Breakdown of Ek hoor die hond buite die huis.
Questions & Answers about Ek hoor die hond buite die huis.
• hoor = to hear (sound reaches your ears, no active effort). It takes a direct object: Ek hoor die hond.
• luister = to listen (actively focus on sound). It normally pairs with the preposition na: Ek luister na die radio.
Approximate phonetics and English hints:
• Ek = /ɛk/ (“eck”)
• hoor = /huːr/ (rhymes with “door”)
• die = /diː/ (“dee”)
• hond = /hɔnt/ (“hont”)
• buite = /ˈbœi̯tə/ (“boy-tuh”)
• die = /diː/ (“dee”)
• huis = /hœys/ (“hoys”)
Afrikaans follows a Subject–Verb–Object pattern in main clauses:
Subject (Ek) + Verb (hoor) + Object (die hond) + Adverbial phrase (buite die huis). You can shift the adverbial for emphasis, but the core S-V-O remains.
That ordering is technically understandable but sounds unnatural. If you really want to highlight location you could front it:
Buite die huis hoor ek die hond (Outside the house I hear the dog).
But placing buite die huis between verb and object is rarely used.
Use the indefinite article 'n before hond:
Ek hoor 'n hond buite die huis.
Note that 'n is pronounced like un or a quick uh sound.