2.5 KiB
2.5 KiB
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 |
| eigenlijk | actually |
| bijna | almost |
Het vs. De (definite articles)
-
"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
-
"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.