Verkleinwoorde(Diminutives) in Afrikaans: Endings, Rules and Exercises

-ie after -f, -g, -k, -p and -s

If the word ends in -k, -p, -s, -f or -g, just add -ie.

After a short vowel, double the last consonant so the vowel stays short: kop → koppie, bok → bokkie, pop → poppie.

-jie after -d and -t

If the word ends in -d or -t, add -jie.

The t or d is never doubled: it’s katjie, not kattjie.

-tjie after a long vowel or diphthong + -l, -n, -r

If the word ends in -l, -n or -r after a long vowel or a diphthong (oe, eu, ei, ou), add -tjie. Words ending in a diphthong like -ei, -oei, -ui also take -tjie.

Words ending in an unstressed -el, -er or -en also take -tjie: tafel → tafeltjie, emmer → emmertjie, kamer → kamertjie.

-pie after -m

If the word ends in -m after a long vowel or a consonant, add -pie.

-etjie after a short vowel + -l, -m, -n, -ng, -r

If a short, stressed vowel comes before a single -l, -m, -n, -ng or -r, double the consonant (not ng) and add -etjie.

-kie after unstressed -ing

Words ending in an unstressed -ing change the g to k and add -ie, so the ending becomes -inkie.

Compare: in ring the -ing is stressed (it’s the whole word), so it takes -etjie: ringetjie. In koning the stress falls on ko-, so it takes -kie: koninkie.

Watch the vowel: open and closed syllables

When you add an ending, a long vowel can end up at the end of a syllable. Then you write it with one letter instead of two. And some short vowels become long, so you write two letters.

A few short words ending in a stressed vowel get an apostrophe: ma → ma’tjie, pa → pa’tjie.

The plural: just add -s

All diminutives form their plural with -s. No apostrophe.

Small or sweet: what diminutives mean

A diminutive can mean something is small: ’n huisie (a little house). It can also show affection: Kom hier, my kindjie. (Come here, my child.) Some diminutives have become words of their own: ’n koppie koffie (a cup of coffee), ’n bietjie (a little), die mannetjie (the male animal).