en
/ɛn/
The English word "and" is translated to en in Afrikaans.
en is a conjunction used to connect two similar words, phrases, et cetera.
Meaning: used to connect two similar words, phrases, et cetera (conj)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of en is /ɛn/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Afrikaans poetry and formal rhetoric, en is sometimes omitted between adjectives to create a specific rhythmic flow called asyndeton.
- In very informal spoken Afrikaans, you might hear people use en to mean 'and then', acting as a rhythmic bridge in storytelling.
- In certain dialects, the pronunciation of en can soften so much in fast speech that it sounds more like a short 'n' sound than a full syllable.
Examples in context
- Luister en leer iets.Listen and learn something.This example shows how to use en to connect two verbs.Tatoeba #13585223 by Pietpetoors, translation #10070714 by espamatics
- Hy is sterk en manlik.He is strong and manly.This sentence uses en to connect two adjectives.Tatoeba #5910661 by CJuser01, translation #12981446 by Tom9358
- Hy hou van ham en eiers.He likes ham and eggs.This sentence uses en to connect two nouns.Tatoeba #5934336 by CJuser01, translation #292421 by CK
- Ek het 'n hond en 'n kat.I have a dog and a cat.
- Die winkel het 'n groot verskeidenheid koekies, sowel as lekkernye.The store has a wide variety of cookies and treats.
- Ek gaan eerste werk, en dan gaan ek saam met jou koffie drink.I'm going to work first, and then I'll have coffee with you.
- 90 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andries and Marelize are at a grocery store.
- AndriesOns het melk en brood nodig.We need milk and bread.
- MarelizeMoet ons ook appels koop, Andries?Should we also buy apples, Andries?
- AndriesJa, appels en pere is goed.Yes, apples and pears are good.
- MarelizeEk sal dit in die mandjie sit.I will put them in the basket.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “and” translations and entries en, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
