Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Die kind se hond is die vriendelikste hier.

The first die is the definite article “the” before kind (“the child”). The second die is also a definite article, this time marking the superlative vriendelikste (“the friendliest”). In Afrikaans, superlatives always take die.

What does kind se hond literally mean, and how do you form possession?

Kind se hond literally means child ’s dog or “the child’s dog.” You form possession by placing the possessor (kind) first, followed by se, and then the possessed noun (hond).

Can I use van die instead of se to show possession?

Yes. You could say Die hond van die kind (“the dog of the child”). Both are correct, but se is more concise and idiomatic when the possessor is a noun (especially a person).

How do you form the superlative of vriendelik in Afrikaans?

You add -ste to the adjective:
• vriendelik → vriendelikste
The pattern is: adjective + -ste = superlative. If the adjective ends in -g, you still just add -ste.

Could you say mees vriendelik instead of vriendelikste?

Yes, mees vriendelik is also a valid superlative (“most friendly”). However, for many adjectives (especially shorter ones), the -ste ending is more common.

Why is is used here?

Is is the present-tense copula “is” or “be,” linking the subject (Die kind se hond) to its predicate (die vriendelikste hier).

What role does hier play in the sentence?

Hier means “here” and functions as an adverb of place. It tells us where the dog is the friendliest.

What is the word order in this sentence compared to English?

Afrikaans uses Subject–Verb–Predicate order, just like English:

Subject: Die kind se hond
Verb: is
Predicate: die vriendelikste hier