Post Office

1. Waar is die poskantoor?

   Where is the post office?

   Usage

   Used when looking for a post office

   Grammar Note

   "Poskantoor" = pos (post) + kantoor (office). Corresponds to Dutch "postkantoor"

2. Ek wil hierdie pakkie stuur

   I want to send this package

   Usage

   Telling the post office clerk you want to send a package

   Grammar Note

   "Pakkie" is the diminutive of "pak" (pack/parcel). Diminutives convey smallness or familiarity

3. Hoeveel is 'n seël na Japan?

   How much is a stamp to Japan?

   Usage

   Asking the price of an international stamp

   Grammar Note

   "Seël" corresponds to Dutch "zegel" (seal/stamp). The diaeresis (trema) ë shows that the vowels e and ë are pronounced separately, as two syllables

4. Ek wil dit aangeteken stuur

   I want to send it registered

   Usage

   Requesting registered mail service

   Grammar Note

   "Aangeteken" is the past participle of "aanteken" (to record). Ge- appears after separable prefix

5. Hoe lank neem dit om Japan toe te gaan?

   How long does it take to get to Japan?

   Usage

   Asking how long international delivery takes

   Grammar Note

   "Toe gaan" means "to go to", with toe placed after the noun. A purpose clause is "om … te + verb", and te appears once, immediately before the verb. No te goes straight after om.

6. Gee my 'n posvorm, asseblief

   Please give me a postal form

   Usage

   Requesting a postal form or declaration slip at the post office

   Grammar Note

   "Gee my" uses the imperative form. Afrikaans imperatives use the bare verb stem

7. Ek wag vir 'n pakkie

   I am waiting for a package

   Usage

   Informing the post office clerk that you are expecting a package

   Grammar Note

   "Vir" functions as the preposition "for" in this context. "Wag vir" = wait for

8. Kan ek dit per lugpos stuur?

   Can I send it by airmail?

   Usage

   Requesting airmail service for a letter or parcel

   Grammar Note

   "Lugpos" = lug (air) + pos (post/mail). Same compound structure as English "airmail"

9. Wat is die posadres?

   What is the postal address?

   Usage

   Confirming the correct postal address for delivery

   Grammar Note

   "Posadres" = pos + adres (address). Afrikaans writes compounds as single words without spaces

10. Hoeveel weeg hierdie pakkie?

    How much does this package weigh?

    Usage

    Asking about the weight of a package

    Grammar Note

    "Weeg" means "to weigh". It corresponds to Dutch "wegen"

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