Diminutive -pie

Level 3

After an m, the little ending is usually -pie: boom → boompie (little tree), arm → armpie (little arm).

How It Works

Why -pie? After l, n or r, most nouns take -tjie. After m, the t turns into p, because m and p are both made with closed lips. So the ending is -pie.

1. After a long vowel or a diphthong + m.

  • boom → boompie (little tree)
  • raam → raampie (little frame)
  • duim → duimpie (little thumb)
  • riem → riempie (thin strap)

The double vowel stays, because the syllable before -pie is still closed: boom-pie.

2. After an unstressed syllable that ends in m.

  • besem → besempie (little broom)
  • bodem → bodempie (little bottom, small base)
  • asem → asempie (little breath)

3. After rm and lm.

  • arm → armpie (little arm)
  • wurm → wurmpie (little worm)
  • film → filmpie (short film, video clip)

Not after a short stressed vowel + m. A one-syllable word with a short vowel and a single m doubles the m and takes -etjie: kam → kammetjie (little comb), ram → rammetjie (little ram). Compare boom → boompie with kam → kammetjie.

Plural. Like every diminutive, a -pie word takes -s in the plural: boompies, armpies. See diminutive plural.

Tip: riempie has become a word of its own for a thin leather strip, as in a riempiestoel, a chair with a seat woven from leather strips.

Examples (6)

  1. Daar staan 'n boompie voor die huis.

    There is a little tree in front of the house.

    Word by Word: There stands a little-tree before the house.

  2. Die baba se armpie is so sag.

    The baby's little arm is so soft.

    Word by Word: The baby 's little-arm is so soft.

    Arm ends in rm, so it takes -pie, not -etjie.

  3. Sy het 'n kort filmpie van die partytjie gemaak.

    She made a short video of the party.

    Word by Word: She has a short little-film of the party made.

  4. Die baba suig aan sy duimpie.

    The baby is sucking his little thumb.

    Word by Word: The baby sucks on his little-thumb.

  5. Ek sit die foto in 'n raampie.

    I am putting the photo in a little frame.

    Word by Word: I put the photo in a little-frame.

    Raam has a long vowel before the m, so it takes -pie.

  6. Die voël het 'n wurmpie gevang.

    The bird caught a little worm.

    Word by Word: The bird has a little-worm caught.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding -tjie after an m.

    Daar staan 'n boomtjie voor die huis.
    Daar staan 'n boompie voor die huis.

    After m, the t of -tjie becomes p, so boom becomes boompie.

  • Using -etjie after rm or lm.

    Die baba se armetjie is so sag.
    Die baba se armpie is so sag.

    After m, -etjie is only for a short stressed vowel + a single m, as in kam → kammetjie. Arm ends in rm, so it takes -pie.

How It Connects

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Diminutive -pieLevel 3

Learn This First

The diminutive -pie is used after most words ending in m, as in boom → boompie.

Words in This Pattern

-pie