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Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Die klou is kort. - The claw is short.

Hardcore Afrikaans
/Taking a pet to the vet
/Die klou is kort.

Die klou is kort.

Word

Die klou is kort.

Meaning

The claw is short.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Afrikaans

Lesson

Taking a pet to the vet

Breakdown of Die klou is kort.

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Questions & Answers about Die klou is kort.

What does die mean here, and how do I pronounce it?

Die means the.

In Afrikaans, it is usually pronounced dee, not like the English word die meaning to stop living.

Does die change for gender, like in some other European languages?

No. Afrikaans does not use grammatical gender the way languages like German or Dutch do.

So die is the normal definite article for nouns regardless of gender, and it is also used with plural nouns.

die klou = the claw
die kloue = the claws

Why is the verb is the same as in English?

Because is in Afrikaans is also the present-tense form of to be.

It comes from the verb wees = to be. Afrikaans verb forms are generally simpler than English ones, so you do not get as much change across different subjects.

In this sentence, is works just like English is: Die klou is kort = subject + is + adjective.

Why is kort not changed in any way?

Because it comes after is and describes the subject. In that position, Afrikaans adjectives usually stay in their basic form.

So:

Die klou is kort = The claw is short

This is a very normal pattern in Afrikaans.

Is the word order the same as in English here?

Yes. This sentence has a very straightforward order:

Die klou = subject
is = verb
kort = description of the subject

So the structure is basically subject + verb + adjective, just like in English.

How do I pronounce klou and kort?

A rough guide:

klou: sounds roughly like clow, rhyming with cow
kort: sounds roughly like court, but usually shorter and sharper

So the whole sentence is approximately: dee klow iss kort

Is klou singular here? What is the plural?

Yes, klou is singular here.

The plural is kloue.

So:

die klou = the claw
die kloue = the claws

How would I make this sentence negative?

In standard Afrikaans, negation usually uses nie ... nie.

So Die klou is kort becomes:

Die klou is nie kort nie.

This double nie pattern is one of the most important grammar features in Afrikaans.

Can klou be something other than a noun?

Yes. Klou can also be a verb in Afrikaans, with meanings related to cling or hold on tightly.

But in Die klou is kort, it is clearly a noun, because:

it comes after die
it is the thing being described as kort

So here, klou is definitely a noun.

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