Author Archives: Marc

Over de vloer hebben/komen

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to have (regular) visitors / to be a (regular) visitor Click to listen 
[Dutch phrase of the week]

Twoandahalfmen

"Over de vloer hebben/komen" literally translates to "to have/come over the floor". It is used when people visit your place (frequently). 

Examples:
– "Als Frank over de vloer komt, is er niks dan trammelant." 
("When Frank is visiting, there's nothing but trouble.")

– "Ga je mee naar het strand?" – "Nee, ik heb mensen over de vloer." 
("Do you want to go to the beach (with me/us)?" – "No, I have people visiting." Lit.: "Do you go along to the beach?")

– "Peter en Wendy hebben altijd mensen over de vloer." – "Vermoeiend…" 
("Peter and Wendy always have people visiting their place." – "Tiring…")

– "Rosalie en Pascal zijn geweldige mensen! Ik kom daar graag over de vloer!"
("Rosalie and Pascal are wonderful people! I love to go there regularly!")

Expressions:
– "Met de deur in huis vallen": to get down to business at once, to come straight to the point.

Example:
– "Om met de deur in huis te vallen: dat naveltruitje kan echt niet."
("To come straight to the point: that crop top is a no go.")

Related words:
– Komen: to come [verb] [komen, kwam, is/zijn gekomen].
– Over: over [preposition/adverb].

Example:
– "Ziet Frank die scharrel nog?" – "Nee, het is over en uit."
("Is Frank still seeing that flirt?" – "No, it's over and out.")

– Vloer: floor [noun] [de vloer, de vloeren].

Example:
– "De nieuwe keukenvloer is verschrikkelijk lelijk…"
("The new kitchen floor is terribly ugly…")

Trammelant

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trouble, hassle, fuss, fight Click to listen
Trammelant
[noun]
[de tram-me-lant, <no plural>]

There are a lot of Dutch words for 'trouble'. "Trammelant" is one. The use of "trammelant" is quite informal. See Extra for more synonyms. According to Genootschap Onze Taal (an association of devoted Dutch language lovers) "trammelant" originates from the French 'tremulant': trembling. A more formal synonym for "trammelant" would be "moeilijkheden": difficulties…

"Trammelant" can be used to refer to both the sounds or noise that is created by the trouble, and the actual trouble or fight itself. 

Examples:
– "Sander, ik kan al een week niet printen. Wat een trammelant!" 
("Sander, I can't print for a week. What a fuss!")

– "Op de kermis van Tilburg heeft een billenknijper grote trammelant veroorzaakt." 
("On the Tilburg fair, a bottom squeezer has caused big trouble.")

– "Kijk die tortelduifjes…" – "Wacht maar totdat ze getrouwd zijn…niets dan trammelant." 
("Look at those lovebirds…" – "Just wait until they're married…nothing but trouble.")

– "Doe toch niet zo onnozel! Nu lach je, maar straks is er trammelant!" 
("Don't be so stupid! You're laughing now, but there will be trouble later!" Lit.: "Don't do/act so stupid…")

Expressions:
– "In de puree zitten": to be in trouble (lit.: to be in the mashed potatoes).
– "In de penarie zitten": to be in trouble.

Example:
– "Frank is helemaal blut. Hij zit financieel echt in de penarie."
("Frank is completely broke. He's really in trouble financially.")

Extra:
Here's an (incomplete) list of synonyms for "trammelant":
Bonje, ellende, gedoe, gedonder, gelazer, heibel, herrie, kabaal, keet, lawaai, moeilijkheden, narigheid, paniek, rotzooi, ruzie, sores, stennis, stampij, and many more…

Ziekenhuis

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hospital Click to listen
Ziekenhuis
[noun]
[het zie-ken-huis, de zie-ken-hui-zen]

“Ziekenhuis” is composed of “ziek” and “huis“, which respectively translate to “sick/ill” and”house”. Hence, a “ziekenhuis” is literally a house for the sick: a hospital.

Examples:
– “Marc gaat vanmiddag naar het ziekenhuis om zijn liesbreuk te laten onderzoeken.” 
(“This afternoon, Marc will go to the hospital to have his inguinal hernia examined.”)

– “Als je schaamluis hebt, hoef je niet naar het ziekenhuis.” 
(“If you have crabs, you don’t need to go to the hospital.”)

– “Bedankt dat je me naar het ziekenhuis wilde brengen.” – “Graag gedaan.” 
(“Thanks for bringing me to the hospital.” – “You’re welcome.”)

Expressions:
– “Iemand het ziekenhuis in slaan”: to beat somebody up so bad, he has to go to the hospital.

Related words:
– Arts: doctor [noun] [de arts, de artsen].
– Dokter: doctor [noun] [de dokter, de dokters].
– E.H.B.O (Eerste Hulp Bij Ongelukken) / Eerste Hulp: lit.: first aid (in case of accidents), E.R.
– Huis: house, home [noun] [het huis, de huizen].

Example:
– “Je hebt een prachtig huis, Frank, maar ik wil hier niet slapen, ik ga naar huis.”
(“You have a lovely house, Frank, but I don’t want to spend the night here, I’m going home.” Lit.: “…I don’t want to sleep here…”)

– Ziek: sick, ill [adjective].

Example:
– “Frank heeft zich vandaag ziek gemeld vanwege een zware verkoudheid.”
(“Frank has called in sick today due to a severe cold.”)

Graag gedaan

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you’re welcome Click to listen
Graag gedaan
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[graag ge-daan]

“Graag gedaan” is composed of “graag” en “gedaan”, which respectively translate to “gladly” and “done”: gladly done. This phrase is used to reply to a to a “Dankjewel / dankuwel” (thank you). A common English translation for “graag gedaan” would be “you’re welcome“.

Examples:
– “Dankjewel voor je steun.” – “Graag gedaan.” 
(“Thank you for your support.” – “You’re welcome.”)

– “Heb jij ons prieeltje geverfd? Erg mooi!” – “Graag gedaan, schat.” 
(“Did you paint our gazebo? Really beautiful!” – “You’re welcome, dear.”)

– “Bedankt voor je snelle antwoord.” – “Graag gedaan.” 
(“Thanks for your quick reply. ” – “You’re welcome.”)

Expressions:
– “Geen dank”: no need to thank me, you’re welcome, don’t mention it. Lit.: no thanks (needed).

Example:
– “Mag ik je auto vandaag lenen?” – “Vanzelfsprekend.” – “Super, dankjewel!” – “Geen dank.”
(“Can I borrow your car today?” – “Naturally.” – “Great, thanks!” – “Don’t mention it.”)

Related words:
– Doen: to do [verb] [doen, deed, h. gedaan].
– Graag: please, gladly, with pleasure, eager, willingly [adverb].

Example:
– “Kan ik uw bestelling opnemen?” – “Ja, twee fluitjes graag.”
(“Can I
take your order?” – “Yes, two beers please.”)

Liesbreuk

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inguinal hernia/rupture Click to listen
Liesbreuk
[noun]
[de lies-breuk, de lies-breu-ken]

"Liesbreuk" is composed of "lies" and "breuk", which respectively translate to "groin" and "rupture/breach". It is a protrusion of abdominal-cavity contents through the inguinal canal. (see Wikipedia for more info)

Currently, Marc has a "liesbreuk", in its early stage, that is, because his intestines are not hanging out just yet, like in the picture… 🙂

Examples:
– "Ik heb een liesbreuk…" – "Wat?? Ongelofelijk!" 
("I have an inguinal hernia…" – "What?? Unbelievable!")

– "Ik wordt volgende week geopereerd voor mijn liesbreuk." – "Gelukkig heb je geen schaamluis ;-)" 
("I'm having a surgery for my inguinal hernia next week. " – "Luckily you don't have crabs ;-)")

– "Een liesbreukoperatie is zo gepiept, ongeveer 20 minuten." 
("An inguinal hernia operation won't take long, about 20 minutes.")

Expressions:
– "Onder het mes gaan/moeten": (lit.: (to have) to go under the knife) to go into surgery / to need a surgery.

Related words:
– Breuk: breach, rupture, fracture [noun] [de breuk, de breuken].

Example:
– "Na de breuk met zijn vrouw, kreeg Frank weinig steun van zijn vrienden."
("After separating his wife, Frank got little support from his friends." Lit.: "After the breach with his wife…")

– Ingreep: (small) operation [noun] [de ingreep. de ingrepen].
– Lies: groin [noun] [de lies, de liezen].