Ons neem vandag deel.

Because this is a separable verb in Afrikaans: deelneem.

In a normal main clause, the verb splits:

• Ons neem vandag deel.

But in forms like the infinitive, it usually stays together:

• om deel te neem
• Ons wil vandag deelneem.

So neem ... deel is not two unrelated words here; together they make the idea to participate / take part.

Yes. They are two forms of the same verb.

• deelneem = the full dictionary form
• neem ... deel = the split form used in a main clause

Compare:

• Ek neem deel.
• Hulle wil deelneem.

This is similar to separable verbs in Dutch and German.

Ons is the subject pronoun meaning we.

In Afrikaans, ons is used for:

• we as a subject: Ons neem deel.
• sometimes also us as an object, depending on context

In this sentence, it is the subject, so it means we.

Because Afrikaans verbs usually do not change according to the subject the way English verbs sometimes do.

So you get:

• Ek neem
• Jy neem
• Hy neem
• Ons neem
• Hulle neem

That is much simpler than in many other languages. The verb form stays the same.

It is the present tense.

So Ons neem vandag deel is literally in the present. Depending on context, Afrikaans present tense can sometimes sound like:

• a present action
• a scheduled/future action for today

So it can naturally be used for something happening today, even if it has not started yet.

Because vandag is an adverb of time, and with a separable verb it often appears between the two parts.

So the pattern is:

• subject
• finite verb
• time/adverbial information
• separated verb particle/final part

Example:

• Ons neem vandag deel.
• Hulle neem môre deel.

This placement is very normal in Afrikaans.

Yes. Afrikaans allows some movement for emphasis, especially with time words like vandag.

You can also say:

• Vandag neem ons deel.

That puts more focus on today.
In that case, because Afrikaans is a verb-second language in main clauses, the verb neem still stays in second position:

• Vandag
  • neem
    • ons
      • deel

So both are correct, but the emphasis is slightly different.

Yes, historically and literally deel can mean part or share, but in this sentence it is functioning as part of the separable verb deelneem.

So you should understand the whole expression as one unit:

• deelneem / neem deel = participate / take part

It is better not to translate the sentence word by word too mechanically, because the meaning comes from the full verb expression.

You use the common Afrikaans double negative pattern:

• Ons neem nie vandag deel nie.

The first nie usually comes after the finite verb or after the element being negated, and the second nie goes at the end of the clause.

So:

• Ons neem vandag deel. = We are participating today.
• Ons neem nie vandag deel nie. = We are not participating today.

With a modal verb, deelneem usually stays together at the end.

Examples:

• Ons wil vandag deelneem. = We want to participate today.
• Ons kan vandag deelneem. = We can participate today.

So compare:

Main clause with the separable verb itself:

• Ons neem vandag deel.

With a modal:

• Ons wil vandag deelneem.

That difference is very important.

Neem is pronounced roughly like name in English, but with an Afrikaans sound quality.

A simple learner-friendly approximation is:

• neem ≈ name

And deel sounds roughly like:

• deel ≈ dale

These are only approximations, but they help at the beginning.

Yes, very common. Deelneem / neem deel is a standard and natural way to say participate or take part.

You will often see it in contexts like:

• school activities
• competitions
• meetings
• surveys
• events

For example:

• Baie studente neem deel.
• Wil julle deelneem?

So this is a very useful verb to learn early.