mag (Wishes)
Wishes with Mag
Start with mag to wish someone well: Mag julle baie gelukkig wees. (May you be very happy.)
How It Works
1. Word order. Mag comes first, then the subject, then the rest, with the infinitive at the end:
- Mag jy nog lank en gesond lewe!
This is the same shape as a yes/no question. The meaning and the full stop or exclamation mark show that it is a wish.
2. No te. Mag is a modal verb, so the verb after it has no te, as with every modal + infinitive.
3. Where you meet it. Birthday messages, weddings, toasts and church language:
- Mag die Here jou seën. (May the Lord bless you.)
- Mag dit so wees. (So be it.)
4. Negative wishes. Use the usual double negation, with nie at the end: Mag so iets nooit weer gebeur nie.
5. Subject first changes the meaning. Jy mag lank lewe means "you are allowed to live long". A wish keeps mag before the subject. Usually mag comes first, but the well-known wish Lank mag jy lewe! (Long may you live!) starts with lank.
Everyday option: Ek hoop dit gaan goed met jou! or simply Sterkte!
Examples (6)
- Mag dit goed gaan met jou!
May all go well with you!
Word by Word: May it well go with you!
- Mag julle baie gelukkig wees.
May you be very happy.
Word by Word: May you-all very happy be.
- Mag jy nog lank en gesond lewe!
May you live a long and healthy life!
Word by Word: May you still long and healthy live!
- Mag die Here jou seën.
May the Lord bless you.
Word by Word: May the Lord you bless.
- Mag so iets nooit weer gebeur nie.
May such a thing never happen again.
Word by Word: May such something never again happen not.
- Mag die beste span wen!
May the best team win!
Word by Word: May the best team win!
Common Mistakes
Putting the subject first when you mean a wish.
Jy mag lank en gesond lewe!Mag jy lank en gesond lewe!With the subject first, mag means "may" as in permission: "You are allowed to live long and healthily." For a wish, mag must come before the subject.
Adding te after mag.
Mag dit goed te gaan met jou!Mag dit goed gaan met jou!Mag is a modal verb, so the verb after it never takes te.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Mag can express a wish, beyond permission.
Related Patterns
- Modal Verb Word Order
The infinitive goes to the end without te, as after every modal.
Level 1 - Yes/No Questions
Questions also start with the verb. In a wish, the meaning and punctuation show the difference.
Level 1 - as ... maarIf Only: As ... Maar
Another way to express a wish: If only ...
Level 4 - Old Subjunctive Forms
Older wish forms that mag has largely replaced.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice mag (Wishes) in Bubblegum
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