waar
/vɑːr/
The English word "where" is translated into Afrikaans as waar.
waar is an adverb used to ask about or refer to the place or location of something.
Meaning: at or in what place (adv)
How does it change in a sentence?
When using "where" as a relative pronoun to connect parts of a sentence, Afrikaans often uses specific compound forms instead of just waar. Use waarop to mean "on which" or "at which", waarin to mean "in which" and waarmee to mean "with which".
How do you pronounce it?
/vɑːr/
Did you know?
- Depending on the context and pronunciation, waar can also refer to 'goods' or 'merchandise', coming from a different root than the one used for 'where'.
- The word waar is a homonym in Afrikaans. While it asks 'where', it also means 'true', as in the phrase waar is dit? which can mean either 'where is it?' or 'is that true?'
- Because of its shared history with Dutch, the Afrikaans waar used for 'where' and the waar meaning 'true' actually come from two completely different ancient roots.
Examples in context
- Waar is die bank?Where is the bank?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a bank using waar.Tatoeba #1054514 by siener, translation #48623 by CK
- Waar is die skool?Where is the school?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a school using waar.Tatoeba #1054520 by siener, translation #1054512 by Eldad
- Waar woon jou ouma?Where does your grandmother live?This sentence is useful for asking where a grandmother lives using waar.Tatoeba #5897624 by CJuser01, translation #687620 by lukaszpp
- Waar is die toilet?Where is the restroom?
- Waar is die biblioteek?Where is the library?
- Mag ek asseblief uitvind waar die bank is?May I kindly find out where the bank is?
- Waar's die hond?Where is the dog?
- Waar is die beste eetplek in die omgewing?Where is the best restaurant around here?
- 48 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Johan and Nicola are looking for the car keys.
- JohanNicola, waar is die sleutels?Nicola, where are the keys?
- NicolaEk weet nie waar hulle is nie.I don't know where they are.
- JohanHet jy gekyk waar jy hulle neergesit het?Did you look where you put them down?
- NicolaJa, maar ek kan nie sien waar is hulle nie.Yes, but I cannot see where they are.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “where” translations and entries waar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries waar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
