1. clutch [noun] [de kluts, de klutsen] [‘kluts‘]

This translation is very uncommon. In the context of a car’s gearbox, "clutch" is always translated with "koppeling" (lit. coupling). However, there are expressions with "kluts" that are often used, and you should know them.

Expressions:
– "De kluts kwijt raken": to lose one’s bearings.
– "De kluts kwijt zijn": to be in a tizzy / flurry.

Examples:
– "Frank was totaal de kluts kwijt tijdens de vergadering."
("Frank was in a complete flurry/completely lost during the meeting.")

– "Sinds het uit is, ben ik totaal de kluts kwijtgeraakt."
("Since the break-up, I have totally lost my bearings / I’m a total mess.")

2. scrum, chaos [noun] [de kluts, de klutsen] [‘kluts‘]

Examples:
– "De spits kon uit de kluts een doelpunt maken."
("The forward was able to score a goal from the scrum.")

– "Wat een enorme klutsbal! Die had ik nog erin geschoten!"
("What a terrible shot! I could have made that!")

3. drop, touch, splash [noun] [de kluts, de klutsen] [‘kluts‘]

This translation of "kluts" is a bit informal and not often used.

Examples:
– "Wat heb jij in je koffie?" – "Doe maar een flinke kluts melk."
("What do you have in your coffee?" – "A big drop/splash of milk." Lit.: "…just do a big drop of milk.")

Related words:
– "Klutsen": to whip/beat up.

Example:
– "Geklutst ei": beaten egg.

fuss, hassle, ado [noun] [het gedoe, <no plural>] [‘gu-doe‘]

You will also encounter the word "gedoetje" or more often "gedoetjes" (plural diminutive), which is used informally for the small fussy moments 🙂 It requires a bit of experience and exposing to the Dutch language before you know how to use it. But just so you know… 🙂

Examples:
– "Wat een gedoe."
("What a fuss.")

– "Wat een gedoe om niks!"
("What a fuss about nothing!")

– "Wat is er aan de hand?" – "Ah joh, een hoop gedoe om niks!"
("What’s going on?" – "Oh well, much ado about nothing!" The phrase "wat is er aan de hand" can’t be used to ask in general what is going on or happening, but is only used when something is wrong or out of the ordinary. An alternative translation would be "what’s the fuss?")

Related words:
– "Ophef": fuss, ado.

to bleat (goats, sheep), to nag [verb] [mekkerde, gemekkerd] [‘me-ku-run’]

The common translation of mekkeren is "to bleat", but usually in the case of lambs or baby goats. For sheep and goats in general, one uses "blaten".

You can use the verb "mekkeren" informally for "zeuren", but usually jokingly.

Examples:
– "Het lammetje mekkerde onophoudelijk."
("The lamb bleated continuously." Literally: "… non-stoppingly.")

– "Ach wat een lief geitje! Hoor eens hoe het mekkert!"
("Ah, what a sweet little goat! Listen to it bleating!" Mind that "eens" is used here to lessen the command form a bit.)

– "Nou niet zo mekkeren, je hebt gisteren al snoep gehad!"
(<mother to child:> "Stop nagging, you alread got candy yesterday!" Literally: "Now don’t bleat like that,…")

 Related words:
– "Blaten": to bleat, to baa, or to talk nonsense.
– "Zeuren": to nag, complain, whine.
– "Zaniken": less common synonym for "zeuren".

to grumble, to grouse, to complain [verb] [mopperde, gemopperd] [‘mo-pu-run’]

This verb has nothing to do with DWOTD
219. Mop, but is inspired by yesterday’s "
zeur".
Somebody who "moppers" is called a "mopperaar", but mostly you will
hear "mopperkont", which translates to something like "grumble butt" 🙂

Examples:
– "Ik word niet goed van opa! De hele dag door niets anders dan mopperen!"
("Grandpa
is driving me crazy! All day long nothing but grumbling!" Literally: "I
am becoming not well because of grandpa." The expression "niet goed
worden van" is very common. Without a subject it needs the ever tricky
"er": "Ik word er niet goed van": "It is driving me crazy" or "I have
had it (with it)".)

– "Wat zit je te mopperen? Is het weer niet goed?"
("What are you grumbling about? Is it once again not to your liking?")

– "De chef moppert de hele dag op zijn personeel."
("The manager
grumbles at his personnel all day." The word "chef" is used for
managers in production environments, including supermarkets and such.)

Related words:
– "Mopperkont": grumbler/grouch, somebody who complains a lot.
– "Mopperpot": like "mopperkont" but less common.