Ons speel die opnamespoor terug.

Because speel terug works like a separable verb in Afrikaans, similar to verbs like play back in English.

The full idea is terugspeel = to play back.

In a main clause, the conjugated verb goes earlier in the sentence, and the separable part often moves to the end:

• Ons speel die opnamespoor terug.
  = We play back the recording track.

But in an infinitive or after another verb, it usually stays together:

• Ons wil die opnamespoor terugspeel.
  = We want to play back the recording track.

So speel ... terug is completely normal here.

Both forms can appear, depending on the sentence structure.

• Dictionary form / infinitive: terugspeel
• Main clause with normal word order: speel ... terug

Examples:

• Ek kan dit terugspeel.
• Ek speel dit terug.

So the sentence Ons speel die opnamespoor terug contains the same verb as terugspeel.

Opnamespoor is a compound noun:

• opname = recording
• spoor = track

So literally it means recording track.

Afrikaans makes a lot of compound nouns by joining words together, just like Dutch and German often do. The last part is usually the main noun, and the earlier part describes it.

So:

• spoor = track
• opnamespoor = recording track / recorded track / track of a recording

The exact English translation can vary a little depending on context, but the structure is very straightforward.

Because Afrikaans uses die as the definite article for almost everything:

• singular nouns
• plural nouns
• all genders

So unlike languages that have different forms like the masculine/feminine/neuter, Afrikaans keeps it simple.

Examples:

• die man = the man
• die vrou = the woman
• die kind = the child
• die kinders = the children

So die opnamespoor simply means the recording track.

Afrikaans verbs usually do not change according to the subject in the present tense.

So you get:

• ek speel
• jy speel
• hy speel
• ons speel
• julle speel
• hulle speel

This is much simpler than English, where we have I play but he plays.

So ons speel is just the normal present-tense form.

No. Ons can mean both:

• we as a subject
• us as an object

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

• Ons speel die opnamespoor terug.

As an object, you could also see:

• Hulle sien ons.
  = They see us.

So learners often have to rely on word order and context to know whether ons means we or us.

It is in the simple present tense.

• Ons speel die opnamespoor terug.

Depending on context, the Afrikaans present tense can correspond to English:

• we play back the recording track
• we are playing back the recording track

Afrikaans often uses the simple present where English might prefer the progressive form. If you want to make the ongoing aspect especially clear, context usually does the work.

The basic word order is very normal:

• Ons = subject
• speel = finite verb
• die opnamespoor = object
• terug = separable particle

Afrikaans main clauses usually follow a verb-second pattern, meaning the finite verb tends to appear early in the clause.

This sentence is the neutral order:

• Ons speel die opnamespoor terug.

You can move other elements to the front for emphasis, but then the verb still stays in second position:

• Die opnamespoor speel ons terug.

That version is possible, but it sounds more marked or contrastive.

No, not in normal standard Afrikaans.

Because terugspeel is separable, in a main clause you normally say:

• Ons speel die opnamespoor terug.

Not:

• Ons terugspeel die opnamespoor.

You would keep it together only in forms like:

• om die opnamespoor terug te speel
• die opnamespoor te terugspeel — not standard
• kan terugspeel
• wil terugspeel

So for this kind of sentence, speel ... terug is the correct pattern.

No. In Afrikaans, speel also has a broader range, just like English play can.

It can mean things like:

• play a game
• play an instrument
• play a role
• play media / playback, especially with terug

So here:

• speel terug = play back

That is a normal extension of the verb.

A rough guide for English speakers would be:

• opname ≈ OP-naa-muh
• spoor ≈ spoor with a long oo sound

So the whole word is roughly:

• OP-naa-muh-spoor

A few helpful notes:

• aa is a long vowel.
• spoor has a long oo sound, somewhat like the vowel in British more for some speakers, though not exactly the same.
• Stress is usually strongest near the first part of the compound: OPname-spoor.

Even if your pronunciation is not perfect, separating it mentally into opname + spoor helps a lot.