10 Typical Dutch Expressions

August 4, 2015August 4, 2015 Bela2 Comments

by Gabriela Ivanova

Ten typical Dutch expressions that will serve you well when working with managers or when you are a one of them yourself.

Komt het gelegen? – Is it convenient?

This is the very gentle way to opening the conversation with somebody who is busy. The other person might answer: Waar gaat het over?- What is it about?

Stoor ik? – Am I disturbing you?

You are very polite when you use this question, when two or more people are talking and you have to interrupt. The other person might answer: Zeg het maar!- Go ahead!

Je hebt gelijk! – You are right!

In order to express a belief that the other person is right and this gives you also an opening to modify the other person’s opinion, adding your own arguments: Je hebt gelijk, maar…- You are right, but…

Afgesproken! – It is a deal!

In business people use it when they have made a serious deal in which both parties commitment is needed. This word is almost as much worth as the contract.

Ik hoor het graag – I would like to hear it

Many people use this sentence to finish an email, when they want you to give a reply.

Klopt dat?- Is that right?

Many people will end a question with this expression in order not to insult the other person in case the assumption it not right: Ik hoor dat je een andere baan zoekt, klopt dat?- I have heard you are looking for another job, is this right?

Wat is er aan de hand? – What is the matter?

Daar word ik niet blij van – I am not getting any kicks out of it

Executives and all other person who need to express themselves very diplomatically, use this phrase to express that they do not really agree with a situation.

Daar zitten wij niet op te wachten – We are not waiting for this

The phrase implies that you are not happy with it.

Dat is koffiedik kijken- This is like studying coffee grounds

This phrase will help you to reject a plan that makes you feel uncertain. You would say also: I haven’t got a crystal ball.

Dutch Verbs with “met”

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 Bela2 Comments

by Gabriela Ivanova

zich bemoeien met – to interfere with
zich bezighouden met – to be occupied with
dwepen met – to be mad about
feliciteren met – to congratulate on
gelijkstaan met – to be on a par with, to be equal to
overeenkomen met – to correspond to/ with, to agree with
overeenstemmen met – to be in agreement with
spotten met – to mock at
trouwen met – to marry
verbinden met – to link to
verenigen met – to unite with, to join with
vergelijken met – to compare with
volstaan met – to suffice, to be sufficient, enough
het eens zijn met – to agree with

Dutch verbs with “in”

July 17, 2015July 17, 2015 BelaLeave a comment

by Gabriela Ivanova

Group 3 – verbs that go together with “in”

aankomen in – to arrive in
berusten in – to resign oneself on
gelijk hebben in – to be right about
geloven in – to believe in
slagen in – to succeed at/ in
zich specialiseren in- to specialize in
trek zin/ hebben in- to feel like (…doing something)
veranderen in – to change into
zich verdiepen in – to be engrossed in
volharden in – to persist in, to persevere
voorzien in – to supply, to meet (the need, the requirements)

Asking for Directions

June 11, 2015June 11, 2015 BelaLeave a comment

Happy to introduce to you our new Citywordhunt’s contributor Gabriela Ivanova. Gabi is a dear friend of mine who currently studies Dutch and she will be sharing with you her experience of learning this interesting language:)! Welcome to the team, Gabi!

Before you leave, it is always a good idea to find out where your desired destination is located.

het noorden– The North
het zuiden– The South
het oosten– The East
het westen– The West
Den Haag liegt in het westen– The Hague is in the West

het station– the train station
de taxistandplaats– the taxi stand
het metrostation– the underground station
de bushalte– the bus station
het vliegveld– the airport
de haven– the harbour
het hotel– the hotel
de kerk– the church
het postkantoor– the post office
de markt– the market
het museum– the museum
het park– the park
de windstreken– the wind directions
Waar is …..?– Where is…?
Waar is de Sint Nicolaaskerk?– Where is the Saint Nicholas church?

komen– to come
Hoe kom ik….?.- How do I get to?
Hoe kom ik in het centrum?– How do I go to the centre?

voor– before
na- after
bij– by
op– on
in– in
links– left
rechts-right
rechtdoor– straight on
afslaan– to turn
U gaat voor het park rechtsaf– Before the park turn to the right
U gaat na het park linksaf– After the park turn to the left
U loop rechtdoor tot u een kerk ziet– You walk straight on until you see a church
Sla linksaf– Turn to the left
Na de kerk gaat u rechtsaf– After the church you go to the right

naar– to
Hoe kom ik naar het central station?- How do I get to the Central Station
Morgen ga ik naar het strand– Tomorrow I am going to the beach
Laten we naar Den Haag gaan– Let’’s go to the Hauge

eerst– first
dan – then
daarna– after that
U gaat eerst rechtdoor, dan neemt u de eerst straat rechts en daarna steekt u de brug over– first you go straight ahead, then you take first street on the right and after that you cross the bridge

Ik bent de weg kwijt – I have lost my way
Ik ga vanmiddag naar Amsterdam– I am going to Amsterdam this afternoon
Mij dochter gaat met de bus naar school– My daughter goes to school by bus
Volgende maand vlieg ik naar Londen– I am flying to London next month

Vermogen – ability

April 30, 2015 BelaLeave a comment

uitblinken – to outshine, to exceed / blink uit – blonk uit – uitgeblonken/
het vermogen – ability, capacity

Expressions:
doen wat in je vermogen ligt – do what you can
naar mijn beste vermogen (=zo goed als ik kan) – to my best ability
veel vermogen – to be able to do much
niets vermogen tegen – be powerless against
verstandelijke vermogens– intellectual faculties
op vol vermogen – at full power
een dikke pil (=een dik boek) – thick book

een boek in één keer uitlezen – to read out a book in one go
Ik lees graag, zowel fictie als non-fictie. – I like reading , both fiction and non-fiction.