Hy is 'n dissipel.

he

Breakdown of Hy is 'n dissipel.

• 'n: a
• wees: to be
• die dissipel: disciple; follower

Questions & Answers about Hy is 'n dissipel.

What does hy mean, and how do you pronounce it?

Hy means he.

It is pronounced roughly like hay, not like English high.
So Hy is sounds approximately like hay is.

A more careful pronunciation can vary a bit by accent, but hay is a good beginner approximation.

Is is used the same way as in English?

Yes. In this sentence, is is the verb to be, just like English is.

So:

• Hy is = He is

Afrikaans often uses forms that look very familiar to English speakers, and is is one of them.

What does 'n mean?

'n means a or an.

So:

• 'n dissipel = a disciple

It is the Afrikaans indefinite article, like English a/an.

Why is 'n written with an apostrophe?

That is just the standard spelling of the Afrikaans indefinite article.
It is always written as 'n, with a lowercase n and an apostrophe in front.

This is a special feature of Afrikaans spelling, so it is best to learn it as a fixed form.