miserable, nasty, rotten, awful [adjective]

"Beroerd" is synonymous to "belabberd". It also indicates an opposite state of well-being. Like "belabberd", "beroerd" can be used for mental and physical state, situations and performance.

Examples:
– "Ik heb flinke keelpijn, ik voel me erg beroerd." 
("My have a very sore throat, I feel really miserable.")

– "Vanochtend had ik een gigantische kater, ik heb me nog nooit zo beroerd gevoeld…"
("This morning I had a terrible hangover, I’ve never felt so miserable…")

– "De situatie in Congo is beroerd nu de oorlog tussen de Hutu’s en de Tutsi’s weer begonnen is." 
("The situation in Congo is nasty now the war between the Hutus and the Tutsis has started again.")

– "10 km in twee en een half uur? Dat is een beroerde prestatie van Frank…" 
("10km in two and a half hour? That’s a lousy achievement of Frank….")

Expressions:
– "De beroerdste niet zijn": to be not that difficult. (Used to indicate one’s flexible attitude)

Example:
– "Liefie, wil jij de afwas doen?" – Tuurlijk scheetje, ik ben de beroerdste niet."
("Sweetie, do you want to do the dishes?" – "Of course my little darling, I’m not that difficult.")

Related words:
– Belabberd: lousy, miserable [adjective].
– Slecht: bad [adjective].

exhausted, worn out, empty, depleted [adjective]

"Uitgeput" is derived from the verb "uitputten": to exhaust, to deplete. You will often encounter the word "uitgeput" in the context of energy/strength, or supplies/budget.

Examples:
– "Ik heb geen fut vandaag." – "Geen fut? Volgens mij ben je uitgeput!" 
("I do not have a lot of energy today." – "Not a lot of energy? I think you are exhausted!" Note that "fut" translates to something like "energy/strength, zip, kick, drive".)

– "Helaas kan het boek nog niet geleverd worden, onze voorraden zijn uitgeput." 
("Unfortunately the book cannot be delivered yet, our supplies are exhausted.")

– "Het spijt me, een nieuwe laptop zit er dit jaar niet in. Het budget is volledig uitgeput." 
("I’m sorry, a new laptop will not be possible this year. The budget is completely depleted." Note the expression "het zit er niet in": it is not going to happen, it will not be possible.)

Related words:
– Uitputten: to exhaust, deplete, finish up [verb] [putte uit, uitgeput].
– Moe: tired [adjective].
– Energie: energy [noun] [de energie, no plural].

to (sit and) stare, to (take a) peek [verb] [koekeloerde, gekoekeloerd]

If you think that "koekeloeren" is in some way related to "koekoek" (cuckoo), you’re wrong. It’s a verb that is used informally to describe a somewhat dull or furtive way of looking or staring. 

"Loeren" translates to "to peer/leer/spy". The etymological origin
of "koek(e)" is unknown to me (although "koe" translates to "cow"… or maybe "koek", which translates to "cake/cookie"). Readers are kindly requested to provide additional info 🙂

Examples:
– "Hee makker, zit je naar mijn vriendin te koekeloeren?" 
("Hey pal, are you peeking at my girlfriend?")

– "Frank zat tijdens de presentatie alleen maar een beetje te koekeloeren." 
("During the presentation, Frank was just sitting and staring.")

– "Ik zit hier maar naar mijn scherm te koekeloeren, maar ik heb geen inspiratie…"
("I’m just sitting and staring at my screen, but I have no inspiration…")

– "De billenknijper stond vanuit een donkere hoek naar zijn volgende slachtoffer te koekeloeren.
("The bottom squeezer was taking a peek at his next victim from a dark corner.")

Related words:
– Loeren: to peer, to leer, to spy [verb] [loerde, geloerd].
– Gluren: to peep, to peek [verb] [gluurde, gegluurd].
– Gluurder: peeping tom, voyeur [noun] [de gluurder, de gluurders].
– Staren: to stare [verb] [staarde, gestaard].

– Billenknijper: bottom squeezer [noun] [de billenknijper, de billenknijpers].

Extra:
Apperently, there’s an organised tour through the red light district in Amsterdam which is called "Koekeloeren bij de hoeren" (lit.: peeping around at the hookers)…

"Kegel" has three common translations. If you are not into bowling or mathematics, jump to translation 3!

1. (ten)pin [noun] [de kegel, de kegels]

A "kegel" is also used for the (nine)pin in the game of skittles ("kegelspel", with associated verb "kegelen") but in the Netherlands this is not a common game, contrary to bowling.

Example:
– "Te gek, in één worp alle kegels omver!!" 
("Super/cool! All pins down in one throw!" Note that "omver" implies falling over and it is usually combined with the verb that causes the movement such as "gooien" ("to throw"), "stoten" ("to bump/knock") etc.)

Related words:
– Bowlen: to bowl [verb] [bowlde, gebowld].
– Bowlingbaan: bowling alley [noun] [de baan, de banen].
– Bowlingbal: bowling ball [noun] [de bal, de ballen].

2. cone [noun] [de kegel, de kegels]

Here "kegel" is the three-dimensional geometric shape "cone". The word is also used for anything that is shaped like a cone.

Examples:
– "De inhoud van een kegel bereken je als volgt: …" 
("One calculates the volume of a cone as follows:…")

– "Mijn favoriete ruimtelijke figuur is de kegel." 
("My favourite three-dimensional shape is the cone.")

– "Verkoopt u ook wierook in de vorm van een kegeltje?"
("Do you also sell incense in the shape of a small cone?")

Related words:
– Cilinder: cylinder [noun] [de cilinder, de cilinders].
– Bol: sphere [noun] [de bol, de bollen].

3. badly smelling alcohol breath [noun] [de kegel, de kegels]

Now this is one you should know. Whenever one is not talking about bowling or a cone, it must be about badly smelling alcohol breath! Mind that the word is obviously used informally.

Examples:
– "Ik ben naar de tandarts geweest vanochtend en die gast had een enorme kegel, ongelofelijk!" 
("I have been to the dentist this morning and that bloke/guy was reeking of alcohol, unbelievable!")

– "Ga nou maar slapen, je hebt een enorme kegel!" 
("Just go to bed will you, your breath smells of alcohol." Lit. "you have an enormous..")

Related words:
– Alcohol: alcohol [noun] [de alcohol, no plural].
– Dronken: drunk [adjective].