Dit is die enigste afskrif.

Dit is means it is / this is.

In Afrikaans, dit is often used where English might use either it or this, depending on context. So:

• Dit is my boek. = This is my book.
• Dit is koud. = It is cold.

In Dit is die enigste afskrif, Dit is introduces and identifies something: This/It is the only copy.

Here, die means the.

Afrikaans uses die as the definite article for basically all nouns:

• die boek = the book
• die man = the man
• die vrou = the woman

Unlike English, Afrikaans does not change the based on gender or number in the way some other languages do. So die is very common and very useful.

Afrikaans usually uses the definite article with only in this kind of sentence, just as English does:

• the only copy
• die enigste afskrif

So die is needed because the phrase means the only copy, not just only copy.

Enigste means only in the sense of sole or one and only.

Examples:

• die enigste kind = the only child
• sy enigste vriend = his only friend
• Dit is die enigste afskrif. = This is the only copy.

It is related to enig, which can mean some or any in other contexts, but enigste specifically means only / sole.

In enigste, the -ste is part of the word meaning only / sole.

For learners, the easiest thing is to treat enigste as a fixed form meaning only when used before a noun:

• die enigste rede = the only reason
• die enigste probleem = the only problem

Even though -ste often appears in superlatives in Afrikaans, here the most practical approach is simply to learn enigste as the normal form used for only before a noun.

Afrikaans nouns do not have grammatical gender the way many European languages do, and singular nouns usually appear in a simple base form.

So afskrif just means copy here. There is no special masculine/feminine form to learn.

Plural would be different, for example:

• afskrifte = copies

But in this sentence it is singular:

• die enigste afskrif = the only copy

Afskrif means copy.

It is not a direct everyday cognate with a common English word, but you can think of it as something like a written copy / transcript / duplicate, depending on context.

Examples:

• Maak 'n afskrif. = Make a copy.
• Ek het 'n afskrif van die brief. = I have a copy of the letter.

So in your sentence, it refers to a single copy of something.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation is roughly:

AHF-skrif

A few tips:

• af sounds a bit like uff/ahf
• skrif rhymes roughly with English skriff, but with a short vowel
• The r is Afrikaans r, which may sound different from many English accents

You do not need a perfect accent at first; saying something close to AHF-skrif will usually be understood.

The sentence follows a very common Afrikaans pattern:

Dit + is + die enigste afskrif
subject + verb + complement

So it is very similar to English:

This/It + is + the only copy

This makes it a good beginner sentence because the structure is straightforward.

Yes, you could.

• Dit is die enigste afskrif. = This/It is the only copy.
• Hierdie is die enigste afskrif. = This is the only copy.

Hierdie is more explicitly this. Dit is more general and very natural in identification sentences.

Sometimes, depending on context, yes.

Afrikaans dit is flexible and can refer to something already understood in the situation. But if you want to be more clearly contrastive, Afrikaans may use other forms such as daardie for that:

• Daardie is die enigste afskrif. = That is the only copy.

So Dit is die enigste afskrif most naturally feels like This/It is the only copy, but context can widen it a little.

You would say:

Dit is nie die enigste afskrif nie.
= This/It is not the only copy.

Afrikaans normally uses a double negative structure:

• nie after the verb phrase
• another nie at the end of the clause

That is one of the most important Afrikaans grammar patterns to learn.

You would usually invert the subject and verb:

Is dit die enigste afskrif?
= Is this/the only copy?

This is a very common way to form yes/no questions in Afrikaans:

• Dit is waar. = It is true.
• Is dit waar? = Is it true?

So for your sentence:

• Dit is die enigste afskrif.
• Is dit die enigste afskrif?