Sy sluit nou die deur, want sy wil slaap.

She now closes the door, because she wants to sleep.

Breakdown of Sy sluit nou die deur, want sy wil slaap.

• sy: she
• nou: now
• die: the
• wil: to want
• want: because
• die deur: the door
• sluit: to close
• slaap: to sleep

Questions & Answers about Sy sluit nou die deur, want sy wil slaap.

Why does the sentence begin with "Sy sluit nou die deur" rather than "Nou sluit sy die deur"?

In Afrikaans, it is quite common to start a sentence with the subject (sy) and then follow with the verb (sluit). While you can often move nou around, the most natural word order keeps the subject first, verb second, and adverb (here, nou) after the verb.

Is "sluit" used for both "close" and "lock" in Afrikaans?

Yes, sluit can mean both "close" and "lock" in Afrikaans, depending on context. To be more specific about locking something, some speakers might say sluit toe, but simply using sluit can often cover both meanings.

What does "want" mean here, and why is it used instead of "omdat"?

want translates roughly to "because," but it is a coordinating conjunction in Afrikaans (it does not change the word order of the clause that follows). omdat is a subordinating conjunction and forces the verb to the end of the clause. In everyday speech, want is often used as a straightforward way to give a reason.

Why do we say "Sy wil slaap" instead of something like "Sy gaan slaap"?

Sy wil slaap means "She wants to sleep," focusing on desire or intention. Sy gaan slaap means "She is going to sleep," emphasizing a planned or near-future action. The difference is between wanting to do something (wil) and planning or getting ready to do it (gaan).

Does "nou" always mean "right now," or can it also mean "soon"?

In most contexts, nou indicates the immediate present—"right now." However, there is an expression nou-nou that can mean "in a little while" or "soon" in everyday speech. In this sentence, nou is used in its more direct sense of "right now."