Hyphens in Compound Words

Level 5

Afrikaans compounds are one word: motorfiets. A hyphen joins the parts only in special cases: see-eend, TV-program, Suid-Afrika.

How It Works

1. The basic rule: one word. As explained in compound nouns, Afrikaans writes a compound as one word, however long: motorfiets (motorbike), skoolhoof (principal), tafeldoek (tablecloth). Writing the parts apart, English style, is a spelling error.

2. Vowels that meet. When the first part ends in a vowel and the second part begins with one, the two letters could be read as one sound. A hyphen keeps them apart:

  • see-eend (sea duck)
  • na-aap (to copy someone)
  • gala-aand (gala evening), radio-uitsending (radio broadcast)
  • sewe-uur (seven o'clock), domino-effek (domino effect)

Inside a single word, such as a verb with ge- or be-, Afrikaans uses the deelteken instead: geëet, beïnvloed. The hyphen is for compounds made of two separate words.

3. Abbreviations, figures and symbols. A hyphen joins an abbreviation, a figure or a symbol to a word: TV-program, CD-speler, 8 mm-kamera. A verb made from an abbreviation gets one too: Ek het haar ge-SMS. (I sent her a text message.)

4. Points of the compass in names. When a point of the compass is joined to a place name, a hyphen is used, and it stays in words made from the name: Suid-Afrika, Noord-Kaap, Suid-Afrikaner. When the second part is not a place name, the compound is one word: Noordpool (North Pole). See also place adjectives such as Suid-Afrikaanse.

5. Other fixed uses. Doubled words take a hyphen (gou-gou, nou-nou), and so do forms with -hulle, such as ma-hulle. When two compounds share a part, a hyphen can stand for the part you leave out: koffie- en teekoppies (coffee cups and tea cups).

Examples (6)

  1. Daar swem 'n see-eend naby die strand.

    A sea duck is swimming near the beach.

    Word by Word: There swims a sea-duck near the beach.

  2. Moenie my na-aap nie!

    Don't copy me!

    Word by Word: Don't me after-ape not!

  3. Ons kyk vanaand 'n TV-program oor olifante.

    Tonight we are watching a TV programme about elephants.

    Word by Word: We watch tonight a TV-programme about elephants.

  4. Ek woon al tien jaar in Suid-Afrika.

    I have lived in South Africa for ten years.

    Word by Word: I live already ten year in South-Africa.

  5. Die gala-aand begin om sewe-uur.

    The gala evening starts at seven o'clock.

    Word by Word: The gala-evening begins at seven-hour.

  6. Ek het vir ons koffie- en teekoppies gekoop.

    I bought coffee cups and tea cups for us.

    Word by Word: I have for us coffee- and tea-cups bought.

    The hyphen after koffie stands for the shared part koppies.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing an abbreviation compound as two words.

    Ons kyk 'n TV program.
    Ons kyk 'n TV-program.

    When one part of a compound is an abbreviation, a hyphen joins it to the rest.

  • Leaving out the hyphen in a name with a point of the compass.

    Ek woon in Suid Afrika.
    Ek woon in Suid-Afrika.

    When suid, noord, oos or wes is joined to a place name, as in Suid-Afrika or Noord-Kaap, a hyphen is always used.

  • Splitting an ordinary compound into two words.

    Die skool hoof is siek.
    Die skoolhoof is siek.

    An ordinary compound is written as one word with no hyphen. A hyphen is only for the special cases.

How It Connects

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

Hyphens in Compound WordsLevel 5

Learn This First

Some compounds need a hyphen.