Die kontaklens lê op die kornea.

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Breakdown of Die kontaklens lê op die kornea.

• lê: to lie
• die kornea: cornea
• die kontaklens: contact lens

Questions & Answers about Die kontaklens lê op die kornea.

Why is die used here, and does it mean the?

Yes. Die is the Afrikaans definite article and usually means the.

In this sentence, die kontaklens = the contact lens.

A useful point for English speakers: Afrikaans does not change the definite article for gender or number. So die can mean:

• the contact lens
• the contact lenses
• the man
• the woman

You always use die for the.

Why is kontaklens written as one word?

Afrikaans often forms compound nouns as a single word, more readily than English does.

So:

• kontak = contact
• lens = lens
• kontaklens = contact lens

This is very normal in Afrikaans. English often uses two words where Afrikaans prefers one compound word.

What does lê mean here? Why not just use is?