Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Ons vertrou onsself.

In Afrikaans, reflexive pronouns are formed by combining the subject pronoun with self (not selves). You don’t use a space or hyphen. Since ons ends in s, you just tack on self, giving onsself (with the doubled s intact).

Why can’t I say Ons vertrou ons to mean “we trust ourselves”?

Although ons can be both subject and object, when the subject acts on itself, you must use the reflexive form. Saying Ons vertrou ons would be ambiguous (“we trust us/you/them?”). Onsself makes it clear that the subject and object are the same.

Why does vertrou look the same with ek, jy, hy/sy and ons?

In the present tense Afrikaans verbs don’t change for different persons. You remove -n from the infinitive and use that stem for all subjects. So:
• Ek vertrou
• Jy vertrou
• Ons vertrou
They’re all identical in the present.

What’s the difference between vertrou and vertrou op?

• vertrou (no preposition) means “to trust” (someone or something).
Example: Ek vertrou hom – “I trust him.”
• vertrou op means “to rely on” or “depend on.” It’s a separable verb: the op can move to the end.
Example: Ons vertrou op onsself – “We rely on ourselves.”

Why is onsself placed after the verb in Ons vertrou onsself?

Afrikaans follows a Subject–Verb–Object (SVO) order. Reflexive pronouns act like direct objects, so they follow the verb:
Subject (Ons) → Verb (vertrou) → Object (onsself).

Can I stress onsself by putting it first, like Onsself vertrou ons?

Yes, you can front a word for emphasis, but it sounds literary or poetic. In everyday speech you’d almost always say Ons vertrou onsself.

How do I pronounce vertrou and onsself?

• vertrou is pronounced [fɛrˈtruː], with a soft v (like f) and rolled or tapped r.
• onsself is [ˈɔn.sɛlf], with a clear o as in “on” and a sharp s before elf.

Can I use onsself in other tenses, for example past or future?

Yes. The reflexive pronoun stays the same; only the verb changes. For example:
• Past: Ons het onsself vertrou. – “We trusted ourselves.”
• Future: Ons sal onsself vertrou. – “We will trust ourselves.”