Ná 'n lang jaar wil ons 'n rustige maand by die see hê.

After a long year we want to have a peaceful month by the sea.

Breakdown of Ná 'n lang jaar wil ons 'n rustige maand by die see hê.

• ons: we
• die: the
• hê: to have
• 'n: a

Questions & Answers about Ná 'n lang jaar wil ons 'n rustige maand by die see hê.

Does wil mean the same as English will?

No. In Afrikaans, wil usually means want to or wish to, not simple future.

So here wil ons means we want.

If you wanted a straightforward future meaning like we will have, Afrikaans would more naturally use sal, for example ons sal ... hê.

Why is it wil ons instead of ons wil?

Afrikaans is a verb-second language in main clauses. That means the finite verb normally comes second.

If the sentence begins with the subject, you get:

• Ons wil 'n rustige maand by die see hê.

But if another part comes first, like Ná 'n lang jaar, the verb still has to stay in second position:

• Ná 'n lang jaar wil ons 'n rustige maand by die see hê.

So wil comes before ons because the opening time phrase takes the first slot.

What does 'n mean, and how do you pronounce it?