na
To (Direction)
Na means to or toward: Ek gaan na die winkel. It also goes with luister na (listen to) and kyk na (look at).
How It Works
Direction. Na tells you where someone or something is going: na die winkel (to the shop), na Durban (to Durban), na my ma (to my mother).
Na ... toe. Afrikaans often adds toe after the place as well: Ek gaan na die winkel toe. Both versions are correct. See van ... af/na ... toe.
Going home, to school or to work. With a bare place noun, the natural way is noun + toe: huis toe, skool toe, werk toe.
After certain verbs. Some verbs always take na:
- luister na: listen to
- kyk na: look at
- ruik na: smell of
- verlang na: long for, miss
Na or ná? The same letters can also mean after, as in ná ete (after the meal). The standard spelling adds an accent, ná, to show that meaning. See ná.
Na with dit becomes daarna, which usually means afterwards. See daar/hier + preposition.
Examples (6)
- Ek gaan na die winkel.
I'm going to the shop.
Word by Word: I go to the shop.
- Ons vlieg môre na Durban.
We're flying to Durban tomorrow.
Word by Word: We fly tomorrow to Durban.
- Sy luister na musiek.
She's listening to music.
Word by Word: She listens to music.
- Kyk na my!
Look at me!
Word by Word: Look to me!
- Die kombuis ruik na koffie.
The kitchen smells of coffee.
Word by Word: The kitchen smells to coffee.
- Hy loop na sy ma toe.
He walks over to his mother.
Word by Word: He walks to his mother to.
Na ... toe around a person or place is very common.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out na after luister.
Sy luister musiek.Sy luister na musiek.Luister needs na before the thing you listen to, just as English needs to.
Translating English look at word for word.
Kyk by die foto.Kyk na die foto.Look at is kyk na. By means at a place, not at something you look at.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Na shows direction toward a place, which contrasts with in for location.
Related Patterns
- Noun + toeGoing Somewhere: Huis Toe
Toe after a place noun is the usual way to say huis toe and skool toe.
Level 1 - van ... af/na ... toeVan ... Af and Na ... Toe
Na often pairs with toe after the noun: na die winkel toe.
Level 3 - náAfter: Ná
The same letters with an accent mean after in time.
Level 2 - waar ... vandaan/heenWhere from and Where to
Waar ... heen asks where someone is going.
Level 1 - Verbs With Fixed Prepositions
Luister na and kyk na are verbs with a fixed preposition.
Level 3 - vanOf and from
Van (from) marks the starting point, while na marks the goal.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice na in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Afrikaans lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
