mate, pal, buddy, friend [noun] [de makker, de makkers] [‘ma-kur’]

"Makker" is originally a synonym for "vriend", the Dutch equivalent of "friend". It is now mainly used for the more informal "mate" or "buddy".

"Makker" and "vriend" can be used to informally and semi-friendly address a man you do not know, especially when you feel treated impolitely. This requires some experience though 🙂 Have a look at the Examples.

Examples:
– "Hé makker, wat wil je drinken?"
("Hey mate/buddy, what do you want to drink?")

– "Marc en ik zijn al jaren makkers."
("Marc and I have been friends for years.")

– "Wat maak je me nou makker! Ik zag deze parkeerplaats het eerst!"
("What’s up with that buddy! / What’s this mate! I was the first to spot this parking spot!" Literally: "what do you make me now…")

– "<bij de bakkerij:> Sorry makker, ik was eerst!"
("<at the bakery:> I’m sorry mate/pal, I was (the) first!")

Related words:
– "Dienstmakker": somebody that was in military service with you. The Dutch military service was abolished about 10 years ago. It is usually abbreviated from "militaire dienst" to "dienst".
– "Vriend": friend.
– "Maat": another informal synonym for "vriend".

ladybird, ladybug [noun] [het lieveheersbeestje, de lieveheersbeestjes] [‘lie-vu-heers-beest-ju‘]

This word may be a bit hard to pronounce 🙂  "Lieveheersbeestje" is composed of "lief", "heer" and "beestje", which respectively translate to "dear", "lord" and "little bug". All together it’s a kind of a sweet literal translation: "dear lord’s little bug". Sometimes you might even see "Onzelieveheersbeestje", which translates to "Our dear lord’s little bug".

Examples:
– "Kijk! Er zit een lieveheersbeestje op je mouw!"
("Look! There is a ladybird on your sleeve!")

– "Ze zeggen dat een lieveheersbeestje geluk brengt."
("They say that a ladybird brings luck.")

– "Hoeveel stippen heeft dat lieveheersbeestje?"
("How many dots does that ladybird have?")

Extra:
The logo of the "Landelijke stichting tegen zinloos geweld" (lit.: National foundation against pointless violence) is a ladybird.

1. clutch [noun] [de kluts, de klutsen] [‘kluts‘]

This translation is very uncommon. In the context of a car’s gearbox, "clutch" is always translated with "koppeling" (lit. coupling). However, there are expressions with "kluts" that are often used, and you should know them.

Expressions:
– "De kluts kwijt raken": to lose one’s bearings.
– "De kluts kwijt zijn": to be in a tizzy / flurry.

Examples:
– "Frank was totaal de kluts kwijt tijdens de vergadering."
("Frank was in a complete flurry/completely lost during the meeting.")

– "Sinds het uit is, ben ik totaal de kluts kwijtgeraakt."
("Since the break-up, I have totally lost my bearings / I’m a total mess.")

2. scrum, chaos [noun] [de kluts, de klutsen] [‘kluts‘]

Examples:
– "De spits kon uit de kluts een doelpunt maken."
("The forward was able to score a goal from the scrum.")

– "Wat een enorme klutsbal! Die had ik nog erin geschoten!"
("What a terrible shot! I could have made that!")

3. drop, touch, splash [noun] [de kluts, de klutsen] [‘kluts‘]

This translation of "kluts" is a bit informal and not often used.

Examples:
– "Wat heb jij in je koffie?" – "Doe maar een flinke kluts melk."
("What do you have in your coffee?" – "A big drop/splash of milk." Lit.: "…just do a big drop of milk.")

Related words:
– "Klutsen": to whip/beat up.

Example:
– "Geklutst ei": beaten egg.

fuss, hassle, ado [noun] [het gedoe, <no plural>] [‘gu-doe‘]

You will also encounter the word "gedoetje" or more often "gedoetjes" (plural diminutive), which is used informally for the small fussy moments 🙂 It requires a bit of experience and exposing to the Dutch language before you know how to use it. But just so you know… 🙂

Examples:
– "Wat een gedoe."
("What a fuss.")

– "Wat een gedoe om niks!"
("What a fuss about nothing!")

– "Wat is er aan de hand?" – "Ah joh, een hoop gedoe om niks!"
("What’s going on?" – "Oh well, much ado about nothing!" The phrase "wat is er aan de hand" can’t be used to ask in general what is going on or happening, but is only used when something is wrong or out of the ordinary. An alternative translation would be "what’s the fuss?")

Related words:
– "Ophef": fuss, ado.

to bleat (goats, sheep), to nag [verb] [mekkerde, gemekkerd] [‘me-ku-run’]

The common translation of mekkeren is "to bleat", but usually in the case of lambs or baby goats. For sheep and goats in general, one uses "blaten".

You can use the verb "mekkeren" informally for "zeuren", but usually jokingly.

Examples:
– "Het lammetje mekkerde onophoudelijk."
("The lamb bleated continuously." Literally: "… non-stoppingly.")

– "Ach wat een lief geitje! Hoor eens hoe het mekkert!"
("Ah, what a sweet little goat! Listen to it bleating!" Mind that "eens" is used here to lessen the command form a bit.)

– "Nou niet zo mekkeren, je hebt gisteren al snoep gehad!"
(<mother to child:> "Stop nagging, you alread got candy yesterday!" Literally: "Now don’t bleat like that,…")

 Related words:
– "Blaten": to bleat, to baa, or to talk nonsense.
– "Zeuren": to nag, complain, whine.
– "Zaniken": less common synonym for "zeuren".