Place Adjectives in -se

Kaapse, Suid-Afrikaanse: Place Adjectives

Level 4

Before a noun, an adjective from a place or language name ends in -se and keeps its capital: Suid-Afrikaanse wyn, Kaapse Afrikaans, Engelse boeke.

How It Works

1. The basic form ends in -s. Many adjectives of country, language and region end in -s: Engels (English), Frans (French), Duits (German), Afrikaans, Suid-Afrikaans (South African), Kaaps (Cape).

2. Before a noun, add -e. Like other longer adjectives (see when adjectives take -e), they add -e before a noun, so the ending becomes -se:

  • Engels → Engelse boeke (English books)
  • Suid-Afrikaans → Suid-Afrikaanse wyn (South African wine)
  • Kaaps → Kaapse Afrikaans (Cape Afrikaans)

3. Town names. Towns and cities form adjectives with -se as well: Stellenbosch → Stellenbosse wynplase, Pretoria → die Pretoriase hooggeregshof (the Pretoria High Court). These are used almost only before a noun. After is you normally say where something comes from instead: Die wyn kom van Stellenbosch.

4. Keep the capital. Adjectives made from names keep their capital letter, in every part of a hyphenated name: Suid-Afrikaanse, Oos-Kaapse.

5. No -e after is. After is and similar verbs, the adjective has its basic form (see adjectives before nouns): Die wyn is Suid-Afrikaans. Die kaas is Frans.

Tip: Do not confuse this -se with the possessive word se, which is written separately: Kaapstad se strande (Cape Town's beaches). See possession with se.

Examples (6)

  1. Ons het 'n bottel Suid-Afrikaanse wyn gekoop.

    We bought a bottle of South African wine.

    Word by Word: We have a bottle South-African wine bought.

  2. Kaapse Afrikaans klink anders as die Afrikaans van Pretoria.

    Cape Afrikaans sounds different from the Afrikaans of Pretoria.

    Word by Word: Cape Afrikaans sounds different than the Afrikaans of Pretoria.

  3. Sy lees graag Engelse boeke.

    She likes reading English books.

    Word by Word: She reads gladly English books.

  4. Die Stellenbosse wynplase is baie mooi.

    The Stellenbosch wine farms are very beautiful.

    Word by Word: The Stellenbosch wine-farms are very beautiful.

    A town name becomes an adjective with -se before the noun.

  5. Ek hou van Franse kaas.

    I like French cheese.

    Word by Word: I hold of French cheese.

  6. Die wyn is Suid-Afrikaans.

    The wine is South African.

    Word by Word: The wine is South-African.

    After is, the adjective keeps its basic form without -e.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving off the -e before a noun.

    Ons drink Suid-Afrikaans wyn.
    Ons drink Suid-Afrikaanse wyn.

    Before a noun, these adjectives add -e, so Suid-Afrikaans becomes Suid-Afrikaanse.

  • Writing the adjective with a small letter.

    Sy lees graag engelse boeke.
    Sy lees graag Engelse boeke.

    Adjectives made from names of countries, languages and places keep their capital letter in Afrikaans, just as in English.

  • Adding -e after is.

    Die kaas is Franse.
    Die kaas is Frans.

    After is the adjective stands alone and keeps its basic form, so there is no -e.

How It Connects

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

Place Adjectives in -seLevel 4Kaapse, Suid-Afrikaanse: Place Adjectives

Learn This First

Place adjectives in -se take the adjective -e ending.