Category Archives: Dutch word of the day

Jeugdsentiment

Posted on by

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!

Vertrek

Posted on by

1. room, apartment, chamber Click to listen
Vertrek
[noun]
[het ver-trek. de ver-trek-ken]

A "vertrek" is a room. It's somewhat formal, used to refer to rooms or spaces in houses or buildings in general. Synonyms are "kamer" (room) and "ruimte" (space).

Examples:
– "Dit huis heeft vijf vertrekken: een woonkamer, twee slaapkamers, een keuken en een badkamer met douche en toilet." 
("This house has five rooms: a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom with a shower and toilet.")

– "Het vertrek was een grote ravage, overal lag er troep op de vloer." 
("The room was one big mess, there was rubbish all over the floor.")

Related words:
– Kamer: room, chamber [noun] [de kamer, de kamers].
– Slaapkamer: bedroom [noun] [de slaapkamer, de slaapkamers].
– Woonkamer: living room [noun] [de woonkamer, de woonkamers].

2. departure, start, take off Click to listen
Spaceshuttle
[noun]
[het ver-trek, <no plural>]

"Vertrek" is also a departure. "Trek" is (probably) etymologically related to "track", so "vertrek" is something like 'the act of going on a track'….

Related verb is "vertrekken", see 3.

Examples:
– "Na de enorme flater op TV, heeft de politicus gisteren zijn vertrek bij de partij aangekondigd." 
("After the huge blunder on TV, the politician has announced his departure from the party yesterday.")

– "Dames en heren, wij zijn klaar voor vertrek. Wilt u alle elektronische apparatuur uitschakelen en opbergen?"
("Ladies and gentlemen, we are ready for departure. Would you please switch off all electronic devices and stow them?")

Related words:
– Afscheid: goodbye, farewell, parting [noun] [het afscheid, <no plural>].

Example:
– "Bij het afscheid gaf Frank zijn schoonmoeder drie zoenen op de wang."
("When he left, Frank gave his mother in law three kisses on the cheek." Lit.: "At the goodbye, …")

– Vertrekhal: departure lounge/hall [noun] [de vertrekhal, de vertrekhallen].
– Vertrektijd: departure time [noun] [de vertrektijd, de vertrektijden].

3. to leave Click to listen
Koffer
[verb]
[ver-trek-ken, ver-trok, i. ver-trok-ken]

"Vertrek" is also the first person singular conjugation of the verb "vertrekken": "ik vertrek" (I leave).

Examples:
– "Dat doet de deur dicht! Ik vertrek!" 
("That does it! I am leaving!")

– "Vertrekken is een beetje sterven…" 
("Partir, c'est mourir un peu… / To part is to die a little…")

– "Ik heb vandaag mijn baan opgezegd, morgen vertrek ik naar Parijs." 
("I've quit my job today, tomorrow I will leave for Paris.")

Expressions:
– "Met opgeheven hoofd vertrekken": to leave with one's head held high.
– "Met de noorderzon vertrekken": to do a moonlight flit, to leave without notice to an unknown destination.

Example:
– "De toekomst van hun relatie is onzeker nu Frank met de noorderzon vertrokken is." 
("The future of their relationship is uncertain now Frank has done a moonlight flit.")

– "Met stille trom vertrekken": to leave quietly, unnoticed. (Lit.: to leave with quiet drum).

Related words:
– Groetjes:  regards [noun] [het groetje, de groetjes].
– Toedeledoki: toodle-oo, bye(-bye), cheers, cheerio [interjection].

Example:
– "Ik vertrek, toedeledoki!"
("I am leaving, toodle-oo!")

– Verlaten: to leave, to abandon [verb] [verlaten, verliet, h. verlaten].

Blazen

Posted on by

1. to blow Click to listen
Blazen
[verb]
[bla-zen, blies, ge-bla-zen]

"Blazen" translates to "to blow". In case of the wind blowing, "waaien" is used.

Examples:
– "Mevrouw, alcoholcontrole. Wilt u even in het apparaat blazen alstublieft? Ik zie het al, geen alcohol in uw adem, uitstekend!" 
("Ma'am,
alcohol breath test. Could you blow into the device, please? I can
already tell, no alcohol in your breath, excellent!")

– "Lekker! Bloemkool met een papje!" – "Oppassen, eerst blazen, want het is heet!" 
("Yummy! Cauliflower with sauce!" – "Be careful, first blow on it, because it's hot!")

– "<Dokter> Wilt u op uw hand blazen? Zo kan ik nagaan of u een liesbreuk heeft." 
("<Doctor> Could you blow on your hand? This way I can verify whether you have an inguinal hernia.")

– "En toen kwam er een olifant met een lange snuit en die blies het verhaaltje uit…" 
("Then came an elephant with a long snout who blew out the story…" Line to finish a children's bed time story with.)

Expressions:
– "Hoog van de toren blazen": to blow one's own trumpet, to boast.
– "De laatste adem uitblazen": to draw one's final breath.
– "Dat is <infinitief> geblazen": that means <gerund>, to have to <infinitive>.

Example:
– "Kom op zeg! Geluk komt niet aanwaaien, het is hard werken geblazen!"
("Come on! Luck will not come just like that, you have to work hard!" Lit.: "…Luck will not come blowing on (to you)…")

– "Van toeten noch blazen weten": he does not know chalk from cheese, to be completely ignorant.
– "Stoom afblazen": to blow off steam.

Related words:
– Adem: breath [noun] [de adem, <no plural>].
– Ademen: to breath [verb] [ademen, ademde, h. geademd].

Example:
– "Adem in, adem uit."
("Breath in, breath out.")

2. bladders Iconspeaker_3
[noun]
[de blaas, de bla-zen]
Manneken-Pis

A "blaas" is a bladder. The plural form is the same as the verb "blazen" but has of course nothing to do with it.

The peeing little man in the picture is Manneken Pis, who must have a fairly large bladder, since he's peeing all day uninterruptedly 😉

Examples:
– "Frank moet een kleine blaas hebben, want hij gaat heel vaak plassen." 
("Frank must have a small bladder, because needs to pee a lot.")

– "Heeft Linda nou alweer een blaasontsteking? Balen…" 
("Does Linda have a bladder infection? Tough luck….")

Related words:
– Gezeik: load of crap, bull(shit), crap [noun] [het gezeik, <no plural>]. 
– Plassen: to pee [verb] [plassen, plaste, h. geplast].
– Zeiken: to piss, <fig.> to whine, to nag, to be a pain in the neck [verb] [zeiken, zeikte/zeek, h. gezeikt.gezeken].

Example:
– "Zit toch niet zo te zeiken!"
("Don't be such a pain in the neck!")

Luisteren

Posted on by

to listen Click to listen
[verb]
[luis-te-ren, luis-ter-de, ge-luis-terd]

Luisteren "Luisteren" is pretty much used the same way as in English, e.g. you can listen to music or somebody sing, but you can also do what somebody tells you to do ("luisteren naar iemand"). The Dutch verb for "to hear" is "horen".

Examples:
– "Heb jij vanochtend geluisterd naar het DWOTD interview op English Breakfast Radio Amsterdam?" – "Nee joh, wat boeit mij dat nou!" 
("Did you listen to the DWOTD interview on English Breakfast Radio Amsterdam this morning?" – "Nooo, what do I care?!")

– "Ik hoor je wel, maar ik luister lekker niet!" 
("I do hear you, but I'm not listening, ha!")

– "De buurvrouw is ten einde raad, want haar kinderen luisteren niet meer naar haar." 
("The neighbour is at a complete loss what to do, because her children have stopped listening to her." 'Ten einde raad' can also be translated as "desperate (without a solution)".)

– "Jongen, luister nou naar mij; ik heb hier ervaring mee…" 
("Mate/dude, just listen to me; I have experience with this…")

– "Mijn vriendin zegt dat ik nooit naar haar luister. Maar ik kan er toch niets aan doen dat zij zo slecht articuleert?" 
("My girlfriend says that I never listen to her. But I can't help it that she articulates that badly, can I now?")

– "Luister eens! Volgens mij hoor ik daar een leeuwerik!" 
("Listen up! I think I hear a lark over there.")

– "Luister jij naar je moeder?" – "Nou, alleen als ze piano speelt! ;-)" 
("Do you listen to your mother?" – "Well, only when she plays the piano! ;-)")

– "Bedankt dat je even naar me hebt willen luisteren. Je bent echt een grote steun voor mij!" 
("Thanks for listening to me. You are really a big support to me.")

Expressions:
– "Dat luistert nauw": that requires precision. This expression can be used for things you do, but also when reasoning.

Related words:
– Luisteraar: listener [noun] [de luisteraar, de luisteraars].
– Fluisteren: to whisper [verb] [fluisterde, gefluisterd].
– Afluisteren: to eavesdrop on [verb] [luisterde af, afgeluisterd].

Example:
– "Pas maar op, voordat je het weet wordt je afgeluisterd!"
("You had better be careful, before you know it they will eavesdrop on you!")

– Luistervink: eavesdropper (informal), nosy person that eavesdrops [noun] [de luistervink, de luistervinken]. From the bird "vink": finch.
– Horen: to hear [verb] [hoorde, gehoord].
– Oor: ear [noun] [het oor, de oren].

Toekomst

Posted on by

future Click to listen 
Toekomst
[noun]
[de toe-komst, <no plural>]

"Toekomst" is composed of "toe" en "komst", which respectively translate to "to" and "coming/arrival". The "toekomst" is the time that is coming to us: the future.

Examples:
– "Niemand kan de toekomst voorspellen." 
("Nobody can predict the future.")

– "Je kunt op mijn steun rekenen, nu en in de toekomst." 
("You can count on my support, now and in the future.")

– "Het is de verwachting dat Sophia een glorieuze toekomst wacht." 
("It is expected that a glorious future awaits Sophia." Lit.: "It is the expectation that…")

Expressions:
– "De tijd zal het leren": time will tell.
– "In het verschiet liggen": to lie ahead.

Example:
– "Frank manager? Dan ligt er veel trammelant in het verschiet…"
("Frank manager? Then a lot of trouble lies ahead…")

Related words:
– Geschiedenis: history [noun] [de geschiedenis, de geschiedenissen].
– Heden: 1. present [noun] [het heden, <no plural>]. 2. today [adverb].
– Tijd: time [noun] [de tijd, de tijden].

Example:
–
"Bedankt voor uw tijd." – "Graag gedaan."
("Thank you for your time." – "You're welcome.")

– Verleden: past [noun] [het verleden, <no plural>].

Example:
– "Drievoudig is de gang des tijds: dralend komt de toekomst nader, pijlsnel is vervlogen het heden, eeuwig stil staat het verleden <Schiller>."
("Threefold the stride of time: loitering slow, the future creepeth; arrow-swift, the present sweepeth; and motionless forever stands the past. <Schiller>")