie koud nie.
5. A feeling, not an amount. Darem shows how the speaker feels about a situation. For a minimum amount, such as at least fifty rand, use minstens or ten minste: Dit kos minstens R50.
Examples (6)
- Dit reën, maar dit is darem nie koud nie.
It's raining, but at least it isn't cold.
Word by Word: It rains, but it is at-least not cold not.
- Ons het verloor, maar ons het darem goed gespeel.
We lost, but at least we played well.
Word by Word: We have lost, but we have at-least well played.
- Hy het dit darem reggekry.
He managed it after all.
Word by Word: He has it after-all managed.
- Jy is darem slim!
You really are clever!
Word by Word: You are really clever!
Here darem expresses admiration or mild surprise.
- Die kos was koud, maar die koffie was darem lekker.
The food was cold, but at least the coffee was good.
Word by Word: The food was cold, but the coffee was at-least nice.
- Jy kan darem groet!
You could at least say hello!
Word by Word: You can at-least greet!
A mild complaint: the speaker expected at least a greeting.
Common Mistakes
Using darem for a minimum amount (intended meaning: the ticket costs at least R50).
Die kaartjie kos darem R50.Die kaartjie kos minstens R50.Darem expresses a feeling, so the first sentence sounds like a comment that the ticket really does cost R50. For a minimum amount, use minstens or ten minste.
Putting darem after the adjective.
Dit is nie koud darem nie.Dit is darem nie koud nie.Darem belongs in the middle of the sentence, before the first nie and before the adjective.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Darem is a particle placed like mos.
Related Patterns
- tog
Tog can also mean after all, but it adds insistence rather than relief.
Level 3 - maar (Softener)Maar as a Softener
Maar as a particle shows acceptance, while darem finds the bright side.
Level 3 - welWel for Contrast and Emphasis
Wel stresses that something is true against a doubt, close to the really use of darem.
Level 4 - sommerSommer (Just, For No Reason)
Another everyday particle that colours the tone of a sentence.
Level 3 - nogalNogal (Rather, Quite)
Nogal also shows mild surprise, meaning rather or quite.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice darem in Bubblegum
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