Home
Site Map
Mobile 		Learning Dutch?
There's Never Been
A Better Time 		Pronunciation
Listening
Hear Names 		Words
Phrases
Grammar
Search my site: Facebook

False Friends - between Dutch and English

They look like you know them ... but they are not what you thought they'd be.
broodroof click to hear 2 - ('bread-theft') taking away someone's livelihood
kinderarts click to hear '[children's doctor] pediatrician'
sleepboot click to hear 2 'tugboat'
Hij is in de war. click to hear - He is confused, not in his right mind.
Karel de Kale click to hear - Charles the Bald
Hij deed talk in de band. click to hear 2 - He put baby powder in the tire.
(Obsolete procedure! Not recommended!)
Jan met de pet click to hear 2 ['John with the cap'] - The man in the street
Een brave man click to hear 2 3 - 'a harmless, obedient man'
De brave baker at brood met worst op de brink.
Hear Dutch: click to hear 2 3 4 5 - ~English: click to hear 2
The obedient nanny ate bread with sausage on the village square.
(baker 'nanny' is somewhat obsolete Dutch)
Common Dutch Names:
girls: An click to hear - Floor click to hear - Greet click to hear - Jet click to hear - Joke click to hear - Lies click to hear - Lot click to hear 2 - Mien click to hear 2 3 - Tine click to hear
boys: Ad click to hear - Age click to hear - Ale click to hear - Co click to hear - Ferry click to hear - Flip click to hear - Harm click to hear - Rein click to hear - Rob click to hear - Ton click to hear
More Dutch Names
In a Dutch text, you'll notice words that are identical to English words - but unfortunately, more often than not they have a different meaning. 'Is' is is click to hear and water also means the same in Dutch and English - though the pronunciation is not the same (hear Dutch 'water' - #2.) Other words may sound the same and stand for the same thing but have a different spelling, because English often uses other letters for vowel sounds. For instance, English 'bear' and Dutch beer click to hear sound about the same and both refer to the large animal ursus; both English 'beer' and Dutch bier click to hear is the foaming yellow drink, and Dutch sloep click to hear 2 is the small boat 'sloop.'
But Dutch wet click to hear means 'law,' it has nothing to do with water, and Dutch 'toestand' click to hear means 'situation' and it has nothing to do with standing on your toes. Sleepboot click to hear 2 is not some weird Dutch footwear for in bed, but a 'tugboat.' Another class again are words like Dutch sjouwer click to hear (a worker who carries things around on a building site) - or sectie click to hear (section, part; department; dissection) and bloemist click to hear ('florist') - blue mist? - that sounds very much like English words of a very different meaning.
This list is only about words that are spelled exactly the same but have different meaning. There are also many words that are almost identical - but there would be no end to the page listing those. A nice example is congenialiteit click to hear - in Dutch it means two geniuses who independently have the same great idea, like the Dutch playwright Vondel click to hear whose writing has some similarities to Shakespeare, or the German Von Kleist who developed the Leyden Jar (Leidse Fles click to hear 2 3) at the same time as the Dutchman Pieter van Musschenbroek * click to hear 2 3.
Overal click to hear ('everywhere')
Over the years I kept a list of those 'False Friends,' words that are not very helpful to the student of Dutch. Revising the Pronunciation Reference Page and its words list a few months ago I came to realize the number was much larger than I had thought, and it resulted in this list of almost 300 which is probably not exhaustive.
I only listed words that I'm familiar with and did not consult any other lists of this kind (if they are out there) and I only used dictionaries to check if my understanding of words was more or less correct. At the bottom of the page are a few words that I have not yet added to the list because I still have to find a good and short English or Dutch translation, or maybe they do not fit the format.

Ted Hoogendoorn sent me an email suggesting several new False Friends, like 'sleep,' 'sleet,' 'bevel,' 'gilt,' 'gist,' 'romp,' 'vale,' 'let,' 'libel' and 'veiling.' - Thank you very much, Ted.

Just the List - 'False Friends' Pronunciation Exercise

My 'Easy Dutch - Recognizable Words' pages show Dutch words that look or sound like English words of about the same meaning.

* = obsolete or unusual words
(Fr) = a word from French

- Waiting Room (below)

The Waiting Room - a second list

The False Friends
Meaning of Dutch Word
in English		 Dutch English Dutch Translation
of English Word		 synomym, description, alternate words
1. arm (the body part)
2. poor (not rich / pitiable)		 arm click to hear arm arm click to hear
wapen click to hear		 arm (the body part)
weapon, also: coat of arms
physician, MD arts click to hear 2 arts kunst click to hear the arts
1. ash, ashes
2. axle, axis		 as click to hear as als click to hear
zoals click to hear 2
omdat click to hear		 as a
like
because
ik at click to hear 2 >>
I ate, I was eating		 at click to hear 2 at op click to hear aan click to hear bij click to hear
te click to hear om click to hear in click to hear 2		 (prepositions indicating presence at or near
a place, time or activity)
1. bath
2. ik bad click to hear I prayed >>		 bad click to hear bad slecht click to hear not good
nanny baker * click to hear baker bakker click to hear tradesman baking bread, cookies etc.
a beam (wood) balk click to hear balk ~ weigeren click to hear 2 to balk - to refuse, protest, make trouble
1. tire, tube
2. bond, tie, tape		 band click to hear band band click to hear
groep click to hear

 tape, tie, bond
group, like in 'band of brothers' or 'rock band'
for 'rock band' Dutchmen often use English band click to hear
afraid, scared bang click to hear bang knal click to hear loud noise
1. money services
2. bench		 bank click to hear bank bank click to hear money services
1. drinks place
2. harsh, bleak		 bar click to hear 2 bar bar click to hear 2
lat click to hear
tralie click to hear
niet toelaten click to hear 2		 drinks place
straight piece of metal or wood
prison bar
to bar, not allow - also: niet toestaan click to hear verbieden click to hear
ik beef click to hear 2 I am trembling
aardbeving click to hear 2 earthquake		 beef click to hear 2 beef rundvlees click to hear cows & bulls meat - rundergehakt click to hear ground beef
leg been click to hear 2 3 been (ik ben) geweest click to hear (I have) been
bear beer click to hear beer bier click to hear the yellow drink with white foam
1. bite
2. gotcha!		 beet click to hear beet biet click to hear (red) beet vegetable
a present tense of bellen click to hear 2
1. to ring 2. to call (phone)
hij belt click to hear 2 - he is calling		 belt click to hear 2 belt riem click to hear
band click to hear 2
gordel click to hear 2		 item to hold up pants
black etc. (Judo)
1. area - also: strook click to hear 2; 2. safety belt (car)
jij bent click to hear 2 / click to hear 2
you (singular, informal) are		 bent click to hear 2 bent gebogen click to hear 2
verbogen click to hear 2 3		 past participle of 'to bend'
1. bent out of shape 2. declined, conjugated (grammar)
order, command bevel click to hear bevel schuine rand click to hear 2
aflopende rand click to hear 2		 sloping, not-perpendicular edge - like on a picture frame
ik bid click to hear I pray >> bid click to hear 2 bid bod click to hear 2 stating the price you're willing to pay /or/
price you're asking for a big job - also: offerte click to hear
the yellow drink
with white foam		 bier click to hear bier lijkbaar click to hear 2 raised plaform for displaying the body
of deceased important personage
young pig big click to hear big groot click to hear 2 large, tall
white (pink) skin blank click to hear 2 blank blanco click to hear
leeg click to hear
losse flodder click to hear 		empty (paper)
empty (look) - leeg / lege click to hear
gun cartridge without a bullet
association, federation
vakbond click to hear labor union		 bond click to hear 2 bond band click to hear 2
verbinding click to hear 2
contract click to hear
obligatie click to hear		 strong connection between humans
connection, adhesion, also: hechting click to hear
legally binding agreement, also: verbintenis click to hear 2
a kind of stock certificate
tree boom click to hear 2 boom dreun click to hear
explosie click to hear
hoge vlucht click to hear
stok click to hear lat click to hear 		heavy, low sound
explosion - also: ontploffing click to hear
sudden quick growth - also: hausse click to hear explosieve groei click to hear
stick, pole
bean boon click to hear 2 boon zegen click to hear
voordeel click to hear		 blessing
advantage
angry (boos / boze click to hear) boos click to hear boos boegeroep click to hear 2 loud sounds of disapproval
boat boot click to hear boot laars click to hear calf-covering footwear
ik boots na click to hear 2 I imitate, mimic
bootsman click to hear 2 3 boatswain		 boots click to hear 2 boots laarzen click to hear
'De Gelaarsde Kat' click to hear		 calf-covering footwear
'Puss in Boots'
1. leg piece of meat
(with bone)
2. bolt for nut
(machine screw?)		 bout click to hear bout vlaag click to hear 2
aanval click to hear 2
wedstrijd click to hear 2		 (short period) bout of activity
(attack) bout of fever, illness
(match) bout of boxing
well-behaved, harmless
braaf / brave click to hear 2		 brave click to hear 2 brave moedig click to hear 2
dapper click to hear
krijger click to hear 2		 courageous
courageous
a brave (Native American warrior)
fire brand click to hear brand merk click to hear name on product, trademark
wide, broad
breed / brede click to hear 2		 breed click to hear breed ras click to hear 2
soort click to hear		 animals offspring classification
letter (mail) brief click to hear 2 brief kort click to hear 2 3 short
village square brink click to hear brink op de rand click to hear 2
rand click to hear		 on the edge, in a dangerous position
edge - op de rand van de afgrond click to hear 2
'on the edge of the precipice'
bread brood click to hear 2 brood gebroed * click to hear 2
broedsel * click to hear 		offspring, spawn - addergebroed click to hear
adderengebroed click to hear "vipers' spawn" (pretty bad creatures)
'Value-Added Tax'
(a kind of sales tax)		 BTW click to hear 2 BTW trouwens click to hear 2 by the way, 'but also'
department head
chef (Fr.) click to hear 2
chef
 kok click to hear cook - chef-kok click to hear 2 ('head cook')
1. class at university
2. council of wise men		 college click to hear college - - - junior university >>
business competitor
concurrentie click to hear 2 competition
concurrent click to hear 2
concurrent
 gelijktijdig click to hear at the same time, coincidental
(children's) daycare center
also: kinderdagverblijf click to hear 2
crèche (Fr.) click to hear
crèche
 crèche click to hear
kerststal click to hear 2		 (children's) daycare center
miniature nativity scene
vapor damp click to hear 2 damp vochtig click to hear 2 somewhat wet
vapors dampen click to hear 2 dampen vochtig maken click to hear 2 3
temperen click to hear 2		 to moisten, make slightly wet
to lessen, curb enthusiasm etc.
thanks dank click to hear dank bedompt click to hear stuffy and humid
ik deed click to hear I did >> deed click to hear deed akte click to hear 2
document click to hear		 official document
1. pine tree
2. old-fashioned 'the'		 den click to hear den hol click to hear
~ kamertje click to hear 2 		animal lair
cozy small room
that, those die click to hear die doodgaan click to hear
sterven click to hear
dobbelsteen click to hear 2 		to die, pass away
to die, pass away
gaming tool
festive evening meal
diner (Fr.) click to hear
diner
 restaurant click to hear restaurant, klein click to hear 2 'small' - goedkoop click to hear 2 'cheap'
thing ding click to hear ding deuk click to hear 2 dent (usually in a car body)
varied divers click to hear 2 divers duikers click to hear scuba men etc.
do!
ik doe click to hear I do >>		 doe click to hear doe hinde click to hear deer female
1. through
2. by		 door click to hear door deur click to hear 2 entry to room or house
a deaf person dove click to hear 2 dove duif click to hear 2
ik dook click to hear 2		 pigeon - plural: duiven click to hear
I dove - past tense of duiken click to hear >> 'to dive'
boxes
doos - dozen click to hear 2		 dozen click to hear 2 dozen dozijn click to hear 12
wet sediment or murky,
thick liquid (like, bad coffee)
- bezinksel click to hear 2 sediment 		drab click to hear 2 drab saai click to hear
kleurloos click to hear 2
vaalbruin click to hear 2 3 		boring, without excitement (saai/saaie click to hear 2)
'colorless'
faded brown
1. ~beverage 2. liquor drank click to hear drank ik dronk click to hear 2 I drank, I was drinking
bold, reckless
doldriest click to hear beserk		 driest click to hear driest droogste click to hear most dry, least wet
liquorice drop click to hear drop vallen click to hear
val click to hear
druppel click to hear		 to fall
a fall
a very small amount of liquid
shower
douche (Fr.) click to hear
douche
 (unmentionable)
thin, skinny dun click to hear dun grauw click to hear 2
grijs click to hear		 ashen
elsewhere,
in another place		 elders click to hear elders
wijze oude
mannen		 click to hear 2
wise old men ('village elders')
each, every
elk / elke click to hear		 elk click to hear elk eland click to hear large kind of deer
1.enamel
2. email (the English word)
email (Fr.) click to hear
email
 email (the English word is used)
envelope (mail)
envelop (Fr.) click to hear 2
envelop
 omhullen click to hear 2
omsingelen click to hear 2		 to cover from all sides
to surround (military)
1. just a moment
2. even (numbers)		 even click to hear 2 even zelfs click to hear
effen click to hear 2 vlak click to hear
gelijk click to hear 2
even click to hear 2		 even: on top of that ...
smooth, flat
equal - gelijke click to hear 2
even (numbers)
a dandy fat click to hear fat vet click to hear
dik click to hear		 grease, greasy
heavy, voluminous - dik / dikke click to hear 2
a fairy fee click to hear fee kosten click to hear a charge, money that needs to be paid
traffic jam file click to hear file bestand click to hear
archief click to hear
archiefstuk click to hear
vijl click to hear 		computer file
archive
archive item
tool for scraping
lightbulb socket fitting click to hear 2 fitting gepast click to hear 2
passend click to hear
passen click to hear 2 		fitting, appropriate
1. fitting, appropriate 2. fitting, right size
fitting, trying on clothes
1. high-rise building
2. apartment in a high-rise
also: flatje click to hear		 flat click to hear
(English)		 flat vlak click to hear
flat click to hear		 level and horizontal
apartment
brochure
usually: foldertje click to hear		 folder click to hear folder map click to hear medium-size holder for papers
partition on the neck of
a string instrument		 fret click to hear fret zich zorgen
maken click to hear 2
fret click to hear
to fret, to worry
partition on the neck of a string instrument
gall gal click to hear 2 gal meisje click to hear girl
corridor, hallway gang click to hear gang bende click to hear bunch of bad guys
1. gift
2. whole, undamaged
gaaf / gave click to hear 2 		gave click to hear 2 gave ik gaf click to hear 2 >> I donated - past tense of geven click to hear 2 'to give'
'validity,' 'applicability'
gelding click to hear 2
gelding
 ruin click to hear 2 a castrated horse
'those yonder' gene * click to hear gene gen click to hear plural: genen click to hear (note vowel lengthening)
chromosome building blocks
1. genius (person)
2. army corps of engineers		 genie * click to hear 2 genie djinn click to hear
geest in de fles click to hear 2 		'spirit in the bottle'
zij gilt click to hear 2 'she shrieks,
cries out' 		gilt click to hear 2 gilt bladgoud click to hear 2
goudverf click to hear 2		 a very thin layer of gold
gold paint
1. yeast
2. het gist click to hear 2 it is fermenting >>
3. de mens gist click to hear 2 Man guesses		 gist click to hear gist essentie click to hear 2
hoofdgedachte click to hear 2 3		 the essence, the main idea
past tense of gelden click to hear 2 >>
't gold click to hear it was valid,
it counted (as)		 gold click to hear 2 gold goud click to hear 2 the valuable yellow metal
1. slippery
2. smooth		 glad click to hear glad blij click to hear happy, joyful
gravel grind click to hear grind ik maal click to hear I pulverize - malen click to hear 'to grind'
grof / grove click to hear
coarse: 1. not fine 2. rude		 grove click to hear grove bosje click to hear 2 a small group of trees
fly, pants zipper gulp click to hear gulp slok click to hear mouthful of drink
eraser
usually: gummetje click to hear 2		 gum click to hear gum kauwgom click to hear
tandvlees click to hear 2 		chewing gum
gums, what's around the sockets of teeth
ik gun click to hear 2 I grant
gunnen click to hear 2 to grant		 gun click to hear gun geweer click to hear 2 rifle
woodcarving tool guts click to hear guts ingewanden click to hear 2
lef click to hear		 intestines
daring, bravery - from Hebrew lev 'heart'
secondary ('high') school type,
'Latin stream'
gymnasium click to hear
gymnasium
 gymzaal click to hear 2 gymnastics (PE) classroom
1. not soft
2. fast, not slow		 hard click to hear hard hard click to hear
moeilijk click to hear		 not soft
difficult
1. rake (gardening tool)
2. a clumsy boy or man		 hark click to hear hark hoor click to hear
luister click to hear		 hear!
listen!
(moveable) property
(i.e. cattle)		 have * click to hear have hebben click to hear to have = to own and auxiliary verb
for the perfect tense >>
port, harbour haven click to hear haven toevluchtsoord click to hear place of refuge
1.whole
2. very		 heel click to hear heel hiel click to hear
kapje click to hear 2		 tendon at the back of the foot
end piece of a loaf of bread
hero
heldhaftig click to hear 2 heroic		 held click to hear 2 held ik hield click to hear I held, I was holding
- past tense of: houden click to hear 2 'to hold' >>
helmet helm click to hear helm roer click to hear
stuurwiel click to hear		 rudder
steering wheel
him hem click to hear hem zoom click to hear 2 3 finished edge of fabric
how? hoe click to hear hoe hak click to hear 2
schoffel click to hear 2		 hoe
scuffle hoe, Dutch hoe
the North-West part
of the country >>
Holland click to hear
Holland
 Nederland click to hear 2 Don't say 'Holland' when speaking Dutch
honey
honing click to hear 2
honing
 slijpen click to hear sharpening, to sharpen
1. hope
2. heap, load		 hoop click to hear 2 hoop hoepel click to hear large ring
it's a pity
jammer click to hear 2
jammer
 stoorzender click to hear broadcasting station interfering with
reception of another radio station
bald
kaal / kale click to hear 2 		kale click to hear kale kool click to hear 2 cabbage
throat keel click to hear keel kiel click to hear ship bottom
chillier, colder
kil click to hear chilly, cold		 killer click to hear 2 killer moordenaar click to hear 2 3 murderer - (de) moord click to hear 2 'murder'
chin kin click to hear 2 kin familie click to hear relatives
child kind click to hear 2 kind aardig click to hear
soort click to hear 		friendly, caring - also: vriendelijk click to hear
type
[Bumper sticker saying: 'Proud Parent of a Kind Child'] [Bumper sticker saying: 'Proud Parent of a Kind Child']
senile kinds click to hear 2 kinds soorten click to hear 2 types
skein, ball
'n knot wol click to hear a skein of wool		 knot click to hear knot knoop click to hear 2
knoest click to hear		 fastened or tangled string
irreglarity in wood
ik lag click to hear 2 3 >>
I was lying down 		lag click to hear 2 lag vertraging click to hear 2
achterblijven click to hear 2		 delay
to lag behind
lower lager click to hear lager bier click to hear beer (Pilsen-type)
1. lamb
2. lame, paralyzed		 lam click to hear lam op de vlucht click to hear 2 on the lam, on the run
late (not early)
laat / late click to hear 2		 late click to hear late late click to hear
wijlen click to hear		 late (not early)
the deceased
burden last click to hear 2 last laatste click to hear 2
leest click to hear		 latest, newest; end of the line
foot model, shoemaker's tool
'piece' - a surface 'unit'
'n lap stof click to hear 2 a piece of fabric
'n lap grond click to hear a piece of land		 lap click to hear lap schoot click to hear
~ rondje click to hear
baantje click to hear 2		 schoothondje click to hear 2 ('lap dog')
one circuit of race track or sports field
swimming one length of swimming pool
1. layman
2. 't leek click to hear 2 (it) looked like		 leek click to hear leek prei click to hear soup vegetable, stalk from onion family
1. leather
2. teachings, doctrine
3. ik leer click to hear 2 I am learning		 leer click to hear 2 leer loeren click to hear
gluren click to hear 2		 to leer, 'to look lasciviously'
1. ik leg click to hear I lay
2. chickens' egg-laying		 leg click to hear leg been click to hear the body part
1. lessons
2. dorst lessen click to hear 2 to slake thirst		 lessen click to hear 2 lessen verminderen click to hear 2 to decrease
let op! click to hear 2 - pay attention!
(person from Latvia Letland click to hear)		 let click to hear let laten click to hear
verhuren click to hear 2		 to let, allow >>
to rent out
alphabet character letter click to hear 2 letter letter click to hear 2
brief click to hear		 letter, character
mail message
liver lever click to hear lever hefboom click to hear
hendel click to hear 2		 a bar to asymmetrically apply force
a handle to control machinery
dragonfly libel click to hear 2 3 libel smaad click to hear 2 3 ~ slander
member lid click to hear 2 lid deksel click to hear pan cover
song
usually: liedje click to hear		 lied click to hear lied hij loog click to hear
ze hebben gelogen click to hear		 he lied
they have lied, were lying >>
groin, where the leg
joins the body		 lies click to hear 2 lies leugens click to hear 2 untruths - singular: (de) leugen click to hear
ceremonial tape lint click to hear 2 lint stof click to hear 2 dust
ruse, trick list click to hear 2 list lijst click to hear a summing-up of items
hard to move, not nimble log click to hear log blok hout click to hear
verslag click to hear		 block of wood
report, record
harder to move
(comparative degree of log) 		logger click to hear 2 logger houthakker click to hear 2 3 ['wood chopper'] lumberjack
lung
plural: longen click to hear		 long click to hear long lang click to hear /
lang lange click to hear		 de lange mars click to hear 'the long march'
een lang verhaal click to hear 'a long story'
slow, languid loom click to hear 2 loom weefgetouw click to hear 2
opdoemen click to hear		 fabric production machine
to loom, threateningly appear
1. ik loop click to hear I walk >>
2. gunbarrel		 loop click to hear 2 loop lus click to hear 2 circle of string; repeating process
new, young branch loot click to hear loot buit click to hear plunder, booty
leaves, foliage lover * click to hear lover minnaar click to hear 2
maîtresse click to hear 2 3
liefhebber click to hear 2		 (male) illicit lover of women
mistress, secret lover (female)
lover of things
engineer, engine driver
(trains, ships engines)
machinist click to hear 2
machinist
 machine-
bankwerker click to hear 2
monteur click to hear 2
lathe operator (working in metal)
mechanic
maggot
usually plural: maden click to hear		 made click to hear made gemaakt click to hear manufactured, fabricated
1. a male of the human species
2. husband		 man click to hear 2 man man click to hear 2
mens click to hear 2
de mensheid click to hear 2		 a male of the human species
a human being
humankind, mankind
holder for papers map click to hear map kaart click to hear 2 geographical representation, drawing of an area
1. report 2. rumor
3. story, legend		 mare * click to hear 2 mare merrie click to hear 2 3 female horse
1. mate van click to hear level of, degree
2. met mate click to hear in moderation		 mate click to hear 2 mate makker click to hear
paren click to hear
huisgenoot click to hear		 mate, friend (see also under 'pal')
to mate, to couple
roommate (literally: 'housemate')
ik meet click to hear
I take measurements		 meet click to hear meet wedstrijd click to hear 2
ontmoeten click to hear 2
bijeenkomen click to hear 2		 sports competition
to meet someone (for the first time)
to gather, get together - also: bij elkaar komen click to hear 2
a kind of 'they'
men zegt dat ... click to hear
'it is said that ...'		 men click to hear men mannen click to hear 2 human males
brass
(a copper/zinc mixture)
messing click to hear 2
messing
 rotzooien click to hear engaging in trouble
with met click to hear met ik ontmoette click to hear 2
ontmoet click to hear
ik heb ontmoet click to hear 2		 I met
met - past participle of ontmoeten click to hear 2 'to meet'
I have met
spleen (body organ) milt click to hear 2 3 milt hom click to hear 2 fish sperm
less, fewer minder click to hear minder oppasser click to hear 2 3 4
oppas click to hear 		'a person watching over you' - the less authoritarian
counselor 'guiding' you is (de) begeleider click to hear 2
cabinet minister
minister click to hear 2
minister
 predikant click to hear
minister click to hear 2		 minister (religion) - address: dominee click to hear ('reverend')
cabinet minister
fashion mode click to hear mode manier click to hear 2
stand click to hear
houding click to hear		 manner, way of doing
like in 'sleep mode'
attitude, like in 'survival mode' - also: instelling click to hear 2
hij molt click to hear 2 he breaks, destroys
mollen click to hear 2 to break, destroy		 molt click to hear 2 molt rui click to hear 2 3 birds' changing of feathers
a piece (of fish) moot click to hear moot achterhaald click to hear overtaken (a moot point) - also:
niet meer belangrijk click to hear 2 'no longer important'
joke
also: mopje click to hear		 mop click to hear 2 mop dweil click to hear 2
zwabber click to hear		 wet-cleaning cloth
raghead on a stick
old measurement
(100 liters)		 mud * click to hear 2 mud modder click to hear very wet soil
mosquito mug click to hear mug beker click to hear
mok click to hear 2		 large cup
laminated board
(more than 3 layers)
multiplex click to hear 2
multiplex
 bioscopencomplex click to hear 2 a cluster of cinemas
small wooden bowl
zuignap click to hear 'suction cup' 		nap * click to hear nap dutje click to hear short sleep
prison (slang) nor * click to hear nor noch click to hear 2 neither ... nor
usefulness, use nut click to hear nut noot click to hear type of tree fruit, usually in wooden shell
secondhand car for sale
('at a good price')
occasion click to hear 2
occasion
 gelegenheid click to hear 2
aanleiding click to hear
gebeurtenis click to hear 		opportunity
reason for, cause of (often seemingly)
event, incident - also voorval click to hear 2
or of click to hear of van click to hear indicating origin or ownership
sacrifice offer click to hear 2 offer aanbod click to hear
aanbieden click to hear
voorstel click to hear		 can I get you something? // I'll do this for $X
to offer
proposal
1. order (buying)
2. order (command)		 order click to hear order order click to hear
order click to hear
orde click to hear 2		 order (buying)
order (command) also: bevel click to hear
order (discipline) // order (group)
1. (het) pad click to hear 2 path
plural: paden click to hear 2
2. (de) pad click to hear 2 toad
plural: padden click to hear 2		 pad click to hear 2 pad kussentje click to hear
bloknoot click to hear 2
platform click to hear 2
opvullen click to hear 2		 a small or very small cushion
notepad
like, a helipad
to pad: to cushion, or to fill with irrelevant material
(standing) firm ->> pal click to hear pal vriend click to hear
maat click to hear maatje click to hear
makker click to hear 		friend, comrade
a knight's servant page (Fr.) click to hear page bladzijde click to hear in a book
1. mating
2. pairing		 paring click to hear 2 paring schillen click to hear 2

afsnijden click to hear 2 		peeling, cutting off skin - (de) schil click to hear 'peel, skin, outer layer'
(het) schilmesje click to hear 'paring knife'
cutting off
't past click to hear 2 'it fits' past click to hear 2 past voorbij click to hear
het verleden click to hear		 over
the past
het paste click to hear it fit (past tense)
zij paste click to hear 2 she tried on
(clothes)		 paste click to hear 2 paste plakken click to hear to paste, to glue - also: lijmen click to hear 2
(de) lijm click to hear glue, paste
stalemate (chess) pat click to hear pat kloppen click to hear
klopje click to hear 2
 to strike lightly - kloppen also means 'to knock'
a gentle slap - also: schouderklopje click to hear 2
pat-on-the-[shoulder]-back
solitaire (card game)
patience (Fr.) click to hear 2
patience
 geduld click to hear 2 geduldig click to hear 2 3 patient
pear peer click to hear 2 3 peer gelijke click to hear an equal, like in 'jury of his peers'
medal, coin
(think of: 'penny')
penning click to hear 2
penning
 aan 't schrijven click to hear 2 3 writing
1. tripe (organ meat)
2. paunch		 pens click to hear 2 pens pennen click to hear 2 ink writing instruments - singular: (de) pen click to hear
boarding house
pension (Fr.) click to hear
pension
 pensioen click to hear income after retirement
1. baseball cap
2. rotten, not good		 pet click to hear 2 pet huisdier click to hear
favoriet click to hear		 domestic animal
favorite
little finger, 'pinky' pink click to hear pink roze click to hear 'white' skin color
1. small seed in fruit
2. energy (human)		 pit click to hear 2 pit kuil click to hear
mijn click to hear 2
pit click to hear		 large hole in the ground
mine (like, coal mine)
stone (seed in fruit)
living plant plant click to hear plant plant click to hear
fabriek click to hear 2 		living plant
factory
(slang) loot, criminal gain poet click to hear 2 poet dichter click to hear 2 writer of verses - diminutive: dichtertje click to hear
1. practical joke, trick
2. ik poets click to hear 2 I am
polishing, shining >>		 poets click to hear 2 poets dichters click to hear 2 writers of verses - also: poëten click to hear 2
(~pound) 1.1 Lb
½ kilogram, 500 grams		 pond click to hear pond vijver click to hear
plas click to hear 2		 a very small body of water, usually in a garden
a small lake
pole, like in:
de noordpool click to hear 2 the North Pole
de zuidpool click to hear the South Pole		 pool click to hear pool zwembad click to hear 2
pot click to hear
samendoen click to hear 2
biljart click to hear
poel click to hear 		swimming pool
money wagered in gambling game
to pool, share resources - gezamenlijk click to hear 'shared'
billiards, a game of ivory balls on a green table
a small body of water, usually murky -
poel van verderf click to hear 2 'pool of vice'
doll pop click to hear 2 pop knal click to hear
schot click to hear 2
pa click to hear 2, vader click to hear
popmuziek click to hear 		the sound of a small explosion
a shot
Dad
pop music
Portuguese sweet,
strong wine		 port click to hear port haven click to hear harbor
ill-mannered young man
pummel click to hear
pummel
 beuken click to hear to pummel, to hit hard
well, waterhole put click to hear 2 put zetten click to hear to put
spiderweb material
also: spinrag click to hear 2		 rag click to hear rag vod click to hear 2 worn-out clothing item, plural: vodden click to hear 'rags'
also: lompen click to hear 'rags'
craze, fad rage (Fr.) click to hear rage woede-
uitbarsting click to hear		 a fit ('eruption') of anger - woede click to hear 'anger'
disaster
rampzalig click to hear 2 disastrous		 ramp click to hear ramp helling click to hear
oprit click to hear 2		 slope
1. slender
2. tendril, vine: wijnrank click to hear		 rank click to hear 2 rank rang click to hear 2
smerig click to hear 2
bedorven click to hear 2
te sterk click to hear 2		 position in hierarchy
foul
spoiled, rotten - cf: ranzig click to hear 2 'rancid'
too strong (bad taste or smell)
quickly rap * click to hear rap praten click to hear
kloppen click to hear 		to rap, to talk, to chat - also: kletsen click to hear 2
to knock
1. 'official' report (bureaucratic)
2. schoolchildren's grades sheet
rapport click to hear 2
rapport
 verstandhouding click to hear 2
contact click to hear 2		 relation, mutual understanding
connection, communication
strange, weird, odd
raar / rare click to hear 2		 rare click to hear rare zeldzaam click to hear 2
kort gebakken click to hear 2 		uncommon, unusual - also: ongebruikelijk click to hear 2
'sautéed shortly,' underdone meat -
rood van binnen click to hear 2 ('red inside')
ravens raven click to hear 2 raven raaf click to hear The English singular is the Dutch plural
ik red click to hear 2 I rescue, save red click to hear 2 red rood click to hear 2 the color of blood
ik reed click to hear 2
I drove, I rode >>		 reed click to hear reed riet click to hear yellow stalks at waterside
pure, clean rein * click to hear 2 rein teugel click to hear 2 (horse) control - plural: teugels click to hear
remainder, remnant rest click to hear 2 rest rust click to hear 2 a time of quiet, relaxation, low activity
ring (on finger) ring click to hear 2 ring ring click to hear 2
geluid click to hear
klok luiden click to hear		 ring (on finger)
sound (nice ring to it)
to ring a church bell
red - rood / rode click to hear
rode rozen click to hear red roses		 rode click to hear rode ik reed click to hear 2 I rode; I drove >>
(bundle of twigs,
for punishment)		 roe click to hear 2 roe hom click to hear 2
kuit click to hear 2
ree click to hear 2 		fish eggs (soft)
fish eggs (hard)
a type of small deer
robbery, theft roof click to hear 2 roof dak click to hear 2 top cover of building or structure
smoke rook click to hear rook toren click to hear
roek click to hear		 castle (chess) - the Dutch word 'toren' also means 'tower'
a crow-like bird
cream room click to hear room kamer click to hear zitkamer click to hear ('living room') - slaapkamer click to hear 2 ('bedroom') >>
klaslokaal click to hear ('classroom' >>) - De Tweede Kamer click to hear 2
('The Second Chamber,' the Dutch House of Representatives >>)
1. grate
2. schedule, roster
rooster click to hear 2
rooster
 haan click to hear 2 chicken male
robber, mugger rover click to hear rover zwerver click to hear
rover click to hear		 wanderer
robber - zeerover click to hear 'pirate'
back (body part) rug click to hear rug kleed click to hear
tapijt click to hear 2 		carpet, tapestry
a gelding,
a castrated horse		 ruin click to hear 2 ruin ruïne click to hear 2
vernietigen click to hear 2
vernietiging click to hear		 dilapidated building
to ruin, to destroy - also: ruïneren click to hear 2
destruction - also: instorting click to hear 2 'collapse'
a time of quiet, low activity rust click to hear 2 rust roest click to hear iron oxidation
rust roest click to hear low activity leads to stagnation
sine (trigoniometry) sinus click to hear sinus voorhoofdsholte click to hear 'brow cavity' - voorhoofdsholteontsteking click to hear 2 3 'sinus infection'
glum, unhappy sip click to hear 2 sip slokje click to hear a very small gulp
met kleine slokjes drinken click to hear 2 - 'to sip, drinking small amounts'
cister (medieval string instrument) sister click to hear 2 * sister zusje click to hear / zus click to hear
zuster click to hear		 female sibling - zus and zuster are a bit old-fashioned
zuster can also mean 'nurse' or 'nun'
bib
usually: slabbetje click to hear 2		 slab click to hear 2 slab vlak stuk click to hear 2
plaat click to hear 2
plak click to hear 2		 flat piece (meat, marble) - also: plat stuk click to hear
sheet (of metal) - plaatstaal click to hear 2 (plate steel)
flat piece of cheese, or a slice of something baked -
een plakje cake click to hear 2
1. blow 2. battle slag click to hear slag slakken click to hear molten debris of ore extraction
- singular: slak click to hear (which also means 'snail' or 'slug')
1. snake
2. hose		 slang click to hear 2 slang 'slang' (Engl.) click to hear
Bargoens click to hear 2 		subgroup jargon
weak slap click to hear slap klap click to hear 2 a hit in the face; setback
1. train (of a dress)
2. ik sleep click to hear I drag, I tow		 sleep click to hear 2 sleep slaap click to hear 2 resting unconsciously - (de) slaapkamer click to hear 2 'bedroom' >>
1. het sleet click to hear 2 ('it wore out/off')
2. ik sleet click to hear 2 ('~I passed the time')
- past tense of slijten click to hear 2 ->> 		sleet click to hear 2 sleet natte sneeuw click to hear 2
ijzel click to hear 2		 'wet snow'
rain that freezes when it hits the ground
bright, intelligent slim click to hear slim slank click to hear
klein click to hear 2 		slender - also: dun click to hear thin, or: mager click to hear skinny
small: kleine kans click to hear 2 'slim chance' (dikke kans click to hear 2 'fat chance')
more clever
slimmer click to hear 2
slimmer
 slanker click to hear 2 more slender
1. pillowcase
2. (cars) wrecking place		 sloop click to hear 2 sloop sloep click to hear 2 small boat
1. lock
2. end
3. castle		 slot click to hear 2 slot plaats click to hear (fitting, right) place
pain, hurt
smart * click to hear 2
smart
 slim click to hear
intelligent click to hear 2
pijn hebben click to hear
lijden click to hear 2		 bright, intelligent
bright, intelligent
to smart, be in pain
to smart, suffer
tension
(physical and psychological)
hoogspanning click to hear 2 high voltage
spanning click to hear 2 3
spanning
 ~zich uitstrekken
over click to hear 2 3
~omvang click to hear 2
~reikwijdte click to hear 2
to extend
extent, magnitude
range, scope
skewer, pin for roasting
 spies click to hear spies spionnen click to hear 2 covert gatherers of information - singular: (de) spion click to hear 2
spider spin click to hear spin draai click to hear turn // perception control
1. stick for roasting meat
2. a backache
3. ik spit click to hear I'm digging
with a shovel		 spit click to hear spit spit click to hear
speeksel click to hear 2
ik spuug click to hear 2		 stick for holding meat over a fire
saliva - also: spuug click to hear 2
I'm spitting out saliva
ghost spook click to hear 2 spook bang maken click to hear 2
bang voor click to hear 2 		to spook, to scare, frighten
spooked by
ridicule, derision
spotten met click to hear 2
to make fun of; to defy		 spot click to hear 2 spot plaats click to hear
vlek click to hear 2
smet click to hear 2		 place - also: plek click to hear 2
stain, a small dirty or discolored area
stain, disgrace, something to be ashamed of, a moral failure
ik spring click to hear 2 I jump spring click to hear spring lente click to hear
veer click to hear
bron click to hear		 season between Winter and Summer
tensile device
water source
stage, phase
stadium click to hear 2
stadium
 stadion click to hear 2 sports arena
internship
stage (Fr.) click to hear
stage
 toneel click to hear
stadium click to hear 		performance place - Dutch often uses German Bühne click to hear
phase, point in progression
setting stand click to hear stand standaard click to hear 2
kraampje click to hear
standje click to hear		 like, a music stand
market stand
stand at exhibition (Dutchified English)
inflexible star click to hear star ster click to hear distant sun // great performer
1. stick (on large tools)
bezemsteel click to hear 'broomstick'
2. stem (plants)		 steel click to hear 2 steel staal click to hear improved iron
1. voice
2. vote		 stem click to hear stem steel click to hear 2 stalk of plants
children's scooter step click to hear 2 step stap click to hear a move, by feet or figuratively
dull, not sharp
punch, hit
stub, stump - stompje click to hear 2		 stomp click to hear 2 stomp stampen click to hear 2 to stomp, slamming feet on the floor
or a machine making that kind of noise
interruption
storing click to hear 2
storing
 opslaan click to hear 2 putting things in storage
high winds, gale
~orkaan click to hear 2 hurricane		 storm click to hear 2 storm onweer click to hear
erg slecht weer click to hear 2		 electrical storm, thunderstorm:
bliksem click to hear 'lightning' & donder click to hear 'thunder'
very bad weather - also: noodweer click to hear 2
naughty stout click to hear stout zwaar click to hear
dapper click to hear
moedig click to hear 2		 heavy, sturdily built (people)
brave, courageous (obsolete meaning in Dutch,
Karel de Stoute click to hear 'Charles the Bold')
beach strand click to hear strand draad click to hear thread, string, wire
jokey present at
Sinterklaas ->>
surprise (Fr.) click to hear 2
surprise
 verrassing click to hear something unexpected
tasks
singular: taak click to hear 2		 taken click to hear taken genomen click to hear 2 past participle of nemen click to hear 'to take'
ik heb genomen click to hear 'I have taken'
baby powder
usually: talkpoeder click to hear 2		 talk click to hear talk praatje click to hear 2
praten click to hear
gepraat click to hear 2		 a chat
to talk
empty talk
pliers tang click to hear 2 tang ~ sterke smaak click to hear
~ scherpe geur click to hear
~ typische geur click to hear		 strong taste
sharp smell
characteristic smell
toe teen click to hear teen tiener click to hear the English word 'teenager' is more often used
'at' ten * click to hear ten tien click to hear 10
tea thee click to hear thee U click to hear
gij click to hear 2		 old-fashioned, respectful 'you'
hij tilde click to hear 2 3
1. he lifted see also
2. he swindled		 tilde click to hear 2 3 tilde tilde click to hear 2 3 ~
hij tilt click to hear 2 3 'he lifts' tilt click to hear 2 tilt voorkeur click to hear 2
neiging click to hear
scheef click to hear / schuin click to hear 2
scheef houden click to hear 2		 preference
tendency
not horizontal (scheef/scheve click to hear)
to tilt, hold at an angle
tin (Sn, the metal) tin click to hear tin blikje click to hear 2
tin click to hear		 tin can
tin (the metal) - blik click to hear 'tinplate'
suggestion tip click to hear tip tip click to hear
fooi click to hear		 suggestion
gratuity, extra payment
1. naar ... toe click to hear to
2. come on!		 toe click to hear 2 toe teen click to hear foot finger
till, to tot click to hear tot peuter click to hear 2
dreumes click to hear		 a small child
stairs trap click to hear trap val click to hear device or trick to catch an animal or person
bike pedal trapper click to hear 2 trapper (vallenzetter click to hear 2 3
pelsjager click to hear 2 3 4		 hunter setting traps)
hunter of furry animals
(de) pels click to hear 2 fleece, fur
stairs step
also: trede click to hear		 tree click to hear tree boom click to hear 2 main forest element
1. ik trek click to hear 2 I pull, I drag
2. hunger, an appetite
3. journey		 trek click to hear 2 trek trek click to hear 2 journey
a trembling, a shaking, vibration
trilling click to hear 2
trilling
 ~vibrato click to hear 2 producing a 'vibrato' sound, two rapidly alternating tones
1. pride 2. proud trots click to hear 2 trots draaft click to hear 2 het paard draaft click to hear 2 the horse trots - draven click to hear 2 to trot
(toothpaste etc.) container tube click to hear 2 tube buis click to hear
binnenband click to hear 		pipe
rubber 'inner' tire
peat turf click to hear turf grasveld click to hear lawn
ik turn click to hear 2
type of gymnastics		 turn click to hear 2 turn beurt click to hear
draai click to hear
draaien click to hear		 whose turn is it?
a twist
to turn, to spin
quarrel twist * click to hear twist draai click to hear a spin
discolored, washed out,
faded - vaal click to hear		 vale click to hear vale vallei click to hear valley
of (origin or ownership) van click to hear van caravan click to hear
~ busje click to hear 2 		detachable camper, trailer
large car type
fast, firmly connected,
not loose		 vast click to hear vast heel groot click to hear
gigantisch click to hear 2		 very large
1. spring (tensile device)
2. feather
3. ferry		 veer click to hear veer afwijken click to hear to veer, move from target
auction veiling click to hear veiling versluieren click to hear 2
versluiering click to hear 2		 covering, hiding - (de) sluier click to hear ('veil')
a guy, a bloke, a man
(somewhat unfavorable)		 vent click to hear vent luchtgat click to hear 2
ontluchten click to hear 2
stoom afblazen click to hear 2		 opening to let gas (air) out
to let gas (air) out
to blow off steam, relieve pressure (literally and figuratively)
fresh (vers / verse click to hear 2 3) verse click to hear 2 verse vers / verzen click to hear poem/poems, poetry - (verzen is the plural of vers)
wool cardigan or fleece jacket vest click to hear vest vestje click to hear vest (sleeveless, over-a-shirt garment with zipper or buttons) >>
1. fat, greasy (vet / vette click to hear 2)
2. fat, grease		 vet click to hear vet veteraan click to hear 2
dierenarts click to hear		 veteran
veterinarian, animals doctor
violet (blue purple) violet click to hear violet viooltje click to hear
violet click to hear		 a small, flowering plant
blue purple - also: blauwpaars click to hear 2
wake, vigil wake click to hear 2 3 wake (het) kielzog click to hear
2 3 4 5 6 7 		whitewater 'trail' of a boat or ship
wall (of a room) wand click to hear wand toverstokje click to hear a magician's or wizard's stick
1. mitt
2. for, because		 want click to hear 2 want behoefte click to hear
gebrek aan click to hear
verlangen click to hear 2 		a need
lack of
to desire
in de war click to hear
confused, in confusion		 war click to hear war oorlog click to hear violent struggle between groups
1. ik was click to hear I was >>
2a. laundry 2b. (I) wash
3. wax		 was click to hear was ik was click to hear I was
ik waste click to hear >>
1. I washed up
2. I did laundry		 waste click to hear 2 waste afval click to hear 2
verspillen click to hear
verspilling click to hear
 scraps, leavings, garbage
to waste, not put to good use
not using good material and letting it go to waste
1. contraction (birth)
2. woe to ...
3. heimwee click to hear 2 homesickness		 wee click to hear wee klein click to hear 2 small, little
't went click to hear 2 'you get used to it'
alles went click to hear 2 3 'you get used
to [everything] anything'		 went click to hear 2 went ik ging click to hear 2 3
wij gingen click to hear 2		 I went
we went >>
law wet click to hear wet nat click to hear water-drenched
wedge wig click to hear 2 wig pruik click to hear not your own hair
white wit click to hear 2 wit geestig iemand click to hear 2
scherpzinnigheid click to hear 2
te weten ... click to hear 2		 a wit, a witty person - geestig click to hear 2 'witty'
sharp-wittedness ('wit' is clever humor)
to wit ... - also: namelijk ... click to hear
miracle wonder click to hear wonder zich afvragen click to hear to wonder, to be curious
ik word click to hear 2 - I become,
I am being (the passive verb >>) 		word click to hear 2 word woord click to hear woordenboek click to hear 2 'dictionary' - woordenschat click to hear 2 'vocabulary'
sausage worst click to hear worst ergste click to hear
slechtste click to hear		 the most awful,
the lowest quality
[ramp with graffitti saying 'ramp']
helling click to hear		 ['Nogal Lane' street sign]
nogal click to hear 2 ('rather')
een mud aardappels click to hear 100 liters of potatoes
warhoofd click to hear
wartaal click to hear 2		 scatterbrain
gibberish
strijkbout click to hear 2
soldeerbout click to hear 		ironing iron
soldering iron
stroomstoring click to hear 2 power outage
have en goed click to hear all of a person's possessions
drinken met mate click to hear drink (alcohol) in moderation
de letter van de wet click to hear 2 'the precise wording of the law, a literal reading of the law'
de worst is over click to hear 2 'the sausage was left, there is leftover sausage'
in de loop van de dag click to hear 2 'in the course of the day' (usually late afternoon)
Gedeelde smart is halve smart. click to hear [shared grief means halved grief]
Sharing grief makes it easier to bear.
Wee je gebeente! click to hear 2 [Woe to your bones] you'll suffer dreadfully (when ...)
De kippen zijn van de leg. click to hear The chickens are not laying eggs regularly.

Waiting Room

 (de) wachtkamer click to hear 2
Some False Friends do not fit the format or I have not yet found good and short Dutch or English translations.
meaning of Dutch word False Friend Dutch translation of English word
botsen click to hear to collide, crash into - ik bots click to hear 2 I collide, crash into bots click to hear 2 3 AI computers
breakers, waves on a beach branding click to hear 2 brand name publicity; brandmerken click to hear 2 'burning a mark'
physical, solid, real (not talk) - also: concreet click to hear 2 concrete click to hear 2 1. beton click to hear 2 ('the building material')
2. physical, solid, real (not talk)
de Here click to hear 'The Lord' Here click to hear hier click to hear 2 ('here')
directly, immediately, straightaway direct click to hear 2 regisseren click to hear 2 3 ('to direct a movie/play') - regisseur click to hear ('movie/play director')
dirigeren click to hear 2 ('to direct an orchestra') - dirigent click to hear ('music director')
rechtstreeks click to hear 2 ('straightaway, without detour or intermediary')
openhartig click to hear 2 3 ('speaking his or her [heart] mind openly')
small electricity generator, like on a bicycle dynamo click to hear 2
1. strong desire 2. hij lust click to hear 2 3 he likes (food)
dat lust ik niet click to hear 'I don't want to eat that'		 lust click to hear
the Navy (de) marine click to hear
notification, announcement, report melding click to hear 2 3 (de) vermenging click to hear 2 ('mixing') - (het) samensmelten click to hear 2 ('melting into a combination')
tendon pees click to hear 2 urinates (slang)
'right away, responding quickly' prompt click to hear click to hear ('')
Dutch (de) prop click to hear is either 'a ball,' usually of crumpled paper: 'n prop papier click to hear 2 3 4 or in the diminutive: (het) propje click to hear 2 - 'n propje papier click to hear or something blocking a flow, like 'n bloedpropje click to hear 2 ('a blood clot') prop click to hear English 'prop' supporting, holding something up can be (de) stut click to hear 2 or (de) pijler click to hear 2 (think of 'pillar')
the 'prop' used on movie sets or on the stage is (het) rekwisiet click to hear 2
trunk, the body without the head, arms and legs romp click to hear 2
ik snap 't click to hear 2 3 'I understand [it]'
ik snap 't niet click to hear 2 'I don't understand [it]'		 snap click to hear 2 3 ('a short period of time')
'strike, work stoppage'
staken click to hear 2 'to be on strike' - wij staken click to hear 'we're on strike' 		staking click to hear 2 afbakenening click to hear 2 demarcation, outlining of an area, ~staking out
dirty, not clean; bad-tasting vies click to hear from 'to vie' - he vies
'is in de running'? 'Obama vies with nine others for title'
Brooklyn vies to host Democrats in 2016
contents, cubic measure volume click to hear (het) deel click to hear 2 - part of a series of books
hem, the finished edge of a piece of fabric zoom click to hear 2 3 I can't think of a Dutch word for 'zoom' like in 'zoom in' or 'zoom out' - vergroten click to hear 2 (general 'enlarge') and uitvergroten click to hear 2 ('to blow up a picture') are not exactly the same - vergroting click to hear 2 ('picture enlargement')
[imaginary shopping list: worst brood gist room bier]
(imaginary) shopping list: boodschappenlijstje click to hear 2 3

The Common Roots of English and Dutch

English and Dutch developed from a common language of tribes that started to separate about 2300 years ago, and their languages grew apart and speech changes were no longer shared. English and Dutch still share hundreds of words, though most are no longer said in the same way, and of course spelling differs.
Some words changed meaning, like English 'harvest' and Dutch herfst click to hear ('Fall, Autumn') - Dutch knecht click to hear 2 means 'male servant,' not the chivalrous horseman in shining armour knight - and Dutch smal click to hear 2 just means 'narrow,' it doesn't have the wider meaning of English 'small.' Words from a common root are called 'cognates.' I already wrote a little about them in lesson 6, and some years ago I made a page with audio of cognates in English, Dutch and German.
Many Thanks to Ted Hoogendoorn for suggesting ten new False Friends.

[Dutch flag]
colors 		[plate of food]
Meals 		[a house]
the house 		[rainbow]
weather 		[a mirror]
beauty 		[Me riding a bicycle]
bicycles

>>

Welcome Learning Dutch? - Lesson 1 Site Map Pronunciation Words and Phrases Hear Dutch Names
email - Copyright s© Marco Schuffelen 2010. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed, or hotlinked to.
Don't be a dief (thief) / dievegge (female thief) - diefstal (theft) - stelen (to steal) - heler (dealer in stolen goods) - hear Dutch - 2