Namate meer voedselhanteerders werk, raak die handewasstasie besiger.

As more food handlers work, the handwashing station becomes busier.

Breakdown of Namate meer voedselhanteerders werk, raak die handewasstasie besiger.

• werk: to work
• meer: more
• besig: busy
• raak: to become

Questions & Answers about Namate meer voedselhanteerders werk, raak die handewasstasie besiger.

What does namate mean in this sentence?

Namate means something like as, in proportion as, or the more... the more.... It shows that two things change together.

So here it means:

• as the number of food handlers working increases,
• the handwashing station becomes busier.

It is a bit more specific than a simple when because it emphasizes a gradual relationship between the two parts.

Does meer mean more food handlers, or does it mean they work more?

Here meer goes with voedselhanteerders, so it means more food handlers.

Structure:

• meer voedselhanteerders = more food handlers
• werk = work / are working

So the idea is not that the same people are working harder or longer. The idea is that a greater number of food handlers are working.

How is voedselhanteerders built?

It is a compound noun plus a plural ending:

• voedsel = food
• hanteerder = handler
• voedselhanteerder = food handler
• voedselhanteerders = food handlers

Afrikaans uses compound nouns very freely, often writing them as one word where English would use two.