die + Noun
The Article Die
Die means the. It is the same word before every noun, singular or plural: die man, die vrou, die kinders.
How It Works
Like English the, Afrikaans die is the same for every noun:
- Singular: die man (the man), die vrou (the woman), die boek (the book).
- Plural: die mans (the men), die kinders (the children), die boeke (the books).
Die does not change for gender, for number or for its place in the sentence. See no grammatical gender.
Where Afrikaans uses die and English does not. Some common phrases need die in Afrikaans:
- Transport: met die bus (by bus), met die trein (by train).
- Seasons: in die winter (in winter).
- Some general ideas: Die lewe is mooi. (Life is beautiful.)
Die and dié. Written with an accent, dié is a stressed word meaning this or that. See dié (demonstrative). For a or an, use 'n.
Examples (5)
- Die man lees die koerant.
The man is reading the newspaper.
Word by Word: The man reads the newspaper.
- Die kinders speel in die tuin.
The children are playing in the garden.
Word by Word: The children play in the garden.
Die is the same before a plural noun.
- Die son skyn vandag.
The sun is shining today.
Word by Word: The sun shines today.
- Waar is die sleutels?
Where are the keys?
- Ek gaan met die bus werk toe.
I go to work by bus.
Word by Word: I go with the bus work to.
Afrikaans says met die bus, with die, where English says by bus.
Common Mistakes
Using the Dutch articles het and de.
Het kind speel in de tuin.Die kind speel in die tuin.Afrikaans has only one word for the: die.
Leaving out die in transport phrases.
Ek gaan met bus werk toe.Ek gaan met die bus werk toe.Afrikaans uses die in phrases such as met die bus and met die trein.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The article die works the same for every noun because Afrikaans has no noun gender.
Related Patterns
- 'n + NounThe Article 'N
The article for a or an.
Level 1 - hierdie/daardieThis and That
The words for this and that, which also go before any noun.
Level 1 - diéDié with an Accent
The stressed dié, written with an accent, means this or that.
Level 3 - -e (Plural)Plurals with -e
Die stays the same before plurals such as boeke.
Level 1 - -s (Plural)Plurals with -s
Die stays the same before plurals such as tafels.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice die + Noun in Bubblegum
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