Die skedule verander vanjaar.

Die is the Afrikaans definite article, so here it means the.

A useful point for English speakers: Afrikaans uses die for all nouns in the singular and plural when you mean the. Unlike some other languages, it does not change for gender.

So:

• die skedule = the schedule
• die boeke = the books
• die man = the man
• die vrou = the woman

Yes. Skedule is a standard Afrikaans word meaning schedule.

However, depending on context, Afrikaans speakers may also use other words such as:

• rooster for a timetable or schedule
• program for a programme/schedule of events

So die skedule verander vanjaar is perfectly understandable, but in some situations another noun might sound more natural.

Verander is the verb, meaning change or is changing / changes, depending on context.

Afrikaans verbs are much simpler than English verbs. In the present tense, the verb usually stays the same regardless of the subject.

Compare:

• Ek verander = I change
• Jy verander = you change
• Die skedule verander = the schedule changes

Unlike English, there is no extra -s for he/she/it. So you do not need a special form like veranders.

Because Afrikaans often uses the simple present where English might use either:

• changes
• is changing

So Die skedule verander vanjaar can naturally cover the idea of:

• The schedule changes this year
• The schedule is changing this year

Afrikaans does have ways to express ongoing action, but very often the plain present tense is enough.

Vanjaar means this year.

It is built from:

• van = of/from
• jaar = year

But as a fixed expression, you should simply learn vanjaar as this year.

Examples:

• Ek werk vanjaar baie. = I’m working a lot this year.
• Ons reis vanjaar Kaap toe. = We’re travelling to Cape Town this year.

In Die skedule verander vanjaar, vanjaar comes at the end, which is very natural.

Afrikaans word order is fairly flexible with time expressions, especially in simple main clauses. You may also see:

• Vanjaar verander die skedule.

That version puts emphasis on this year.

Both are grammatical, but:

• Die skedule verander vanjaar. = neutral statement
• Vanjaar verander die skedule. = stronger focus on the time

A practical English-friendly approximation is:

skeh-duu-luh

A few pronunciation notes:

• sk sounds like English sk in skin
• the e is short, like e in bed
• du has a rounded vowel, somewhat like a long u
• the final -le is a light extra syllable, not a strong English -l

Pronunciation can vary somewhat by speaker, but that approximation will usually be understood.

A helpful approximation is:

fur-AHN-der or veh-RAHN-der, depending on accent

Key points:

• the stress is usually on -an-
• the r may sound trilled or tapped, depending on the speaker
• the final -er is lighter than in strong English pronunciation

Don’t worry about sounding perfect at first; if you say something close to veh-rahn-der, you’ll generally be understood.

Formally, it is present tense, but Afrikaans present tense often covers future meaning when the time is clear from context.

Since vanjaar refers to a time period including the future part of the current year, the sentence can imply something happening during this year, including a future change.

So depending on context, it could mean:

• The schedule changes this year
• The schedule is changing this year
• The schedule will change this year

Afrikaans often relies on context more than English does.

Yes. Die skedule gaan vanjaar verander means something like The schedule is going to change this year.

This version is more explicitly future-oriented.

Compare:

• Die skedule verander vanjaar. = the schedule changes / is changing this year
• Die skedule gaan vanjaar verander. = the schedule is going to change this year

Both are correct, but the second one more clearly points to a future event.

Because Afrikaans and English are closely related Germanic languages, and in a simple main clause they often use a similar basic order:

Subject + Verb + Time expression

So:

• Die skedule = subject
• verander = verb
• vanjaar = time expression

This makes many basic Afrikaans sentences feel familiar to English speakers. The bigger differences usually appear with word order after fronting, in subordinate clauses, or with separable verbs and auxiliary verbs.

Yes, but the meaning depends on how it is used.

In your sentence:

• Die skedule verander vanjaar.
• Here verander is intransitive: the schedule changes

It can also be transitive:

• Hulle verander die skedule vanjaar.
• They are changing the schedule this year

So verander can mean either:

• to change on its own
• to change something

The sentence structure tells you which meaning is intended.