colleague, co-worker (female) [noun] [het collegaatje, de collegaatjes] [‘ko-lee-gaa-tju’]

"Collegaatje" is the diminutive of "collega", the general word for "colleague" or "co-worker". The strange thing is however, that somehow the diminutive became the informal word for a female colleague. If you talk about a "collegaatje", every Dutch person knows you mean a female colleague. Don’t you just love the subtleties of the Dutch language… 🙂

Examples:
– "Wie was dat net aan de telefoon?" – "O, een collegaatje."
("Who were you talking to on the phone?" – "Oh, a co-worker." Literally: "Who was that just now on the phone?")

– "Schat, ik ben vanavond wat later thuis, ik ga wat drinken met een collegaatje."
("Honey, I’ll be home a little later tonight, I’m going out for a drink with a co-worker." To avoid marital problems, some men might prefer to use the general "collega"  😉 )

– "Komende maand krijgen we een nieuw collegaatje erbij, ik hoop dat ze een beetje verstand van zaken heeft!"
("Next month a new colleague will arrive, I hope she is knowledgeable!" Literally: "The coming month we’ll get a new colleague in addition, I hope she has a bit of knowledge of things/business!")

Related words:
– "Collega": colleague, co-worker.
– "Kamergenoot": office mate. This is also used in the translation of roommate (dorms).
– "Stagiair / stagiaire (fem.)": intern, trainee.

guy, bloke, dude [noun] [de gozer, de gozers] [‘goo-zur’]

In a Dutch dictionary you will sometimes see the addition that a word is "Bargoens". This is the Dutch "thieves’ cant". It indicates that the word found its original use in that environment, although real "Bargoens" doesn’t exist as such anymore. Many words have made it into the normal Dutch language, but are mainly used informally or in certain sub-cultures. The Yiddish language has had a big influence on "Bargoens" and many words were derived from Yiddish. One such example is "gozer", which is derived from the word "chosen" (groom in Yiddish).

"Gozer" is used informally and is mainly used in the west of the Netherlands. It generally has a positive connotation and is only used for men.

Examples:
– "Heb je Daniela’s nieuwe vriend al ontmoet? Het is een toffe gozer."
("Have you met Daniela’s new boyfriend? It is a really nice guy.")

– "Bedankt gozer!"
("Thanks dude! / Nice one mate!")

– "Is het druk binnen?" – "Ik zie een paar gozers, maar dat is alles."
("Is it crowded inside?" – "I see a few blokes/guys, but that’s all.")

Related word:
– "Lefgozer": hotshot, show-off. "Lef" translates to guts, nerve, spunk etc.

off-season, cucumber season [noun] [de komkommertijd, komkommertijden] ['kom-ko-mur-tijd']

"Komkommertijd" – literally "cucumber time" – is mostly used in its figurative meaning of off-season with respect to news and politics. When the newspapers are thin because of holidays and when little or nothing is to report on politics – since all politicians are on leave – one speaks of "komkommertijd". In practice it comes down to the summer months of July and August.

Read an explanation of "komkommertijd" at wikipedia. The Dutch version is much better :-) 

The word "komkommer" was covered in DWOTD 10. Komkommer.

Examples:
– "Het is weer komkommertijd, er staat bijna niets in de krant."
("It's 'komkommertijd' again, there is almost nothing in the newspaper.")

– "Wat een waardeloos en irrelevant nieuwsitem! Het is weer duidelijk komkommertijd."
("What a useless and irrelevant news item! Clearly it is 'komkommertijd' again.)

– "Mamma, wat betekent dat eigenlijk, komkommertijd?"
("Mo/ummy, what does it actually mean, 'komkommertijd' ?" The Dutch write both "mamma" and "mama".)

– "Ik heb het journaal gemist. Maar ach, wat boeit het, het is toch komkommertijd."
("I missed the news on tv. But ah well, who cares, it is 'komkommertijd' anyway." The Dutch have a specific word for the news program on tv: "journaal", where the "jour" is pronounced the French way. Literally "wat boeit het" translates to "what does it fascinate/enthrall" or something. It is quite informal.)

Related words:
– "Augurk": gherkin, pickle.

load of crap, bull(shit), crap [noun] [het gezeik, <no plural>] [‘gu-zeik‘]

In Dutch, "gezeik" does not have the strong vulgar connotation which "load of crap" or "bullshit" have in English. It does have a derogatory meaning though, and should only be used in informal situations.

The relate verb is "zeiken", which is more or less synonymous with "zeuren", but has a stronger derogatory connotation. "Zeiken" also has a literal meaning, which is: "to piss".

Examples:
– "Wat een gezeik zeg!"
("What a load of crap!" This can sometimes also be translated with "what a fuss!")

– "Ik heb genoeg van jouw gezeik!"
("I’ve had enough of your bullshit!")

– "Ik kan dat gezeik van Frank tijdens vergaderingen niet uitstaan!"
("I cannot stand the load of crap coming from Frank during meetings!")

– "Ik moet dat gezeik niet!"
("Don’t give me that crap!" Lit.: "I must not (have) that crap!")

– "Lig toch niet zo te zeiken!"
("Stop moaning / harping on like that!" Note that "lig" is not used to indicate the activity of lying, but merely to indicate a continuing action, in this case "zeiken".)

– "Al dat bier…ik ga even zeiken…"
("All that beer…I’m going to take a piss/leak now…")

– "Ik ga even naar mijn eigen gezeik luisteren."
("I’m going to listen to my own whining/bullshit now." Lit.: "I’m going to listen to my own pissing." This is a pun that is only used by men (we think). For example, you can say it when you are in a discussion and you have to go to the toilet/bathroom. It is of course very informal!)

Expression:
– "Geen gezeik, iedereen rijk!": "No bullshit, everybody rich!" This is a slogan that was part of the campaign for the fictitious political party "De Tegenpartij" ("The Contra Party"), founded in 1980 by the two characters "Jacobse & Van Es", played by the famous Dutch comedians/writers Kees van Kooten and Wim de Bie, who formed the duo "Van Kooten & De Bie". The peak of their careers is now over, but they are still active and very well known for their work from the 70s and 80s.

Related words:
– "Zeikerd": bugger, bore [noun].
– "Zeuren": to nag. to whine.
– "Klagen": to complain.
– "Mopperen": to grumble.

designated driver [noun] [de Bob, de Bobben]

“Bob” was introduced by the Belgian government in 1995. In Belgium, Bob is a person who sets the good example by not drinking and driving. Their campaign was quite successful and, amongst other countries, the Netherlands introduced Bob too. However, “Who is this Bob?”, many people asked. It must mean something! So the term “Bewust Onbeschonken Bestuurder” was created. This translates to: “Consciously Non-Drunk Driver”.

“Beschonken” is derived from “schenken” which in this context means “to pour” or “to serve” (drinks).

So “Bob” became an abbreviation instead of a name, and we immediately derived a verb “bobben”, which is basically only used in one example. You encounter it when driving on the Dutch motor/high ways; see below.

Examples:
– “Wie is er vanavond de Bob?”
(“Who is the designated driver tonight?”)

– “Bob jij of bob ik?”
(“Are you the designated driver, or am I?” Literally: “Do you bob, or do I bob?”)

– “Wil je wat drinken?” – “Ja graag, doe maar een colaatje; ik ben vanavond de Bob!”
(“Would you like something to drink?” – “Yes please, I’ll have a coke; tonight I am the designated driver!” Mind that “colaatje” is the diminutive of “cola” and implies a glass of cola.)

– “Ik ben het zat om altijd maar de Bob te zijn! Volgende keer ben jij aan de beurt!”
(“I’ve had it with always being the designated driver! Next time it is your turn!”)

– “We moeten voor vanavond even een Bob regelen!”
(“We have to arrange a designated driver for tonight!” Some smart students started up a “Rent-a-Bob” service some time ago. If you call them, a driver will show up on a foldable (!) moped. Once folded, the moped will go in the boot/trunk of your car and he will drive you home! It used to be the case that they showed up with two, together on one moped. The other would follow on the moped and afterwards they would leave on the same moped again. It is not available everywhere unfortunately. Check it out at www.rentabob.nl !)

– “Je bent top Bob!”
(“You are the best Bob!” or “You are great Bob!”. This phrase is part of the Bob-campaign. Check it out at www.jebenttopbob.nl . Here you can also order a “OpblaasBob”, literally a “blow-up Bob”. This is a pun, since “opblaaspop” is the Dutch word for an inflatable doll.)

Extra:
The Bob-campaign is part of the overall “Daar kun je mee thuis komen” – traffic safety campaign. This phrase is used for any good driving behaviour (or cycling behaviour – see the add to the right.)
Why? Well, the expression literally means: “You can come home with that” and is used when behaviour or an achievement is so good that it is good enough to be appreciated and/or praised by your parents or your family at home (versus punishment if your grades are bad for example 😉 ). However, it is used as a pun here, since good behaviour in traffic of course also gets you home! (Which is the point!)