Die bus is vol.

The bus is full.

Breakdown of Die bus is vol.

• wees: to be
• die bus: the bus
• vol: full

Questions & Answers about Die bus is vol.

What does Die mean here?

Die is the definite article “the” in Afrikaans. It’s used for all genders and numbers (for example die huis = “the house,” die stoele = “the chairs”).

Why is there no grammatical gender affecting Die or bus?

Afrikaans has lost grammatical gender. You don’t have “he,” “she,” or “it” articles—just die for “the,” regardless of the noun.

Why is the adjective vol placed after is instead of before bus?

In Afrikaans, complements of the copular verb is (to be) follow that verb. So you say die bus is vol (“the bus is full”) rather than placing vol directly in front of bus.

How would I say “a bus is full” instead of “the bus is full”?

Use the indefinite article ’n (pronounced like “uh”). That gives you: ’n bus is vol
(“a bus is full”).

How do you form the plural “the buses are full”?