gaan weg
/ˈχɑːn vɛχ/word by word
To go away in Afrikaans is to say gaan weg.
The phrase gaan weg is used when a person or animal departs or leaves a place. If you are talking about a physical object or an abstract sensation, such as a pain, disappearing or being removed, use the word verwyder instead.
Meaning: to depart or leave a place (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb gaan (to go) and the adverb weg (away).
Which one should you use?
While gaan weg describes the act of departing, verwyder is the appropriate choice when a thing or a sensation is 'going away' or being removed.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using Gaan weg! as a direct command is blunt and can be perceived as rude or angry, much like the English 'Go away!' To contribute to a more polite tone, you can add asseblief (please) to your sentence.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the present tense, the phrase remains gaan weg for the first, second and third person singular (for example, ek gaan weg, jy gaan weg, hy gaan weg). The past tense of gaan weg is formed using the auxiliary verb het and the past participle weggegaan.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈχɑːn vɛχ/
Did you know?
- In certain colloquial contexts, gaan weg! can be used as an expression of disbelief, similar to saying 'get out of here!' or 'no way!' in English.
- The verb gaan is a linguistic hybrid, having evolved from a fusion of two different Proto-Germanic roots, *gāną and *ganganą.
- The word gaan shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'gang', which originally meant to walk or go.
Examples in context
- Gaan weg! Ek wil alleen wees.Go away! I want to be alone.
- Jy moet nou gaan weg.You must go away now.
- Gaan weg van my!Go away from me!
- Die hond gaan weg.The dog goes away.
Example conversation
Stefan is annoyed by a persistent fly in the room.
- StefanGaan weg, klein vlieg!Go away, little fly!
- LiezelStefan, kan jy hom net vang?Stefan, can't you just catch it?
- StefanNee, ek wil net hê hy moet gaan weg.No, I just want it to go away.
- LiezelMoenie so kwaad word nie.Don't get so angry.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (gaan, weg) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gaan, weg, CC BY-SA 4.0.
