Author Archives: Sander

Kom op zeg!

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come on! Click to listen
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[kom op zeg!]

Komopzeg Just as the English 'come on', there are two ways one can use the phrase "kom op". With the emphasis on 'kom' it can be used to encourage somebody. When the emphasis is on 'op' it can be used to show indignation/disagreement in the way shown in the examples below. It is common to add 'zeg': kom op zeg!

Examples:
– "Kom op zeg, dit kun je niet menen!" 
("Come on, you can't be serious!" Often you will also hear 'dit/dat meen je niet!')

– "Kom op zeg, dat is geen voetbal meer, dat lijkt meer op kickboksen!" 
("Come on, that's not football/soccer anymore, that's more like kickboxing!')

– "En dan zegt hij tegen mij dat ik degene ben die niet luistert; kom op zeg!" 
("And then the tells me that I'm the one who does not listen, come on!!")

– "Kom op zeg, doe even normaal, het is nergens voor nodig om iemand zo uit te foeteren." 
("Come on, get yourself together, it is completely unnecessary to tell somebody off like that.")

– "Nee, dat doe ik niet. Kom op zeg, het is jouw schuld dat we in deze situatie terecht zijn gekomen!" 
("No, I won't do that. Come on, it is your fault that we ended up in this situation!")

– "Ik kan me best voorstellen dat het moeilijk is, maar kom op zeg, met klagen alleen bereik je niks!" 
("I can well imagine that is must be difficult, but come on, you will not get anywhere by just complaining." The verb 'bereiken' is both used for reaching a destination and achieving a goal.)

Related words:
– Verontwaardiging: indignation [noun] [de verontwaardiging, <no plural>].
– Verbazing: surprise, amazement, astonishment [noun] [de verbazing, <no plural>].
– Hoofdschudden: shaking of the head [noun] [het hoofdschudden, <no plural>].

Ravage

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huge mess, ravage(s), debris Click to listen
[noun]
[de ra-va-ge, de ra-va-ges]

DomUtrecht "Ravage" is the mess resulting from destruction or demolition. Typically it is also used colloquially for a huge (physical) mess in general. Once a bookshelf topped over in my apartment; the result was a 'ravage'. So not necessarily there is real debris involved 🙂

Note that in 'ravage' the 'g' is pronounced as 'zj', as is the case with "lekkage".

Examples:
– "Moet je dat zien, wat een ravage!" – "Nou, ik vind het wel meevallen hoor." 
("Look at that, what an enormous mess!" – "Well, I don't think it's that bad actually.")

– "De inbrekers hebben niet alleen mijn sieraden gestolen, ze hebben ook nog eens een enorme ravage veroorzaakt!" 
("Not only did the burglars steal my jewelry, they also created a terrible mess!")

– "Na het bombardement was het centrum van de stad één grote ravage." 
("After the bombing, the city centre was in pieces." Lit. 'one big mess'. The word 'één' is emphasized to indicate that it was 'completely' in pieces.)

– "Toen de supporters het Museumplein in Amsterdam verlieten na de verloren finale, lieten zij een enorme ravage achter." 
("When the supporters left the Museumplein in Amsterdam after the lost final, they left behind a huge mess.")

Related words:
– Puin: debris [noun] [het puin, <no plural>].
– Puinhoop: heap of rubble [noun] [de puinhoop, de puinhopen].
– Troep/zooi/bende: mess [noun] [de troep/zooi/bende, <no plural>].
– Chaos: chaos [noun] [de chaos, <no plural>].
– Opruimen: to clear out, to clean up (mess) [verb] [ruimde op, opgeruimd].
– Puinruimen: to sort things out, to clean up the mess [verb] [ruimde puin, puingeruimd].

Vermoeiend

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tiring, wearying, tiresome Click to listen
[adjective]
[ver-moei-end]

4daagse "Vermoeiend" is related to "moe": tired. The verb is "vermoeien": to tire (out), to fatigue. You can also use "vermoeiend" when something is mentally tiring, i.e. tiresome, numbing, boring etc.

Examples:
– "Hoe was de vergadering?" – "O, je wilt het niet weten, zó vermoeiend!" 
("How was the (work) meeting?" – "Oh, you don't want to know, so tiresome!")

– "Ik vermoei me niet met dat soort ellenlange verhalen; ik ga liever naar de film!" 
("I don't wear myself out with such neverending stories; I'd rather go to the movies!")

– "De deelname aan de Nijmeegse Vierdaagse is vermoeiend, maar zeker ook bevredigend, tenminste, als je de finish haalt :-)" 
("Participation to the "Nijmeegse Vierdaagse" is tiring, but certainly also gratifying, if you reach the finish line that is :-)")

– "Houdt dat mens nooit op met praten, dit is zo vermoeiend!" 
("Will that woman never stop talking, this is so tiresome!" Note the use of "dat mens": derogatory for "that woman" although "mens" translates as 'human' in general.)

Related words:
– Afmatten: to tire out, to fatigue [verb] [matte af, afgemat]. "Afmatten" is more tiring than "vermoeien" 🙂
– Afmattend: tiring, knackering [adjective].
– Moe: tired [adjective].
– Uitgeput: exhausted [adjective].

Printen

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to print (out) Click to listen
[verb]
[prin-ten, print-te, ge-print]

Printer "Printen" is typically used when printing computer generated content. You will also hear the verb "uitdraaien" and the noun "uitdraai" (print-out), as well as "uitprinten" (to print out). The latter emphasizes that
there is some kind of paper output, as opposed to for example printing
to PDF.

The general Dutch word for "to print (out/off)" is "afdrukken" which you will for example use in relation to photographs.

As the Dutch are kings and queens of diminutives take note of the noun "printje" (informal), which translates as "print-out".

Examples:
– "Vergeet niet de routebeschrijving uit te printen!" 
("Don't forget to print out the directions!")

– "Man, je print toch geen document uit van 200 pagina's als het zo druk is op kantoor?!" 
("Oh man… who prints a 200 page document when it is this busy at the office!" Note that the implied question is captured in the word 'toch'.)

– "Ik heb net je mailtje uitgeprint; niet echt milieubewust, dat geef ik toe." 
("I've just printed out your e-mail; not really environmentally aware, that I'll admit." Note the verb "toegeven": to admit.)

– "Vroeger printte ik bijna alles uit maar met dit nieuwe scherm kan ik alles prima lezen." 
("I used to print out almost everything but with this new screen I can read everything just fine!")

– "Deze foto's zien er niet uit. Misschien moet ik ze laten afdrukken in plaats van thuis printen." 
("These pictures look terrible. Perhaps I should have them printed off properly instead of printing them at home." Note the use of "er niet uit zien": to look terrible/ridiculous/etc. (depending on context).)

Related words:
– Uitprinten: to print out [verb] [printte uit, uitgeprint].
– Uitdraaien: to print out (computer generated content) [verb] [draaide uit, uitgedraaid].
– Uitdraai: print-out [noun] [de uitdraai, de uitdraaien].
– Printer: printer [noun] [de printer, de printers].

Example:
– "Sander!! De printer doet het niet!!"
("Sander!! The printer doesn't work!!")

– Printje: print-out [noun] [het printje, de printjes].

Example:
– "Ga je naar de printer? Kun je dan voor mij even mijn printjes meenemen? Dankjewel!!"
("Are you heading for the printer? Could you please bring back my print-outs? Thanks!!")

– Afdrukken: to print (off) [verb] [drukte af, afgedrukt].

Steun

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support, assistance, comfort Click to listen
[noun]
[de steun, de steu-nen]

Boekensteun "Steun" can be used for both physical, mental and financial support. The verb is 'steunen' (to support) or 'ondersteunen' (to support as in to prop up, to hold up). When you are financially supporting somebody, you can also use '(financieel) ondersteunen'.

When you are supporting a team, you are just a supporter, although of course you could be a big 'steun' (comfort) to the team when they do badly 🙂

Examples:
– "Na het overlijden van haar man had zij veel steun aan haar familie."
("When her husband had passed away her relatives were a big support to her." Note that when the Dutch say 'family' they typically mean their relatives in general. When you mean 'father, mother and children' we say 'gezin'.)

– "Het nieuwe plan vond geen steun bij de parlementsleden." 
("The new plan was not supported by the members of parliament." Lit. 'did not find support'.)

– "Dit evenement is tot stand gekomen met steun van de volgende bedrijven…" 
("This event was realized with the support of the following companies…")

– "Wij verlenen steun aan alle lagen van de bevolking." 
("We lend support / give assistance to all sections of society.")

– "Kan ik op jouw steun rekenen?" 
("Can I count on your support?")

– "Ik ben bang dat deze palen niet voldoende steun bieden, pas maar op!" 
("I'm afraid that these posts will not offer enough support, be careful now!")

Expressions:
– "Een steuntje in de rug": a bit of encouragement, a helping hand. Lit.: a bit of support to the back.
– "Iemands steun en toeverlaat zijn": to somebody who the other person can always rely on, to be a prop and stay
to someone.

Example:
– "Heb jij een beste vriendin?" – "Jazeker, zij is echt mijn steun en toeverlaat."
("Do you have a best friend?" – "Absolutely, I can always rely on her.")

– "Zijn voor": to support / to root for / to be a fan of.

Example:
– "Vanavond speelt Feyenoord tegen Ajax. Voor wie ben jij?"
("Tonight Feyenoord plays against Ajax. Who do you root for / who do you support?")

Related words:
– Armsteun/voetsteun: armrest/footrest [noun] [de steun, de steunen].
– Ruggensteun: back support [noun] [de ruggensteun, <no plural>].
– Boekensteun: bookend [de steun, de steunen].
– Ondersteunen: to support, to prop up, to hold up [verb] [ondersteunde, ondersteund].
– Ondersteuning: support [noun] [de ondersteuning, de ondersteuningen].
– Juichen: to cheer (for) [verb] [juichte, gejuicht].