soggens/saans
In the Morning and Evening: Soggens and Saans
Soggens, smiddags, saans and snags mean in the mornings, in the afternoons, in the evenings and at night: Ek drink soggens koffie. (I drink coffee in the mornings.)
How It Works
1. The four words.
- soggens in the mornings (also heard as smôrens)
- smiddags in the afternoons
- saans in the evenings
- snags at night
2. They describe habits. These words mean every morning, every evening and so on: Ek drink soggens koffie. (I drink coffee in the mornings.) You can also say elke oggend (every morning) with the same meaning.
3. Today: van- words. For one time today, use vanoggend (this morning), vanmiddag (this afternoon), vanaand (this evening) or vannag (tonight):
- Ek bel jou saans. (I call you in the evenings.)
- Ek bel jou vanaand. (I'll call you this evening.)
For one morning on another day, say in die oggend: Hy het in die oggend aangekom. (He arrived in the morning.)
4. At the start of a sentence. These words can come first. The verb then comes straight after them, as in verb second: Saans kyk ons televisie. (In the evenings we watch television.)
Where the s- comes from: the s- is left over from an old way of saying of the morning. You can read more in old genitives.
Examples (6)
- Ek drink soggens koffie.
I drink coffee in the mornings.
Word by Word: I drink mornings coffee.
- Saans kyk ons televisie.
In the evenings we watch television.
Word by Word: Evenings watch we television.
Saans comes first, so the verb kyk comes next.
- Snags is dit koud in die Karoo.
At night it is cold in the Karoo.
Word by Word: Nights is it cold in the Karoo.
- Smiddags slaap die baba.
In the afternoons the baby sleeps.
Word by Word: Afternoons sleeps the baby.
- Hy werk saans tot laat.
He works late in the evenings.
Word by Word: He works evenings until late.
- Vanoggend het ek laat opgestaan.
This morning I got up late.
Word by Word: This-morning have I late up-stood.
This is one morning today, so vanoggend is used, not soggens.
Common Mistakes
Saying saans when you mean this evening only.
Ek bel jou saans.Ek bel jou vanaand.Saans means in the evenings, as a habit. For this evening only, say vanaand.
Putting the subject before the verb after a fronted s- word.
Soggens ek drink koffie.Soggens drink ek koffie.When soggens starts the sentence, the verb comes second and the subject follows it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Times of day are often used alongside days of the week.
Related Patterns
- Telling the Time
Clock times often go with these words: tienuur soggens (at ten every morning).
Level 2 - altyd/nooitAlways and Never
Other words for how often something happens.
Level 2 - Verb Second After a Fronted Word
Explains why the verb comes next when saans starts the sentence.
Level 2 - Old Genitives: des, 'sOld Genitives: Des and 'S
The s- in soggens and smiddags is an old genitive ending.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice soggens/saans in Bubblegum
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