Die versendingsetiket is op die oorspronklike verpakking.

Because die is the Afrikaans definite article, meaning the. It is used before both nouns:

• die versendingsetiket = the shipping label
• die oorspronklike verpakking = the original packaging

Unlike English, Afrikaans does not change the article for gender, and unlike languages such as German, it also does not change it for case. In most ordinary uses, die is simply the.

Yes. Afrikaans, like Dutch and German, very often makes compound nouns by joining words together.

• versending = shipping / dispatch
• etiket = label
• versendingsetiket = shipping label

The -s- in the middle is a linking sound that often appears in compounds. English usually writes these as separate words, but Afrikaans often prefers one combined word.

Afrikaans main clauses usually follow the verb-second pattern. That means the finite verb normally comes early in the sentence, typically in the second slot.

Here the structure is:

• Die versendingsetiket = subject
• is = verb
• op die oorspronklike verpakking = prepositional phrase

So the sentence pattern is very normal Afrikaans: Subject + verb + rest

Op means on here.

So:

• op die oorspronklike verpakking = on the original packaging

It is a very common preposition in Afrikaans. After op, the article stays the same:

• op die tafel = on the table
• op die boks = on the box

There is no special change to die after the preposition.

That is because the adjective comes before a noun.

In Afrikaans, adjectives often take -e when they are used attributively, meaning directly before the noun:

• oorspronklik = original
• die oorspronklike verpakking = the original packaging

Compare:

• Die verpakking is oorspronklik. = The packaging is original.
  
  • here it is predicative, so no -e
• die oorspronklike verpakking = the original packaging
  
  • here it is before the noun, so it takes -e

It can depend on context. Verpakking often means packaging, but in practical everyday use it can also refer to the packaged outer material or the package itself.

In this sentence, it most naturally refers to the original packaging the item came in or with.

So the learner should understand it as something like:

• the original packaging
• the original package/box/wrapping

The exact English wording depends on context, but the Afrikaans is perfectly natural.

Yes, but the verb still needs to stay in the second position in a main clause.

The neutral order is:

• Die versendingsetiket is op die oorspronklike verpakking.

You could also front the location phrase for emphasis:

• Op die oorspronklike verpakking is die versendingsetiket.

That is less neutral and sounds more marked, but it is grammatical. The important thing is that is still comes second.

Afrikaans normally uses double nie for negation.

So the negative version is:

Die versendingsetiket is nie op die oorspronklike verpakking nie.

Pattern:

• first nie usually comes after the verb or after the part being negated
• second nie comes at the end of the clause

This double-negation pattern is one of the most important features of Afrikaans.

For a yes/no question, Afrikaans usually puts the verb first:

Is die versendingsetiket op die oorspronklike verpakking?

That is the direct equivalent of:

Is the shipping label on the original packaging?

So the statement:

• Die versendingsetiket is op die oorspronklike verpakking.

becomes the question:

• Is die versendingsetiket op die oorspronklike verpakking?

A rough English-friendly guide would be:

duh fur-SEN-dings-eh-ti-ket is op duh ORE-sprong-kuh-luh-kə fur-PAK-ing

A few useful pronunciation notes:

• die sounds like duh in Afrikaans, not like English die
• v in Afrikaans is often pronounced close to English f
• g in oorspronklike can be a harsh throat sound, which English does not really have
• r is usually trilled or tapped more than in English
• verpakking has stress roughly on pak

A more Afrikaans-like pronunciation will come with listening practice, but this rough guide can help you get started.

It follows a very simple structure:

• Die versendingsetiket = subject noun phrase
• is = linking verb / form of to be
• op die oorspronklike verpakking = prepositional phrase showing location

So the sentence is basically:

The shipping label + is + on the original packaging

This is a very common and useful sentence pattern in Afrikaans for describing where something is.