u
Polite U
u = polite you, for one person or many. Hoe gaan dit met u? (How are you?) Dankie vir u hulp. (Thank you for your help.)
How It Works
One word, three jobs
- Subject: U is welkom. (You are welcome.)
- Object: Kan ek u help? (Can I help you?)
- Possessive: Wat is u naam? (What is your name?)
U can address one person or a whole group: U is almal welkom.
When to use u
Use u with people you do not know, older people, customers and officials, and in formal letters. Many speakers today use jy more widely, so the choice depends on how formal the situation is, how well you know the person and their age. A safe habit is to start with u and switch to jy when the other person invites you to. Many speakers also address older people by a title instead, as in Wil Tannie koffie hê? See Respectful Address: Oom and Tannie.
Two rules to remember
- Stay consistent. Once you address someone as u, use u for your and for you as an object too, not jou.
- Write u with a small letter. A capital U is used when addressing God, for example in prayers and hymns.
For the informal forms, see Subject Pronouns Singular and Subject Pronouns Plural.
Examples (6)
- Goeiemôre, hoe gaan dit met u?
Good morning, how are you?
Word by Word: Good morning, how goes it with you?
A polite greeting for someone older or someone you do not know.
- Kan ek u help?
Can I help you?
Word by Word: Can I you help?
U is the object here, but it keeps the same form.
- Dankie vir u hulp.
Thank you for your help.
Word by Word: Thanks for your help.
Before a noun, u means your.
- Is u mevrou Botha?
Are you Mrs Botha?
Word by Word: Are you Mrs Botha?
- Wat is u naam, meneer?
What is your name, sir?
Word by Word: What is your name, sir?
- U is almal welkom.
You are all welcome.
Word by Word: You are all welcome.
U can also address a group politely.
Common Mistakes
Switching from u to informal jou in the same sentence.
Meneer, u het jou sleutels vergeet.Meneer, u het u sleutels vergeet.Once you address someone as u, your is also u. Mixing u with jou sounds inconsistent.
Writing u with a capital letter when addressing a person.
Dankie vir U brief.Dankie vir u brief.Polite u is written with a small letter. A capital U is used when addressing God.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Polite u is another word for you, so learn the everyday subject pronouns first.
Related Patterns
- ons/julle/hulleSubject Pronouns Plural
Julle is the informal plural you; u can also address a group politely.
Level 1 - hoe gaan dit?How Are You?
Hoe gaan dit met u? is the polite way to ask how someone is.
Level 1 - oom/tannieRespectful Address: Oom and Tannie
Addressing an older person as Oom or Tannie is another respectful choice.
Level 3 - ons/julle/hulle + NounPossessives: Our, Your, Their
Like ons, julle and hulle, u stands before a noun to show possession.
Level 1 - myne/joune/syne/hare/s'nMine, Yours, Theirs
Without a noun, polite yours is u s'n.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice u in Bubblegum
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