hoe/hoeveel

How and How Much

Level 1

Use hoe for how and hoeveel for how much or how many: Hoe gaan dit?, Hoeveel kos dit?

How It Works

Hoe means how. It asks about the way something happens or how someone is:

  • Hoe gaan dit? (How are you?) See how are you.
  • Hoe sê jy dit in Afrikaans? (How do you say that in Afrikaans?)

Hoe + adjective. Put an adjective after hoe to ask about size, age or distance. The whole group comes first, and then the verb: Hoe oud is jy? (How old are you?), Hoe ver is die see? (How far is the sea?), Hoe lank bly jy? (How long are you staying?). For the time of day, ask Hoe laat is dit? See telling the time.

Hoeveel means how much or how many, and it is written as one word. Afrikaans uses the same word for both, so you do not need to decide whether the noun is countable:

  • Hoeveel kos dit? (How much does it cost?)
  • Hoeveel kinders het jy? (How many children do you have?)
  • Hoeveel melk wil jy hê? (How much milk do you want?)

A countable noun after hoeveel is normally plural: hoeveel kinders, hoeveel boeke. Units of time and money often stay singular, just as they do after a number: Hoeveel jaar woon jy al hier? See singular after numbers.

Exclamations. Hoe + adjective can also be an exclamation: Hoe mooi! (How lovely!). See wat 'n.

Examples (6)

  1. Hoe gaan dit?

    How are you?

    Word by Word: How goes it?

  2. Hoe oud is jy?

    How old are you?

    Word by Word: How old are you?

    Hoe oud comes first as one group, then the verb.

  3. Hoeveel kos dit?

    How much does it cost?

    Word by Word: How-much costs it?

  4. Hoeveel kinders het jy?

    How many children do you have?

    Word by Word: How-many children have you?

    The countable noun kinders is plural.

  5. Hoe ver is die see?

    How far is the sea?

    Word by Word: How far is the sea?

  6. Hoe sê jy dit in Afrikaans?

    How do you say that in Afrikaans?

    Word by Word: How say you it in Afrikaans?

Common Mistakes

  • Writing hoeveel as two words.

    Hoe veel kos dit?
    Hoeveel kos dit?

    Hoeveel is one word in standard spelling.

  • Using a singular noun after hoeveel for things you count.

    Hoeveel kind het jy?
    Hoeveel kinders het jy?

    With things you can count, the noun after hoeveel is plural. Units like jaar and rand are the exception.

  • Putting the subject before the verb after hoe + adjective.

    Hoe oud jy is?
    Hoe oud is jy?

    Hoe oud counts as the question phrase. The verb comes right after it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

hoe/hoeveelLevel 1How and How Much

Learn This First

Hoe and hoeveel are question words that use question word order.

Words in This Pattern

hoehoeveelhoeveel