Ek verstaan wat jy sê.

I understand what you are saying.

Breakdown of Ek verstaan wat jy sê.

• ek: I
• jy: you
• sê: to say
• verstaan: to understand
• wat: what

Questions & Answers about Ek verstaan wat jy sê.

How do I pronounce "verstaan"?

In Afrikaans, verstaan is generally pronounced as fur-STAHN (using a rough phonetic guide). The r is typically rolled or flapped slightly, and the aa in staan is a long vowel, similar to the "ah" in "father."

What role does "wat" play in this sentence?

Wat here is a relative pronoun linking what comes before (that you understand something) to the clause that follows (what the other person is saying). In other words, it connects Ek verstaan with jy sê to form one idea.

Why do we say "jy sê" and not "jy sêT"?

In Afrikaans, the present tense verb form is often the same regardless of the subject pronoun (jy, ek, hy, ons, etc.). So you don’t add an extra -t at the end for jy. You just use sê for "say" with all pronouns in the present tense.

What’s the difference between "jy" and "jou"?

Both mean "you," but jy is the subject form (the one doing the action), while jou is the object form (the one receiving the action). In this sentence, you use jy because you’re talking about what you say (subject). If you were referring to what someone says to you, then you might use jou.

Can I replace "wat" with "dat" in this sentence?

No, the sentence Ek verstaan dat jy sê... would sound unnatural. Dat is used to introduce a subordinate clause (like “that” in English), rather than functioning as a relative pronoun the way wat does here. Sticking with wat is correct because it refers back to the thing you understand (the content of what is said).