What Diminutives Really Do

Level 3

A diminutive does more than say small. It can sound loving, polite or mean a little bit: my skatjie (my darling), 'n oomblikkie (just a moment).

How It Works

1. Small size. The basic meaning is small: 'n huisie (a little house), 'n boompie (a little tree). Young animals are often named this way: hondjie (puppy), katjie (kitten). You can also add klein: 'n klein huisie is normal Afrikaans.

2. Affection. Diminutives sound warm and loving, so people use them with children, pets and loved ones: my skatjie (my darling), my bokkie (my sweetheart), ouma se kleintjie (granny's little one).

3. Politeness and a small amount. A diminutive makes an offer or a request softer and friendlier:

  • Wil jy 'n koppie tee hê? (Would you like a cup of tea?)
  • Wag 'n oomblikkie, asseblief. (Just a moment, please.)
  • Kan ek 'n bietjie suiker kry? (Can I have a little sugar?)
  • Ek gaan 'n rukkie lê. (I'm going to lie down for a little while.)

4. Words that live as diminutives. Some diminutives are now everyday words with their own meaning:

  • meisie (girl), mandjie (basket), koppie (cup; also a small hill), bietjie (a little)
  • kaartjie (a ticket), while kaart is a map or a card
  • koekie (a biscuit), while koek is a cake
  • mannetjie and wyfie (a male and a female animal): Is jou kat 'n mannetjie of 'n wyfie?

Always use meisie for girl. Its old base word meid is an offensive word in South Africa today.

Building the forms. For the endings themselves, see -ie, -jie, -tjie, -etjie, -pie and -kie. Some adverbs use the same ending, such as saggies (softly).

Examples (6)

  1. Wil jy 'n koppie koffie hê?

    Would you like a cup of coffee?

    Word by Word: Want you a cup coffee have?

    Koppie is the normal word for cup. It does not mean a small cup.

  2. Wag net 'n oomblikkie, asseblief.

    Just wait a moment, please.

    Word by Word: Wait just a little-moment, please.

    The diminutive makes the request sound softer.

  3. Slaap lekker, my skatjie.

    Sleep well, my darling.

    Word by Word: Sleep nicely, my little-treasure.

  4. Die meisie dra 'n mandjie vol eiers.

    The girl is carrying a basket full of eggs.

    Word by Word: The girl carries a basket full eggs.

  5. Is julle hond 'n mannetjie of 'n wyfie?

    Is your dog a male or a female?

    Word by Word: Is your dog a little-man or a little-wife?

  6. Ek praat net 'n bietjie Afrikaans.

    I only speak a little Afrikaans.

    Word by Word: I speak just a little Afrikaans.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting van between bietjie and the noun.

    Kan ek 'n bietjie van melk kry?
    Kan ek 'n bietjie melk kry?

    Like a measure word, bietjie goes straight before the noun. Use van only before a specific thing: 'n bietjie van die koek.

  • Using the base word when the diminutive has its own meaning.

    Ek het 'n kaart vir die konsert gekoop.
    Ek het 'n kaartjie vir die konsert gekoop.

    A ticket is a kaartjie. Kaart means a map or a card, so the first sentence does not say ticket.

How It Connects

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

What Diminutives Really DoLevel 3

Learn This First

Diminutives do more than say little, once their forms are known.

Words in This Pattern

-iemeisiemandjie