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Die hond is vriendelik.

Die hond is vriendelik.
The dog is friendly.
FromLesson 12inHardcore Afrikaans

Breakdown of Die hond is vriendelik.

die hond
the dog
wees
to be
vriendelik
friendly

Questions & Answers about Die hond is vriendelik.

What does die mean in Die hond is vriendelik?
In Afrikaans, die is the definite article used for both singular and plural nouns, regardless of gender. It directly corresponds to the in English.
How do you pronounce hond?
hond is pronounced [hɔnt], with a short “o” like in English hot. The h is aspirated, and the final d is soft—almost like a t sound in some accents.
Why is vriendelik not vriendelike here?
Because this is a predicative adjective (it follows the linking verb is). Predicative adjectives in Afrikaans keep their base form without -e. When an adjective comes directly before a noun (attributive), you add -e, e.g. ’n vriendelike hond.
Do adjectives in Afrikaans change for gender or number?
No. When used predicatively (after is, was, etc.), adjectives remain unchanged, no matter the noun’s gender or whether it’s singular or plural.
Why is is used for all persons in the present tense?
Afrikaans verbs do not conjugate by person or number in the present tense. is (from the verb wees, “to be”) is the same for I am, you are, he is, we are, etc.
How do you form the plural of hond?
Most Afrikaans nouns form the plural by adding -e. So hond becomes honde. There are minor spelling rules (like doubling consonants), but hond → honde is regular.
Are there grammatical genders in Afrikaans like in German or Dutch?
No. Afrikaans has no grammatical gender. Every noun uses the same article (die) when definite, and you only distinguish between singular and plural.
Why is vriendelik spelled with -lik instead of Dutch -lijk?
Afrikaans spelling was simplified from Dutch. The Dutch vriendelijk became vriendelik in Afrikaans, dropping the j. The suffix -lik here is equivalent to English -ly.
Is the word order in Die hond is vriendelik the same as in English?
Yes. Afrikaans follows Subject–Verb–Complement (SVC) order like English. Die hond (Subject) is (Verb) vriendelik (Complement) mirrors The dog is friendly.
Why is hond not capitalized?
In Afrikaans, only the first word of a sentence and proper nouns are capitalized. Common nouns like hond remain in lowercase.
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