haai, hoe gaan dit?
/ɦɑːi ɦu ˈχɑːn dət/word by word
The English phrase 'hi, how are you?' is translated into Afrikaans as haai, hoe gaan dit?
This phrase is a common greeting used to start a conversation and ask about a person's well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The component hoe gaan dit? literally translates to 'how goes it?'
Which one should you use?
You can also use Hallo, hoe gaan dit met jou? to say 'Hello, how are you?' or Hi, hoe gaan dit? for a more casual 'Hi, how are you?'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more standard or slightly more formal start, you can use Hallo. In strictly formal situations, such as addressing someone with high respect, use Goeiedag, hoe gaan dit met u? The use of u instead of the informal jy demonstrates this higher level of formality and respect.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify 'how are you' more directly, you can add met jou (with you) to the end of the phrase, as in hoe gaan dit met jou?
How do you pronounce it?
/ɦɑːi ɦu ˈχɑːn dət/
When do people say it?
A common and natural response to hoe gaan dit? is Goed, dankie, which means 'Good, thanks.'
Did you know?
- The word haai in Afrikaans is a homonym that also means 'shark'.
- Because Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch, someone speaking hoe gaan dit? would likely be understood by a Dutch speaker, though the pronunciation differs.
- In some traditional South African contexts, a greeting like hoe gaan dit? may be accompanied by a slight nod or a handshake, but avoid overly exuberant gestures in formal settings.
Examples in context
- Haai, hoe gaan dit?Hi, how are you?
- Ek sê net haai, hoe gaan dit?I'm just saying hi, how are you?
