dit
/dət/
The English word "it" is translated to Afrikaans as dit.
dit is used as a pronoun to refer to an inanimate thing.
Meaning: subject, inanimate thing (pron)
How does it change in a sentence?
In Afrikaans, dit is used for both the subject and the object of a sentence when referring to an inanimate thing.
How do you pronounce it?
/dət/
Did you know?
- In English, 'it' is often a placeholder, but in Afrikaans, using dit to refer to a person can shift the word from a simple pronoun to a term of profound disrespect. While an English speaker might use 'it' in a strictly grammatical sense, doing so in Afrikaans can be perceived as a deliberate attempt to dehumanize the subject.
- While dit refers to inanimate objects, referring to a baby or a small pet as dit is common and not considered dehumanizing.
- While learners are taught that dit means 'it', the phrase dit is maar so uses the word to express a specific cultural philosophy of resignation. It is used more as an expression of 'that is the way of the world' than as a literal description of a singular object.
Examples in context
- Kan jy dit spel?Can you spell it out?This sentence shows how to use dit when asking to spell something.Tatoeba #5868894 by CJuser01, translation #10734206 by megamanenm
- Hoe kan dit wees?How could it be?This sentence demonstrates using dit in a question about a state of being.Tatoeba #2364467 by siener, translation #1931911 by Spamster
- Ek gee dit terug.I'm giving it back.This sentence illustrates using dit as the object of a sentence.Tatoeba #2783919 by Diablofire, translation #2548731 by CK
- 180 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Liezel and Pieter are looking at a strange object on the table.
- LiezelWat is dit?What is it?
- PieterEk weet nie wat dit is nie.I don't know what it is.
- LiezelSien jy dit ook?Do you see it too?
- PieterJa, dit lyk baie oud.Yes, it looks very old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “it” translations and entries dit, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
