Die leerder studeer vandag.

Die is the definite article, meaning the.

Unlike English, Afrikaans does not use different forms for grammatical gender, and die stays the same:

• for masculine nouns
• for feminine nouns
• for neuter nouns
• for singular and plural nouns

So:

• die leerder = the learner
• die leerders = the learners

If you wanted a/an learner, Afrikaans would use ’n instead: ’n leerder.

Not always exactly.

Leerder most literally means learner, and it is often used for a school pupil or someone in a learning context. In everyday English, the best translation may sometimes be student, but the nuance can depend on context.

For example:

• leerder often sounds like learner/pupil
• student in Afrikaans is also a real word, and it is especially common for a university student

So this sentence could refer to a school learner, depending on context.

Because Afrikaans verbs usually do not change form in the present tense the way English verbs do.

In English, you say:

• I study
• he studies

In Afrikaans, the verb normally stays the same:

• ek studeer
• jy studeer
• hy studeer
• die leerder studeer

This is one reason many learners find Afrikaans verb conjugation simpler than English.

It can mean either, depending on context.

Afrikaans often uses the simple present where English might use either:

• studies
• is studying

So Die leerder studeer vandag can mean:

• The learner studies today
• The learner is studying today

The time word vandag helps make the meaning clear in context.

That is a very normal word order in Afrikaans.

Afrikaans main clauses usually put the finite verb in the second position, and other information such as time expressions often comes later:

• Die leerder studeer vandag.

This is the most neutral order here.

But Afrikaans is flexible, and you can also move vandag to the front for emphasis:

• Vandag studeer die leerder.

Notice what happens then: the verb studeer still stays in second position, and the subject moves after it. This is a key Afrikaans word-order pattern.

No. Afrikaans does not need a separate is here.

English often uses:

• The learner is studying today

Afrikaans normally just uses the present tense verb:

• Die leerder studeer vandag

So there is no missing word. The sentence is complete as it stands.

Yes, absolutely.

That version would usually sound more natural if you specifically mean a student, especially at college or university level.

So:

• Die leerder studeer vandag = The learner is studying today
• Die student studeer vandag = The student is studying today

Both are grammatical; the choice depends on who you are talking about.

Because of vandag, it most naturally refers to today as the relevant time.

Depending on context, it could mean:

• the learner is studying today, as a current activity
• the learner will be studying today, as part of a plan
• the learner studies today, in contrast to another day

Afrikaans often leaves this kind of fine distinction to context rather than changing the verb form.

The plural is leerders.

So:

• Die leerder studeer vandag. = The learner studies/is studying today.
• Die leerders studeer vandag. = The learners study/are studying today.

Notice that:

• die stays the same
• studeer stays the same

Only the noun changes to plural.