by Clarissa | Apr 18, 2018 | dutch life, writing
P is for pet, plotseling and pink. Pet is a good word as it has a completely different meaning in Dutch to English. It means cap, as in the type you wear on your head. So you can have a pet on your head! Plotseling means suddenly. It has such a nice sound! And pink is...
by Clarissa | Apr 17, 2018 | dutch life, writing |
O is for oma, opa and oksel. Oma is granny and opa is grandpa, so very useful words to know. I think these were one of the first words both my parents and my parents-in-law learnt in Dutch. Oksel is armpit, which is a word I find amusing. In both languages. At least...
by Clarissa | Apr 16, 2018 | dutch life, writing
N is for natuurlijk. This means naturally, or of course. It is a standard response to questions and often the na at the beginning is missed off.
by Clarissa | Apr 14, 2018 | dutch life, writing
M is for molen and morgen Molen is windmill, of which there are many here. The Netherlands is covered with windmills, or the old and new varieties. Some are for power production – as the country is so flat this is an ideal place to have them. But traditionally...
by Clarissa | Apr 13, 2018 | dutch life, writing |
L is for leuk or lekker Both of these words are highly used here. Leuk means nice or good, and is a very handy response to almost everything. “What did you do at the weekend?” “Oh, leuk!” Lekker is yummy, so if you eat something good...
by Clarissa | Apr 12, 2018 | dutch life, writing
K is for klomp and kermis What would the Netherlands be without its klompen, or clogs. You can see them in all the tourist shops – either wooden or a fluffy slipper alternative. And I have once spotted someone in the supermarket wearing them. But at least in...
by Clarissa | Apr 11, 2018 | dutch life, writing
J is for jammer Jammer literally means shame, but is used to express sympathy when something bad happens to someone else. This is a word that is now my first reaction when in this situation, and I have to think hard about an English alternative each time.
by Clarissa | Apr 10, 2018 | dutch life, writing
I is for ietsje and inbergering Ietsje is a cute little word that means a small thing. I like using it. Inbergering is the exam that most immigrants from outside the EU have to take as part of their integration into Dutch society. It covers language skills, knowledge...
by Clarissa | Apr 9, 2018 | dutch life, writing
H is for hapjes, hoeften and helaas pindakaas Hapjes are bites. So when you take a mouthful of your food it’s called a hapje. And canapes are also called hapjes. It’s used in Dutch much more than I’d expect. Hoeften is to have, but it can only be...
by Clarissa | Apr 7, 2018 | dutch life, writing |
G is for geen, gezellig, groetjes, and groentjes Geen is the opposite of a (I like to think of it as na) and as I’ve written before it’s a word I really like. Gezellig means cosy, but is used all the time to describe any occasion that is fun really. Though...
