Ons bespreek die tegnologie.

Yes, ons means we in this sentence.

A useful thing to know is that ons can also mean us in other contexts, so Afrikaans uses the same form for both subject and object:

• Ons bespreek die tegnologie. = We discuss the technology.
• Hulle help ons. = They help us.

So the meaning depends on the sentence structure.

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

Compare:

• Ek bespreek
• Jy bespreek
• Ons bespreek
• Hulle bespreek

The verb stays bespreek each time.

This is much simpler than English, where you get forms like I discuss but he discusses. In Afrikaans, you normally just keep the same verb form.

Here, bespreek means discuss.

So the sentence means that we are discussing or we discuss the technology, depending on context.

Be aware that bespreek can also mean book or reserve in some contexts, for example:

• Ek bespreek 'n kamer. = I book a room.

But in Ons bespreek die tegnologie, the meaning is clearly discuss.

Afrikaans simple present often covers both ideas that English separates:

• we discuss
• we are discussing

So Ons bespreek die tegnologie can mean either, depending on context.

If you want to emphasize that the action is happening right now, Afrikaans often uses:

• Ons is besig om die tegnologie te bespreek.

That is more like We are busy discussing the technology or We are discussing the technology right now.

Die is the definite article in Afrikaans, meaning the.

So:

• die tegnologie = the technology

Unlike some other languages, Afrikaans does not have different forms of the for gender. It simply uses die.

Also, die is used for both singular and plural nouns:

• die boek = the book
• die boeke = the books

This is the normal word order for a basic main clause in Afrikaans:

Subject + Verb + Object

So here:

• Ons = subject
• bespreek = verb
• die tegnologie = object

That makes it very similar to standard English word order:

• We discuss the technology

Afrikaans does have word order changes in other sentence types, but this sentence is a straightforward main clause.

In a yes/no question, Afrikaans typically puts the verb first:

• Bespreek ons die tegnologie?

That means Are we discussing the technology? or Do we discuss the technology?

So the change is mainly word order:

• Statement: Ons bespreek die tegnologie.
• Question: Bespreek ons die tegnologie?

Afrikaans uses a double negative:

• Ons bespreek nie die tegnologie nie.

This is very important. In standard Afrikaans, you normally need both nie words in a negative sentence.

Pattern:

Subject + Verb + nie + rest + nie

So:

• Ons bespreek nie die tegnologie nie.

Yes. Afrikaans has many words that look familiar to English speakers, especially in formal or academic vocabulary.

Tegnologie is a normal Afrikaans word meaning technology. The spelling is slightly different from English:

• English: technology
• Afrikaans: tegnologie

So it is a good example of a cognate: a word that looks and means something similar in both languages.

A rough English-friendly pronunciation is:

tekh-no-loh-GHEE

A few helpful notes:

• g in Afrikaans is usually a harsher sound than English g
• the final -ie often sounds like ee
• stress is commonly near the end here

You do not need perfect pronunciation immediately, but it helps to notice that Afrikaans spelling is often fairly consistent.

Sometimes yes, but the meaning changes slightly.

• Ons bespreek die tegnologie. = We discuss the technology
  This refers to a specific technology or to technology as something already known in context.

• Ons bespreek tegnologie. = We discuss technology
  This is more general.

So die makes the noun definite, just like the in English.

It is neutral and completely natural.

Nothing in Ons bespreek die tegnologie is especially formal or especially casual. It would fit in many contexts, such as:

• a classroom
• a meeting
• a written exercise
• a general conversation

If you wanted a more formal tone, the surrounding vocabulary would usually matter more than this basic sentence structure.