How to say like in Afrikaans: hou van– part 3 (hou and van on their own)

📘 Who this is for: CAPS, IEB, Cambridge students (FAL and SAL Grades 7–12) and adult Afrikaans learners.

Understand the meanings of “hou” and “van” separately in Afrikaans, including how they are used outside the phrase “hou van.” This lesson also introduces related expressions and shows how meaning changes depending on context and word combinations.

When "hou" and "van" are use on their own.

"Hou" and "van" mean totally different things if they aren't used with each other in a sentence.

Using "hou" on its own

When "hou" is used in a sentence with "van" means "hold" or "keep."

Example 1

He holds the money.
Hy hou die geld vas.

Example 2

He holds his hat.
Hy hou sy hoet vas.

As you can see the Afrikaans and English sentences look similar. Except for the word "vas" at the end.

What does "vas" mean.

Unlike English you don't say we "hold" something/ someone without also saying how you hold something.

The word ‘vas’ is used to show that someone is holding someone/something in place.

"Vas" means something like this :

• fastened
• fixed (fixed to something)
• secure
• stuck

Using "hou" without "vas"

Because Afrikaans has one word for both "hold" and "keep." So what do I say if  I wanted to keep the money (I am not giving it away or I am not spending it right now) instead of just holding on to it?

If you want to say you want to keep something in Afrikaans you say it like you would in English without the "vas" at the end.

Example 2 

I keep the money.

Ek hou die geld.

Because we don't have the word "vas" in this sentence it means that we keep the money.

Example 3

I will keep the money until the man returns.

Ek sal die geld hou tot dat die man terug kom.

Just like English you can show that you keep the object for a certain time. In this case untill the man returns.

Example 4

I keep the man awake.
Ek hou die man wakker.

In this example we see "hou" being used to keep someone is a specific condition: awake.

Example 5

I hold the book in my hand.

Ek hou die book in my hand.

In this example "hou" is used to show where you are holding something: in your hand.

Using "van" on its own

When "van" is used in a sentence with "hou" means "of" or "from."

Example 1

The man comes from Cape Town.

Die man kom van Kaapstad.

In this example "van" is used to show where someone is from.

Example 2

The colour of the car is red.
Die kleur van die kar is rooi.

In this example "van" is used to show the relationship between two things: the car and its colour.

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References.

Lutrin, B. (1999). Afrikaans handbook & study guide: An English student’s guide to Afrikaans. Sandton: Berlut Books.

de Jonge, A. (n.d.). Leer Afrikaans sonder om jou rieme styf te loop. Graffiti Boeke.

De Klerk, P. F., Esterhuizen, B. J., Hammann, H. J. R., & Neethling, E. L. (1986). Afrikaans my taal. Maskew Miller Longman.

Nel, M. (2019). Afrikaans+: Everything you need to obtain top marks. LAPA Uitgewers.

The majority of this course content is based on the author’s experience, practice, and self-study.

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