1. to nod [verb] [knikte, geknikt] [‘knik-kun’]

“Knikken” is mostly used in the meaning ‘to nodd (in agreement)’, jaknikken (lit: ‘to nodd yes’). The related noun is “jaknikker” which can be translated as “yes-man” or “nodder”. Because of its appearance, pumpjacks or nodding donkeys (see picture below) are called “jaknikkers” in Dutch.

Examples:
– “Ze knikte ja maar volgens mij snapte ze er geen woord van.”
(“She nodded (in agreement), but I think she didn’t understand a word”. Lit: “She nodded yes but according to me she didn’t understand a word of it.”)

– “Jaknikkers kunnen we niet gebruiken in dit bedrijf; we zoeken mensen met lef!”
(“We don’t need nodders in this company; we are looking for people with guts!”)

– “De jaknikkers zagen er indrukwekkend uit in het lege landschap.”
(“The grasshoppers looked impressive in the empty landscape.”)

Related words: 
– “Jaknikker” [noun] [de jaknikker, de jaknikkers]: yes-man, nodder.
– “Jaknikker” [noun] [de jaknikker, de jaknikkers]: pumpjack, nodding donkey, grasshopper.
– “Knik” [noun] [de knik, de knikken]: nodd.

2. to twist, to fold, to bend [verb] [knikte, geknikt] [‘knik-kun’]

Another meaning of “knikken” is “to bend (sharply)”. In this context a “knik” is a “bend”, “kink” or “twist”. Besides “knikken” you will see the synonymous “knakken” more often, see the Examples.

Examples:
– “De bloemstelen waren geknakt door de regen.”
(“The flowers stalks were bent by the rain.”)

– “Met knikkende knieën stapte zij op hem af.”
(“She approached him with knocking knees.”)

Related words: 
– “Knakken”: to crack, to snap, to break.

1. sticky, clammy, soggy [adjective] [‘klef‘]

Today’s weather is an example of "klef": very warm, moist and damp (at least for Dutch standards…:-) ). In this context, the synonymous "klam" is also used a lot.

Examples:
– "Wat een klef weer vandaag! Ik zweet als een otter…"
("Such clammy weather today! I’m sweating like a pig…" Lit.: "…like an otter…")

– "Dit kleffe weer leidt waarschijnlijk tot een onweer later vanmiddag."
("This sticky weather will probably lead to a thunderstorm later this afternoon.")

Related words:
– "Klam": clammy, moist, damp.
– "Vochtig": damp, humid.
– "Plakkerig": sticky.

2. sticky, gooey [adjective] [‘klef‘] 

Food can also be "klef". See the Examples.

Examples:

– "Deze boterham is helemaal klef geworden door het klamme weer."
("This sandwich has turned completely gooey because of the clammy weather.")

– "Ik ga even een snack uit de muur trekken." – "Bah, kleffe hap man.."
("I’m gonna quickly grab a snack from the vending machine." – "Yech, gooey stuff man…" Lit.: "…gooey bite…")

3. clinging (to one another) [adjective] [‘klef‘] 

And even people can be "klef", when they’re constantly clinging to each other, giving each other hugs and kisses while holding hands all the time… In this context, the activity of being "klef" is called "kleffen".

Examples:

– "Frank en zijn vriendin waren op het feestje verschrikkelijk klef."
("Frank and his girlfriend were constantly clinging to each other at the party.")

– "Kijk Myra en Jan…ze zijn enorm aan het kleffen!"
("Look at Myra and Jan… they’re really clinging to each other.")

Related words:
– "Verliefd": in love.

1. plaster, band-aid [noun] [de pleister, de pleisters] [‘plei-ster’]

Een “pleister” is what you put on small wounds to stop them from bleeding. When the wound is larger, or after surgery, the wounds are protected by bandages, which are translated by “verband” (singular). A second meaning of “pleister” is explained below.

Examples:
– “Heb je een pleister voor me? Ik heb mijn vinger net gesneden aan de rand van die envelop.”
(“Do you have a plaster for me? I’ve just cut my finger on the edge of that envelope”.)

– “De pleisters lieten los toen ze nat waren geworden.”
(“The plasters came off after they’d become wet.”)

– “Haar hoofd was in verband gewikkeld na de plastische chirurgie.”
(“Her head was packed in bandages after the plastic surgery.”)

Expressions:
– “Een pleister op de wonde zijn”: to be a consolation.

Example:
– “Turkije zal niet in de finale van het EK spelen. Dat ze zo ver zijn gekomen, is een pleister op de wonde.”
(“Turkey will not play in the final of the European Football Championship. It’s a consolation that they’ve made it this far”. Lit.: “That they’ve made it this far, is a consolation”.)

Related words:
– Verband [noun] [het verband, de verbanden]: the bandage.

2. plaster, stucco [noun] [het pleister(werk), no plural] [‘plei-ster‘]

Another meaning of “pleister” or “pleisterwerk’ is stucco.

Example:
– “Als het pleisterwerk goed is gedroogd, kunnen we de muren gaan verven.”
(“Once the stucco has dried well, we can start painting the walls.”)

1. past, over, gone, finished, done with [adjective] [‘foor-bij‘] 

“Voorbij” is a versatile word, you can use it in different contexts.

In this first context, a certain feeling of melancholy is inevitable. Check out this video of Dutch icon André Hazes (check out the lyrics here), regretting the break-up with his (ex-) girlfriend…

Examples:
– “Na Oranje, is het EK nu ook voorbij voor de Turken…balen!”

(“After the Netherlands, the European soccer championship tournament is now also finished for Turkey…bummer!” Lit.: “…for the Turks…”)

– “Een x-aantal jaren zijn nu voorbij, maar er is eigenlijk niks veranderd…”
(“Several years have passed now, but nothing has changed really…” Lit.: “Several years are past now…”)

– “Heb je nog een afspraakje gehad met Linda?” – “Nee jongen, dat is voorbij, ik heb een blauwtje gelopen.”
(“Now did you have that date with Linda?” – “No dude, that’s over, she turned me down.”)

Expressions:
– “Voorbije tijden”: bygone times.

Related words:
– “Over”: over.
– “Aflopen” [verb] [liep af, afgelopen]: to (come to an) end, to finish.
– “Einde” [noun] [het einde, de eindes]: end.

2. past, by, beyond [adverb] [‘foor-bij‘] 

You can use “voorbij” as an adverb to indicate that something/someone has passed a certain (physical) location or certain point in time.

Examples:
– “Kunt u mij vertellen waar het postkantoor is?” – “O, daar bent u net voorbij.”
(“Can you tell where the post office is?” – “Oh, you’ve just passed it.”)

– “Heeft ze weer zo’n bui?” – “Ach, dat gaat wel weer voorbij…”
(“Is she having one of her moods again?” – “Ah well, it’ll blow over…”

Related words:
– “Verder” [adjective/adverb]: further, farther.
– “Achter”  [preposition]: behind.
– “Terug” [adverb]: back.

3. beyond, past [preposition] [‘foor-bij‘] 

Examples:
– “De raket ging voorbij het doel.”
(“The missile went past the target.”)

– “Frank, doe niet zo betweterig, dat soort onderzoek doen we niet want dat is voorbij de scope van dit project!”
(“Frank, don’t be such a pedantic, we will not perform that kind of research because it’s beyond the scope of this project!”)