Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Ons koop ’n treinkaartjie by die stasie.

’n is the indefinite article in Afrikaans (equivalent to English “a/an”). It’s a reduced form of een (“one”), so the apostrophe marks the missing vowel. It never changes form and is always written with the apostrophe.

Why is the verb koop the same for ons (“we”) and other subjects?

In Afrikaans present‐tense verbs do not inflect for person or number. Whether the subject is ek (I), jy (you), hy/sy (he/she), ons (we) or hulle (they), you always use koop for “buy.”

Why aren’t nouns like treinkaartjie and stasie capitalized?

Unlike English, Afrikaans only capitalizes proper nouns (names of people, places, brands). All common nouns—such as treinkaartjie (train ticket) and stasie (station)—remain lowercase, even at the start of a sentence.

How is treinkaartjie formed from smaller words?

treinkaartjie is a compound of two elements:

trein (“train”)
kaartjie, which itself comes from kaart (“card” or “map”) + the diminutive suffix -jie.

What does the diminutive suffix -jie in kaartjie do?

The suffix -jie generally makes a noun diminutive (small or endearing). In many everyday words—like kaartjie (“ticket”) or toiletjie (“little toilet/bathroom”)—it’s become the standard form rather than implying anything is literally tiny.

Why do we use by in by die stasie instead of in or op?

In Afrikaans by + place expresses being at or next to something (similar to English “at”). in would mean “inside,” and op means “on top of.”

Why is die used before stasie but not before treinkaartjie?

Afrikaans has two articles:

’n = indefinite article (“a/an”)
die = definite article (“the”)
We buy ’n treinkaartjie (“a train ticket”) at die stasie (“the station”).

How would you say “We buy train tickets at the station” (plural)?

Drop the indefinite article ’n and pluralize treinkaartjie to treinkaartjies: Ons koop treinkaartjies by die stasie.