Linking Letters: -s-, -e-
Linking Letters in Compounds
Some compounds put a small linking s or e between the two parts: stadsraad (city council), hondekos (dog food).
How It Works
Linking s.
- stad + raad → stadsraad (city council)
- verjaar + dag → verjaarsdag (birthday; verjaardag without the s is also correct)
- son + ondergang → sonsondergang (sunset)
- volk + lied → volkslied (national anthem)
Words ending in -ing and -heid usually take s: verkiesingsdag (election day), reddingsboot (lifeboat), veiligheidsklep (safety valve).
Linking e.
- hond + kos → hondekos (dog food)
- saak + man → sakeman (businessman)
- tand + borsel → tandeborsel (toothbrush)
- son + blom → sonneblom (sunflower)
The e-link often looks like the plural (honde, sake, tande), with the same spelling changes, but the meaning does not have to be plural: a sonneblom has nothing to do with several suns.
No link. Many compounds join their parts directly: tandarts (dentist), sonbril (sunglasses), boekrak (bookshelf), skoolhoof (school principal). The same first word can behave differently in different compounds: tandeborsel but tandarts; sonneblom, sonsondergang and sonbril.
How to learn them. You usually cannot work out the link from the meaning. Learn each compound as one word, and check a dictionary when you are not sure. Like every compound noun, it is written as one word.
Why one word matters. Writing the parts apart can change the meaning: Ek gee die honde kos. means I give the dogs food, but hondekos is dog food.
Examples (6)
- Die stadsraad vergader elke Maandag.
The city council meets every Monday.
Word by Word: The city-s-council meets every Monday.
- Ons koop hondekos by die supermark.
We buy dog food at the supermarket.
Word by Word: We buy dog-e-food at the supermarket.
- Hy is 'n suksesvolle sakeman.
He is a successful businessman.
Word by Word: He is a successful matter-e-man.
Saak (matter, business) takes the plural spelling sake inside the compound.
- Wanneer is jou verjaarsdag?
When is your birthday?
Word by Word: When is your birth-s-day?
- Onthou jou tandeborsel!
Remember your toothbrush!
Word by Word: Remember your tooth-e-brush!
Compare tandarts (dentist), which has no link.
- Ons kyk na die sonsondergang oor die see.
We are watching the sunset over the sea.
Word by Word: We look at the sun-s-down-going over the sea.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the linking letter.
Die stadraad vergader elke Maandag.Die stadsraad vergader elke Maandag.This compound takes a linking s: stadsraad.
Writing the compound as two words.
Ons koop honde kos by die supermark.Ons koop hondekos by die supermark.Written apart, honde and kos are two separate words (dogs, food), not one noun. Dog food is one word: hondekos.
Adding a link where the compound has none.
Ek het 'n afspraak by die tandearts.Ek het 'n afspraak by die tandarts.Tandeborsel takes an e, but tandarts does not. The link belongs to each compound, not to the first word.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Some compounds add a linking letter between the parts.
Related Patterns
- -e (Plural)Plurals with -e
The e-link often looks like the -e plural: honde, hondekos.
Level 1 - Plural Spelling: bome and katte
The e-link uses the same spelling changes as the plural: saak, sake, sakeman.
Level 2 - -ingThe -ing Suffix
Nouns in -ing usually take a linking s in compounds.
Level 3 - -heidThe -heid Suffix
Nouns in -heid usually take a linking s in compounds.
Level 3 - Hyphens in Compound Words
When compound words need a hyphen instead of being written solid.
Level 5
Practice Linking Letters: -s-, -e- in Bubblegum
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