Category Archives: Vocabulary Basic

Aardbeving

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earthquake Iconspeaker_3 Aardbeving-tafel
[noun]
[de aard-be-ving, de aard-be-ving-en]

"Aardbeving" is composed of "aard" – from "aarde" – and "beving", which respectively translate to "earth" and "tremor/shake".

Examples:
– "Japan is vanmorgen getroffen door een zware aardbeving." 
("Japan has been struck by a major earthquake this morning.")

– "De aardbeving heeft een grote tsunami veroorzaakt, de situatie is nu zeer ernstig." 
("The earthquake has caused a big tsunami, the situation is very serious now.")

– "Tijdens de aardbeving in Christchurch zijn er meer dan honderd slachtoffers gevallen…" – "Verschrikkelijk!" 
("During the earthquake in Christchurch more than a hundred lives were lost." Lit.: "…casualties have fallen.")

Expressions:
– "Ik sta op mijn benen te trillen": my legs are shaking. Lit.: "I'm shaking on my legs".
– "Beven van (de) angst": to tremble with fear.

Example:
– "De kinderen beefden van angst toen de bullebak tegen hen schreeuwde."
("The children trembled with fear when the bully cried out against them.")

Related words:
– Aarde: earth, dirt, ground [noun] [de aarde, de aardes].
– Beven: to tremor, to tremble, to shake [verb] [beven, beefde, h. gebeefd].
– Trillen: to tremor, to tremble, to shake [verb] [trillen, trilde, h. getrild].
– Trilling: tremor, vibration [noun] [de trilling, de trillingen].

Example:
– "Voel je die trillingen in de tafel? Het zal toch geen aardbeving zijn?"
("Do you feel those vibrations in the table? That's not an earthquake, is it?")

– Schaal van Richter: Richter scale.

Spiegel

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mirror Iconspeaker_3 Achteruitkijkspiegel
[noun]
[de spie-gel, de spie-gels]

"Spiegels" come in many forms, shapes and applications, which leads to beautiful combinations in Dutch. What do you think of "badkamerspiegel" (bathroom mirror) or "achteruitkijkspiegel" (rear view mirror)? 🙂

Examples:
– "Spiegeltje, spiegeltje aan de wand…wie is de mooiste van het land?" 
("Mirror, mirror on the wall…who in the land is fairest of all?")

– "Als ik in de spiegel kijk, zie ik dat ik kaal word…verschrikkelijk!" 
("When I look into the mirror, I see that I'm getting bald…terrible!")

– "Frank is erg achterdochtig, hij kijkt iedere tien seconden in de achteruitkijkspiegel om te zien of hij achtervolgd wordt…" – "Die dwaas is stapelgek!" 
("Frank is really suspicious, every ten seconds he looks into the rear view mirror to see if he's being followed…" – "He's crazy like a fool!")

– "Ik begin met de man in de spiegel, ik vraag hem om te veranderen…" 
("I'm starting with the man in the mirror, I'm asking him to change his ways…")

Expressions:
– "Iemand een spiegel voorhouden": to reflect on someone, to hold a mirror up to someone.

Example:
– "Als ik je een advies mag geven, hou je zelf af en toe een spiegel voor, dat helpt je namelijk om de dingen in perspectief te zien."
("If I may give you an advice, reflect on yourself from time to time, the fact is that it helps you see things in perspective.")

Related words:
– Spiegelbeeld: (mirror) image, reflection [noun] [het spiegelbeeld, de spiegelbeelden].

Example:
– "Spiegelbeeld, vertel eens even, ben ik heus zo oud als jij?"
("(Dear) reflection, tell me now, am I really as old as you?" <Dutch song from the 60s, by Willeke Alberti>)

– Spiegelei: egg sunny-side up [noun] [het spiegelei, de spiegeleieren].
– Spiegelglad: very slippery [adjective].

Namelijk

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Namelijk 1. namely, that is (to say) Iconspeaker_3
[adverb]
[na-me-lijk]

"Namelijk" is very commonly used in Dutch however for some reason it does not seem to appear in any of the examples we have given so far. So this is the moment!

In the first translation of "namelijk" you can also use "te weten", see the Related Words.

Examples:
– "Het polynoom f(X) = X^2 – X heeft twee nulpunten, namelijk X=0 en X=1." 
("The polynomial f(X) = X^2 – X has two roots, namely X=0 and X=1.")

– "Het woord 'allochtonen' wordt vaak op twee manieren gebruikt, namelijk 'westerse allochtonen' en 'niet-westerse allochtonen'." 
("The word 'allochtonen' is often used in two ways, namely 'westerse allochtonen' and 'niet-westerse allochtonen'.")

– "Er zijn hier twee draadloze netwerken actief, namelijk die van mij en die van de 'Bagels & Beans'." 
("Two wireless networks are active here, namely, mine and the one of 'Bagels & Beans'.")

Related words:
– Opsommen: to sum up [verb] [somde op, opgesomd].
– Te weten: namely, that is / those are.

Example:
– "De buren hebben drie kinderen, te weten: Rogier, Maarten en Yvette."
("The neighbours have three children, those are: Rogier, Maarten and Yvette.")

2. as it happens, the fact (of the matter) is Iconspeaker_3
[adverb]
[na-me-lijk]

This is where it can become confusing; you can also use "namelijk" in the translation of "as it happens", "you see", "the fact of the matter is"… It seems somewhat redundant but you can include it if you want to emphasize that you are giving an explanation/motivation.

Examples:
– "Vandaag is de DWOTD "Namelijk". Daar had Ida namelijk om gevraagd!" 
("Today the DWOTD is "Namelijk". Ida had asked for it you see!")

– "Het spijt me, ik kan u de weg niet wijzen. We zijn hier namelijk net zelf komen wonen!" 
("I'm sorry, I can't give you directions. It so happens that we've just moved here ourselves!")

– "Vindt u het goed als ik u morgen hierover terugbel? Ik verwacht namelijk een belangrijk telefoontje." 
("Do you mind if I call you back tomorrow on this matter? The thing is, I'm expecting an important phone call.")

– "Nee dat kan niet. Het zit namelijk zo…" 
("No, that's not possible. The fact of the matter is …")

– "Het is niet waar dat ik wil dat je me met rust laat. Ik hou namelijk van je en ik mis je!" 
("It's not true that I want you to leave me alone. Fact is that I love you and I miss you!")

Advies

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advice, recommendation, counsel Iconspeaker_3
[noun]
[het ad-vies, de ad-vie-zen]

go-straight-or-left-160712_640 “Advies” you can give (“geven”), obtain (“inwinnen”) or ask for (“om advies vragen”). You will also often hear the noun “raad”; it is somewhat synonymous with “advies” but you would not use it with “inwinnen”. The related verb is “adviseren”. Somebody who provides advice for a living, is called an “adviseur”. See Related Words for more.

Examples:
– “Ik ga een nieuwe auto kopen, kan ik jou een keer bellen voor advies?” 
(“I’m going to buy a new car, is it alright if I call you sometime for advice?”)

– “Wat voor advies zou jij mij geven?” 
(“What would you advise me? / What advice would you give me?”)

– “Sander geeft vaak ongevraagd advies, maar hij bedoelt het goed.” 
(“Sander often gives unsolicited advice, but he means well.”)

– “Ik waardeer jouw advies altijd ten zeerste, maar in dit geval sla je de plank volledig mis!” 
(“I always highly appreciate your advice, but in this case you are way off!” Literally: “… you completely mis(hit) the plank/board”.)

Expressions:
– “Iemand met raad en daad bijstaan”: to advise and assist someone.

Related words:
– Raad: advice, counsel [noun] [de raad, <no plural>].
– Raad/advies geven: to advise/counsel (someone) [verb] [gaf raad/advies, raad/advies gegeven].
– Adviseren: to advise, to recommend [verb] [adviseerde, geadviseerd].
– Adviseur: adviser, advisor, counsel(l)or, counsel, consultant [noun] [de adviseur, de adviseurs].
– Advies inwinnen: to obtain advice about something [verb] [won advies in, advies ingewonnen].
– Aanraden: to recommend [verb] [raadde/ried aan, aangeraden].

Palmboom

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palm tree Iconspeaker_3
[noun]
[de palm-boom, de palm-bo-men]

beach-84631_640Let’s pretend summer’s already started 😉 “Palmboom” consist of “palm” and “boom” (tree). As in English, you don’t necessarily have to add “tree”; “palm” on its own also refers to the tree. “Palm” can also have a different meaning, e.g. the palm of your hand.

Examples:
– “Die palmboom staat helemaal scheef door de wind.” 
(“That palm tree is all crooked because of the wind.”)

– “Ben je wel eens op dat eiland in de vorm van een palm van Dubai geweest, Palm Jumeirah?” 
(“Have you ever been to that island in the shape of a palm in Dubai, Palm Jumeirah?”)

– “Ze kunnen me wat! Ik ga mijn baan opzeggen en onder een palmboom liggen.” 
(“To hell with this! I’m quitting my job and instead I’ll spend my time lying under a palm tree.” Lit.: “I’m going to quit my job and lie under a palm tree.”)

– “Geef je die palm wel genoeg water? Hij is helemaal uitgedroogd.” 
(“Have you watered that palm enough? It’s all dried out.”)

– “De waarzegger pakte de palm van haar hand en begon de toekomst te voorspellen.” 
(“The fortune teller took the palm of her hand and started to predict the future.”)

Related words:
– Handpalm: palm of a hand [noun] [de handpalm, de handpalmen].
– Palmpasen: the Sunday before Easter – Palm Sunday [noun] [Palmpasen, <no plural>].

Extra:
In Christianity, the Sunday before Easter is called “Palmpasen”, which literally means Palmeaster. It refers to the biblical story that people covered the road with branches of palm trees when Jezus entered Jerusalem. Another word for “Palmpasen” is “Palmzondag” or “Passiezondag”.