vir
For
Vir means for: Die blomme is vir jou. Dankie vir die koffie.
How It Works
Who it is for. Die blomme is vir jou. (The flowers are for you.) 'n Geskenk vir my ma (a present for my mother).
Thanks. Dankie vir die koffie. (Thanks for the coffee.)
Purpose and meals. Wat eet ons vir aandete? (What are we having for supper?)
Working for someone. Hy werk vir 'n bank.
How long. vir twee weke (for two weeks), vir 'n uur (for an hour).
The person you speak to. After verbs such as sê (say, tell) and vra (ask), vir marks the person: Sê vir hom ek bel later. (Tell him I'll call later.) Afrikaans also often puts vir before a person who is the object of a verb. See vir + person object.
Vir is not voor. Voor means in front of or before. See voor.
Vir becomes voor with dit. With dit, hier or waar, vir changes to voor: daarvoor (for it), hiervoor (for this), waarvoor (what for). See daar/hier + preposition.
Examples (6)
- Die blomme is vir jou.
The flowers are for you.
Word by Word: The flowers are for you.
- Dankie vir die koffie!
Thanks for the coffee!
Word by Word: Thanks for the coffee!
- Wat eet ons vir aandete?
What are we having for supper?
Word by Word: What eat we for supper?
- My pa werk vir 'n groot bank.
My dad works for a big bank.
Word by Word: My dad works for a big bank.
- Ons gaan vir twee weke see toe.
We're going to the seaside for two weeks.
Word by Word: We go for two weeks sea to.
Vir + a time says how long something lasts.
- Sê vir hom ek bel later.
Tell him I'll call later.
Word by Word: Say for him I call later.
After sê, vir marks the person you are telling.
Common Mistakes
Using voor for for, as in Dutch.
Die koek is voor jou.Die koek is vir jou.In Afrikaans, voor means in front of or before. As a separate word, for is always vir.
Saying vir dit for for it.
Dankie vir dit!Dankie daarvoor!Standard Afrikaans joins vir and dit into daarvoor, and vir changes to voor.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Vir is a basic preposition used before a noun or a pronoun.
Related Patterns
- vir + PersonVir Before a Person
Vir also marks a person as the object of verbs such as sien and help.
Level 2 - voorIn Front of and Before
Voor means in front of or before, not for.
Level 2 - daarmee/hiervoor/daaroorDaarmee, Hiervoor, Daaroor
Vir joins with daar and hier as daarvoor and hiervoor.
Level 3 - metWith
Met (with) is another everyday preposition that changes shape with daar: daarmee.
Level 1 - vanOf and from
Van (of, from) is another everyday preposition that joins with daar: daarvan.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice vir in Bubblegum
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