Sy lees nou.

she

Breakdown of Sy lees nou.

• lees: to read
• nou: now

Questions & Answers about Sy lees nou.

Why is the sentence Sy lees nou used for both “she reads now” and “she is reading now” in English?

Afrikaans typically uses only one present tense form. So whether you mean “she reads” (simple present) or “she is reading” (present continuous), you would say Sy lees nou. The context usually clarifies which meaning applies.

Do I always use sy to say “she,” or can it mean something else?

Sy is the pronoun for “she.” Afrikaans also has haar for “her” (possessive or object). Meanwhile, hy means “he,” sy means “she,” and hulle means “they.” In some contexts, sy can also imply possession if it’s spelled and pronounced slightly differently (e.g., s’n meaning “hers,” but that’s a separate concept).

How do I pronounce nou correctly?

Nou sounds somewhat similar to the English word “no,” but with a rounded lip at the end. You can also think of it like the start of “now,” but without trailing off into the “w” sound. It’s a shorter, flatter vowel than the English “now.”

Why is there no separate form of the verb lees for “she”?

Afrikaans verbs do not change form based on who is doing the action. Whether it’s ek lees (“I read”), sy lees (“she reads”), or ons lees (“we read”), the verb stays the same in the present tense. So sy lees, jy lees, hulle lees all keep lees unchanged.

Can I switch words around and say Nou lees sy?

Yes, but it changes emphasis. Nou lees sy puts a stronger stress on nou (“now”) and suggests a shift in time or action. The default or neutral syntax is Sy lees nou, which states “She is reading now” without extra emphasis.