on-

The Prefix on-

Level 3

On- gives the opposite: moontlik → onmoontlik (impossible), bekend → onbekend (unknown).

How It Works

1. On- + adjective.

  • moontlik → onmoontlik (impossible)
  • gelukkig → ongelukkig (unhappy; also unfortunately)
  • bekend → onbekend (unknown)
  • eerlik → oneerlik (dishonest)
  • beleefd → onbeleefd (rude, impolite)
  • tevrede → ontevrede (dissatisfied)

2. On- + noun. Some nouns take on- too, often with a special meaning: geluk → ongeluk (accident, bad luck), sin → onsin (nonsense), reg → onreg (injustice).

3. Before a noun. An on- adjective follows the normal -e rule: 'n onbekende man, 'n oneerlike antwoord (see when adjectives take -e).

4. Not every adjective takes on-. Many short adjectives have a separate opposite instead: goed – sleg, groot – klein, warm – koud. On- is most common with longer adjectives, especially those ending in -lik and -ig.

5. No on- with verbs. English un- can also undo an action (unlock, untie). Afrikaans uses other words for this, such as oopsluit (unlock), losmaak (untie) or verbs with ont- (ontsluit, a formal word for unlock).

6. On- and nie. On- changes the meaning of one word, while nie ... nie makes a whole statement negative. They can combine: Dit is nie onmoontlik nie. (It is not impossible.)

Examples (6)

  1. Dit is onmoontlik om alles te onthou.

    It's impossible to remember everything.

    Word by Word: It is impossible for everything to remember.

  2. Hy lyk vandag ongelukkig.

    He looks unhappy today.

    Word by Word: He looks today unhappy.

  3. Ongelukkig kan ek nie kom nie.

    Unfortunately I can't come.

    Word by Word: Unfortunately can I not come not.

    At the start of a sentence, ongelukkig means unfortunately, and the verb comes next.

  4. 'n Onbekende man het gebel.

    An unknown man called.

    Word by Word: An unknown man has called.

  5. Daar was 'n ongeluk op die snelweg.

    There was an accident on the highway.

    Word by Word: There was an accident on the highway.

  6. Moenie so onbeleefd wees nie!

    Don't be so rude!

    Word by Word: Must-not so rude be not!

Common Mistakes

  • Writing on- as a separate word.

    Dit is on moontlik.
    Dit is onmoontlik.

    On- is a prefix, so it is always written together with the word.

  • Using on- to undo an action, as English un- does.

    Kan jy die deur onsluit?
    Kan jy die deur oopsluit?

    On- does not attach to verbs. To unlock a door, say oopsluit, or the formal ontsluit.

  • Adding on- to a short adjective that has its own opposite.

    Die kos is ongoed.
    Die kos is sleg.

    Goed has its own opposite, sleg. On- is used mainly with longer adjectives such as moontlik and gelukkig.

How It Connects

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

on-Level 3The Prefix on-

Learn This First

The prefix on- turns an adjective into its opposite.