Hierdie reël is regverdig.

Hierdie is the usual demonstrative meaning this or these before a noun, so hierdie reël = this rule.

By contrast, dit usually means it or this when it stands on its own:

• Hierdie reël = this rule
• Dit is regverdig = This/It is fair

So if a noun follows, hierdie is the natural choice.

Afrikaans often does not need a separate word for the when a demonstrative like hierdie is already present.

In English, this rule already includes the idea of a specific rule, and the same is true in Afrikaans:

• hierdie reël = this rule

You would not say something like die hierdie reël. That would be wrong.

The two dots in reël are a diaeresis. They show that the vowels are pronounced separately rather than blending into one sound.

So reël is pronounced roughly like REE-uhl or ree-ul, in two parts.

Without the dots, a learner might try to read it as one vowel unit, which would be misleading. The spelling helps you hear that the word has two syllables.

Here, reël is a noun meaning rule.

So the structure is:

• Hierdie = demonstrative
• reël = noun
• is = verb
• regverdig = adjective

Together, it forms a simple statement: subject + verb + description.

Yes. Is is the present tense of wees (to be) and works very much like English is.

So:

• Hierdie reël is regverdig. = This rule is fair.

It links the subject (Hierdie reël) to the description (regverdig).

Regverdig can mean fair, just, or righteous, depending on context.

In this sentence, fair or just is the most natural meaning because it describes a rule.

Also, regverdig can be related to the verb to justify, depending on how it is used in a sentence. So it is a useful word with a small range of connected meanings around justice and fairness.

After is, Afrikaans adjectives usually stay in their basic form.

So:

• Die reël is regverdig. = correct
• Hierdie reël is regverdig. = correct

But when an adjective comes directly before a noun, it often takes -e:

• 'n regverdige reël = a fair rule
• die regverdige reël = the fair rule

So the difference is:

• after is: regverdig
• before a noun: often regverdige

In this simple statement, yes, it is very similar to English:

• Hierdie reël = subject
• is = verb
• regverdig = complement/adjective

So the pattern is:

Subject + verb + adjective

That makes this sentence very friendly for English speakers.

In a yes/no question, Afrikaans usually puts the verb first:

• Is hierdie reël regverdig? = Is this rule fair?

That is very similar to English.

Yes. Hierdie can mean both this and these, depending on the noun that follows.

For example:

• hierdie reël = this rule
• hierdie reëls = these rules

So unlike English, Afrikaans does not switch to a different word like these.

The plural is reëls.

Examples:

• Hierdie reël is regverdig. = This rule is fair.
• Hierdie reëls is regverdig. = These rules are fair.

Notice that hierdie stays the same, and reël changes to reëls.

Yes. It sounds normal and clear.

A speaker might also use billik in some contexts for fair, but regverdig is a very common and natural choice, especially when talking about rules, decisions, treatment, or justice.

So Hierdie reël is regverdig is a good, natural sentence to learn.