## Vocabulary | Dutch | English | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | al | for | | vind | find/like | | gaan | to go | | Hoe gaat het? | How's it going | | ook | also | | Ik heb geen... | I don't have... | | Hoe oud ben jij | How old are you | | Mag ik ... ? | Can I get a ... ? | | elkaar | each other | | afrekenen/betaalen | to pay | | voorbeld | example | | om | time [preposition](Linguistic%20Terms.md#Parts%20of%20speech) | | eigenlijk | actually | | bijna | almost | ## Het vs. De (definite articles) 1. **"De"** is used for: - Almost all **plural nouns** (e.g., *de kinderen* - the children). - **Masculine** and **feminine** singular nouns, which are the majority of Dutch nouns - **Professions, people, animals, and plants** - **Abstract concepts** 2. **"Het"** is used for: - Singular **neuter** nouns - **Diminutives** (nouns that are made smaller or cuter, usually ending in *-je*, *-tje*, *-etje*) - Some **languages** and **sports** ### Common tips: - About **80% of Dutch nouns** use **"de."** - Most diminutives are **"het."** - When in doubt, it is often a good idea to guess "de," though exceptions always exist. ## Een (indefinite article) The indefinite article in Dutch, _"een"_, translates to "a" or "an" in English. It is used similarly to English when referring to something unspecific or when mentioning something for the first time. Examples: - Een man (a man) - Een vrouw (a woman) - Een boek (a book) In Dutch, unlike English, the indefinite article does not change based on the noun's gender or whether it starts with a vowel or consonant.