Spoken and Written Afrikaans

Level 5

Speech: Dis daai man se kar. Writing: Dit is daardie man se motor. (That's that man's car.)

How It Works

1. Short forms. Speech contracts common words (see short forms and g'n):

  • dis = dit is; hy's = hy is; daar's = daar is
  • daai = daardie
  • g'n = geen

When these forms are written, for example in text messages or dialogue in a story, they have fixed spellings: dis without an apostrophe, but hy's, daar's and g'n with one.

2. English words. Many speakers mix in English words and phrases: Ek sal jou later phone. Standard writing uses the Afrikaans word: Ek sal jou later bel. See English words in Afrikaans speech.

3. Afterthoughts. In speech a time or place phrase is often added after the final verb: Ek het hom gesien gister. Careful writing keeps the verb at the end: Ek het hom gister gesien. (I saw him yesterday.) See phrases after the final verb.

4. Region and setting. Speech also varies from place to place (see regional varieties). Standard written Afrikaans is the shared form that everyone reads. For letters, forms and reports, see formal written Afrikaans.

Examples (6)

  1. Dis warm vandag.

    It's hot today.

    Word by Word: It's warm today.

    In standard writing: Dit is warm vandag.

  2. Daai boek is myne.

    That book is mine.

    Word by Word: That book is mine.

    In standard writing: Daardie boek is myne.

  3. Ek het g'n geld nie.

    I don't have any money.

    Word by Word: I have no money not.

    In standard writing: Ek het geen geld nie.

  4. Hy's by die werk.

    He's at work.

    Word by Word: He's at the work.

    In standard writing: Hy is by die werk.

  5. Ek het hom gesien gister.

    I saw him yesterday.

    Word by Word: I have him seen yesterday.

    In speech the time phrase comes after the verb. In standard writing: Ek het hom gister gesien.

  6. Ek sal jou later phone.

    I'll phone you later.

    Word by Word: I will you later phone.

    An English word mixed into speech. In standard writing: Ek sal jou later bel.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing dis with an apostrophe or as dit's.

    Dit's warm vandag.
    Dis warm vandag.

    The short form of dit is is written dis, as one word with no apostrophe.

  • Leaving out the apostrophe in hy's.

    Hys by die werk.
    Hy's by die werk.

    Hy's is short for hy is, and the apostrophe shows the missing letter.

  • Dropping the closing nie after g'n.

    Ek het g'n geld.
    Ek het g'n geld nie.

    G'n is a spoken form of geen, and it still needs the closing nie.

How It Connects

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

Spoken and Written AfrikaansLevel 5

Learn This First

Spoken and written registers favor different word choices; shortened forms do not all belong to speech.

Words in This Pattern

daaig'n