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

Disambiguation: Many common Dutch words have more than one meaning.

Disambiguation Home - Aan - Achter - Af - Al - Als - Binnen/Buiten - Daar - Dan - Dat - Door - Eens - Er - Erg - Even - Haast - Het - In - Laat - Maar - Na - Naar - Net - Nog - Of - Om - Onder/Boven - Op - Over - Toen - Uit - Van - Voor - Vroeg - Waar - Wat - Weg - Zo - more

Disambiguation: Dutch 'Het' - Multiple Meanings and Related Words

Het

click to hear 2 3

/ 't

click to hear
  1. the (#2) - "the little street"
  2. it - "it's late" - "the car - it's broken"

het and 't 
1. het and de = the
Words Taking Both het and de

'Der'  'Des,'  'Den'  - and 'Ter,'  'Ten'
2. het = it

het  and 't

- het click to hear 2 3 / 't click to hear
Do note that 'het'  has the Dutch 'short E' click to hear while the abbreviation " 't " is pronounced with voiceless, unstressed E, 'schwa' click to hear. Dutchmen usually write 'het'  but often say " 't. " Unfortunately, it's not very common to write the abbreviation. On this 'het'  page I've tried to give the phonetic rendering, but elsewhere on my website you may often find 'het' pronounced as " 't " and (occasionally) vice versa. I usually say " 't " click to hear and I say het click to hear mostly for emphasis, if there's something special with the noun.
het is click to hear it's, it is
't is click to hear 2 3 it's, it is
het IJ click to hear 2 a river flowing through Amsterdam
't IJ click to hear 2 3 a river flowing through Amsterdam
Het Delft van Vermeer click to hear The Delft of Vermeer, Vermeer's Delft
't Delft van Vermeer click to hear The Delft of Vermeer, Vermeer's Delft
het paard draaft click to hear 2 the horse trots
Het eten van varkensvlees is verboden click to hear Eating pork is not allowed.
het gist click to hear 2 3 'it is fermenting' - or usually figuratively: 'trouble is brewing'
((de) gist click to hear yeast)
het verwoorden click to hear 2 the phrasing, putting into words
het lange boek click to hear the long book

Do also note that apostrophe-T " 't " is not written with a capital letter when it's the first word of a line. In lines like that, the second word is capitalized. In the rare family names that start with apostrophe-T, like author 't Hart click to hear (Maarten) the T is also always lowercase.

't Spijt me heel erg click to hear 2 3 I'm very sorry about it
't Mag geen geld kosten click to hear 2 [It may not cost] - I don't want to pay (serious) money for it
't Weer sloeg plotseling om click to hear 2 3 The weather suddenly changed
't Houten huis is heel oud click to hear The wooden house is very old

You'll find the same capitalization with the Dutch apostrophe-S time indications - >>

's Avonds ging de zon onder click to hear 2 In the evening the sun went down
's Woensdags eten we vaak linzen click to hear 2 3 On wednesdays we often [eat] have lentils

1. 'Het' = 'the' (#2)

(het) bepaald lidwoord click to hear ('definite article' - 'the'  in English)
Dutch has two words for the definite article: - 'de' click to hear 2 and 'het' click to hear 2 3. ('Het'  is often shortened to " 't " click to
  hear - note the vowel change.)
In the singular a majority of Dutch nouns takes 'de'  but a minority (something like a third in my estimate) takes 'het.'  Plurals always take 'de.'
Diminutives (words ending in -je) are 'het-words' and all plurals take 'de'  but otherwise there are few useful rules - you'll just have to memorize the words that go with 'het.'  Elsewhere, you may come across rules for de  and het  but they all have too many exceptions, are about small numbers of words, or are rather complicated. There are even a few words ending in ‑JE that are not diminutives and some mostly rather obscure words in that group are de-words ‑>>
Compound words generally take the 'de'  or 'het'  of the last constituent part of the word.
Some exceptions: (het) oor click to hear 2 ('ear') but - (de) domoor click to hear 2 3 ('stupid person' - (usually said to children)
(de) eenvoud click to hear 2 ('simplicity') but - (het) enkelvoud click to hear 2 ('singular' - grammar) - (het) meervoud click to hear 2 ('plural') - (het) vijfvoud click to hear 2 3 ('five-fold, five copies')
Verb infinitives used as nouns always take 'het'
I have not found a counter-example to the rule that words ending in '-heid'  are 'de'-words except that  words ending in '-scheid'  are 'het'-words

(het) lidwoord click to hear 2 article
bepaald lidwoord click to hear 'definite article' ('the' - de, het, 't)
onbepaald lidwoord click to hear 'indefinite article' ('a' - een, 'n) - more below
It is sometimes said that 'het'-words are 'neutral' (neutraal click to hear 2) or 'neuter' (onzijdig click to hear 2 3) but they can refer to males or females.
De vrouw click to hear 2 ('the woman') - de man click to hear 2 3 ('the man') - 't hondje click to hear 2 ('the doggie, the little dog') - het meisje click to hear 2 ('the girl') - het kleine broertje click to hear ('the little brother') - het mannetje click to hear 2 ('male animal' - and jocular 'guy for special jobs')

Daar heb ik een mannetje voor click to hear 2 3 4 (jocular) 'I [have] know a guy for (to do) that special job'
't Idee! click to hear 2 The idea!
In 't nieuws click to hear 2 In the news
Willem de Zwijger click to hear 'William The Silent,' nickname of the first leader of the Dutch Revolt (1568-1648)  Willem van Oranje click to hear - the Dutch George Washington
Op de rand van de afgrond click to hear On the edge of the precipice
Aan de andere kant van de muur click to hear On the other side of the wall
De morgen van de laatste dag click to hear 2 The morning of the last day
Ik zag de zon in de zee zinken click to hear I saw the sun sink into the sea
De verre toekomst en de nabije toekomst click to hear The (far) distant future and the near future
de dikke en de dunne click to hear 2 the fat one and the (thin) skinny one (Laurel & Hardy)
Het zinken van het schip click to hear The sinking of the ship ('passive' sinking NOT 'making it sink')
't Kaf van 't koren scheiden click to hear Separating the chaff from the wheat (men from boys, sheep from goats)
't Zekere voor 't onzekere nemen click to hear 2 3 'Taking the certain over/before the uncertain' (not taking risks)
tussen de bomen in 't bos click to hear Among the trees in the forest
De bal wordt in 't doel geschoten click to hear 2 ( click to hear 2) The ball is shot (shot) into the goal (goal)
't Nederland van na de oorlog click to hear [The The Netherlands of after the war] Postwar Holland
't Geheim van de smid click to hear 2 'The secret of the blacksmith' - a 'knack,' special way of doing something
't Water staat me tot de lippen click to hear The water is coming up to my lips - it can't go on like this
De kat op 't spek binden click to hear Tying the cat to the bacon - creating a dangerous situation
't Oog is groter dan de maag click to hear 2 The eye is bigger than the stomach - said when you put more food on your plate than you can eat
het noorden click to hear 2 (the North)
het oosten click to hear 2 (the East)
het zuiden click to hear 2 (the South)
het westen click to hear 2 3 (the West)
[compass]
(het) kompas click to hear 2
[windvane]
(de) windwijzer click to hear 2

Sometimes Dutch uses the article 'het' where English leaves it out

Hoe zeg je dat in 't Nederlands? click to hear 2 How do you say that in Dutch?
geheel in 't zwart click to hear entirely, all in black (clothes)

The superlative degree of an adjective used as a noun takes 'het.'

Welke dag komt je 't beste uit? click to hear What day would suit you best?
Wim is 't grootst click to hear 2 3 Wim is the tallest
Wanneer heb je voor 't laatst een brief geschreven? click to hear When was the last time you wrote a letter?
op 't ergste voorbereid click to hear 2 prepared for the worst

een, 'n and  één

The indefinite article - (het) onbepaald lidwoord click to hear ('a' in English) is usually written as 'een'  but in an exception to the mostly phonetic spelling of Dutch pronounced as " 'n " click to hear - so not pronounced with the 'long E' click to hear you'd expect from the spelling but with voiceless, unstressed E click to hear - It is sometimes phonetically more correct written as " 'n " but that's not often done.
'One' is één  click to hear 2 3 - the number 1 and 'one' meaning 'quantity: one,' usually written with accents
een kwart click to hear a quarter (of something) - ¼
wat een click to hear 2 3 4 what a ..., such a ...!
Iemand zal een oplosing moeten vinden click to hear Someone will have to find a solution Er is maar één oplossing click to hear 2 There's only one solution

(de) eenling click to hear 2 a unique or a solitary individual
(het) eenmansbedrijf click to hear 2 one-person company

eenmaal click to hear 2 3 would mean 'once - one time,' but often it means 'once - as soon as,' when a point is reached
... éénmaal ... andermaal ... verkocht! click to hear ['one time ... another time ... sold!'] - 'going once ... going twice ... sold!' (what an auctioneer says> Als 't eenmaal kookt click to hear 2 3 Once it's boiling, as soon as it is boiling Als 't eenmaal zo ver is click to hear 2 3 Once it has reached that point, when it's at that stage nou eenmaal click to hear 2 3 -that's how it is, it's not going to change Zo is 't nou eenmaal click to hear 2 That's how it is - you can't change it, end of discussion Zo ben ik nou eenmaal click to hear 2 3 That's how I am - you may not like it but I'm not going to change eenmalig click to hear happening, occurring just one time
(De) onenigheid click to hear 2 3 4 'disagreement, division, discord' is probably derived from één click to hear 2 3 ('one') - not one, no unity, not together, not of one opinion

A Few Words that Can Take both 'de' and 'het'

A few words can have 'de' or 'het' - usually taking a different meaning.
Voetbal click to
  hear - 'de voetbal'  is 'soccer ball' but 'het voetbal'  is the sport 'soccer,' European and Latin American football ->>
Noodweer click to hear 2 'het noodweer'  is very bad, dangerous weather, while 'de noodweer'  is justifiable self-defense.
Aas click to
     hear 'de aas'  is the 'ace' in cards ->> while 'het aas'  is 'carrion, bait' meat to attract hunters' prey
Blik click to hear 2 'de blik'  is 'look, glance' or 'expression' (on face) and 'het blik'  is either the metal 'tinplate' or a 'can, tin can' (originally made of that metal) - (het) blikje click to hear 2 ('small' tin can)
Koper click to
       hear 'het koper'  is the metal 'copper,' but 'de koper'  is 'buyer,' a person who buys or has bought
Hoorn click to hear 2 (also written as 'horen' - het hoorn  is the material, and de hoorn  is an item 'made of' that material, like on animal heads or helmets, or to blow on. It's not unusual, the 'material' as a 'het'-word, and items made or consisting of the stuff as 'de'- words.
Kurk click to
	   hear 'de kurk'  is a bottle-stopper, while 'het kurk'  is the woodlike bark material those bottle-stoppers are made of
Leer click to hear het leer  is 'leather' while de leer  is 'doctrine, system of belief or thinking'
Mens click to hear 2 '(de) mens'  is 'human being,' plural: mensen click to hear
- 'De mens' click to hear 2 3 (always with 'de')  is 'Man, humankind'
De mens kan niet van brood alleen leven click to hear 2 'Man cannot live by bread alone'
De mens lijdt 't meest van 't lijden dat-ie vreest click to hear 'Man suffers most from the suffering he fears'
De mens wikt, God beschikt click to hear 2 3 'Man deliberates, God decides'
- 'het mens' is an unpleasant, obnoxious not-very-young woman.
- (Het) kind click to hear 2 means 'child,' but it can also be an unpleasant, obnoxious young woman.
-(Het) mensenkind click to hear 2 3 is a poetic word for 'human child' and does not mean 'Mankind,' which is 'de mensheid' click to hear 2 'humankind') - it's almost a False Friend
Portier click to hear 2 3 'de portier'  is 'doorman' ('porter'?) and 'het portier'  is 'car door.'
Punt click to hear 2 3 4 'de punt'  is a dot, a period at the end of a line or the tip of for instance a knife; 'het punt'  is the most important part of a viewpoint or reasoning. English 'point' also has this double meaning.
Staal click to
      hear 'het staal'  is the metal 'steel' while 'de staal'  is a fabric sample, a 'swatch.'
(het) stalenboek click to hear 2 'fabric samples catalog'
(het) plaatstaal click to hear 2 'plate steel,'
(de) staalplaat click to hear 2 3 'steel plate'
Stof click to hear 2 3 4 'het stof'  is 'dust,' while 'de stof'  is 'fabric' or 'material' - or figuratively, 'subject matter'
(de) stofzuiger click to hear 2 ['dust-sucker'] vacuum cleaner
Voel hoe zacht de stof is! click to hear 2 3 Do feel how soft the fabric is!
Hij is lang van stof click to hear 2 'He always talks at great length'
In compound words, 'stof'  usually means 'material,' "stuff" for instance:
(de) brandstof click to hear 2 (['burning stuff'] - 'fuel')
(de) splijtstof click to hear 2 'fissile material'
springstof click to hear 2 'explosives'
- see also: The Periodic Table of The Elements
Geleerde click to hear 2 3 'de geleerde'   is a 'learned' person, scholar, scientist (somewhat old-fashioned) while 'het geleerde'  is the material, knowledge and skill that was learned
Veer click to
    hear 'het veer'  is 'ferry,' while 'de veer'  can be 'feather' or 'spring' (tensile)
Deel click to
    hear 'het deel'  is 'part,' while 'de deel'  is 'threshing floor' or generally, the business area immediately around a farmhouse
Kussen click to hear 2 'het kussen'  is pillow ('cushion'?) but kussen  is also the plural of '(de) kus' click to hear ('kiss.') The plural of 'kussen'  'pillow' is 'kussens' click to hear - kussen is also a verb meaning 'to kiss,' and when used as a noun it's also 'het kussen'  (English 'the kissing')
Genie click to hear 2
(French G)
'(het) genie'  is 'a person of genius' or that gift, 'the genius, exceptional ability' while '(de) genie'  is 'the army corps of engineers'
same
meaning
- (de/het) aanrecht click to hear ('countertop' - kitchen) - (de/het) deksel click to hear ('lid') - (de/het) drop click to hear ('liquorice, licorice' - Dutch) - (de/het) duin click to hear ('dune') - (de/het) idee click to hear ('idea') - (de/het) kauwgom click to hear 2 3 ('chewing gum') - (de/het) kilo click to hear 2 ('kilo, kilogram, 1000 grams' ~2Lbs) - (de/het) klimop click to hear ('ivy') - (de/het) parfum click to hear ('perfume') - (de/het) riool click to hear 2 ('sewer') - (de/het) soort click to hear ('kind, type') - (de/het) spaanplaat click to hear 2 ('particle board') - (de/het) vergiet click to hear ('colander') - (de/het) vuilnis click to hear ('garbage, trash')

'Der,'  'Des'  and 'Den,'  - and 'Ter'  and 'Ten'

'Der' click to hear and 'den' click to hear are old-fashioned forms of the article 'de' click to hear 2 ('the.') 'Der'  is 'of the,' the possessive (genitive) of the plural, modern Dutch van de click to hear 2. 'Den'  is used with the object (accusative.) They're only used in standard phrases coined a hundred years ago or more. Saying or writing something like 'Ik luisterde naar het gezang der vogels'  feels very old-fashioned.
'Des' click to hear ('of the') is even more unusual. It's only used for the singular.
Some Dutch family names have van der  or van den

op den duur click to hear 2 3 4 in the long run Op den duur wordt 't makkelijker click to hear ['in the long run'] 'after a while it will be easier' om den brode click to hear 2 [for the bread] - for the money, for a living Den Haag click to hear 2 The Hague official name:  's-Gravenhage click to hear Den Bosch click to hear in French: Bois-le-Duc official name:  's-Hertogenbosch click to hear 2

Maar Uw woord ja zij ja, neen, neen click to hear 2 3 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No,' 'No'
(Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No')
Wat daar bijkomt is uit den boze click to hear 2 Anything more than this comes from evil
Matthew 5:37 (also in James 5:12)

Het Periodiek Systeem der Elementen click to hear 2 The Periodic Table of The Elements ‑>> De Vlakte der Kruiken click to hear 'The Plain of Jars' (Laos) De macht der gewoonte click to hear 2 3 'The power of habit' - it's hard to break a routine De tocht der tochten click to hear 2 ['The tour of tours,'   'the mother of all tours'] - the epic Dutch skating event:
De 'Elfstedentocht' click to hear 2 ‑>>

De heer des huizes click to hear 2 3 [The Lord of the House] - the male head of the household, the man of the house In het zweet des aanschijns ... click to hear 2 3 ['By the sweat of your brow' (Genesis 3:19) - 'In the sweat on your face'] - With sweat on your face (you'll have to work hard) De tand des tijds click to hear 2 3 4 'The tooth of time' - decay due to age (human and general) Hij was des duivels click to hear 2 ['He was like possessed by the devil'?] 'He was very angry' Het Leger des Heils click to hear 2 [The Army of the Good] - the Salvation Army

desnoods click to hear 2 if need be, if necessary
desalniettemin click to hear 'despite all that'
deskundige click to hear 2 expert
(de) kunde click to hear 2 3 learned skill

'Der'  and 'den'  are also found in Dutch family names, usually after 'van' click to hear 2 - but in names these words are said with voiceless, unstressed E,' the 'schwa' click to hear - den click to hear and der click to hear 2
Van den Berg click to hear 2 - Van der Geest click to hear 2
Baron Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol click to hear 2 (a 1780s reformer)
- more Dutch Names

In the Dutch of a while ago, 'te' click to hear can mean something like 'at' a time or place. This is still found in bureaucratic usage, where 'te'   indicates the place where a person lives:
... huisarts te 's-Gravenhage click to hear 2 3 ... family doctor in The Hague 'Ter' click to hear and 'ten' click to hear are combinations of this 'te'  with 'der'  and 'den,'  meaning something like 'at the,' 'on' or 'to.' Like 'der'  and 'den'  they're only used in standard phrases. The words coming with 'ter'  and 'ten'  are often declined, given an -E ending

ter ziele click to hear 2 [all that's left is the soul] - a person deceased or a company or organization ceased to exist ter dood veroordeeld click to hear 2 condemned to death ter zake komen click to hear 2 to come to the point ter zake doen click to hear 2 to 'matter,' be important ter plekke click to hear 2 'on the spot' ter hand nemen click to hear 2 3 to take in hand, pick up (literally and figuratively) ter elfder ure click to hear 2 3 at the 11th hour, rather late slecht ter been click to hear 2 3 [bad on the leg] - having difficulty walking

ten noorden van click to hear 2 to the North of ten zuiden van click to hear 2 3 to the South of ten einde raad click to hear 2 at wits' end Ik ben ten einde raad click to hear 2 I'm at my wits' end, I have no idea what to do to solve this problem Beter ten halve gekeerd dan ten hele gedwaald click to hear 2 'It's better to [have turned around] change direction halfway than to be wrong all the way' ten voeten uit click to hear 2 3 giving a full picture

tenzij click to hear 2 unless
Tenzij je 'n beter idee hebt click to hear 2 3 Unless you have a better idea

terwijl click to hear 2 while
Nero speelde viool terwijl Rome in brand stond click to hear 2 Nero played the violin while Rome was burningSnijd de tomaten terwijl je de champignons bakt click to hear Cut up the tomatoes while you're sautéing the mushrooms Als de zon schijnt terwijl 't regent krijg je soms een regenboog click to hear When the sun shines while it's raining you sometimes get a rainbow

terzijde click to hear on the side, aside
"Dit terzijde" click to hear 2 3 4 'This on the side' - an incidental remark

tenminste click to hear 2 3 at least
tenminste houdbaar tot ... click to hear 2 ["can be kept at least till ..."] - 'good till at least ...' - 'sell by ...' - 'use by ...'

ternauwernood click to hear barely, almost not
terdege click to hear 2 thoroughly, properly, solid
terloops click to hear 'in passing,' casually

2. 'Het' = 'it'

Dutch 'het' click to hear 2 3 / 't click to hear can also be the English impersonal pronoun 'it' - referring to a non-male and non-female 'neutral/neuter' item mentioned before or implied - but Dutch usage is not identical to English 'it.' I have the impression English 'he' and 'she' usually refer to people and for instance not to animals or things; but Dutch generally uses hij click to hear 'he' (and occasionally zij click to hear 'she') for 'de'-words and 'het' for 'het'-words. See also Personal Pronouns.
If I understand Molinarius correctly, 'it' and 'het' in this sense are called 'placeholders' for the 'antecedent' - the item mentioned before or implied. Saying "It's cold" is short for 'The weather is cold,' like "It's eight o'clock" is short for 'The time is eight o'clock,' and "It's dangerous" means 'The situation is dangerous.'
Ik spreek geen Nederlands ... click to hear 2 I don't speak Dutch ...
... maar ik kan het wel verstaan click to hear 2 3 ... but I do understand it ('het'/'it' = Dutch)
't Eten - 't was lekker click to hear The food - it was (tasty) good
't Eten - 't was koud click to hear The food - it was cold
De auto - hij is stuk click to hear 2 The car - it is broken, doesn't go
De dag - hij was lang click to hear 2 The day - it was long
't Schip - 't is gezonken click to hear
The ship - it (she?) has sunk ->>
't Sneeuwt click to hear It is snowing
't Is begonnen click to hear It has started, it has begun
't Is te laat click to hear It's too late
't Is jouw beurt click to hear 2 3 It's your turn
't Is er nooit van gekomen click to hear 2 3 It never came about, it never happened (it never went beyond plans)
't Geeft niet click to hear 2 3 4 It doesn't matter, it's all right, 'never mind'
't Is niet logisch click to hear 2 3 It's not logical
't Is te gecompliceerd click to hear 2 It's too complicated
't Is meer dan duizend dollar click to hear 2 3 It's more than a thousand dollars
't Is meer dan een miljoen euro click to hear 2 It's more than a million euros ->>
't Is moeilijk te vinden click to hear 2 3 It's hard to find
't Kan vriezen en 't kan dooien click to hear 'It may freeze or it may thaw' - things can go either way
't Went click to hear 2 You get used to it
Het vroor dat 't kraakte click to hear 2 It was freezing [so hard] that it cracked (ice, I assume) - 'Het' = the weather / 't = the ice
Als 't regent wordt de wedstrijd afgelast click to hear If it rains the match will be canceled
't Heeft de hele dag geregend click to hear 2 3 It's been raining all day
't Is een taak voor de overheid click to hear 2 It is a task for the government
't Gaat niet om 't geld! click to hear It's not about the money
't IJzer smeden als 't heet is click to hear 2 3 ['Smith,' forge] Work the iron when it's hot
Wie 't weet mag 't zeggen click to hear 2 ['Who knows it'] The person who knows (it - the answer) may say it - it can also mean: 'It's anybody's guess
... en toen werd 't donker click to hear 2 3 4 ... and then it got dark
Toen 't donker werd gingen we naar huis click to hear When it got dark we went home
't Weerbericht zegt dat 't morgen gaat regenen click to hear The weather forecast says (that) it's going to rain tomorrow
't Is er nooit van gekomen click to hear 2 3 It never came about (we were planning it, but it never happened)
Je hebt 't goed gedaan click to hear You have done (it) well (singular 'you')
Jullie hebben 't goed gedaan click to hear You guys have done (it) well
Hij heeft 't verkeerd gedaan click to hear He has done it wrong, in the wrong way
Zij hebben 't verkeerd gedaan click to hear They have done it wrong, in the wrong way
Ik heb 't niet gedaan click to hear I have not done it
We hebben 't niet gedaan click to hear We have not done it
Ik heb 't wel gedaan click to hear I did do it
Is 't 't geld waard? click to hear 2 3 Is it worth the money?
Is 't 't waard? click to hear Is it worth it?
Al is de leugen nog zo snel, de waarheid achterhaalt haar wel click to hear 2 3 4 (saying) ['However quick a lie may be, the truth will overtake it'] - Lies won't last, truth will come out eventually

Sometimes Dutch uses the placeholder 'het' where English leaves it out

Ik kan 't niet verklaren click to hear 2 I can't explain (I don't understand)
Ik kan 't niet uitleggen click to hear 2 I can't explain (I can't tell you, I can't put it in words)
Ik wil 't weten click to hear 2 I want to know
Ik weet 't niet click to hear 2 I don't know
Ik snap 't click to hear 2 3 I understand
Hij bedoelt 't goed click to hear 2 He means well
Heb je 't koud? click to hear 2 3 [Do you have it cold?] - Are you cold?
Ik herinner me 't niet. click to hear 2 I don't remember [it.]
Ik kan me 't niet herinneren. click to hear 2 I [can't] don't remember [it.]
(Ik kan 't me niet herinneren. click to hear) I [can't] don't remember [it.])
Nou herinner ik 't me weer. click to hear 2 Now I remember [it] [again.]

Synomyms, Alternates and Related Words

When used with a preposition, English placeholder 'it' is not 'het' in Dutch but 'er' click to hear See the 'er' disambiguation page.
Kijk er eens goed naar click to hear 2 3 Look sharp at it, take a moment to inspect it closely
Ik ben er trots op click to hear 2 3 I'm proud of it
Like placeholder 'it' being translated as 'er' when a preposition is involved, placeholder 'that' with a preposition is not 'dat' but 'daar' ->> and placeholder 'what' with a preposition is not 'wat' but 'waar' ->>. See also: Placeholders with Prepositions
Daar heb ik geen tijd voor click to hear 2 I don't have time for that
Waar hou(d) je van? click to hear What do you like?

Extreme Examples

de brand click to hear 'the fire'
het brandt click to hear 2 'it [burns] is burning'
'brand' and 'brandt' sound exactly the same: click to hear
de regent click to hear 'the governor of the Dutch Indies'
het regent click to hear 2 3 4 'it is raining'
The stress in regent is in different places

Dutch Vocabulary Overview - Dutch Grammar Overview - Listen to and Read Dutch

email - Copyright © Marco Schuffelen 2014. 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