hierdie/daardie
This and That
hierdie this / these (near) · daardie that / those (far). hierdie boek, hierdie mense, daardie huis.
How It Works
Near and far
- hierdie — this or these, for something near you: hierdie boek, hierdie mense
- daardie — that or those, for something farther away: daardie huis, daardie skoene
The words match hier and daar (here and there).
They replace die
Use hierdie or daardie instead of the article, never together with it: hierdie kinders, not hierdie die kinders. See The Article Die.
This one and that one
To point without naming the noun, add een: hierdie een (this one), daardie een (that one).
Daai in everyday speech
People very often say daai instead of daardie: Kyk na daai hond! It is normal in conversation and informal messages. In formal writing, use daardie.
Not dit
English speakers sometimes use dit for this before a noun. Dit means it and does not go before a noun. You can say Dit is my boek (This is my book), but before the noun itself, use hierdie. The accented word dié is a third demonstrative you will meet later.
Examples (6)
- Hierdie boek is baie goed.
This book is very good.
Word by Word: This book is very good.
- Hierdie mense is my bure.
These people are my neighbours.
Word by Word: These people are my neighbours.
Hierdie does not change for a plural noun.
- Wie woon in daardie huis?
Who lives in that house?
Word by Word: Who lives in that house?
- Daardie skoene is te duur.
Those shoes are too expensive.
Word by Word: Those shoes are too expensive.
- Ek wil hierdie een hê, nie daardie een nie.
I want this one, not that one.
Word by Word: I want this one have, not that one not.
Add een to mean this one or that one.
- Kyk na daai hond!
Look at that dog!
Word by Word: Look at that dog!
Daai is the everyday spoken form of daardie.
Common Mistakes
Using dit to mean this before a noun.
Dit boek is myne.Hierdie boek is myne.Dit means it and cannot stand before a noun. This book is hierdie boek.
Using die together with hierdie or daardie.
Hierdie die kinders is moeg.Hierdie kinders is moeg.Hierdie and daardie replace die, so the article is left out.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Hierdie and daardie take the place of die before a noun.
Related Patterns
- hier/daarHere and There
Hier (here) and daar (there) match hierdie (this) and daardie (that).
Level 1 - diéDié with an Accent
Dié with an accent is another demonstrative, used in writing and for emphasis.
Level 3 - so 'n/sulkeSuch: So 'N and Sulke
So 'n and sulke also point at things, meaning such a and such.
Level 2 - No Noun Gender
Because nouns have no gender, hierdie and daardie never change form.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice hierdie/daardie in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Afrikaans lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
