kyk
To look in Afrikaans is kyk.
The most common way to say 'look' is kyk, which means to try to see. You can use it as an imperative to draw attention to something, such as saying Kyk! to mean 'Look!' If you want to say 'look at' something, you should often pair kyk with the preposition na (kyk na). Aside from the verb, kyk can also refer to physical appearance.
Meaning: to try to see (verb)
Which one should you use?
While kyk is the standard translation, other words may be more appropriate depending on your intent. Use Merk op to mean 'observe', Beskou to mean 'consider' or 'regard' and Sien for a more laid-back way to say 'look' or 'see'. For a quick or casual glance, the colloquial term Loer can be used to mean 'take a peek' or 'have a look'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In the present tense, kyk is used for both singular and plural subjects, such as Ek kyk (I look) and Ons kyk (We look). To form the past participle, add the prefix ge- to the word, resulting in gekyk (looked).
Did you know?
- The word kyk is actually a linguistic cousin to the English word 'keek', which is a dialectal term for a quick glance or a look.
- Afrikaans speakers may use the phrase kyk maar to mean 'just look' or 'go ahead and check', where maar acts as a modal particle to soften the command.
- The term loer is frequently used in South African slang to mean 'checking out' someone they find attractive.
Examples in context
- Jy behoort self te gaan kyk.You should go and have a look yourself.This sentence shows how to use kyk when suggesting someone check something for themselves.Tatoeba #5774797 by CJuser01, translation #10713640 by sundown
- Kyk agter jou.Look behind you.This sentence demonstrates using kyk as an imperative to direct someone's attention behind them.Tatoeba #5507226 by CJuser01, translation #433623 by CK
- Kyk wat ek gevind het.Look what I've found.This sentence shows kyk being used to draw attention to a discovery.Tatoeba #3514894 by rince, translation #3500861 by CK
- Ek wil jou nooi om die prag van hierdie uitsig te beskou.I invite you to contemplate the beauty of this view.
- Kom loer vinnig wat ek hier gekry het!Come take a quick look at what I found here!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anika and Pieter are standing in a garden.
- AnikaKyk, daar is 'n pragtige voël!Look, there is a beautiful bird!
- PieterWaar? Ek kan dit nie sien nie.Where? I cannot see it.
- AnikaKyk daar, bo in die boom.Look there, up in the tree.
- PieterAh, ek sien hom nou. Hy is pragtig.Ah, I see him now. He is beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “look” translations and entries kyk, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kyk, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
