Ek eet min vleis.

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Breakdown of Ek eet min vleis.

• eet: to eat
• die vleis: the meat
• min: little

Questions & Answers about Ek eet min vleis.

What does min mean in Ek eet min vleis, and how does it work?

min is a quantifier meaning “little” or “not much.” It goes directly before an uncountable noun (here vleis) to express that only a small amount exists. In Ek eet min vleis, it tells you the speaker eats very little meat.

Can I use weinig instead of min?

Yes. Both min and weinig mean “little” when modifying uncountable nouns.

• min is more colloquial.
• weinig is slightly more formal or emphatic.
  So Ek eet min vleis and Ek eet weinig vleis both mean “I eat little meat,” with only a subtle style difference.

What about minder—how is that different from min?

minder is the comparative “less.” Use it when you’re comparing two amounts:

• Ek wil minder vleis eet. (“I want to eat less meat [than before/than someone else].”)
  You don’t use minder to state an absolute small quantity without making a comparison—that’s when you use min.

Why isn’t there an article like 'n before vleis? Could I say Ek eet 'n min vleis?