is gebore

Saying Where You Were Born

Level 2

To say where or when someone was born, use is ... gebore: Ek is in Pretoria gebore. (I was born in Pretoria.)

How It Works

1. The pattern. Subject + is + place or time + gebore:

  • Ek is in Pretoria gebore. (I was born in Pretoria.)
  • Ek is in 1995 gebore. (I was born in 1995.)

2. Is, not was or het. Gebore works like the past passive (see the past passive with is), so it takes is even for the past. This holds for historical people too: Nelson Mandela is in 1918 gebore. Saying was gebore for was born is a common mistake that copies English. Was gebore means had already been born: Die baba was toe al gebore. (The baby had already been born by then.) Gebore is an old ge- form of the verb baar (to give birth).

3. Questions. Waar is jy gebore? (Where were you born?) Wanneer is jy gebore? (When were you born?)

4. Prepositions. Use in with places, years and months: in Kaapstad, in 1995, in Mei. Use op with a date or a day: op 3 Maart, op 'n Sondag. For a small place like a farm, use op as well: op 'n plaas.

Tip: In speech you may hear Ek is gebore in Pretoria, with the place after gebore. In careful Afrikaans, gebore stays at the end.

Examples (6)

  1. Ek is in Pretoria gebore.

    I was born in Pretoria.

    Word by Word: I am in Pretoria born.

  2. Waar is jy gebore?

    Where were you born?

    Word by Word: Where are you born?

  3. Wanneer is jy gebore?

    When were you born?

    Word by Word: When are you born?

  4. My ouma is op 'n plaas naby Worcester gebore.

    My grandmother was born on a farm near Worcester.

    Word by Word: My grandma is on a farm near Worcester born.

    Op is used with 'n plaas (a farm).

  5. Nelson Mandela is in 1918 gebore.

    Nelson Mandela was born in 1918.

    Word by Word: Nelson Mandela is in 1918 born.

    Is gebore is used for historical people too.

  6. Ons baba is op 3 Maart gebore.

    Our baby was born on 3 March.

    Word by Word: Our baby is on 3 March born.

    Op is used with a date.

Common Mistakes

  • Using was to copy English was born.

    Ek was in Pretoria gebore.
    Ek is in Pretoria gebore.

    To say someone was born, Afrikaans uses is gebore, even though English uses the past tense. Was gebore means had already been born.

  • Using het with gebore.

    Ek het in Pretoria gebore.
    Ek is in Pretoria gebore.

    Gebore takes is, not het.

  • Using in with a date.

    Ek is in 12 Mei gebore.
    Ek is op 12 Mei gebore.

    Use op with a date and in with a month or a year on its own.

How It Connects

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

is geboreLevel 2Saying Where You Were Born

Learn This First

Is gebore uses is with the ge- form gebore.

Words in This Pattern

gebore