hoe gaan jou dag
/ɦu ˈχɑːn jœu̯ daχ/word by word
To say 'how is your day' in Afrikaans, use hoe gaan jou dag.
This phrase is a question used to ask someone how their day has been so far.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'how goes your day'.
Which one should you use?
While hoe gaan dit met jou (how is it going with you) is a common greeting, hoe gaan jou dag specifically focuses on the quality of the day itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word jou is the possessive adjective for 'your' used with singular subjects.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɦu ˈχɑːn jœu̯ daχ/
When do people say it?
A common natural response to this question is Dit gaan goed, dankie (It is going well, thank you).
Did you know?
- The word dag in Afrikaans is a close relative of the English word 'day', as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰegʷʰ-, which meant 'to burn' or 'to illuminate'.
- While hoe gaan jou dag asks about the day, the word dag can also be used on its own as a shorthand for 'goodbye' in certain contexts.
- In Afrikaans, the concept of 'going' is used to describe the state of a day, whereas English speakers typically use the verb 'to be'.
Examples in context
- Hoe gaan dit met jou vandag?How is your day today?
- Hoe gaan jou dag tot nou toe?How is your day going so far?
- Ek wil net vra, hoe gaan jou dag?I just want to ask, how is your day?
Example conversation
Anika calls Andries on the phone during his lunch break.
- AnikaHallo Andries, hoe gaan jou dag?Hello Andries, how is your day?
- AndriesDit gaan goed, dankie, Anika.It is going well, thank you, Anika.
- AnikaEk is bly om dit te hoor.I am glad to hear that.
- AndriesEn hoe gaan dit met jou?And how is it going with you?
