Ek raak moeg.

I become tired.

Breakdown of Ek raak moeg.

• ek: I
• moeg: tired
• raak: to become

Questions & Answers about Ek raak moeg.

What does Ek raak moeg literally mean, and how should I understand raak in this sentence?

Literally it’s I get tired or I become tired. Here raak is an inchoative verb—just like English to get or to become—used to describe a change of state before an adjective.

Why isn’t there a special continuous (–ing) form like in English (“I am getting tired”)?

Afrikaans does not have a separate progressive tense. You simply use the present tense: Ek raak moeg can mean both “I get tired” (habitually) and “I’m getting tired” (right now), depending on context.

How do I conjugate raak for different subjects in the present tense?

Conjugation is regular. In the present tense you use the same stem for all persons, only changing the subject pronoun:

Ek raak
Jy raak
Hy/sy/dit raak
Ons raak
Julle raak
Hulle raak

How would I form the past tense (“I got tired”) and the future tense (“I will get tired”)?

Past: use the auxiliary het plus the past participle geraak:
– Ek het moeg geraak. (“I got tired.”)

Future: two options:
– Ek sal moeg raak. (formal “I will get tired.”)
– Ek gaan moeg raak. (colloquial “I’m going to get tired.”)

What’s the difference between Ek is moeg and Ek raak moeg?

Ek is moeg means I am tired (you’re already in that state).
Ek raak moeg means I’m becoming tired or I get tired (the process of getting tired is highlighted).

How do I make Ek raak moeg negative (“I don’t get tired”)?

Use double nie to negate the verb phrase:
– Ek raak nie moeg nie.

If you want to say “I never get tired,” insert nooit:
– Ek raak nooit moeg nie.

Can raak be used with other adjectives or even nouns?

Yes. It’s a general “become/get” verb. Examples:
– Hy raak bruin. (“He gets tanned.”)
– Sy raak siek. (“She gets sick.”)
– Die ketel raak warm. (“The kettle becomes hot.”)
You can even “get” nouns in certain contexts: Hy raak ’n sukses (“He becomes a success”).

Is there a difference between moeg and vermoeid?

Both mean “tired,” but moeg is much more common in speech. Vermoeid is slightly more formal or literary—you might see it in writing or official reports, but everyday conversation uses moeg.