ons/julle/hulle
Subject Pronouns Plural
ons we / us · julle you (more than one) · hulle they / them. Ons woon in Kaapstad. Hulle praat Afrikaans.
How It Works
The three plural pronouns
- ons — we and us. Ons woon in Kaapstad. Kom saam met ons.
- julle — you, when you speak to two or more people you know well. Julle is laat!
- hulle — they and them, for people and also for things. Die skoene? Hulle is onder die bed.
No separate object form
English has we/us and they/them, but Afrikaans keeps one word: Hulle help ons (They help us), Ons help hulle (We help them). Compare the singular pronouns, which do change: Object Pronouns.
Choosing the right you
Say jy to one person you know well, julle to a group you know well, and u to one or more people you address politely.
More jobs for the same words
- Before a noun, they show possession: ons skool, hulle kinders. See Possessives: Our, Your, Their.
- In writing you will often see the short forms hul and jul. See Short Forms Hul and Jul.
- After a name, -hulle means that person and their group: Ma-hulle. See Ma-Hulle: Someone and Their People.
The verb keeps the same form here too: ons werk, julle werk, hulle werk.
Examples (6)
- Ons woon in Kaapstad.
We live in Cape Town.
Word by Word: We live in Cape Town.
- Julle is baie welkom.
You are very welcome.
Word by Word: You are very welcome.
Julle speaks to a group of people you know well.
- Hulle praat Afrikaans by die huis.
They speak Afrikaans at home.
Word by Word: They speak Afrikaans at the house.
- Die kinders speel buite. Ek kan hulle hoor.
The children are playing outside. I can hear them.
Word by Word: The children play outside. I can them hear.
Hulle is the object here, but it keeps the same form.
- Kom julle saam met ons?
Are you coming with us?
Word by Word: Come you along with us?
Ons after met means us.
- Waar is my skoene? Hulle is onder die bed.
Where are my shoes? They are under the bed.
Word by Word: Where are my shoes? They are under the bed.
Hulle also refers to things.
Common Mistakes
Using jy when speaking to a group.
Jy is laat, kinders!Julle is laat, kinders!Jy is for one person. When you speak to several people you know well, use julle.
Adding a plural ending to the verb, as in Dutch or German.
Ons werken saam.Ons werk saam.Afrikaans verbs have no plural ending. The verb is the same for ons, julle and hulle as for ek.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The plural subject pronouns complete the set started by the singular ones.
Related Patterns
- uPolite U
U is the polite you and can address a group, like a polite julle.
Level 1 - ons/julle/hulle + NounPossessives: Our, Your, Their
The same three words stand before a noun to mean our, your and their.
Level 1 - hul/julShort Forms Hul and Jul
Hul and jul are shorter written forms of hulle and julle.
Level 4 - Noun + -hulleMa-Hulle: Someone and Their People
Adding -hulle to a name means that person and the people with them.
Level 3 - One Verb Form for Everyone
The verb after ons, julle and hulle has the same form as after ek.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ons/julle/hulle in Bubblegum
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