Dating & Romance

1. Jy is baie mooi

   You are very beautiful

   Usage

   Complimenting someone's appearance

   Grammar Note

   "Mooi" is identical to Dutch "mooi". Predicative adjectives in Afrikaans do not inflect

2. Wil jy saam gaan eet?

   Would you like to go eat together?

   Usage

   A casual invitation for a date or shared meal

   Grammar Note

   Afrikaans verbs do not conjugate by person. "Wil jy" is the question word order (modal + subject)

3. Ek is lief vir jou

   I love you / I am fond of you

   Usage

   Expressing love or deep affection for someone

   Grammar Note

   "Lief vir" is the standard phrase for love/fondness. Compare Dutch "ik hou van jou"

4. Mag ek jou nommer kry?

   May I have your number?

   Usage

   Asking someone for their phone number

   Grammar Note

   "Kry" corresponds to Dutch "krijgen" (to get). Afrikaans uses just the stem

5. Wil jy saam koffie drink?

   Would you like to have a coffee together?

   Usage

   A casual invitation for coffee, often used as a first date suggestion

   Grammar Note

   "Saam koffie drink" = "have coffee together": the main verb "drink" goes at the end of the clause

6. Jy maak my gelukkig

   You make me happy

   Usage

   Expressing happiness and gratitude to a romantic partner

   Grammar Note

   "Maak + object + adjective" is the Afrikaans causative pattern meaning "make someone..."

7. Ek mis jou

   I miss you

   Usage

   Expressing that you miss someone

   Grammar Note

   "Mis" corresponds to Dutch "missen". The structure is the same as English "I miss you"

8. Wil jy my kêrel/nooi wees?

   Will you be my boyfriend/girlfriend?

   Usage

   Asking someone to be your boyfriend or girlfriend

   Grammar Note

   "Kêrel" and "nooi" are South African terms for boyfriend and girlfriend respectively

9. Ek voel iets spesiaals vir jou

   I feel something special for you

   Usage

   Subtly expressing romantic feelings

   Grammar Note

   "Spesiaals" is the adjectival form after "iets" (something). Afrikaans adds -s after "iets/niks"

10. Jou glimlag verlig my dag

    Your smile brightens my day

    Usage

    A romantic compliment about someone's smile

    Grammar Note

    "Verlig" = ver- (intensifying prefix) + lig (light/brighten). A vivid compound verb

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