Die tandpyn is ernstig.

The toothache is serious.

Breakdown of Die tandpyn is ernstig.

• wees: to be
• ernstig: serious
• die tandpyn: toothache

Questions & Answers about Die tandpyn is ernstig.

Why does the sentence start with die?

Die is the Afrikaans definite article, meaning the.

So Die tandpyn = The toothache.

Afrikaans uses die for:

• singular nouns: die hond = the dog
• plural nouns: die honde = the dogs

Unlike English, Afrikaans does not have different forms like the vs something else based on gender. Die works very broadly.

Why is it die and not 'n?

'n means a / an, so it is indefinite.

Compare:

• Die tandpyn is ernstig. = The toothache is serious.
• 'n Tandpyn is ernstig. = A toothache is serious.

If you are talking about a specific toothache, die is the natural choice.

Is tandpyn really one word?

Yes. Afrikaans very often writes compound nouns as one word.

So:

• tand = tooth
• pyn = pain
• tandpyn = toothache

This is very common in Afrikaans, and often more consistent than in English.

Other examples:

• huiswerk = homework
• sonlig = sunlight