Diminutives - Verkleining

Verkleining in Afrikaans

Verkleining in Afrikaans is used to describe words in 3 ways - An inferior way, a pitiful way and a small size way - The way that verkleining is used is dependant on the context of the sentence. To change words into verkleining what you must do is learn the groups that apply to certain words. Here they are...

1. Ending in -p, -k, -g, -s, -f, these words must have an "i.e." added on to them.

This can be remembered by Piet kry gou sy fietse.

Words with long vowels must have a vowel dropped from them and short, single syllable words must have the consonant doubled.

EG. 

Pak - Pakkie

Kaas -Kasie

Duif - Duifie

Vark - Varkie

2. Ending in -r, -l, -n these words must have "tjie" added on to them (long sounding vowel)

This can be remembered by Rein lag nooit.

Here words with short sounding vowels must have the consonant doubled and "etjie" added on.

EG.

kar - karretjie

pan - pannetjie

vel - velletjie

kraan - kraantjie

soen - soentjie

tuin - tuintjie

3. Ending in -m with a long vowel you add "pie"

Here words with short sounding vowels must have the consonant doubled and have "etjie" added on to it.

EG. 

boom - boompie

naam - naampie

dam - dammetjie

som - sommetjie

4. Words ending in -d, -t these words must have "jie" added to it 

EG. 

hond - hondjie

kat - katjie

baard - baardjie

5. Words ending in -ng with a short vowel must have "etjie" added on to it.

Words ending in -ng but have 2 syllables must have "kie" 

EG.

ring - ringetjie

long - longetjie

ko-ning - koningkie

do-ring - doringkie

va-ring - varinkie

6. Words that have -eeu, -ie, -y, -ei, -ooi, -aai, -oei must have "tjie" added on to it

EG. 

Kraai - Kraaitjie

By - Bytjie

Leeu - Leeutjie

7. Words that have an emphasis and end on -i, -o, -u, -á must have 'tjie added on to them

EG.

Skadu - Skadu'tjie

Foto - Foto'tjie