The Dutch language, spoken by over 23 million people primarily in the Netherlands and Belgium, is known for its rich expressions and idiomatic phrases. Dutch phrases often reflect the culture, history, and humor of the Dutch people. Understanding these phrases can provide deeper insights into the language and culture. Whether you’re planning a trip to the Netherlands, learning Dutch, or just curious, here are some of the most famous phrases in the Dutch language.
Learning basic Dutch phrases can be incredibly useful for daily interactions. Here are some of the most common ones:
1. Hallo – Hello
A universal greeting used in most situations.
2. Goedemorgen – Good morning
A polite way to greet someone in the morning.
3. Goedenavond – Good evening
Used to greet someone in the evening.
4. Hoe gaat het? – How are you?
A common way to ask about someone’s well-being.
5. Dank je wel – Thank you very much
A polite way to express gratitude.
6. Tot ziens – Goodbye
A common way to say goodbye.
7. Alstublieft – Please
Used when making a polite request.
8. Ja – Yes
A simple affirmation.
9. Nee – No
A simple negation.
Dutch idioms and expressions often reflect the unique culture and humor of the Dutch people. Here are some of the most famous ones:
1. Met de deur in huis vallen – To fall with the door into the house
Meaning: To get straight to the point.
2. Een kat in de zak kopen – To buy a cat in a bag
Meaning: To buy something without inspecting it first.
3. De koe bij de horens vatten – To take the cow by the horns
Meaning: To tackle a problem head-on.
4. Het is koek en ei – It is cake and egg
Meaning: Everything is fine.
5. De hond in de pot vinden – To find the dog in the pot
Meaning: To arrive too late for dinner.
6. Iets op je kerfstok hebben – To have something on your notched stick
Meaning: To have a criminal record or to have done something wrong.
7. Voor een appel en een ei – For an apple and an egg
Meaning: Very cheaply.
8. Geen blad voor de mond nemen – Not to take a leaf before the mouth
Meaning: To speak plainly or bluntly.
9. Het regent pijpenstelen – It’s raining pipe stems
Meaning: It’s raining heavily.
10. Door de mand vallen – To fall through the basket
Meaning: To be exposed as a fraud.
Dutch culture places a strong emphasis on food and drink, and this is reflected in many common expressions:
1. De kaas niet van het brood laten eten – Not letting the cheese be eaten off your bread
Meaning: Not letting oneself be taken advantage of.
2. Dat is andere koek – That is another cake
Meaning: That is a different matter entirely.
3. Water bij de wijn doen – To add water to the wine
Meaning: To compromise.
4. Het is een eitje – It is an egg
Meaning: It is very easy.
5. Het neusje van de zalm – The little nose of the salmon
Meaning: The best part.
6. Voor spek en bonen meedoen – To participate for bacon and beans
Meaning: To participate without having an impact.
The Dutch often talk about the weather, and there are many expressions related to it:
1. Onweer in de lucht – Thunderstorm in the air
Meaning: Tension is building up.
2. Er is geen vuiltje aan de lucht – There is no speck of dust in the air
Meaning: There is nothing to worry about.
3. Na regen komt zonneschijn – After rain comes sunshine
Meaning: After difficult times, good times will follow.
4. Een storm in een glas water – A storm in a glass of water
Meaning: Making a big deal out of nothing.
5. Over koetjes en kalfjes praten – To talk about little cows and calves
Meaning: To make small talk.
Animals often appear in Dutch expressions, reflecting their importance in Dutch culture:
1. Als twee honden vechten om een been, loopt de derde ermee heen – When two dogs fight over a bone, the third one runs away with it
Meaning: When two people fight, a third can benefit.
2. De kat uit de boom kijken – To watch the cat out of the tree
Meaning: To wait and see how things develop before taking action.
3. Als de kat van huis is, dansen de muizen op tafel – When the cat is away, the mice dance on the table
Meaning: People will misbehave when their authority figure is not around.
4. Hoge bomen vangen veel wind – Tall trees catch a lot of wind
Meaning: Important people attract a lot of criticism.
5. Een ezel stoot zich in het gemeen geen twee keer aan dezelfde steen – A donkey doesn’t bump into the same stone twice
Meaning: A fool makes the same mistake twice.
6. De aap komt uit de mouw – The monkey comes out of the sleeve
Meaning: The truth comes out.
The Dutch have many expressions that reflect their work ethic and attitudes towards effort:
1. Hard werken loont – Hard work pays off
Meaning: Effort and diligence lead to success.
2. De handen uit de mouwen steken – To stick the hands out of the sleeves
Meaning: To get to work.
3. De mouwen opstropen – To roll up the sleeves
Meaning: To prepare to work hard.
4. Iets uit de grond stampen – To stamp something out of the ground
Meaning: To create something quickly and from scratch.
5. Zich uit de naad werken – To work oneself out of the seam
Meaning: To work extremely hard.
6. Het roer omgooien – To turn the rudder
Meaning: To change direction or strategy.
Emotions are an integral part of human experience, and the Dutch language has many ways to express them:
1. In de zevende hemel zijn – To be in the seventh heaven
Meaning: To be extremely happy.
2. Met de gebakken peren zitten – To sit with the baked pears
Meaning: To face the consequences.
3. Een brok in de keel hebben – To have a lump in the throat
Meaning: To be choked with emotion.
4. Het hart op de tong hebben – To have the heart on the tongue
Meaning: To speak openly about one’s feelings.
5. Boos zijn als een spin – To be as angry as a spider
Meaning: To be very angry.
6. Iets door de vingers zien – To see something through the fingers
Meaning: To overlook a mistake.
7. Iemand op handen dragen – To carry someone on hands
Meaning: To adore someone.
Dutch culture values wisdom and practical advice, which is reflected in many expressions:
1. Spreken is zilver, zwijgen is goud – Speaking is silver, silence is gold
Meaning: Sometimes it’s better to remain silent.
2. Wie het kleine niet eert, is het grote niet weerd – He who does not honor the small, is not worthy of the big
Meaning: Appreciate the small things in life.
3. De appel valt niet ver van de boom – The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Meaning: Children often resemble their parents.
4. Beter één vogel in de hand dan tien in de lucht – Better one bird in the hand than ten in the air
Meaning: It’s better to be content with what you have than to risk everything for more.
5. Wie een kuil graaft voor een ander, valt er zelf in – He who digs a pit for another, falls into it himself
Meaning: Harm intended for others often comes back to the perpetrator.
6. Oefening baart kunst – Practice makes perfect
Meaning: Consistent practice leads to improvement.
Time is a universal concept, and the Dutch have several unique ways to talk about it:
1. Tijd is geld – Time is money
Meaning: Time is valuable.
2. Het is vijf voor twaalf – It is five to twelve
Meaning: It’s almost too late to act.
3. Voor dag en dauw – Before day and dew
Meaning: Very early in the morning.
4. Met de tijd meegaan – To go with the times
Meaning: To adapt to modern trends and changes.
5. In een oogwenk – In the blink of an eye
Meaning: Very quickly.
Relationships are an essential part of life, and Dutch expressions reflect their complexity and importance:
1. Twee handen op één buik – Two hands on one belly
Meaning: Two people who are very close and always agree.
2. Het klikt tussen ons – It clicks between us
Meaning: We get along very well.
3. De liefde van de man gaat door de maag – The love of the man goes through the stomach
Meaning: The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.
4. Iemand de hand boven het hoofd houden – To hold someone the hand above the head
Meaning: To protect or defend someone.
5. Iemand in de watten leggen – To lay someone in the cotton wool
Meaning: To pamper someone.
The Dutch language is rich with expressions and idioms that offer a glimpse into the culture and values of the Dutch people. From basic greetings to complex idiomatic phrases, these expressions are an essential part of everyday communication. By learning and using these famous Dutch phrases, you can not only improve your language skills but also gain a deeper appreciation of Dutch culture. Whether you’re conversing with a native speaker or simply exploring the language, these phrases will undoubtedly enhance your experience.
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