Author Archives: Sander

Kar

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cart, trolley Iconspeaker_3
[noun]
[de kar, de kar-ren]

Kar The word "kar" or the diminutive "karretje" is typically use for relatively small carts or trolleys (shopping, luggage, golf). Bigger carts that are more like wagons can be called a "kar" but are also often called a "wagen". "Wagentje" and "karretje" are more or less interchangeable. "Kar" is also used informally for a "car (automobile)" with the associated verb "karren".

Examples:
– "Pak jij even een boodschappenkarretje, een mandje is niet voldoende denk ik." 
("Will you get us a shopping cart, I don't think a basket will suffice.")

– "Wow, wat een gave kar!!" 
("Wow, what a cool car!!")

– "Man, wat is deze koffer zwaar!" – "Waarom pak je dan geen bagagekarretje sukkel!" 
("Man, this suitcase is heavy!" – "Then why don't you get a luggage trolley you fool!")

 

 

Expressions:
– "De kar trekken": used figuratively for "to lead the effort".

Example:
– "Dit project schiet voor geen meter op!" – "Ja, dat heb je als Frank de kar trekt."
("This project is not progressing one bit!" – "Yup, that's what you get when Frank is leading the effort.")

Related words:
– Karren: to drive [verb, informal] [karde, gekard].

Example:
– "Morgen pakken we onze tassen in en overmorgen karren we naar Zuid-Frankrijk." 
("Tomorrow we'll pack our bags and the day after tomorrow we'll drive to the south of France.")

– Wagentje: cart [noun] [het wagentje, de wagentjes].
– Wagen: wagon, car [noun] [de wagen, de wagens].
– Huifkar: covered wagon [noun] [de huifkar, de huifkarren].
– Paard-en-wagen: horse and carriage [noun] [de paard-en-wagen, de paard-en-wagens].
– Karten: go karting [noun] [het karten, <no plural>]. Here, we also use the verb "karten".

 

Munt

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coin, token, currency, mint Iconspeaker_3
[noun]
[de munt, de mun-ten]

5-guldenmunt88 "Munt" is the general word for "coin" and is also used for coin-shaped tokens; the ones that are typically used at festivals and in clubs. Naturally, small tokens become "muntjes". The place where coins are mint, is called "de munt".

And yes, when ordering mint tea in the Netherlands, ask for "muntthee"!

Examples:
– "Heb jij nog munten, dan haal ik effe bier." 
("Do you have any tokens left? I'll get us some beer." Note the colloquial "effe": even.")

– "Pardon meneer, u laat een munt vallen." 
("Excuse me sir, you've dropped a coin.")

– "Is de euro een sterke of een zwakke munt?" – "Weet ik veel, vraag het me morgen nog maar eens!" 
("So, is the euro a strong or weak currency?" – "What do I know, ask me again tomorrow will you!")

– "Ik vind die euro's maar niks; geef mij maar de oude 5-guldenmunt!" 
("I don't like those euros one bit; I'd rather have the former 5-guilder coin!")

– "Hebt u voor mij een muntje voor de sigarettenautomaat?" – "Ik weet het niet, u ziet er jonger uit dan 16!" – "Echt waar? Nou, dankuwel!!" 
("Can I have a token for the cigarette vending machine?" - "I don't know… you look younger than 16!" -"Really? Well, thank you!" Note that to buy cigarettes from a machine in the Netherlands, you typically need to get a token from the bar/counter which you shouldn't get if you are younger than 16.)

Expressions:
– "Iemand met gelijke munt terugbetalen": to give someone a taste of their own medicine (lit. to pay someone back with equal coin).
– "Munt slaan uit iets": to capitalize on something, to cash in on something.

Related words:
– Geld: money [noun] [het geld, de gelden]. Plural form only used for 'budget' or 'funds'.
– Wisselgeld: change [noun] [het wisselgeld, <no plural>].

Example:
– "Gepast betalen a.u.b.; deze automaat geeft geen wisselgeld terug."
("Please pay the exact amount; this machine does not return change.")

– Muntgeld: cash (in coins) [noun] [het muntgeld, <no plural>].
– Muntje: (small) token [noun] [het muntje, de muntjes].
– Munt(en)automaat: token dispenser [noun] [de automaat, de automaten].
– Uitmuntend: extraordinary, very good, excellent [adverb/adjective].
– Pepermunt: peppermint [noun] [de pepermunt, <no plural>].

Dringend

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urgent, pressing, acute Iconspeaker_3
[adjective/adverb]
[dring-end]

Dringend “Dringend” can be both used as an adjective and an adverb. Apply as you see fit following the examples below. I have underlined typical word combinations with ‘dringend’. The related verbs are “dringen” (to push/press) or “aandringen” (to urge/insist).

Examples:
– “Sander, heb je nu nog geen DWOTD geschreven?” – “Nou rustig maar hoor, zo dringend is het toch niet; iedereen is op vakantie!” 
(“Sander, have you still not written a DWOTD?” – “Take it easy now, it is not that urgent is it; everybody is on holiday!”)

– “Er is dringend behoefte aan water en tenten.” 
(“There is urgent need of water and tents.”)

– “Ik verzoek u vriendelijk, doch dringend, om uw fiets niet voor mijn raam neer te zetten.” 
(“I request you kindly, though urgently, not to stall your bicycle in front of my window.”)

– “Als ik jou was zou ik het met een korreltje zout nemen, bij hem is altijd alles dringend!” 
(“If I were you I wouldn’t take it too seriously, everything he wants is (supposedly) urgent!” Note the expression “iets met een korreltje zout nemen” – take something with a grain pinch of salt.)

– “Sorry, maar de dokter is alleen voor dringende gevallen bereikbaar!” – “Ja maar, ik moet hem dringend spreken!” 
(“I’m sorry but the doctor can only be reached in case of emergencies (“urgent cases”)” – “But, but, I have to speak to him urgently!”)

– “Bij Sander op het werk zitten ze dringend verlegen om extra mankracht, maar er mag niemand aangenomen worden.” 
(“At Sander’s office there is an urgent need of additional manpower, but it is not allowed to hire anybody new.” Note that “aannemen” is to hire a new person on the staff. “Inhuren” would be to temporarily hire somebody from outside.)

Related words:
– Spoed: haste, rush [noun] [de spoed, <no plural>].
– Haast: haste [noun] [de haast, <no plural>].

Example:
– “Haastige spoed is zelden goed!”
(“Haste makes waste!”)

– Dringen: to push/press [verb] [drong, gedrongen].
– Aandringen: to urge/insist [verb] [drong aan, aangedrongen].

Als klap op de vuurpijl

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to crown/top/cap it all Iconspeaker_3
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[als klap op de vuur-pijl]

Vuurwerk A "vuurpijl" literally translates as "fire arrow" and is the general name for the aerial shells that the Dutch typically like to fire off on New Year's eve. The "klap" is what follows the flash; the "bang", the crowning touch. At least that is my guess, explanations differ 🙂 This phrase is typically used to close off a positive sequence of events but you can also use it when things are not going your way.

Examples:
– "Ik heb onlangs een nieuwe auto gewonnen, mag een jaar lang gratis tanken en als klap op de vuurpijl hoef ik niet eens wegenbelasting te betalen!" 
("Recently I have won a new car, I get gas/petrol for free for a year, and to top it all: I don't even have to pay road tax!" Note the verb 'tanken': to fill up, refuel.)

– "Een collegaatje van mij heeft net een promotie gekregen, met haar vriend een huis gekocht en als klap op de vuurpijl gaat ze een jaar op wereldreis!" 
("A colleague of mine just got a promotion, she has bought a house with her boyfriend and to crown it all she is going to travel the world for a year!" Lit. 'wereldreis' is a trip around the world.)

– "Vanochtend had ik een sollicitatiegesprek en ik had al slecht geslapen, en toen bleek mijn pak vies te zijn en als klap op de vuurpijl miste ik ook nog mijn trein!" 
("This morning I had a job interview and I had already slept badly, and then my suit turned out to be dirty and to top it all I also missed my train!")

Related words:
– Knallen: to bang [verb] [knalde, geknald]. Sometimes used as slang for 'to have sex'.
– Vuur: fire [noun] [het vuur, de vuren].
– Vuurwerk: fireworks [noun] [het vuurwerk, <no plural>].

Jeugdsentiment

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positive memories of one's youth, nostalgia for one's youth Click to listen
[noun]
[het jeugd-sen-ti-ment, <no plural>]

Bassie-en-adriaan With 'sentiment' translating as 'sentiment' or 'emotion(s)', the word "jeugdsentiment" tries to cover the emotions that arise when being reminded of positive (defining) childhood experiences, typically those that are commonly shared. Not necessarily 'nostalgic' as in wanting things to be as they were, but thinking back to good times and experiences.

"Jeugdsentiment" is typically used as a one-word expression, covering all the above, saying something like "ah, those were the days". No further words are needed when it is a shared memory! I have some trouble finding a one word English equivalent, but hopefully the examples will help you get the gist.

Examples:
– "Ga je ook naar de nieuwe A-team film?" – "Ja man, tuurlijk; jeugdsentiment!" 
("Will you also go to see the new A-team movie?" – "Yeah (man), of course; remember the original A-team? Those were the days!" Note that 'tuurlijk' is used colloquially for 'natuurlijk'.)

– "Ik kwam laatst bij het opruimen mijn Bassie-en-Adriaan-t-shirt tegen!"  – "Echt waar? Wauw, jeugdsentiment!! Allememaggies!!" 
("I was clearing out stuff the other day and I found my 'Bassie-and-Adriaan' t-shirt!" – "Really? Wow, Bassie and Adriaan were so cool!! Allememaggies!" Read the 'Extra' for more on 'Bassie en Adriaan' and the meaning of 'allememaggies'.)

– "Om jeugdsentiment te kunnen hebben, moet er wel een soort van positieve jeugdherinnering zijn, lijkt mij." 
("In order to experience "jeugdsentiment", I'd say one must have some kind of positive childhood memory…")

– "De emotie is misschien hetzelfde, maar mijn ouders en ik delen niet hetzelfde jeugdsentiment." 
("Perhaps the emotion is identical, but my parents and I do not share the same "jeugdsentiment".)

– "Jij bent volgens mij wel een nostalgisch type, niet waar?"  – "Nou, het is vooral jeugdsentiment hoor…" 
("You come across as quite the nostalgic type, am I right?" - "Well, I have to say it is mainly 'jeugdsentiment'.")

– "Hé, hoe was het om weer in je geboortedorp te zijn?" – "Veel kleiner dan ik me kon herinneren, maar het was echt leuk, jeugdsentiment weet je wel." 
("Hey, what was it like to be back in the village where you were born?"- "A lot smaller than I could rembemer, but it was really nice, 'jeugdsentiment' you know.")

Related words:
– Sentiment: sentiment, emotion(s) [noun] [het sentiment, <no plural>].
– Sentimenteel: sentimental [adverb/adjective].
– Emotioneel: emotional [adverb/adjective].
– Nostalgisch: nostalgic [adjective].
– Herinnering: memory [noun] [de herinnering, de herinneringen].
– Vroeger: the old days, back in the days [adverb/adjective].
– Kindertijd: childhood days [noun] [de kindertijd, <no plural>].

Extra:
"Bassie en Adriaan" were a succesful circus duo with their own TV series. Their biggest success was in the late seventies and eighties. Bassie was the clown and Adriaan the 'acrobaat' (tumbler) and they had wild adventures. Well, they seemed wild to us, but then we were just kids :-) Other characters appearing in the series that drunk men in their thirties may stil impersonate are the crooks "B1" and the always deaf "B2" and their boss the 'Baron'.

Bassie introduced the expression 'allememaggies'; something like 'wow', 'oh my god', 'what now??'. One other famous phrase is "Dat ga ik aan de binnenkant van mijn ogen bekijken"; meaning he went to sleep to dream about it.

The song with which 'Bassie en Adriaan' opened every episode is famous as well, you can listen to it here. Sander's father once took him to a real circus show with Bassie and Adriaan. He bought me a 'Bassie en Adriaan' t-shirt which I wore to school with pride. Aaah, jeugdsentiment!