Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Ek speel met my klein hondjie by sonsondergang.

In Afrikaans the present-tense verb stays the same for all persons and numbers. So speel is used with ek (I), jy (you), hy/sy (he/she) and so on. You only get changes in past tense (with –d or ge- prefix) or in passive constructions.

What does met mean in this sentence?

Here met functions exactly like the English preposition with. It shows companionship or the person/thing you’re playing with: “I play with my little dog.”

Why isn’t there a definite article (like die) before klein hondjie?

When you use a possessive pronoun (my, jou, sy, etc.) you don’t add die. The possessive (my) already tells you whose dog it is, so adding die would be redundant. If you wanted to say “the little dog” without possession, you’d use die klein hondjie.

How do diminutives work in Afrikaans—what’s the role of -jie in hondjie?

The suffix -jie makes a noun smaller or cuter, similar to English “-y” or “-ie.” You attach it to the noun’s root (dropping a trailing vowel if necessary): hond → hondjie, kat → katjie, boek → boekie. It’s very common for pets or to show affection.

Does the adjective klein change for gender or number, and why does it come before the noun?

Afrikaans adjectives do not change form for gender or number—they stay the same whether it’s one or many, masculine or feminine nouns. And just like in English, adjectives normally precede the noun: klein hondjie = little dog.

Why is sonsondergang written as one word, and can it be split into separate words?

Afrikaans often combines related words into one compound. sonsondergang merges son (sun) + sonder (under/without) + gang (going) to mean “sunset.” Splitting it into son sonder gang would look and feel incorrect—compounds are usually a single word.

What function does by have in “by sonsondergang”?

Here by means “at” in a time sense: “at sunset.” The same word can also mean “by/near” in a physical location (e.g., ek is by die hek = I am by the gate).

Could I swap the order and say Ek speel by sonsondergang met my klein hondjie?

Yes. Word order for adverbial or prepositional phrases is fairly flexible. You could put the time phrase (by sonsondergang) before the manner/accompaniment phrase (met my klein hondjie). That shift might slightly change emphasis but is grammatically fine.

How do I pronounce sonsondergang, especially the final g?

You’d say it roughly as “SON-son-der-khang.” The final g is a guttural sound ( or [ɣ]), similar to the Scottish “loch” or German “Bach.” Stress usually falls on the first syllable of each element: SON-son-der-gang.