tot
Until: Tot
Tot means until or up to: Die winkel is van nege tot vyf oop. (The shop is open from nine to five.)
How It Works
1. Until a time.
- Ek bly tot Sondag by my ouma. (I am staying with my granny until Sunday.)
- Tot môre! (See you tomorrow!) The everyday goodbye totsiens is built from tot + siens and is written as one word.
2. From ... to. Tot pairs with van: Die winkel is van nege tot vyf oop. (The shop is open from nine to five.) Do not use na here, because na shows movement toward a place.
3. As far as a place. Before a place, tot usually comes with by: Stap saam met my tot by die hek. (Walk with me as far as the gate.)
4. Up to a number. Tel tot tien. (Count to ten.)
5. Tot ... toe. A toe after the time is often added: tot Vrydag toe, tot nou toe (until now). See van ... af and na ... toe.
6. Before a clause. To join a whole clause, the standard word is totdat: Wag hier totdat ek terugkom. Short tot is also heard in this position.
Watch out: English not until is usually eers in Afrikaans: Die winkel maak eers om nege oop. (The shop doesn't open until nine.) See eers. For a deadline (by Friday), use teen.
Examples (6)
- Die winkel is van nege tot vyf oop.
The shop is open from nine to five.
Word by Word: The shop is from nine until five open.
Van ... tot gives the start and the end.
- Ek bly tot Sondag by my ouma.
I am staying with my granny until Sunday.
Word by Word: I stay until Sunday by my granny.
- Stap saam met my tot by die hek.
Walk with me as far as the gate.
Word by Word: Walk together with me until at the gate.
Before a place, tot usually comes with by.
- Tel tot tien.
Count to ten.
Word by Word: Count until ten.
- Ek het tot nou toe niks gehoor nie.
I haven't heard anything until now.
Word by Word: I have until now to nothing heard not.
Tot nou toe is a fixed phrase meaning until now or so far.
- Tot môre!
See you tomorrow!
Word by Word: Until tomorrow!
Common Mistakes
Using na in from ... to.
Ek werk van nege na vyf.Ek werk van nege tot vyf.Na shows movement toward a place, like na die winkel. The end of a time span uses tot.
Using tot for a deadline.
Die werk moet tot Vrydag klaar wees.Die werk moet teen Vrydag klaar wees.Tot tells you how long something goes on. For the latest time something must be done, use teen.
Translating not until word for word.
Die winkel maak nie oop tot nege-uur nie.Die winkel maak eers om nege-uur oop.Afrikaans says not until with eers: something happens only at that time and not before.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Tot marks an end point, related to the direction word na.
Related Patterns
- totdatUntil (Totdat)
Totdat is the joining word for until before a whole clause.
Level 2 - teenAgainst and by: Teen
Teen gives a deadline (by), while tot gives how long something lasts (until).
Level 2 - vanOf and from
Van often pairs with tot for from ... to.
Level 1 - van ... af/na ... toeVan ... Af and Na ... Toe
Explains the toe that often follows tot, as in tot Vrydag toe.
Level 3 - al/nog/eersAl, Nog and Eers
Eers is the usual way to say not until.
Level 3 - Telling the Time
Clock times often follow van and tot.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice tot in Bubblegum
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