uit
Out of
Uit means out of: Sy kom uit die huis. It also tells where someone is from: Hy kom uit Namibië.
How It Works
Out of a place or container. uit die huis (out of the house), uit die yskas (out of the fridge), uit die water (out of the water). English uses two words, out of, but Afrikaans uses only uit.
Drinking, eating or reading from something. Die kind drink uit 'n bottel. Ek lees uit 'n boek.
Where someone is from. Hy kom uit Namibië. (He is from Namibia.) van is also used this way, especially for towns: Ek kom van Pretoria. To ask, say Waar kom jy vandaan? See waar ... vandaan/heen.
Moving out. Like in, uit can come after the noun to show movement out of a place: Die kinders hardloop die klaskamer uit. Looking out of a window is by die venster uitkyk: Sy kyk by die venster uit.
Uit in verbs. Uit is also part of many verbs, such as uitgaan (go out) and uitkom (come out). See separable verbs.
Uit with dit becomes daaruit (out of it). See daar/hier + preposition.
Examples (6)
- Sy kom uit die huis.
She comes out of the house.
Word by Word: She comes out the house.
- Haal die melk uit die yskas.
Take the milk out of the fridge.
Word by Word: Fetch the milk out the ice-cupboard.
- My buurman kom uit Namibië.
My neighbour is from Namibia.
Word by Word: My neighbour comes out Namibia.
- Die kind drink uit 'n bottel.
The child is drinking from a bottle.
Word by Word: The child drinks out a bottle.
- Sy kyk by die venster uit.
She looks out of the window.
Word by Word: She looks by the window out.
Looking out through a window uses by ... uit.
- Die kinders hardloop die klaskamer uit.
The children run out of the classroom.
Word by Word: The children run the classroom out.
Putting uit after the noun stresses the movement out.
Common Mistakes
Translating English out of as two words.
Sy stap uit van die kamer.Sy stap uit die kamer.English needs out of, but Afrikaans uses uit on its own.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Uit is the opposite of in.
Related Patterns
- vanOf and from
Van also gives where someone comes from, especially for towns.
Level 1 - waar ... vandaan/heenWhere from and Where to
Waar kom jy vandaan? asks where someone is from.
Level 1 - Separable Verbs
Uit forms verbs such as uitgaan and uitkom.
Level 2 - daarmee/hiervoor/daaroorDaarmee, Hiervoor, Daaroor
Uit joins with daar and hier as daaruit and hieruit.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice uit in Bubblegum
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