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Questions & Answers about Die kos is nogal lekker.
What is the function of nogal in this sentence?
Nogal is an adverb acting as an intensifier, equivalent to “quite,” “rather,” or “pretty.” It softens lekker, so Die kos is nogal lekker means “The food is rather tasty.”
What kind of word is lekker, and can it stand alone?
Lekker is an adjective meaning “tasty,” “nice,” or “pleasant.” It can also be used alone as an interjection: simply saying Lekker! conveys “Great!” or “Yum!” depending on context.
Why does is appear second in “Die kos is nogal lekker”?
Afrikaans follows a V2 (verb-second) word order common to Germanic languages. The finite verb (is) must occupy the second position, immediately after the first element in the sentence (here, die kos).
Do adjectives like lekker change form for gender or number in Afrikaans?
No. Predicative adjectives (those following a form of wees such as is) remain unchanged regardless of the noun’s gender or number. Die kos is lekker vs. Die eiers is lekker—lekker stays the same.
If I omit nogal, how does the meaning shift?
Without nogal, Die kos is lekker simply states “The food is tasty.” Including nogal adds nuance: “The food is quite/pretty tasty,” suggesting a degree of surprise or mild emphasis.
How do you pronounce the g in nogal?
The Afrikaans g is a guttural fricative, produced at the back of the throat (similar to the Scots “ch” in loch). So nogal is roughly [ˈnɔχal].
Can nogal be used with verbs or other adjectives?
Yes. Nogal freely modifies verbs and adjectives. Examples:
- Hy werk nogal hard (“He works quite hard.”)
- Dit is nogal interessant (“That is rather interesting.””)