Laundry

1. Waar is die wasgoedwinkel?

   Where is the laundromat?

   Usage

   Used when looking for a laundromat

   Grammar Note

   "Wasgoedwinkel" = wasgoed (laundry) + winkel (shop). Afrikaans uses long compound nouns

2. Ek het wasgoed om te was

   I have laundry to wash

   Usage

   Indicating that you have laundry that needs to be washed

   Grammar Note

   "Om te + infinitive" is the Afrikaans infinitive construction, equivalent to English "to + verb"

3. Hoe lank neem dit?

   How long does it take?

   Usage

   Asking how long the washing or drying cycle will take

   Grammar Note

   "Hoe lank" corresponds to Dutch "hoe lang". Dutch "lang" is spelled "lank" in Afrikaans

4. Kan jy hierdie klere was?

   Can you wash these clothes?

   Usage

   Requesting laundry service at a hotel or laundry shop

   Grammar Note

   "Klere" is the plural of "kleed" (garment), equivalent to Dutch "kleren"

5. Hierdie hemp het 'n vlek

   This shirt has a stain

   Usage

   Pointing out a stain when dropping off clothes at a laundry service

   Grammar Note

   "Vlek" is the standard word for a stain (same form as Dutch "vlek"). "Kol" leans toward "spot/dot", so it is not used here

6. Kan jy dit stryk?

   Can you iron it?

   Usage

   Requesting ironing service for a garment

   Grammar Note

   "Stryk" corresponds to Dutch "strijken". Afrikaans often drops the Dutch infinitive -en ending

7. Watter wasmasjien moet ek gebruik?

   Which washing machine should I use?

   Usage

   Asking which machine to use at a self-service laundromat

   Grammar Note

   "Moet" is a modal meaning "must/should". It is followed by a bare infinitive

8. Wanneer sal my klere gereed wees?

   When will my clothes be ready?

   Usage

   Asking what time your laundry or dry cleaning will be ready for pick-up

   Grammar Note

   "Sal" marks future tense. "Gereed wees" = to be ready

9. Het julle droogskoonmaak?

   Do you offer dry cleaning?

   Usage

   Asking whether a laundry shop offers dry cleaning

   Grammar Note

   "Droogskoonmaak" = droog (dry) + skoon (clean) + maak (make). A three-part compound used here as a noun ("dry cleaning")

10. Hoeveel kos dit om te was?

    How much does it cost to wash?

    Usage

    Asking the price of laundry service

    Grammar Note

    "Hoeveel" = hoe (how) + veel (much/many). Used to ask about price or quantity

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