Die kinders wou nog een program kyk, maar hulle moes gaan slaap.

In Afrikaans, die is the definite article for both singular and plural nouns. It means the in both cases.

So:

• die kind = the child
• die kinders = the children

Afrikaans does not change the definite article for gender or number the way some other languages do.

The singular noun is kind = child. The plural is kinders = children.

Afrikaans plurals are formed in different ways, depending on the noun. Common endings include -e, -s, and sometimes -ers. kind → kinders is a form you should simply learn as a vocabulary item.

Here, nog een means one more.

So nog een program means one more program or another program.

The word nog is very flexible in Afrikaans. Depending on context, it can mean things like:

• still
• yet
• another
• more

In this sentence, it clearly means an additional one.

Yes. Nog 'n program is very common and natural in everyday Afrikaans.

The difference is mainly emphasis:

• nog 'n program = another program / one more program
• nog een program = one more program, with a bit more emphasis on one

So the sentence as given sounds like the children wanted specifically one more program before bed.

Wil is the present-tense form, meaning want or wants.

Wou is the past form, meaning wanted.

So:

• Die kinders wil kyk = The children want to watch
• Die kinders wou kyk = The children wanted to watch

This is one of the common irregular verb forms learners should memorize.

Because wou is a modal-type verb, and in Afrikaans the main verb usually goes to the end of the clause in this structure.

So the pattern is:

subject + finite verb + other information + main verb

That gives: Die kinders wou nog een program kyk

Literally, word-for-word, it is close to: The children wanted one more program watch

That end position for the main verb is normal Afrikaans word order.

After modal verbs such as wil, wou, moet, moes, kan, and sal, Afrikaans normally uses the bare infinitive, without te.

So you get:

• wou kyk
• moes slaap
• kan gaan
• sal kom

That is why the sentence has wou ... kyk, not wou te kyk.

Moet means must or have to in the present.

Moes is its past form, meaning had to.

So:

• Hulle moet gaan slaap = They have to go to sleep
• Hulle moes gaan slaap = They had to go to sleep

In this sentence, moes shows past obligation.

Gaan slaap literally means go sleep, but idiomatically it means go to sleep or go to bed, depending on context.

It is a very natural Afrikaans expression. It suggests movement into the action, not just the action itself.

So:

• slaap = sleep
• gaan slaap = go to sleep / go to bed

In this sentence, moes gaan slaap fits the idea that the children had to stop watching and go off to bed.

Yes, basically. In this sentence, program most naturally means a TV program or show.

Because the verb is kyk = watch, the meaning is clearly something they were watching, such as a television show.

Because the second clause needs its own subject.

The sentence has two coordinated clauses:

• Die kinders wou nog een program kyk
• maar hulle moes gaan slaap

Afrikaans normally states the subject again in the second clause if it is a full clause with its own finite verb. Leaving out hulle here would sound incomplete in standard Afrikaans.

Not in this sentence.

When kyk means watch, it often takes a direct object:

• televisie kyk
• 'n film kyk
• 'n program kyk

But kyk na is used more in the sense of look at:

• kyk na die huis = look at the house
• kyk na die kind = look at the child

So here, because they are watching a program, kyk without na is correct.

Yes. The second clause works the same way.

In maar hulle moes gaan slaap:

• hulle = subject
• moes = finite verb in second position
• gaan slaap = remaining verbs at the end

So both clauses show a common Afrikaans pattern: the finite verb comes early, and the other verb or verbs move toward the end of the clause.