Category Archives: Dutch word of the day

Opbrengst

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Opbrengst
yield, proceeds, produce Iconspeaker_3
[noun]
[de op-brengst, de op-breng-sten]

"Opbrengst" is the general word for what is brought in through collection or selling. It can imply both loss or profit. The related verb is "opbrengen": to bring in, to yield, to realize.

Examples:
– "De opbrengst van de nationale actie voor Haïti was lager dan verwacht." 
("The proceeds of the national campaign for Haiti were lower than expected.")

– "Ik heb uiteindelijk mijn auto verkocht op Marktplaats maar de opbrengst viel tegen." 
("Eventually I sold my car at Marktplaats but the price I sold it for was disappointing.")

– "De opbrengst van een avond rozen verkopen is blijkbaar voldoende om het te blijven doen." 
("The profit of an evening of selling roses is apparantly sufficient to keep doing it." This sentence refers to the guys who sell roses and take your picture in bars and restaurants (often seen in Utrecht or Amsterdam).)

– "De opbrengst van de kaartverkoop gaat naar een goed doel." 
("The profit of the ticket sales will go to a good cause.")

– "Zij leven van de opbrengst van haar schilderijen en kunnen maar net rondkomen." 
("They live off whatever she makes with her paintings and can just get by.")

Related words:
– Opbrengen: to bring in, to yield [verb] [bracht op, opgebracht].

Example:
– "Al zijn inspanningen hebben uiteindelijk niets opgebracht."
("All his efforts eventually led to nothing / were in vain.")

– Omzet: turnover [noun] [de omzet, de omzetten].
– Winst: profit [noun] [de winst, de winsten].
– Verlies: loss [noun] [het verlies, de verliezen].
– Oogst: harvest [noun] [de oogst, de oogsten].

Slaapverwekkend

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Slaapverwekkend
mind-numbing, sleep-inducing, soporific Iconspeaker_3
[adjective/adverb]
[slaap-ver-wek-kend]

"Slaapverwekkend" is most often used figuratively to say something was mind-numbing or extremely boring. When literally inducing sleep you will often hear the word "slaapopwekkend" (which means the same thing really).

Examples:
– "De presentatie van de gastspreker was slaapverwekkend." 
("The guest speaker’s presentation was mind-numbing.")

– "Dit is de slaapverwekkendste lezing die ik ooit heb bijgewoond." 
("This is the most boring lecture that I have ever attended.")

– "Ik vind ‘saai‘ een understatement; zeg maar gerust dat het ‘slaapverwekkend’ was!" 
("I think ‘boring’ is an understatement; don’t hesitate to call it ‘sleep-inducing’!")

– "Ik heb het boek niet uitgelezen; na het eerste hoofdstuk vond ik het al slaapverwekkend!" 
("I didn’t finish the book; after the first chapter I already thought it was mind-numbing!")

Related words:
– Slapeloosheid: insomnia [noun] [de slapeloosheid, <no plural>].
– Slaapopwekkend: sleep-inducing [adjective].
– Gapen: to yawn [verb] [gaapte, gegaapt].
– Verwekken: to create, cause, beget [verb] [verwekte, verwekt].
– Opwekken: to generate, induce, stimulate [verb] [wekte op, opgewekt].
– Motiverend: motivating [adjective/adverb].

Onzekerheid

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uncertainty Iconspeaker_3
Onzekerheid
[noun]
[de on-ze-ker-heid, de on-ze-ker-he-den]

"Onzekerheid" is both used for doubt/suspense and insecurity/contingency. The opposite is "zekerheid".

Examples:
– "Onzekerheid is een eigenschap die je kan hinderen in je ontwikkeling." 
("Uncertainty/being insecure is a (character) trait that can hamper your development." Lit. " … that can hinder you in your development.")

– "Ik kan niet tegen deze onzekerheid!" 
("I cannot stand this suspense/uncertainty!")

– "We moeten de onzekerheden voldoende incalculeren." 
("We have to sufficiently plan for contingencies.")

– "Er is onzekerheid over het aantal overlevenden van de aardbeving." 
("There is uncertainty about the number of survivors of the earthquake.")

Expressions:
– "In onzekerheid verkeren": to be in a state of suspense, to be in the dark.

Example:
– "De ouders verkeren al jaren in onzekerheid over het lot van hun vermiste zoon."
("For years the parents have been in a state of suspense regarding the fate of their missing son.")

Related words:
– (On)zeker: (un)certain [adverb/adjective].
– Onwaarschijnlijk: unlikely [adverb/adjective].

Dooier

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(egg) yolk Iconspeaker_3
[noun]Dooier
[de dooi-er, de dooi-ers]

A "dooier" is the yellow part of an "ei": a yolk. You may also see "eierdooier": egg yolk.

Don’t confuse "dooier" with "dooien": to thaw, to defrost, to stop freezing.

There’s also "dooie", which is spoken language for "dode": dead (person), plural "dooien".

Examples:
– "Hoe wil je de dooier van je gebakken ei? Heel of stuk?" 
("Do you want the yolk of your fried egg? Broken or not?" Lit.: "Intact or broken?")

– "Het scheiden van de dooier van het eiwit is een kwestie van veel oefenen." 
("Separating the yolk from the egg white is a matter of practising a lot.")

Related words:
– Ei: egg [noun] [het ei, de eieren].
– Spiegelei: fried egg, sunny side up (lit.: mirror egg) [noun] [het spiegelei, de spiegeleieren].

Example:
– "Een spiegelei als ontbijt, erg goed om de kater tegen te gaan…"
("A fried egg for breakfast, very good to fight the hangover…" Lit.: "…to go against the hangover…")

– Eierschaal: eggshell [noun] [de eierschaal, de eierschalen].
– Eiwit: 1. egg white [noun] [het eiwit, <no plural>]. 2. protein [noun] [het eiwit, de eiwitten].

Ernstig

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grave, serious Iconspeaker_3 Ernstig
[adjective/adverb]
[ern-stig]

"Ernstig" is used for people being serious as well as for grave situations. Synonyms are "erg" (severe), "serieus" (serious), "zorgwekkend" (worrying) and "kritiek"(critical).

Examples:
– "De situatie in Haïti is zeer ernstig na de aardbeving van gisteren." 
("The situation in Haiti is very grave after yesterday’s earthquake.")

– "Waarom kijkt Frank zo ernstig?" – "Ach, hij piekert gewoon veel…" 
("Why is Frank looking so serious?" – "Ah well, he just worries a lot…")

– "Ik maak me ernstig zorgen over de DWOTD mailinglist…het kan toch niet zo zijn dat mensen hun dagelijkse dosis Nederlandse taal moeten missen?!" 
("The DWOTD mailing list worries me seriously…it can’t possibly be that people have to miss their daily dose of the Dutch language?!")

Expressions:
– "Zwaar op de hand": ponderous, (a bit) pessimistic. Lit.: heavy on the hand.

Example:
– "Niet zo zwaar op de hand, jongen. Het leven lacht ons toe!"
("Don’t be so pessimistic, dude. Life is smiling at us!")

Related words:
– Erg: 1. severe [adjective]. 2. very, quite [adverb].
– Bezorgd: worried, troubled, concerned [adjective].

Example:
– "Ik ben tenminste bezorgd over de toekomst van mijn kinderen!"
("At least I’m concerned with my children’s future!")

– Serieus: serious [adjective].
– Zorgwekkend: worrying [adjective].
– Kritiek: critical [adjective].