wat 'n ...!
What a!: Wat 'N
Wat 'n means what a in exclamations: Wat 'n mooi dag! (What a beautiful day!) For how ...!, use hoe: Hoe mooi! (How beautiful!)
How It Works
1. Wat 'n + noun. Put wat 'n in front of a noun to show surprise, joy or annoyance:
- Wat 'n gemors! (What a mess!)
- Wat 'n verrassing! (What a surprise!)
2. With an adjective. An adjective can go between 'n and the noun. It follows the normal rules for adjectives before a noun (see when adjectives take -e): Wat 'n mooi dag! but Wat 'n pragtige dag! (What a lovely day!)
3. Adding a verb. You can go on with a verb and its subject. The usual order puts the verb straight after the noun phrase: Wat 'n mooi huis het julle! (What a beautiful house you have!)
4. Hoe + adjective. For how ...!, use hoe with an adjective or adverb: Hoe mooi! (How beautiful!), Hoe mooi sing sy! (How beautifully she sings!). Hoe is also the question word how? (see hoe). Your voice and the exclamation mark show that it is an exclamation.
5. Other forms you may hear. Hoe 'n works just like wat 'n: Hoe 'n mooi dag! You will also hear watter used this way: Watter pragtige dag! (What a lovely day!) Speakers can also add nie for extra feeling: Wat 'n mooi dag is dit nie! This nie does not make the sentence negative (see nie in exclamations).
Tip: Don't drop the 'n. Wat mooi dag! is not Afrikaans; say Wat 'n mooi dag!
Examples (6)
- Wat 'n mooi dag!
What a beautiful day!
Word by Word: What a beautiful day!
- Wat 'n gemors!
What a mess!
Word by Word: What a mess!
- Wat 'n pragtige uitsig!
What a gorgeous view!
Word by Word: What a gorgeous view!
Pragtig is a longer adjective, so it takes -e before the noun.
- Wat 'n lekker ete het jy gemaak!
What a delicious meal you made!
Word by Word: What a tasty meal have you made!
The verb het comes straight after the noun phrase, before the subject jy.
- Hoe mooi sing sy!
How beautifully she sings!
Word by Word: How beautifully sings she!
Hoe + adjective makes a how ...! exclamation.
- Wat 'n klomp mense!
What a lot of people!
Word by Word: What a bunch people!
Klomp (a lot, a bunch) is a singular word, so it takes 'n.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out 'n after wat.
Wat mooi dag!Wat 'n mooi dag!The exclamation is wat 'n, just like English what a. The 'n cannot be dropped.
Forgetting the -e on a longer adjective.
Wat 'n pragtig uitsig!Wat 'n pragtige uitsig!An adjective like pragtig takes -e when it stands before a noun, also in an exclamation.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Wat 'n uses the question word wat and the article 'n.
Related Patterns
- hoe/hoeveelHow and How Much
Hoe as a question word; in exclamations it means how ...!
Level 1 - so 'n/sulkeSuch: So 'N and Sulke
So 'n (such a) is another way to stress a noun: so 'n mooi dag.
Level 2 - Adjective + -eWhen Adjectives Take -e
Explains when the adjective in wat 'n pragtige dag takes -e.
Level 2 - nie in Exclamations
Nie added to an exclamation for emphasis, without making it negative.
Level 6 - watterWhich
Watter can also start an exclamation: Watter pragtige dag!
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice wat 'n ...! in Bubblegum
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