Die probleem tref die gesin.

Because die is the definite article the in Afrikaans. It is used before both probleem and gesin because both are specific:

• die probleem = the problem
• die gesin = the family

So the sentence literally has the before both nouns, just like English often does.

No. Afrikaans does not have different forms of the for masculine, feminine, or neuter nouns. It also uses die for both singular and plural definite nouns.

So all of these use die:

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

That makes Afrikaans much simpler than languages that have different articles for gender.

Tref literally can mean hit, strike, or reach, but in this sentence it is being used figuratively.

So Die probleem tref die gesin means something like:

• The problem affects the family
• The problem hits the family
• The problem strikes the family

The exact English wording depends on context, but the idea is that the family is impacted by the problem.

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

So:

• Ek tref
• Jy tref
• Hy tref
• Ons tref
• Hulle tref

The verb stays the same. Unlike English, Afrikaans does not add an -s for he/she/it in the present tense.

The sentence follows the basic main-clause pattern:

Subject + Verb + Object

• Die probleem = subject
• tref = verb
• die gesin = object

So it is a straightforward sentence structure: The problem affects the family.

Also, Afrikaans main clauses normally place the finite verb in the second position, and this sentence fits that pattern perfectly.

Not always. Gesin usually means the immediate family or household, such as parents and children living together. Familie can be broader and may include relatives in general.

So:

• gesin = household / nuclear family
• familie = family in the wider sense

In this sentence, gesin suggests the problem affects the family unit directly.

Yes, by itself it is in the simple present tense.

Die probleem tref die gesin most naturally means:

• the problem affects the family
• the problem is affecting the family

Depending on context, the Afrikaans simple present can sometimes overlap with English simple present or present continuous. Afrikaans often does not make that distinction as sharply as English does.

Afrikaans usually uses a double negative with nie ... nie.

So the negative form is:

Die probleem tref nie die gesin nie.

That literally looks like:

The problem affects not the family not

But the natural English meaning is:

The problem does not affect the family.

This double nie pattern is very common in Afrikaans.

A rough guide for English speakers is:

• Die ≈ dee
• probleem ≈ proh-BLEEM
• tref ≈ treff
• gesin ≈ khuh-SIN or guh-SIN depending on accent, with stress on the second syllable

A few notes:

• ee in probleem is a long vowel, like in team, though not exactly the same.
• g in gesin is the guttural Afrikaans g, which does not exist in standard English.
• tref has a short e, like in bed.

Yes, depending on the meaning you want.

For example:

• raak can also mean affect in some contexts
• beïnvloed means influence/affect
• treffer is not the verb here; tref is the correct base form

But tref is a good choice when you want the sense of something striking or hitting someone or something, whether literally or figuratively.

No, not in the way that many European languages do. Afrikaans nouns do not require different articles or adjective forms based on masculine, feminine, or neuter gender.

So with probleem and gesin, you do not need to learn grammatical gender categories. That is one reason why die stays the same.