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'What I Want' - Loves, Likes and Preferences in Dutch

'Houden van' - to Love, to Like
Alternates
'Willen' - to Want, to Desire
'Geluk' - Luck and Happiness
Arts and Entertainment Appreciation
The Other Side
Trouble, Bother and Getting Used to It
Preferences: 'Liever'
Related Additional Phrases

'Houden van' - to Like, to Love

'Houden van' click to hear is 'to like, to love' - but the Dutch rarely say things like "Ik hou van jou" click to hear 'I love you' to romantic partners or children. 'Houden van' is mostly used to communicate a like (or dislike) of specific food, music and activities
'Houden' click to hear 2 is a strong verb - meaning there are radical changes in the past tense:
houden
to hold
hield
held
gehouden
held
click to hear
houden van (to like, to love)

ik houd van
jij houdt van
hij houdt van
wij houden van
jullie houden van
zij houden van
U houdt van
click to hear

(I love)
(you love)
(he loves)
(we love)
(you love)
(they love)
(you love)


ik hield van
jij hield van
hij hield van
wij hielden van
jullie hielden van
zij hielden van
U hield van
click to hear

(I loved)
(you loved)
(he loved)
(we loved)
(you loved)
(they loved)
(you loved)
ik heb gehouden van click to hear I have loved, liked

Ik houd van ... click to hear I like, I love .... (fill in any subject)
Now many people in Holland (myself included) usually leave out the D when saying 'ik houd,' 'houd jij?' or in the imperative - feel free to do that too - but it's not wrong to voice that D (that sounds like a T ->>) houden / ik houd / ik hou(d) click to hear jij houdt / hou(d) jij? click to hear

Ik houd van soep click to hear (-d) (2) I love soup
Ik houd niet van vis click to hear I don't like fish
Ik houd erg van Bach click to hear (-d) (2) I like Bach very much
Ik houd niet van sport click to hear (-d) I do not like sports
Ik houd niet van vlees snijden click to hear I dislike cutting meat
Daar houd ik niet van click to hear I don't like that
Ik hou er niet van click to hear 2 3 I don't like it, I don't enjoy it
"Houd jij van opera? - Ik niet." click to hear "Do you like opera? - I don't."
Waar hou(d) je van? click to hear What do you like?
Hij houdt niet van spruitjes click to hear 2 He doesn't like Brussels sprouts
Hij houdt erg van soep click to hear 2 He really likes soup, he likes soup a lot
Hou(d) je van koken? click to hear 2 Do you like to cook? Do you like cooking?
Hij houdt veel van honden click to hear He loves dogs
Hij houdt van jou click to hear He loves you
Keep in mind that placeholders 'It,' 'What' and 'That' are translated by 'er,' 'waar' and 'daar' when used with a preposition (like 'van') - more

Synomyms, Alternates and Related Words

Ik ben gek op drop click to hear 2 3 I really like liquorice, I'm crazy about liquorice
Ik heb een hekel aan roddelen click to hear 2 I really dislike gossip
Ik ben allergisch voor katten click to hear 2 I'm allergic to cats
Hij lust geen spruitjes click to hear 2 He doesn't like Brussels sprouts
Hij lust er wel pap van click to hear 2 3 (saying) ['~he would really like it as porridge' - he would like it for dessert too, he likes it as much as the dessert] - A food or pleasant activity he can't get enough of
Dat lust ik niet! click to hear (2) I don't like that! I don't want to eat that! (not polite)

(de) vriend click to hear 2 (male) friend
vriendin click to hear (female) friend
vrienden click to hear friends
(de) vriendschap click to hear friendship
vriendelijk click to hear
(vriendelijk / vriendelijke click to hear)
friendly, kind
(het) vriendje click to hear boyfriend; a boy that is a child's friend
(het) vriendinnetje click to hear girlfriend; a girl that is a child's friend
vriendjes click to hear boyfriends; a child's friends

(de) vijand click to hear 2 enemy ->>
vijandig click to hear 2 hostile
vijandelijk click to hear 2 'of the enemy,' hostile
You might want to slightly stress the '-din' syllable of 'vriendin' click to hear to differentiate it from the general plural 'vrienden' click to hear
dikke vrienden click to hear 2 3 best friends, fast friends
een echte vriend click to hear 2 3 A real friend
"trouwe vriend" click to hear 2 'faithful friend' (TinTin addressing his dog Snowy)
Vrouw en Vriend click to hear 2 'Woman and Friend' (a book by Anna Blaman)
vriend en vijand click to hear ['friend and enemy'] - enemies and friends
onze gevederde vrienden click to hear 2 'our feathered friends' - birds
m'n vaders vrienden click to hear my father's friends
de vrienden van m'n vader click to hear the friends of my father's
Je hond is je beste vriend click to hear Your dog is your best friend
Zo zie je maar wie echt je vrienden zijn click to hear [So, this way you see ...] - this shows who your real friends are
Met vriendelijke groet click to hear With kind regards, Yours sincerely (letter ending)
een vriendelijk gebaar click to hear 2 a friendly, kind gesture

'Aardig' click to hear 2 3 (aardig / aardige click to hear 2) means 'kind, nice, friendly'

een aardig meisje click to hear 2 a nice, kind girl
een aardige man click to hear 2 3 a nice, kind man
Dat is aardig van je click to hear 2 3 That's kind of you
aardig zijn click to hear to be kind // be kind - a resolution
Wees aardig voor (de) dieren click to hear 2 3 Be kind to animals
Hij is heel slim en bovendien erg aardig click to hear 2 3 4 He's very clever and on top of that very kind, a nice person

The -aardig  ending just refers to the quality of the first part of the word
(de) aard click to hear 2 3 'nature'

goedaardig click to hear 2 3 meaning well // benign
kwaadaardig click to hear 2 3 4 with evil intentions // malignant
zachtaardig click to hear 2 soft-hearted

But 'Aardig' click to hear 2 3 can also mean 'quite, a large amount, considerably' or simply 'well'

Er is aardig wat sneeuw click to hear 2 3 4 There is quite some snow
Hij is aardig op weg click to hear 2 3 He is progressing well, he's made considerable progress
Hij timmert aardig aan de weg click to hear 2 3 (saying) He is well-known for his activities, his activities have made him rather well-known - 'He's rather successful'

Nogal click to hear 2 can also have this 'rather' meaning ‑>>

'Graag mogen' click to hear 2 3 is a phrase used to describe how much you like your best friends (I can't think of an English equivalent.) Ik mag 'm graag click to hear 2 (said about one of your best male friends) haar click to hear or shortened  'r click to hear 'her' - instead of  'm (hem) for female friends
Ik heb 'm nooit gemogen click to hear 2 3 I never really liked him
'Goed kunnen opschieten met' click to hear 2 3 'to get on well with' is also said about good friends Ik kan goed opschieten met Jan click to hear 2 3 I get on well ('fabulously') with Jan
'Opschieten' by itself means 'to hurry' Ik zal opschieten click to hear I'll hurry, I'll try to be quick

When friends fall out, no longer like each other, don't get on anymore, Dutch says ruzie krijgen click to hear 2 3 and then we say, the resulting situation is:
Ze hebben ruzie click to hear 2 3
or somewhat posh:
Ze zijn gebrouilleerd click to hear 2 3 (French OUI)
but ruzie hebben click to hear 2 3 just means people don't want to see each other, don't want to be in each other's company - there don't have to be shouting matches or violent arguments - actively engaging in exchanges of unpleasant words, altercations or worse is ruzie maken click to hear 2 3
(de) ruzie click to hear 2 3 argument, quarrel, row
Ik kreeg de schuld van de ruzie click to hear [I got the blame of the quarrel] - I was blamed for the quarrel
There's a Medieval word de Minne  meaning 'love.' It lives on in the only slightly old-fashioned (de) onmin click to hear 2 3 ('discord, strife, strained relation')
Ze leven in onmin click to hear 2 3 They're not on good terms, they live in strife, not in a loving relationship

'Lief' click to hear (lief / lieve click to hear) is 'dear, sweet'
Addressing romantic partners or females in your family in a letter or email you can write 'Lieve ...' Lieve Tine, click to hear Dear Tine, In my time, informal address of all others was 'Beste ...' click to hear Beste Jan, click to hear Dear Jan, But nowadays many people use 'dag' click to hear 2 as a greeting in writing, though in speaking it is also 'goodbye.' ->>

(de) liefde click to hear love (the feeling of affection)
(de) geliefde click to hear 2 3 beloved (noun and adjective)
"liefste" click to hear 2 3 "darling, sweetheart, love"
(de) haat click to hear hate, hatred
verliefd click to hear in love
(de) minnaar click to hear 2 secret lover (male)
(de) maîtresse click to hear 2 3 mistress, secret lover (female)
(de) liefhebber click to hear 2 lover of things, enthusiast (male)
vredelievend click to hear [peace-loving] - peaceful, peacable
poeslief click to hear 2 ['sweet as a cat'] - insincere
Lieve hemel! click to hear [Dear heaven] - Heavens!
Lieve God click to hear 2 [Dear God] - Oh my God!
(het) onzelieveheersbeestje click to hear 2 [our dear Lord's little anima] - ladybug
(De) geliefde click to hear 2 3 'beloved' and aanstaande click to hear 2 3 4 'intended (fiancée)' are old-fashioned and mostly used for women; of course 'aanstaande' is also used for days, meaning 'this coming' - aanstaande vrijdag click to hear 2 3 'this coming Friday' ->>
'Liever' click to hear 2 3 - the comparative degree of 'lief' click to hear - indicates a preference, usually translated as 'rather.'
Ik wil liever geen vlees eten click to hear 2 3 I'd rather not eat meat
- more examples below

See also: Choice and to Choose

(de) kus click to hear kiss - plural: kussen click to hear 2
kussen click to hear 2 to kiss
(de) omhelzing click to hear 2 3 embrace, hug
vrijen click to hear 2 3 'to make love'

(de) naastenliefde click to hear [love of the fellow man] - charity
(de) liefdadigheid click to hear [kind-deeds-doing] - charity
lief en leed click to hear ['the sweet and the suffering'] - good and bad times, 'for better or worse'
Heb Uw naaste lief als Uzelf click to hear 2 Love thy neighbor like yourself
De lieve leidsters liepen langzaam langs de Lindenlaan click to hear The kind (female Kindergarten) teachers walked slowly along the Linden Lane
Ik wil alleen maar bij deze lieve mevrouw blijven click to hear 2 [I want only] All I want is to stay with this kind lady ('Miracle on 34th Street')
je lacht zo lief click to hear 2 3 You [laugh] smile so sweetly
usually, to smile is: 'glimlachen' click to hear - (de) glimlach click to hear 2 3 'smile'
glimlachen
to smile
- ik glimlach
I smile
- ik glimlachte
I smiled
- ik heb geglimlacht
I have smiled
click to hear
lachen
to laugh
- ik lach
I am laughing
- ik lachte
I laughed
- ik heb gelachen
I have laughed
click to hear ‑>>

'Houden' click to hear 2 by itself is something like 'to hold, to keep'
'Behoudend' click to hear 2 3 ['holding on'] is an old-fashioned word for 'conservative.' The modern word is the easier 'conservatief' click to hear 2 ->>
See also the ‑>>

Hou je vast! click to hear 2 ['Hold fast!'] - Hold on, grip something
scheef houden click to hear 2 to hold at an angle, to tilt
Hij kan geen wijs houden click to hear 2 He cannot ['hold on to'] carry a tune
Houd afstand click to hear 2 Keep distance, dont get too close
Hou 't eenvoudig click to hear 2 Keep it simple (uncomplicated)
Probeer 't eenvoudig te houden click to hear 2 Try to keep it simple
Een oogje in het zeil houden click to hear 2 to keep an eye on the sail' - to watch over something or someone
Iemand die een oogje in het zeil houdt click to hear 2 (saying) A person watching over someone or something
Hij houdt z'n poot stijf click to hear (saying) ['He's keeping his paw stiff'] - 'He's not giving in'
Ik hoop dat we 't droog houden click to hear I hope we'll keep it dry (hoping it doesn't rain)
houdbaar tot click to hear 'can be kept until' - 'best before ...'

'Houden' click to hear 2 is also often combined with other prepositions, like 'op,' 'tegen' and 'onder.'

ophouden click to hear 2 to stop, end, come to an end
ophouden met click to hear to stop, end, quit, cease met/mee
ophouden met werken click to hear 2 to stop working, to retire
ophouden met roken click to hear 2 to stop smoking
Hou op! click to hear Stop it!
Hou er onmiddellijk mee op! click to hear 2 3 Now stop that (immediately) right away!
Daar moet je mee ophouden click to hear 2 You should stop doing that
Ik houd je niet tegen click to hear 2 I'm not holding you back, I'm not stopping you
terughoudend click to hear 2 3 [holding back] - reserved, aloof, detached
Hou je hoofd erbij! click to hear 2 3 4 ['Keep your head at it'] - Pay attention, stay with it, don't lose focus
Ik kan 't niet meer bijhouden click to hear 2 I can't keep up with it (getting old)
'Aanhouden' click to hear 2 3 can mean police or other authorities stopping and detaining people, but usually it means 'to keep on' like not taking off clothes etc. or to continue what you're doing, 'continue against adversity, persevere, sustain'
Hou(d) je schoenen aan click to hear 2 3 Keep your shoes on
De aanhouder wint click to hear (saying) He/she who perseveres will win, succeed
(het) onderhoud click to hear 2 1. maintenance, keeping in good condition
2. serious, official conversation
achterstallig onderhoud click to hear 2 overdue maintenance
onderhouden
to maintain
- ik onderhield
I maintained
- ik heb onderhouden
I have maintained
click to hear

'Willen' - to want, wish, would like to, desire

'Willen' click to hear 2 - to want, wish, would like to, desire
The following 'Willen' chapter is not very different from the Verbs: 'Willen' smartphone page. If you've already studied that page you could skip ahead.
willen (to want, wish, would like to, desire)
willen
ik wil
jij wilt
hij wil
wij willen
jullie willen
zij willen
U wilt
click to hear
(to want)
(I want)
(you want)
(he wants)
(we want)
(you want)
(they want)
(you want)


ik wilde
jij wilde
hij wilde
wij wilden
jullie wilden
zij wilden
U wilde
click to hear

(I wanted)
(you wanted)
(he wanted)
(we wanted)
(you wanted)
(they wanted)
(you wanted)
ik heb gewild click to hear I have wanted, desired
The past perfect is more common:
ik had gewild click to hear 2 I had wanted
Note the exception: no T in hij wil click to hear 2
Ik wil een nieuwe fiets click to hear 2 I want a new bicycle
Ik wil een groter huis click to hear 2 3 I would like a bigger house
Ik wil een vrije dag click to hear 2
Ik wil een dag vrij click to hear 2
[I want a free day, a day free] - I want a day off
Wil je een kopje thee? click to hear 2 Would you like a cup of tea?
Ja, graag click to hear 2 Yes, please (informal)
Nee, dank je click to hear 2 No, thank you (informal) - more
Wil je kaas of ham op je brood? click to hear Would you like cheese or ham on your sandwich?
Wil je iets toe? click to hear 2 3 Would you like [something to finish] dessert?
Wilt U een bonnetje? click to hear 2 3 Would you like a (cash register) receipt?
Wij willen water click to hear We want water
Wil je meezingen? click to hear Would you like to sing along? (singular 'you')
Willen jullie meezingen? click to hear Would you guys like to sing along?
Als jullie niet willen meewerken ... click to hear 2 If you guys don't want to cooperate ...
Ik wil 't goed doen click to hear 2 3 I want to do it well, I want to do a good job
Wil je wat eten? click to hear Would you like to eat something? Would you like some food? Are you hungry? - food
Wil je wat drinken? click to hear 2 Would you like something to drink? Are you thirsty? drinks
Wat wil je drinken? click to hear 2 What would you like to drink?
Wil je koffie of thee of iets fris? click to hear 2 3 Would you like coffee or tea or [something 'fresh' - cold] - juice or soda?
Wat wil je horen? click to hear What would you like to hear? (music choice)
Wat wil je weten? click to hear What would you like to know? What do you need to know?
Ik wil weten hoe 't afloopt click to hear 2 I want to know how it ends (a story, a movie etc.)
Ik wil 't weten click to hear 2 I want to know [it]
Ik wil weten wat er gebeurd is click to hear 2 3 I want to know what happened
Ik wil precies weten wat er gebeurd is click to hear 2 3 I want to know exactly what happened
Ik wil weten wat er precies gebeurd is click to hear 2 3 I want to know what exactly happened
Wat wil je later worden? click to hear What do you [later] want to be when you grow up?
Ik wil er nog even over nadenken click to hear 2 3 I want (need?) some time to think about it
Ik wil er nog een nachtje over slapen click to hear 2 I'd like to sleep on it, I'll take a decision or let you know my answer tomorrow
Wilt U via een tolk spreken? click to hear 2 Would you like to speak through an interpreter?
Kom je binnen of wil je buiten blijven? click to hear Are you coming inside or would you rather stay outside?
Wil je blijven eten? click to hear 2 3 (4) Would you like to stay for [eating] dinner?
April doet wat-ie wil click to hear 2 'April does as it likes' - April weather is unpredictable
Hij doet toch wat-ie wil click to hear 2 He does as he likes anyway
Ik wil het best wel vertellen hoor click to hear 2 3 4 [I am certainly willing to tell you] - I don't mind telling you
Ik zou wel eens willen weten ... click to hear 2 Sometime I would like to know, find out ...
Ik wil naar huis click to hear 2 [I want homeward] I want to go home
Ik wil gaan wandelen click to hear I want to go [walking] for a walk
Ik wil gaan zwemmen click to hear I want to go [swimming] for a swim
Morgen wil ik gaan hardlopen click to hear 2 Tomorrow I want to go running
Ze wilde gaan zwemmen click to hear 2 3 She wanted to go swimming
Dus je wilt Nederlands leren? click to hear So you want to learn Dutch?
Ik wil Nederlands leren click to hear 2 3 I want to learn Dutch
Ik wil graag Nederlands praten click to hear 2 3 ~ I really want to speak Dutch
Ik wil ook nog een keer naar Amerika click to hear I would (also) like to visit the US sometime ('America')
Ik wil nòg een keer naar Jeruzalem click to hear 2 3 I would like to visit Jerusalem again
Nòg 'n click to hear 2 'another' - stressing 'nog' click to hear changes the meaning of 'nog een keer' from 'sometime' to 'again, another time'

Polite and friendly questions often combine 'willen' click to hear 2 with 'zou U' click to hear 2 or 'zou je' click to hear 2 - translated in English as 'Could you please' or 'Would you mind' - more

Zou je alsjeblieft Nederlands willen spreken? click to hear Could you please speak Dutch? (informal 'you')
Zou U alstublieft Nederlands willen spreken? click to hear Could you please speak Dutch? (polite 'you')
Zou U dat nog eens willen zeggen? click to hear (2) [Could you please say that once again?] - Would you mind repeating that?
Zou U wat langzamer willen spreken? click to hear 2 Would you mind speaking a little slower?
Zou U wat langzamer kunnen praten? click to hear [Could you please ] Would you mind talking a little slower?

The informal 'ik wou' click to hear usually expresses regret, a vain hope, something that's not likely to happen or something impossible, and not that it happened in the past. In more formal speech this is 'ik zou willen' click to hear
English usually has this as the present tense of 'to wish:' I wish ...

Ik wou dat er een betere oplossing was click to hear I wish there was a better solution
Ik wou dat er een betere manier was click to hear 2 3 I wish there was a better way (to do something)
Ik wou dat 't voorbij was click to hear 2 3 I wish it was over
Ik wou dat 't nooit gebeurd was click to hear 2 I wish it had never happened

To express the regret etc. in the previous examples, you could also use the simple past 'ik wilde' click to hear 2 or the 'conditional' 'ik zou willen' click to hear but 'ik wou' click to hear is more common.

Ik wilde dat ik harder kon schoppen click to hear I wish I could kick (the ball) harder (soccer)
Ik zou willen dat ik harder kon schoppen click to hear (2) I wish I could kick (the ball) harder (soccer)
Ik wou dat ik harder kon schoppen click to hear 2 I wish I could kick (the ball) harder (soccer)

But in common slang, ik wou click to hear is just used as the simple past, instead of ik wilde click to hear 2

Krek wa'k wou click to hear 2 Just what I wanted, exactly what I was looking for
In proper speech, this is said as:
Precies wat ik wilde click to hear 2 Exactly what I wanted
Precies wat ik nodig had click to hear 2 3 Exactly what I needed - 'it hit the spot'

'Had willen' click to hear 2 3 is often said for a hoped-for or planned outcome that unfortunately didn't happen, or for a hypothetical situation

Ik had de bal harder willen schoppen click to hear I had wanted to kick the ball harder
Ik had harder willen schoppen click to hear I had wanted to kick harder
Ik had schrijver willen worden, maar ik ben spreker geworden click to hear I wanted to be a writer, but I've become a speaker
Ik had willen blijven liggen click to hear 2 3 I had wanted to [remain lying down] stay in bed
Ik had je gisteren willen waarschuwen click to hear 2 I had wanted to warn you yesterday (I was going to but it didn't happen)
Ik denk niet dat hij naar ons had willen luisteren click to hear 2 I don't think he had been willing to listen to us

'Willen hebben' is 'like to have, like to receive, like to get' as a gift, as a present - English often just says 'to like'
See also: Birthday

Wat wil je hebben? click to hear 2 What would you like? (to have, receive)
Wat wil je hebben voor je verjaardag? click to hear What would you like for you birthday?
Wat wil je voor je verjaardag hebben? click to hear 2 What would you like for you birthday?
(het) verlanglijstje click to hear 2 wish list
from 'Miracle on 34th Street'
Zeg maar wat je zou willen hebben van Sinterklaas click to hear 2 [Just say] Tell me what you would like to have (receive) from Santa
Ik wil alleen maar bij deze lieve mevrouw blijven click to hear 2 [I want only] All I want is to stay with this kind lady

The negative: 'niet willen' is used with verbs, 'not, do not' and 'geen ... willen' is used with nouns, 'no (zero quantity)' - see also the 'Niet,' 'Geen' and 'Wel' page

Ik wil geen brood click to hear 2 3 ['I want no bread'] - I don't want bread (not a polite thing to say!)
Ik wil geen feest click to hear 2 3 I don't want a party
Ik wil geen vlees eten click to hear 2 I don't want to eat meat
Ik wil niet naar Arnhem click to hear 2 I don't want to go to Arnhem (Note that Dutch can leave out the 'gaan'/to go )
Als jullie niet willen meewerken ... click to hear 2 If you guys don't want to cooperate ...
Hij wilde niet naar de radio luisteren click to hear 2 He didn't want to listen to the radio
Het was niet wat hij wilde horen click to hear It was not what he wanted, had hoped to hear - unwelcome news, unwelcome opinions
Ik wil niet dat iemand me ziet click to hear I don't want anybody to see me
Ik wil je niet van je werk houden click to hear 2 3 I don't want to keep you from your work
Ik wil niet meer click to hear 2 [I don't want any more] - I don't want to go on - also: I've had enough
Hij wil altijd meer click to hear 2 3 He always wants more (he's never happy, content with what he's got, it's never enough)
't Wil maar niet lukken click to hear 2 3 It just will not succeed, I am (we are) having trouble getting it to work
The Verbs: Willen smartphone page has an overview of words related to 'willen'

(Het) verlangen click to hear 2 is 'longing, desire, wish' - the verb verlangen naar click to hear 2 3 is 'to long for, yearn' or 'to want, wish for' - and in official use 'to require.'
As mentioned above, (het) verlanglijstje click to hear 2 is 'wish list' - (Birthday)

Ik verlang naar m'n bed click to hear 2 3 I long for my bed - (sleep)
het verlangen naar avontuur click to hear 2 3 4 5 the longing for adventure
Heb je een verlanglijstje? click to hear Do you have a wish list?
also: Ik kijk uit naar de Kerstdagen click to hear I look forward to the Christmas Holiday
and: Ik kijk uit naar de feestdagen click to hear I look forward to the holidays

(De) wens click to hear is 'wish, desire' - the plural and the verb is: wensen click to hear 2

(de) wenselijkheid click to hear desirability
-
gelukwensen click to hear 2 3 congratulations
Mijn grootste wens is ... click to hear 2 3 My [greates, biggest] dearest wish is ...
Je mag drie wensen doen click to hear 2 3 You [may do] can make three wishes
Hartelijk dank voor de goede wensen click to hear 2 ['Hearfelt'] Many thanks for the good wishes
Een prettige dag gewenst click to hear Wishing (you) a nice day (Birthday)
ik wens jullie veel gelukkige jaren samen click to hear I wish you guys many happy years together (Wedding)
Gefeliciteerd! click to hear [congratulated] - Congratulations! - See also: Birthday
Hartelijk gefeliciteerd! click to hear [heartfelt] Many congratulations!
Hartelijk gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag! click to hear 2 Many congratulations on your birthday!
Van harte gefeliciteerd! click to hear 2 [from the heart ...] Many congratulations!
Heb je hem gefeliciteerd? click to hear Did you congratulate him?

'Hopen' click to hear 2 is 'to hope'

hopen
to hope
- ik hoop
I hope
- wij hopen
we hope
- ik hoopte
I hoped
- wij hoopten
we hoped
- ik heb gehoopt
I have hoped
click to hear 2
- more
ik had gehoopt click to hear 'I had hoped, I was hoping'

- Dutch (de) hoop click to hear 2 is 'hope,' faithful expectation, but it can also mean 'heap' or 'a large amount, a lot, a bunch'

Het geeft de mensen hoop click to hear It gives people hope
Hoop doet leven click to hear Hope [makes] fuels life
een sprankje hoop click to hear 2 a glimmer of hope
Kaap de Goede Hoop click to hear 2 The Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Ik hoop dat 't op tijd is click to hear I hope it's in time
Ik hoop dat je het niet erg vindt click to hear I hope you don't mind, I hope it's OK with you
Ik hoop dat je d'r tijd voor hebt click to hear 2 3 4 I hope you have time for it
We hopen op een wonder click to hear 2 We're hoping for a miracle
Ik hoop van niet click to hear I hope not (hoping that something isn't true or is not going to happen)
(de) wanhoop click to hear 2 3 4 5 despair
wanhopig click to hear 2 3 desperate
Niet wanhopen! click to hear 2 3 Do not despair!
Ik word er wanhopig van click to hear 2 [I become desperate by it] - It drives me to despair
hopeloos click to hear 2 hopeless, desperate, despairing
't Is hopeloos click to hear 2 3 It's hopeless, there is no possible good outcome
hoopvol click to hear 2 3 hopeful, optimistic
Ik blijf hoopvol click to hear 2 3 I remain hopeful
(de) mesthoop click to hear 2 dungheap
(de) molshoop click to hear 2 3 molehill
een hoop ellende click to hear a lot of misery
Je hebt er een hoop werk aan click to hear 2 3 It's a lot of work for you

Luck and Happiness

The Dutch word (het) geluk click to hear 2 can mean both 'luck,' fate favoring you, and 'happiness,' a lasting state of good feeling - but 'geluk' as 'happiness' is getting a bit old-fashioned. Likewise, gelukkig click to hear 2 3 (gelukkige click to hear 2 3) can mean both 'lucky, luckily' and 'happy' but most people will use the English word 'happy' (as an adverb or adjective) instead. The old-fashioned words are still commonly used in standard expressions. "Hoe je happy leven kan" click to hear 2
How [you can] to live happily

gelukkig click to hear 2 3 (gelukkige click to hear 2 3) lucky, luckily; happy
Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! click to hear Happy New Year! ->>

Word je er gelukkig van? click to hear 2 3 4 (a little old-fashioned)
Word je er happy van? click to hear 2 3 Does it make you happy?

Vroeger was geluk heel gewoon click to hear 2 3 In the past, happiness was quite common (Carmiggelt)
Geld maakt niet gelukkig click to hear 2 Money doesn't make you happy, money does not create happiness
(... maar 't is wel (ge)makkelijk click to hear 2 3 ... but it is convenient, it makes life easier)
... en ze leefden nog lang en gelukkig click to hear 2 3 (fairy tale ending) [... and they lived still long and happily] - ... and they lived happily ever after
Ik had geluk click to hear 2 I was lucky
Als je geluk hebt ... click to hear 2 3 If you're lucky ...
Je hebt geluk gehad click to hear 2 3 You [have been] were lucky
Gelukkig maar! click to hear 2 3 Lucky indeed! We're lucky

"Good luck!" would be best said in Dutch as sterkte click to hear -or- veel sterkte click to hear 2 '(wishing you) (much) strength' -or- het beste ermee click to hear 2 3 4 5 'all the best (with it)' - 'veel geluk' click to hear 2 3 is wishing someone long-term happiness, a bit old-fashioned.
The originally Yiddish (de) mazzel click to hear ‑>> 'luck' is also fairly common in everyday speech.
"De mazzel!" click to hear 'see you, all the best'

Do note that Dutch people congratulate  on birthdays;
Hartelijk gefeliciteerd! click to hear
Van harte gefeliciteerd click to hear 2
- there is no Gelukkige verjaardag  (or Gelukkige moederdag  etc.)
But next to the congratulations you could write or say in a phone call:
Een prettige dag gewenst click to hear Wishing (you) a nice day or:  Een gezellige dag gewenst click to hear 2 3 Wishing (you) a pleasant day in the company of friends and/or relatives more Birthday

(Het) ongeluk click to hear 2 is 'accident,' something bad happening inadvertently. In traffic it's often better to call it a crash - (de) botsing click to hear 2 ->>
- 'bad luck' is (de) pech click to hear 2
Per ongeluk click to hear 2 is 'by accident, inadvertently' - its opposite, 'deliberately' is doelbewust click to hear 2 ['goal-conscious] or moedwillig click to hear 2 if it's negative, malicious

Ik werk me een ('n) ongeluk click to hear 2 3 (4 5) (saying) I'm working ["myself an accident"] very hard'
Een ongeluk zit in een klein hoekje click to hear (saying) ['an accident is in a small corner'] - accidents can happen in unexpected places (and unexpectedly)
Een geluk bij een ongeluk click to hear 2 ['Some luck in an accident'] - A bright spot in a bad situation
het ongeluksgetal click to hear - dertien click to hear the unlucky number - 13
(de) pech click to hear 2 'bad luck'
(de) pechvogel click to hear 2 (bad-luck bird) a person who has much bad luck
Je hebt pech click to hear 2 You're not lucky, you're having bad luck
Hadden jullie pech? click to hear Did you guys have bad luck? - usually this means: Did you guys have car trouble?
Wat 'n pech! click to hear 2 Such bad luck!
Hij heeft te veel pech click to hear 2 'He has too much bad luck' - he's accident-prone
domme pech click to hear 2 3 [dumb bad luck] - much bad luck, seemingly random
See also meezitten/tegenzitten 'luck favoring you/against you'

The Dutch verb lukken click to hear 2 means 'to succeed' (in something) or 'be successful' (in something)

Dat lukt je nooit click to hear 2 You'll never succeed in that, you'll never be able to do that, you'll never pull that off
Dat lukt me nooit click to hear I'll never succeed in that, I'll never be able to do that, I'll never pull that off
Zou 't lukken? click to hear 2 Is it going to work out?
Is 't gelukt? click to hear 2 Did it work? Did it get through? Did you succeed? Were you able to pull it off?
't Is gelukt click to hear 2 3 It worked, it went through, we managed to pull it off
't Is niet gelukt click to hear 2 3 It was a failure, it didn't work, we were not able to pull it off
't Wil maar niet lukken click to hear 2 3 I can't get it right (said after many failed attempts)
"Lukt 't een beetje?" click to hear 2 3 [Are you somewhat succeeding?] - How is it going? (inquiring with doubts about how a job is going)
(de) mislukking click to hear 2 failure

Bereiken click to hear 2 3 is literally 'to reach' but it's most often used figuratively, 'reaching goals, getting results.'
(het) bereik click to hear 2 3 reach, extent, range

... de nieuwe horizonten, op zoek naar een bestemming om te bereiken ... click to hear   ... the new horizons, searching for a destination to reach ...
Hij heeft niks bereikt click to hear 2 3 4 He has achieved nothing, he didn't get results, 'he got nowhere'
Daar bereik je niks mee click to hear 2 3 4 5 'That will get you nowhere,' that's no use, it does not help you to succeed
Wat wil je ermee bereiken? click to hear 2 3 What is the result you want [with it]?
Wat hoop je ermee te bereiken? click to hear 2 3 4 What is the result you hope for [with it]?

Dutch blij click to hear (blije click to hear - blij / blije click to hear) usually means 'glad,' happy about something, 'pleased, delighted, contented' but it also can mean cheerful, happy, merry, 'in a good mood.'
(de) blijdschap click to hear 2 3 joy, happiness

Ik ben blij dat je gekomen bent click to hear 2 I'm glad that you have come
Ik ben blij dat je voor het examen geslaagd bent click to hear 2 I'm glad that you passed the test
Ik ben blij dat het goed is afgelopen click to hear I'm glad that it ended well
Ik ben blij dat het mooi weer is click to hear I'm glad that the weather is nice
Ik ben blij dat het vannacht geregend heeft click to hear 2 I'm glad that it rained last night
Ik ben blij dat de hoofdpijn over is click to hear 2 3 I'm glad the headache is gone
Ik ben blij dat de zon schijnt click to hear I'm glad the sun is shining
Ik ben blij als de zon schijnt click to hear 2 3 4 I'm happy when the sun is shining
Als de zon schijnt ben ik blij click to hear When the sun is shining I'm happy
Hij was blij omdat het mooi weer was click to hear He was happy because the weather was nice
Bent U blij met Uw fiets? click to hear 2 Are you happy with your bike? (Would you recommend it?)(formal 'you')
Ben je er blij mee? click to hear 2 3 Are you happy with it? (informal 'you')
Ben je nou blij? click to hear Are you happy now? (something happened that the addressed person wanted but that the speaker is not happy with)
Ik ben er niet blij mee click to hear 2 3 1. I'm not happy with it (an item)
2. I'm not happy about it (a situatiom or an outcome)
Ik ben blij met een kopje thee click to hear I'm happy with a cup of tea (I don't need much)
Ik ben blij dat te horen click to hear I'm glad to hear that
Ik ben blij click to hear I am happy
Hij is erg blij click to hear He is very happy
vrij en blij click to hear free (I/we/they do what I/we/they want) and happy
Vrijheid blijheid click to hear 2 Freedom (brings along) happiness
dichterlijke vrijheid click to hear 2 poetic license
ik ben blij I am happy
jij bent blij you are happy
hij is blij he is happy
wij zijn blij we are happy
jullie zijn blij you guys are happy
zij zijn blij they are happy
click to hear
ben ik blij? am I happy?
ben jij blij? are you happy?
is hij blij? is he happy?
zijn wij blij? are we happy?
zijn jullie blij? are y'all happy?
zijn zij blij? are they happy?
click to hear
U bent blij you are happy
bent U blij? are you happy?
click to hear

The old-fashioned declined form blijde click to hear 2 is still found in standard phrases like: in blijde verwachting click to hear [in joyful expectation] - pregnant de blijde boodschap click to hear [the joyful message] - Good News, The Gospel
As a noun, (de) blijde click to hear 2 is a medieval weapon, a large club that may have spikes

Dutch 'glad' click to hear (gladde click to hear glad / gladde click to hear) is 'smooth' of surfaces and also the extended meaning 'slippery'
spekglad click to hear very slippery ('like bacon') - said of icy roads (de) gladjakker click to hear 'slippery person' - a smooth talker who tells you what you want to hear

tevreden click to hear content, pleased, satisfied, ~happy
(de) tevredenheid click to hear 2 3 satisfaction, contentment
'Weltevreden' click to hear 2 'Happy Place' - colonial-era Dutch name of a Jakarta, Indonesia suburb
(Batavia click to hear 2 was the Dutch name of the Indonesian capital Jakarta)

Hij is er tevreden mee click to hear 2 3 He is happy (content, satisfied) with it Ik ben tevreden met wat ik heb click to hear 2 3 4 5 I'm happy (content) with what I have
from Multatuli, 'Max Havelaar:'
Toen onlangs op de Prinsengracht myn hoed te-water woei - Frits zegt: waaide - heb ik de man die hem my terugbracht een dubbeltje gegeven, en hy was tevreden. click to hear When my hat was blown - Frits says blowed - into the Prinsengracht sometime ago, I gave a dime to the man who brought it back to me, and he was pleased. Ik weet wel dat ik iets meer had moeten geven als hy myzelf er uit gehaald had, maar zeker myn halve vermogen niet. click to hear Of course I should have given a little more if he had picked up my person from the water, but certainly not half of my property. Wie met minder niet tevreden is, mag me laten liggen. Alleen zondags zou ik iets meer geven, omdat ik dan myn kantilje ketting draag, en een andere rok. click to hear Those who are not happy with less can leave me there. Only on Sundays I would give a little more, because then I'm wearing my special watch-chain and formal suit.
more from Multatuli

... Stelt U zich voor: hetzelfde komitee, de voorzitter: "Deze Antoine a'Delphi - wij zijn niet tevreden. Ik stel fase 2 voor." click to hear ... Imagine the same committee, the chairman: "This Antoine a'Delphi, we are not pleased. I propose phase 2." Antoine, die avond bij het aardappels-schillen, er kruipt een insekt uit de aardappel die hij onder handen heeft, een torretje dat op z'n achterpootjes gaat staan, midden- en voorpootjes spreidt en zegt:
"Meneer a'Delphi, wij zijn niet tevreden. Er moet eens iets gebeuren." Waarna het torretje in het niets verdwijnt. click to hear Antoine, peeling potatoes that night, a bug crawls from the potato in hand, a beetle that rises on its hind legs, spreading middle and front legs, speaking: "Mr a'Delphi, we are not pleased. There is a need for action." After which the beetle vanishes.

graag click to hear 2 is an adverb meaning you would like to, you would enjoy something, something would be pleasant to you. See and hear the examples for more specific translations. Graag  is only an adverb: there are NO grage dingen.

You could answer a question like:
Wil je een kopje thee? click to hear 2 Would you like a cup of tea? or:  Wil je iets toe? click to hear 2 3 Would you like dessert? with:  Ja, graag click to hear 2 Yes, please
You could also say:
Ja, alstublieft click to hear 2 (polite) - or:  Ja, alsjeblieft click to hear 2 3 (informal)
or, declining:  Nee, dank U click to hear 2 / Nee, dank je click to hear 2 ‑>>

Wat wil je drinken? click to hear 2 What would you like to drink? Een kopje koffie graag click to hear 'A cup of coffee, please' (informal) or:  Een kopje thee alstublieft click to hear A cup of tea, please (polite)

When people thank you, you could say:
Graag gedaan click to hear ['a pleasure to have done'] - you're welcome, 'my pleasure alternatives:  Geen dank click to hear Don't mention it ('no reason to thank me') or  Kleine moeite click to hear No Problem ('Minimal effort')

Ik zou zo graag ... click to hear 2 3 I would really like to ... (a great wish of mine is ...)

Hij wil 't zo graag click to hear 2 3 4 He really wants it, he wants it so badly Ik wil graag Nederlands praten click to hear 2 3 I really want to talk Dutch (conversation)

Ik wil graag helpen click to hear 2 3 I want to help, I'm eager to help, I really like to help people ... maar soms wordt 't niet op prijs gesteld click to hear
... maar 't wordt soms niet op prijs gesteld click to hear ... but sometimes it's not appreciated

'Graag mogen' click to hear 2 3 is a phrase used to describe how much you like your best friends (I can't think of an English equivalent.)
Ik mag 'm graag click to hear 2 I really like him, we get on well (said about one of your best male friends) Ik heb hem nooit gemogen click to hear 2 3 I never liked him

Dutch vrolijk click to hear is 'cheerful, merry'

Vrolijke Frans click to hear ['Jolly Francis'] - a cheerful, merry person

(de) pretletter click to hear 2 3
a cheerful, happy small child<
Vrolijk Pasen! click to hear Merry Easter! ->>
Vrolijk Kerstfeest! click to hear 2 3 4 Merry Christmas!

Dutch (het) plezier click to hear is like English 'pleasure' - fun, joy, enjoyment; the adverb and adjective plezierig click to hear 2 is 'pleasant'

veel plezier click to hear 2 ['Much enjoyment!'] - Have fun!
Hebben jullie wel plezier? click to hear Are you guys really enjoying yourselves?
kleine pleziertjes click to hear 2 3 'small pleasures' - like a hot cup of good tea, a moment in the sun on a chilly day or toothpaste with a nice taste
Ik heb het met veel plezier gelezen click to hear [I've read it with great pleasure] - I really enjoyed reading it (a book)
graag gedaan! click to hear [A pleasure to have done it] - My pleasure, you're welcome

Food, drinks or activities can be 'lekker' click to hear 2 3 4 (lekker / lekkere click to hear 2) (probably related to English 'to like') - 'enjoyable, nice, delicious' or simply 'good' or 'well'

lekkers click to hear enjoyable stuff
lekkernijen click to hear 2 'delicacies' (old-fashioned)
lekkere koffie click to hear good coffee - drinks
vieze thee click to hear bad tea
lekker pittig click to hear of enjoyable strong (savory) taste - taste
lekker fris click to hear pleasantly cool, nice and cool
lekker warm click to hear 2 3 pleasantly, comfortably warm
luilekkerland click to hear 2 [lazy-enjoyable place] - the Land of Cockaigne
Wat je ver haalt is lekker click to hear 2 (saying) ['What you get from far away tastes good'] 'Exotic food is always good'
't eten - 't was lekker click to hear 'the food - it was good' - food comments
Het eten was erg lekker click to hear 2 3 4 The food was very good, I really enjoyed the food
Het eten was heerlijk click to
  hear The food was delicious, I really enjoyed the food
erg lekker click to hear 2 / heerlijk click to hear 2 3 / zalig click to hear 2 food superlatives: very good / delicious / 'heavenly'
Vers brood is altijd lekker click to hear 2 Fresh bread is always [tasty] good
Heb je lekker gegeten? click to hear 2 'Was the food to your liking, did you enjoy your meal?'
't Is niet lekker meer click to hear It doesn't taste good anymore (it spoiled or got old)
Was 't lekker? click to hear 2 Was it good, did you enjoy it? (food, drink)
smullen click to hear 2 / lekker smullen click to hear 2 'to eat with great enjoyment'
Wat zou U aanraden? click to hear 2 3 What would you recommend?
Maar 't had lekkerder kunnen zijn click to hear 2 But it could have been better (-tasting)
Ik heb zo'n zin in iets lekkers click to hear 2 I have a great craving for something tasty, something really nice (usually sweet)
Eet smakelijk! click to hear Enjoy your meal! Bon appetit!
Lekker lui liggen lezen click to hear 'lying down and enjoying a lazy read'
't leest lekker weg click to hear 2 3 an enjoyable and easy read (not requiring much effort)
't Is lekker fris buiten click to hear 2 3 4 It's pleasantly cool, nice and cool outside
slaap lekker! click to hear 2 sleep well! (good night, happy dreams) - sleep
Heb je lekker geslapen? click to hear 2
'Did you sleep well?'
Hij loopt lekker click to hear 2 It runs nicely, smoothly (an engine)
lekker makkelijk! click to hear 2 3 conveniently, enjoyably easy, I like the ease of it (a great convenience)
Ik voel me niet lekker click to hear I don't feel well, I'm a bit sick - Medical
kiplekker click to hear 2 ['well like a chicken'] - fit as a fiddle
Ik voel me kiplekker click to hear 2 I'm fit as a fiddle
(het) comfort click to hear 2 (~French) comfort
comfortabel click to hear 2 comfortable

Dutch leuk click to hear 2 3 4 5 (leuke click to hear - leuk / leuke click to hear 2 3) can be 'enjoyable, nice, pleasant' or 'funny, amusing' and 'pretty, attractive'
I could say: "Zo'n leuk meisje" click to hear 2 'Such a nice girl' (an ideal daughter-in-law)
leuk vinden click to hear 2 is 'to like, to enjoy' - the 'Like' in Dutch Facebook is 'vind ik leuk'
- 'niet leuk' click to hear 2 3 is often an understatement used for something bad or disappointing

Heb je 't leuk gehad? click to hear Did you enjoy yourself? (singular informal 'you')
Hebben jullie 't leuk gehad? click to hear Did you guys enjoy yourself? (plural informal 'you')
Heb je het leuk gehad in Brussel? click to hear Did you have a good time in Brussels?
Heb je wat leuks gedaan in het weekend? click to hear Have you done something nice in the weekend?
Vind je 't leuk om te koken? click to hear 2 3 Do you like to cook? Do you enjoy cooking?
Ik vind 't niet leuk click to hear 2 3 I don't like it, I'm not enjoying it
M'n zoon vond het erg leuk click to hear My son really enjoyed it
Ik dacht dat je het leuk zou vinden click to hear 2 I was thinking you would like it
Ik dacht dat je het leuk zou vinden om dit te zien click to hear 2 I was thinking you would like to see this
iets leuks click to hear 2 3 4 Something nice, a nice thing (funny, entertaining)
Vertel eens wat leuks click to hear 2 Now do tell us something entertaining
Was er maar iets leuks op TV! click to hear 2 3 4 If only there was something nice on TV! (I wish there was something nice but there isn't)
De leuke lolbroek lachte luid click to hear 2 The nice fun person was laughing loudly
't Moet wel leuk blijven click to hear 2 3 ['It has to remain nice'] - Don't do something weird
't Is niet leuk meer click to hear It's not funny anymore, 'it's getting old'
Dat is niet leuk click to hear 2 That's not funny - but usually it means: It's bad
Dat was niet leuk click to hear 2 3 That was not funny - but usually it means: It was bad
Dat was niet zo leuk click to hear 2 3 That was not very funny - but usually it means: That was pretty bad
also:  onprettig click to hear 2 3 / onplezierig click to hear 2 3 unpleasant
't Staat je leuk click to hear 2 3 "It looks good on you, you look good in it"
Je wilt er leuk uitzien click to hear 2 You want to look nice, cute, attractive

(Het) genoegen click to hear is a another somewhat old-fashioned word for 'pleasure, satisfaction'

Geen onverdeeld genoegen click to hear 2 3 ['No unmitigated pleasure'] - something not entirely pleasing
Geen groter genoegen click to hear "No greater pleasure"
"Het is mij een genoegen ..." click to hear 2 "It is with great pleasure ..."
Met wie heb ik het genoegen? click to hear Who do I have the pleasure (meeting)? (really old-fashioned)
But genoeg click to hear is 'enough' ‑>> goed genoeg click to hear 2 good enough Er is genoeg brood click to hear 2 There is enough bread

'Genieten' click to hear 2 3 and 'genieten van' click to hear 2 3 are slightly old-fashioned for 'to enjoy.' It's a strong verb:

genieten
~ to enjoy
genoot
~ enjoyed
genoten
~ enjoyed
click to hear 2 3
(het) genot click to hear 2 3 4 enjoyment
'Genotsmiddelen click to hear 2 are non-vital consumables just meant for pleasure like alcoholic drinks and tobacco - dictionary says 'stimulants'
We hebben ervan genoten click to hear 2 3 We enjoyed it very much Geniet ervan! click to hear 2 3 Enjoy it!

'(De) genoot' click to hear 2 is only distantly related to the verb 'genieten.' It is only found in compound words and means a 'partner,' a person or an entity like a country or a corporation sharing something (i.e. the other part of the compound word.)
Old-fashioned: (de) echtgenoot click to hear / (de) echtgenote click to hear 'husband' / 'wife' - echt click to hear 2 3 (echt / echte click to hear 2) is 'real' but the really old-fashioned noun (de) echt click to
  hear means 'marriage.'
the modern words: (de) man click to hear 2 3 / (de) vrouw click to hear 'husband' / 'wife' - (het) huwelijk click to hear 'marriage' - >>
bondgenoten click to hear 2 'allies'
(de) landgenoot click to hear 'fellow countryman, compatriot'
(de) huisgenoot click to hear 'housemate' - an not-related person you're sharing a house with (usually college or university students)
(de) kamergenoot click to hear 'office mate' (not-related people sharing a bedroom like English 'roommates' is unusual in Holland)
(de) tafelgenoot click to hear a person at your table at a festive dinner
lotgenoten click to hear 2 people sharing a (bad) fate
disgenoten click to hear 2 3 people sharing a (festive) meal - 'table-mates.' - I'm told there is a restaurant by that name. (De) dis click to hear is an old-fashioned word for 'table with food' - the word is related to German Tisch  which just means 'table' and English 'dish' - a plate, or a plate wuth food

(het) vermaak click to hear is a somewhat old-fashioned word for 'entertainment, amusement, enjoyment'
't Bezit van de zaak is 't eind van 't vermaak click to hear 2 3 '[The] Ownership (of the case) is [the] end of the enjoyment' - the chase, working towards goals is the fun part; having reached goals boredom may set in, worries may start (Het) leedvermaak click to hear 'Schadenfreude,' finding pleasure or entertainment in the misfortunes of other people
zich vermaken click to hear 2 to be entertained, to enjoy yourself
We hebben ons prima vermaakt click to hear 2 3 We [very well] really enjoyed ourselves vermakelijk click to hear entertaining, funny, humorous
leerzaam en/of vermakelijk click to hear 2 3 educational and/or entertaining leerzaam en/of amusant click to hear 2 3 educational and/or entertaining

Dutch prettig click to hear (prettige click to hear 2 3) usually means 'nice, pleasant' like in wishing someone a good time. It can also mean 'comfortable, pleasant.'
You can say Prettige feestdagen! click to hear 2 'Happy Holidays!' but there is no Dutch equivalent for 'Happy Birthday!' People are congratulated: 'Hartelijk gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag!' click to hear
'Many congratulations on your birthday!'
and you can follow that with: 'Een prettige dag gewenst' click to hear
'Wishing you a pleasant day'
or: 'Een gezellige dag gewenst' click to hear 2 3
'Wishing you a pleasant day (in the company of family and friends)'
In Dutch you also don't say things like 'Happy Mother's Day'

prettig weekend! click to hear 2 3 Have a nice weekend
prettige avond! click to hear Have a nice evening
Prettige feestdagen! click to hear 2 Happy Holidays! ->>
Een prettige dag gewenst click to hear Wishing you a pleasant day - Birthday
een prettige dag nog! click to hear Have a nice day! ('nog' is said because the day has already started)
'n prettige fiets click to hear 2 3 a comfortable bike
' prettige tandarts click to hear a nice dentist
'n prettig vooruitzicht click to hear 2 a nice prospect, ~a promising future, something to look forward to
iets om naar uit te kijken click to hear 2 something to look forward to
onprettig click to hear 2 3 unpleasant, disagreeable

(De) pret click to hear 2 3 'fun, amusement, enjoyment' is mostly found in standard phrases like:

Dan is 't voorbij met de pret click to hear
= Dan is 't uit met de pret click to hear 2
= Dan is 't gedaan met de pret click to hear 2 3
['(And) then it's done with the fun'] -'the fun is over' - said when things return to normal after a respite, or go from normal to a worse situation - somewhat stronger than 'the honeymoon is over'

't mag de pret niet drukken click to hear 2 3 We can't let it [suppress] spoil the fun

(de) pretletter click to hear 2 3
a cheerful, happy small child

'Aangenaam' click to hear 2 / 'aangename' click to hear 2 3 4 'pleasant, pleasing, comfortable' is a bit old-fashioned
"Aangenaam kennis te maken" click to hear 2 3 Pleased to meet you, nice meeting you een aangename temperatuur click to hear a pleasant, comfortable temperature een aangename verrassing click to hear 2 3 4 a pleasant surprise onaangenaam click to hear 2 3 4 5 / onaangename click to hear 2 3 'unpleasant, uncomfortable'
Een onaangename verrassing click to hear 2 An unpleasant surprise

Dutch (de) zin click to hear 2 is 'sentence, line' and many other things, but 'zin in' click to hear - usually as 'zin hebben in' click to hear 2 is 'feel like' - a desire, a wish, a craving for things to eat or drink or do, 'to feel like'

Heb je zin in een borrel? click to hear Would you like a glass of liquor?
Ik heb zin in ijs click to hear 2 3 I would like ice cream now, I feel like having ice cream
Ik heb zo'n zin in iets lekkers click to hear 2 I have (such) a great craving for something tasty, something really nice (usually sweet)
Ik heb zo'n zin in een kopje thee click to hear 2 3 ['I have such a great desire for ...'] - What I'd really like now is a cup of tea
Ik heb er zin in click to hear 2 I'm looking forward to it (for instance a holiday or starting a new job)
Ik heb er geen zin in click to hear 2 3 I don't feel like it, I don't want to do, eat/drink it
Ik heb nergens zin in click to hear 2 I don't feel like doing (or eating/drinking) anything

'Bedankt' click to hear is 'thanks' and 'bedanken' click to hear 2 is 'to thank'
- 'dank je wel' click to hear 'thank you' (informal) - 'dank U wel' click to hear 'thank you' (polite)
- (de) dank click to hear 2 'thanks, gratitude' - 'dankbaar' click to hear (dankbaar / dankbare click to hear) '[thankful] grateful'
'ondankbaar' click to hear 2 3 - 1. 'ungrateful' 2. 'thankless'

Nee dank je click to hear 2 No, thank you (informal 'you')
Nee dank U click to hear 2 No, thank you (polite 'you')
Bedankt en van hetzelfde click to hear 2 Thank you and (wishing) the same to you (in answer to a person wishing you well)
Bedankt voor je brief click to hear 2 Thank you for your letter
Alvast bedankt click to hear 2 Thank you [already] in advance
Bij voorbaat bedankt click to hear Thank you in advance
Bij voorbaat mijn dank click to hear 2 ['In advance my gratitude'] - Thank you in advance (slightly more formal)
Nogmaals bedankt click to hear Thanks again
een kleinigheid click to hear 2 a little thing, a small gift // an unimportant, small matter // a small amount of money
een kleinigheid als dank voor je  hulp click to hear 2 3 4 a small gift as thanks for, in gratitude of your help
Graag gedaan click to hear ['A pleasure to have done'] - You're welcome, my pleasure
Kleine moeite click to
      hear [Minor effort] No problem
Tot Uw dienst! click to hear 2 3 [At your service, glad to be of service] - You're welcome (old-fashioned)
Geen dank click to hear [No reason to thank me] - Don't mention it
Waaraan heb ik dit te danken? click to hear 2 [What is causing this? How do I deserve this?] - Why does this happen to me? (anger at misfortune)
Godzijdank click to hear 2 3 [God deserves thanks, the Lord be thanked] - 'fortunately'
Waar is de dankbaarheid? click to hear 2 3 Where is the gratitude?
't Wordt niet op prijs gesteld click to hear 2 3 It's not appreciated
Een sigaar uit eigen doos click to hear 2 3 ['A cigar from your own box'] - Something is presented as a gift, but it turns out you have to pay for it Je moet een gegeven paard niet in de bek kijken click to hear 2 3 'You shouldn't look into the mouth of a gift horse' - don't criticize a present Stank voor dank click to hear 2 3 [Stink as gratitude] - no gratitude, no appreciation, or even a hostile reaction to kindness

'Danken' click to hear 'to thank' is a bit old-fashioned and next to standard phrases as 'dank je'/'dank U' etc. usually only used to thank God. As mentioned above, the common word for 'to thank' is bedanken click to hear 2

ik bedank click to hear 2
I'm thanking
- ik bedankte click to hear
I thanked
- ik heb bedankt click to hear 2
I have thanked

Zou U ... click to hear 2 or Zou je click to hear 2 'Could you please' or 'Would you mind' - see above or 'the Conditional'

Alstublieft click to hear and alsjeblieft click to hear 2 literally mean something like 'if you please.'
Alstublieft and alsjeblieft can be used in three ways, meaning:
1. 'please' like in 'yes please,' or 'two coffee, please.'
2. 'here you are' or 'here you go,' like when you hand someone something
3. 'you're welcome, my pleasure' in reply to a thank-you (this is a bit unusual.) - more

dankzij click to hear 2 'thanks to' - ondanks click to hear 2 3 'despite, in spite of'

Dankzij het pilletje ging de hoofdpijn over click to hear 2 3 4 Thanks to the (little) pill the headache went away, the pill ended the headache Dankzij de fysiotherapie ging de pijn over click to hear 2 3 Thanks to the physical therapy the pain went away Dankzij een lening kon hij het bedrijfje kopen click to hear 2 (-ie) (-ie2) [Thanks to] With a loan he [could] was able to buy the (small) company

Ondanks de regen hadden we toch een leuke dag click to hear 2 Despite the rain we still had a nice day Ondanks de lening kon hij het bedrijf toch niet redden click to hear 2 3 (-ie) (-ie2) Despite the loan he [still] couldn't save the company

Arts and Entertainment Appreciation


Dutch 'vinden' click to hear is like English 'to find,' locating things you were looking for, but in Dutch it's also often used to state an opinion. English 'to find' can be used like that too, but it's unusual ("I find that hard to believe")
As for instance already mentioned above, leuk vinden click to hear 2 is 'to think (it's) enjoyable,' i.e. 'to like (something)'
'Vinden' is a strong verb:
vinden
to 'find'
vond
found
gevonden
found
click to hear
vinden
to 'find'
- ik vind
I find
- wij vinden
we find
- ik vond
I found
- wij vonden
we found
- ik heb gevonden
I have found
click to hear 2
- more
Ik kan 't niet vinden click to hear 2 3 I can't find it
't Is moeilijk te vinden click to hear 2 3 It's hard to find
Ik vind 't heel erg click to hear I think it's really bad, I'm upset over it
Ik vind 't zo zielig click to hear 2 3 I think it's so sad, I pity the people involved
Ik vind 't best click to hear 2 I think it's OK, It's fine with me
Ik vind er niks aan click to hear
(Ik vin'r niks aan click to hear)
['I find nothing in it'] - It's not interesting
Ik vond er niet veel aan click to hear ['I did not find much in it'] - It was not interesting
Ik dacht dat je het leuk zou vinden click to hear 2 I was thinking you would like it
Je vindt mijn mopjes niet leuk click to hear 2 3 You don't like my jokes
Een paar maanden geleden zijn we naar een optreden van ... geweest. click to hear 2 A few months ago we were at a ... concert.
M'n zoon vond 't erg leuk. click to hear My son really enjoyed it.
Ik luister nog vaak naar ... click to hear 2 I still (often) listen to ...
De CD ... van ... draai ik ook nog vaak. click to hear I still often play the CD ... by ...
Gisteren heb ik ... weer eens gezien. click to hear Yesterday I've seen ... again.
Het is een fantastische film. click to hear It's a great movie.
Ik vind 't nog steeds een fantastische film click to hear 2 I still think it's a great movie
't Was de derde keer dat ik 'm zag. click to hear It was the third time I saw it.
Ik vond het nog steeds erg goed. click to hear I still thought it was great.
De film ... van ... vind ik ook erg goed. click to hear I also really like the movie ... by ... (literally: I think it's very good.)
Vorige week hebben we ... gezien. click to hear Last week we've seen ...
Ik vond er niet veel aan. click to hear I did not like it. (I didn't care for it.)
Het boeide me niet click to hear ['It didn't shackle me, I wasn't gripped by it'] - It was not really interesting
't Spreekt me niet aan click to hear It doesn't appeal to me, I'm not 'touched' by it
Heb je de laatste tijd nog een goed boek gelezen? click to hear Have you read a good book lately?
Ik heb laatst 'Startide Rising' nog eens gelezen. click to hear Recently I've read ... again.
't Is een van m'n favoriete Science-Fictionboeken. click to hear It's one of my favorite Science Fiction books. >>
Ik heb 't met veel plezier gelezen. click to hear 2 I really enjoyed reading it. (literally: I read it with great pleasure.)


The common Dutch word for 'beautiful, pretty' is mooi click to hear (mooi / mooie click to hear 2) and 'ugly' is lelijk click to hear 2 (lelijk / lelijke click to hear 2)
(de) schoonheid click to hear 2 'beauty'
In modern Dutch, schoon click to hear (schoon/schone click to hear) means 'clean' - in older Dutch 'schoon' meant 'beautiful' and in the South of The Netherlands and in Belgium it still has that meaning.

een mooi schilderij click to hear 2 a beautiful painting
Nederlands is een mooie taal click to hear Dutch is a beautiful language ‑>>
Hij deed veel om de stad mooi te maken click to hear 2 He did much to [make the town beautiful] beautify the town
Heel mooi, maar bitter koud click to hear 2 Very pretty, but bitter cold (snow) ‑>>
't Is zo'n mooi potlood click to hear It's such a pretty pencil ‑>>
zij zingt mooi click to hear She sings beautifully, she has a beautiful voice
Je geeft 't slechte weer zo mooi weer click to hear You [represent] depict the bad weather (so) beautifully
iets moois click to hear 2 3 Something beautiful, a beautiful thing
mooi - mooier - mooist click to hear beautiful - more beautiful - most beautiful
mooist / mooiste click to hear most beautiful
"Spiegeltje, spiegeltje aan de wand, 
wie is de mooiste in het land?" click to hear
'Mirror, mirror on the wall,
who is the prettiest [in the land] of them all?'
‑>>
"Wie is de mooiste in het land?" click to hear 'Who is the prettiest in the land?'
"Sneeuwwitje is de mooiste in het land." click to hear 'Snow White is the prettiest in the land.'
De mooiste auto aller tijden click to hear 2 3 4 The most beautiful car [of all time] ever ‑>>
Maar 't is niet mooi click to hear 2 3 But it's not pretty
Mooi is 't niet click to hear 2 3 4 It's not pretty, "pretty it ain't"
Literally, 'mooi' and 'beautiful' mean something like 'pleasant to look at' or 'aesthetically pleasing' but it can also have a wider meaning of '(generally) pleasant,'   'good' or "I'm happy" - maybe more so in Dutch than in English
het is mooi weer click to hear 2 It's beautiful weather, the weather is beautiful
Zo'n mooie dag click to hear 2 Such a beautiful day!
Ik ben blij dat het mooi weer is click to hear I'm glad the weather is nice
't Is overdag zulk mooi weer click to hear 2 3 In the daytime the weather is very nice
't Is zulk mooi weer buiten click to hear The weather outside is so nice!
Gisteren was 't erg mooi weer click to hear Yesterday the weather was very nice
Dat jaar was heel mooi click to hear That was a very good year
't Had zoveel mooier kunnen zijn click to hear 2 3 It could have been so much nicer
Dat was mooi hè click to hear 2 3 That was pleasant, wasn't it?
Was 't mooi? click to hear 2 3 Was it good?
Een mooi stukje werk click to hear A nice piece of work, a job well done ‑>>
Een mooie gelegenheid click to hear 2 A good opportunity ‑>>
Mooi dat je er weer bent click to hear 2 3 4 Good that you're [here again] back
Mooi dat je weer thuis bent click to hear 2 3 4 Good that you're [home again] back home
De mooiste tijd van m'n leven click to hear 2 The best [time] years of my life
Nou is 't wel mooi geweest click to hear Now that's enough! (Stop what you're doing, I'm sick of it)
Te mooi om waar te zijn click to hear 2 3 Too good to be true
aantrekkelijk click to hear attractive
The opposite of 'mooi' / beautiful is lelijk click to hear 2 (lelijk / lelijke click to hear 2) 'ugly'
een lelijk standbeeld click to hear 2 an ugly statue
Het is lelijk weer click to hear It's ugly, bad weather
de lelijke eend click to hear the ugly duck
een lelijke eend click to hear an ugly duck
het lelijke eendje click to hear the ugly duckling
een lelijk eendje click to hear an ugly duckling
geen lelijk eendje click to hear 2 not an (no) ugly duckling
[a Citroën car] The Citroën '2CV' model is affectionately known as de lelijke eend click to hear ('the ugly duck') or simply eend click to hear ('duck') - more Citroën
See also: Beauty and Cleanliness and laundry

The Other Side (What I Don't Want)

(Het) verdriet click to hear 2 is 'grief, sorrow'
verdrietig click to hear 2 3 4 'sad'
't Doet me veel verdriet click to hear 2 [It causes me much grief] - I'm really saddened by it

'Droevig' click to hear (droevige click to hear) means 'sad, miserable, saddening'
(de) droefheid click to hear 2 'sadness'
(de) droefenis click to hear 2 3 'sad, depressing events or circumstances'
- bedroefd click to hear (bedroefde click to hear 2) 'sad, dejectedsorrowful'
- bedroevend click to hear 2 'saddening, depressing; pitiful, pathetic'

Ik word droevig click to hear I'm [becoming] getting sad, I'm saddened
Als het regent word ik droevig click to hear When it rains I get sad
Ik word droevig van de toestand in de wereld click to hear 2 I'm saddened by [the state of the world] what's going on in the world

somber click to hear (sombere click to hear) gloomy, dark, dejected, melancholy
zo'n sombere zomer click to hear such a gloomy, dark summer
melancholiek click to hear 2 melancholy
depressief click to hear 2 3 4 depressed
deprimerend click to hear 2 3 depressing
't Is deprimerend click to hear 2 It's depressing gedeprimeerd click to hear 2 3 depressed, dispirited, dejected
(de) depressie click to hear 2 3 depression, severe despondency and dejection
neerslachtig click to hear 2 3 4 depressed, depressive
(de) verslagenheid click to hear 2 3 4 [defeatedness] - dejection, despondency, 'everything goes wrong'
betreuren click to hear 2 to regret, lament - treurig click to hear (treurige click to hear) sad, melancholy, tragic, unfortunate
(de) treurnis click to hear sorrow, sadness, melancholy (deplorable, depressing circumstances)
(de) pessimist click to hear 2 pessimist - (het) pessimisme click to hear pessimism - pessimistisch click to hear pessimistic
(de) optimist click to hear optimist - (het) optimisme click to hear 2 optimism - optimistisch click to hear optimistic
eenzaam click to hear 2 3 (eenzame click to hear 2 3) lonely
(de) troost click to hear 2 consolation, 'comfort' - (de) troostprijs click to hear 2 consolation prize
schrale troost click to hear 2 poor, scant consolation, small comfort
'n bakje troost click to hear 2 / 'n bakkie troost click to hear 2 (slang) a cup of coffee, a cuppa joe
regular:  een kopje koffie click to hear a cup of coffee - more drinks

'Huilen' click to hear is 'to cry, shed tears'
- (de) huilbui click to hear 'crying fit'
- (de) traan click to hear is 'tear' - plural: tranen click to hear 'tears'

Hij begon opeens te huilen click to hear 2 3 4 He suddenly started to cry
Hij begon zomaar te huilen click to hear 2 He just started to cry (I don't know why)
't Huilen stond 'm nader dan 't lachen click to hear 2 He [stood] was closer to [crying] tears than [laughing] laughter
huilen
to cry
- ik huil
I'm crying
- wij huilen
we're crying
- ik huilde
I cried
- wij huilden
we cried
- ik heb gehuild
I have cried
click to hear

English 'to cry' can also mean 'screaming, shouting, making loud noise' - that is 'schreeuwen' click to hear in Dutch
- (de) schreeuw click to hear '(the) scream, shout'

schreeuwen
to shout
- ik schreeuw
I'm shouting
- wij schreeuwen
we're shouting
- ik schreeuwde
I shouted
- wij schreeuwden
we shouted
- ik heb geschreeuwd
I have shouted
click to hear
Er loopt een dronken man te schreeuwen click to hear 2
There's a drunk shouting

(De) smart click to hear 2 3 is an old-fashioned word for 'pain, hurt, grief' - think of English 'smarting' Gedeelde smart is halve smart click to hear
Shared grief is halved grief

(de) teleurstelling click to hear disappointment
teleurstellend click to hear disappointing
teleurgesteld click to hear 2 3 disappointed
Ik werd teleurgesteld click to hear 2 3 I was disappointed
Ik ben teleurgesteld geworden click to hear 2 I'm disappointed, I have been disappointed
Ik wil je niet teleurstellen click to hear 2 I don't want to disappoint you
Ik moet je teleurstellen click to hear 2 3 4 I have to disappoint you
Het stelt me teleur click to hear It disappoints me, I'm disappointed
teleurstellende resultaten click to hear 2 3 disappointing results
't is één grote teleurstelling click to hear 2 3 4 It's one big disappointment, all of it is disappointing
teleurstellingen verwerken click to hear 2 3 dealing with disappointment, to process, get over, accept

In Dutch newspaper headlines I've seen the word (de) deceptie  as 'disappointment.' I was not familiar with that word in Dutch, and it looks wrong to me, because English 'deception' means 'deceit, misleading' (Dutch (het) bedrog click to hear 2 3) - but I found it indeed as 'disappointment' in my Dutch dictionaries, though in very small entries. I guess it's Flemish, from French 'decepcion' - disappointment, an English-French faux ami.

(De) spijt click to hear is 'regret' or even 'remorse'

spijt hebben van click to hear 2 to regret, be sorry about
(de) prikspijt click to hear 2 3 remorse at immunization (either at getting or not having gotten it)
Heb je er spijt van? click to hear 2 3 Are you sorry about it? Do you regret it?
Ik heb nergens spijt van click to hear 2 3 4 5 I regret nothing, I have no regrets about anything ('je ne regrette rien')
Je zult er geen spijt van krijgen click to hear 2 You won't [get regret] regret it
(het) berouw click to hear remorse, repentance

The verb spijten means 'to be sorry.' It's a strong verb: spijten / speet / gespeten click to hear - there is no 'ik spijt' or 'jij spijt' - it is only used in constructions like:

Het spijt me click to hear 2 3 I'm sorry
't Spijt me heel erg click to hear 2 3 I'm very sorry, I'm really sorry
't Spijt me, ik ben Uw naam vergeten click to hear 2 I'm sorry, I forgot your name
For a simple apology you can say: Neemt U mij niet kwalijk click to hear 2 I'm sorry /or/ excuse me or use the French 'pardon' click to hear but Dutchified 'sorry' click to hear is most common

In English it's very common to say "I'm sorry" but in Dutch people only say 'sorry' click to hear or 'Het spijt me' click to hear 2 3 when the speaker knows he or she is to blame and is willing to admit that.

't Spijt me, 't eten is aangebrand click to hear 2 3 I'm sorry, the food is burned
Wat jammer dat je fiets gestolen is! click to hear 2 3 4 I'm sorry your bike was stolen, Such a pity that your bike was stolen (I feel your pain)
Wat jammer nou! click to hear 2 3 Such a pity! (I feel your pain)
Wat jammer! click to hear Such a pity! (disappointment)
Wat jammer nou van die ijskast click to hear What a pity of that fridge! (annoyed at the background noise)
Not as strong:
Wat vervelend! click to hear How unpleasant! Such a nuisance!
Wat vervelend nou! click to hear 2 3 How unpleasant! [now] Such a nuisance!
Je fiets is helaas gestolen click to hear 2 3 I'm sorry, your bike was stolen (unfortunately I have bad news for you)

'Klagen' click to hear is 'to complain' - (de) klacht click to hear is 'complaint'

klagen
to complain
- ik klaag
I'm complaining
- ik klaagde
I complained
- ik heb geklaagd
I have complained
click to hear 2
Ze klaagden over het lawaai click to hear 2 3 4 They complained about the noise
Hij heeft de hele week lopen klagen click to hear 2 He's been complaining all week ->>
We mogen niet klagen click to hear 2 We shouldn't complain, we have no reason to complain, we're doing well
Jullie mogen niet klagen click to hear You guys shouldn't complain, you have no reason to complain, you're doing well
Hij onderging de behandeling zonder te klagen click to hear He underwent the treatment without complaining
Er waren veel klachten click to hear There were many complaints

Dutch 'boos' click to hear (boze click to hear 2 - boos / boze click to hear) and 'kwaad' click to hear 2 (kwade click to hear 2 3) both mean 'angry.'

Ben je boos? click to hear Are you angry?
Je bent boos click to hear 2 You are angry
Waarom ben je boos? click to hear Why are you angry?
Hij is nooit lang boos click to hear 2 He's never angry for long
Ik was kwaad omdat ik weer voor m'n rijexamen gezakt was click to hear 2 I was angry because I had failed the driving test again
Ik was zò kwaad click to hear 2 I was so very angry
Ik kan me d'r zò kwaad over maken click to hear 2 It [can make] makes me so very angry

In older Dutch, 'boos' and 'kwaad' meant something like 'evil, bad' or 'wrong' - that meaning is still found in standard phrases, prayers and in the Bible.

de grote boze wolf click to hear 2 the big bad wolf
bar en boos click to hear 2 3 4 5 ['barren and bad'] - very bad (usually said of weather)
Boze tongen beweren ... click to hear 2 ['Evil tongues claim ...'] - Ugly gossip has it (that) ...
(de) boosdoener click to hear 2 3 person or thing causing trouble, evildoer, villain
(het) kattekwaad click to hear 2 ["cats' badness"] - mischief by children
In een kwade reuk staan click to hear 2 3 (saying) to have a bad reputation' - NOT the literal meaning 'being in a place of bad smell'
Dat kan geen kwaad click to hear 2 3 (saying) ['That's not going to do damage'] - 'It's something that can be tried without risk, worth a try'
... verlos ons van het kwade click to hear 2 ... deliver us from evil - The Lord's Prayer
Gij zult de meerderheid
in het kwade niet volgen click to hear 2 3
['Thou shalt not follow the majority into evil'] Do not follow the majority when they do wrong (Exodus 23:2)
(de) kwaaie pier click to hear 2 3 (colloquial) the person or thing blamed for a problem
Aquamacs is de kwaaie pier click to hear 2 3 (saying) Aquamacs is seen as the cause of the problem

(De) woede click to hear 2 is 'anger, rage'

woedend click to hear 2 3 / razend click to hear 2 3 very angry
(de) woedeaanval click to hear [attack of rage] fit of rage
(de) woedeuitbarsting click to hear 2 3 [eruption, explosion of rage] fit of rage
machteloze woede click to hear 2 powerless, impotent rage
Probeer niet te vloeken click to hear 2 Try not to curse
(de) razernij click to hear 2 anger
Hij was razend click to hear 2 3 He was very angry, he was furious, livid

Zich vervelen click to hear 2 is 'to be bored'

Verveel je je? click to hear Are you bored? (singular informal) ->>
Verveel ik je? click to hear 2 3 ['Am I boring you?'] - Are you bored by (with?) me?
uit verveling click to hear 2 3 out of boredom, because they were bored
But the adjective and adverb vervelend click to hear (vervelend / vervelende click to hear 2) is rather stronger than 'bored' - it's more like 'unpleasant, annoying, irritating'
't Blijft vervelend click to hear 2 [It remains unpleasant] It's still annoying
Wat vervelend! click to hear How unpleasant!
Wat vervelend nou! click to hear 2 3 How unpleasant! [now]
een vervelende man click to hear 2 an unpleasant (male) person
een vervelende situatie click to hear 2 an unpleasant situation
't Is een vervelend trekje click to hear 2 3 4 It's an unpleasant, annoying trait, habit (characteristic or habitual behavior of a person)
Also (less common)  onprettig click to hear 2 3 / onplezierig click to hear 2 3 unpleasant

(De) ergernis click to hear 2 3 is 'annoyance, irritation'
zich ergeren click to hear 2 to be annoyed
Ik erger me dood click to hear 2 3 I'm deeply annoyed ['to death'] zich ergeren aan click to hear 2 3 4 to be annoyed by (at, with) ‑>> Ik erger me aan z'n houding click to hear 2 3 4 I'm annoyed by his attitude Ik erger me aan de buren click to hear 2 3 4 I'm annoyed by the neighbors

Dutch (de) irritatie click to hear 2 can like English 'irritation' both be an inflammation of the body like reddened skin or it can be a mental state of annoyance, impatience or anger. 't Irriteert me mateloos click to hear 2
It annoys me beyond measure - I'm very annoyed by it

'Boring' is saai click to hear (saai / saaie click to hear 2 ->>)

saaie Piet click to hear 'Boring Peter' - a bore, a boring person
Wat een saai verhaal! click to hear 2 3 4 Such a boring story!
Saaie boel is het hier click to hear 2 3 It's boring here. What a boring place this is. There's nothing going on
more saai

'Bang' click to hear is 'afraid' - 'bang voor' click to hear 2 'afraid of'
- 'bang zijn click to hear 2 'to be afraid'
- 'bang maken' click to hear 2 ['to make afraid, create anxiety'] - to scare, frighten
"Ik ben bang dat ..." click to hear isn't scary but used to apologize or say things you're not happy about

bange dagen click to hear days of fear, days of anxiety, scary days
Ik ben bang dat de avocado's nog niet rijp zijn click to hear 2 I'm afraid the avocados are not ripe yet
Ik ben bang dat het nog niet klaar is click to hear I'm afraid it's not ready yet
Hij is bang in het donker click to hear 2 He's afraid in (of?) the dark
Ze is bang voor spinnen click to hear 2 She's afraid of spiders
Je hoeft niet bang te zijn click to hear 2 3 [You don't need to be afraid] - Don't be afraid, don't worry, there's no reason to be afraid
Daar was ik al bang voor click to hear 2 'I was already afraid of that' - a not uexpected disappointment
Hij is nergens bang voor click to hear 2 3 [He's afraid of nothing] - He's not afraid of anything ‑>>
Er is niks waar hij bang voor is click to hear 2 3 [There is nothing that he's afraid of] - He's not afraid of anything<
Ze willen ons bang maken click to hear 2 3 They want to make us afraid, they're trying to scare us

Angst en vrees click to hear
'(De) angst' click to hear and '(de) vrees' click to hear are 'fear' - 'vrees' is when you know what you're afraid of, 'angst' is general anxiety, without a clear cause.
Dutch 'angst' is more general than English 'angst.'

vrezen click to hear 2 'to fear' is a weak verb of the non-kofschip type - so -D, -DE and -DEN endings in the past tense and for the past participle. Also note the Z/S shift - Dutch words 'cannot' end in Z

vrezen
to fear
- ik vrees
I fear
- wij vrezen
we fear
- ik vreesde
I feared
- wij vreesden
we feared
- ik heb gevreesd
I have feared
click to hear 2 3

gevreesd click to hear 2 (gevreesde click to hear 2 - gevreesd / gevreesde click to hear) 'feared, dreaded'

angstaanjagend click to hear 2 3 / vreeswekkend click to hear 2 3 click to hear [fear-creating] - frightening, terrifying
beangstigend click to hear 2 frightening, alarming
grote angst click to hear 2 3 4 'great fear,' terror
Ik leef in angst click to hear 2 3 I'm living in fear, I'm always afraid
Jan zonder Vrees click to hear 2 3 [John without Fear] - John the Fearless (14th C. Duke of Burgundy, father of Philip the Good)
De mens lijdt het meest van het lijden dat-ie vreest click to hear 'Man suffers most from the suffering he fears' - a sentiment somewhat similar to President Roosevelt's 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself' - FDR
Ik vrees 't ergste click to hear 2 3 I fear the worst (has happened) - I'm afraid the worst possible outcome has come about
Hij vreesde voor z'n leven click to hear 2 He feared for his life, he was afraid he might not survive
de meest gevreesde terrorist click to hear the most feared terrorist
(het) terrorisme click to hear terrorism
(de) hoogtevrees click to hear 2 fear of heights, vertigo
vreselijk click to hear horrible, terrible ... very

Ik word er doodmoe van click to hear 2 ['It makes me dead-tired'] - I'm worn out by it (an annoying situation)
't Had erger kunnen zijn click to hear 2 3 4 It could have been worse

'Dreigen' click to hear is 'to threaten' - an unpleasant or bad event may happen, or bad people announce a possible action to intimidate
'Bedreigen' click to hear is 'to threaten people'
(De) dreigbrief click to hear 2 3 'threatening letter'
(de) dreiging click to hear 2 'threat'

Er dreigt onweer click to hear 2 3 4 A thunderstorm threatens
Er dreigt oolog click to hear 2 3 4 There may be war, there is unfortunately a good chance of war
Ze dreigden met geweld click to hear 2 3 4 5 They threatened violence

Dutch has a few verb combinations with laten click to hear ('to let, allow, ~make') for which English has just one verb, like for instance laten zien click to hear 2 ['to let see'] - 'to show' more
Likewise, laten schrikken click to hear 2 is ['to make frightened'] - that is: 'to scare, to frighten, to shock, to startle.'
'Schrikken' click to hear 2 3 by itself is a bit harder to translate. It's the immediate reaction to something unexpected that's unpleasant or frightening, 'to be shocked, to be frightened, to be startled.' It's different from 'being afraid' (bang zijn click to hear 2) which is usually a lasting feeling.
Note that the CH in SCHR is dropped or very soft:
(de) schok click to hear ('shock') / schrok click to hear 2 ('was shocked')
geschokt click to hear 2 ('shocked')
schokkend click to hear 2 3 ('shocking')

'Schrikken' is a strong verb:

schrikken
to be shocked
- schrok
was shocked
- geschrokken
been shocked
click to hear 2 3
(de) schrik click to hear fright, shock, terror, horror, fear
(het) schrikdraad click to hear electric fence
(het) schrikbewind click to hear 2 3 reign of terror, rule by fear
(de) vogelverschrikker click to hear [bird-scarer] scarecrow
(de) verschrikking click to hear 2 3 4 terror, great fear
wij schrokken click to hear we were shocked, frightened, taken aback
schrikken van click to hear 2 to be shocked, frightened by
geschrokken van click to hear 2 shocked, frightened by
Ik schrok van de prijs click to hear 2 I was shocked, taken aback by the price
Ik schrok van 't lawaai click to hear 2 I was shocked, taken aback by the noise
Ik schrok ervan click to hear 2 3 I was shocked, taken aback by it
Ik heb de eieren laten schrikken click to hear [I have startled the eggs] - put just-boiled eggs in cold water (for easier peeling)
Je laat me schrikken click to hear 2 You startled me, you frightened me for a moment
griezelig click to hear 2 3 4 gruesome, ghastly, grisly
verschrikkelijk click to hear (verschrikkelijke click to hear 2) terrible, dreadful, awful ... very
verschrikkelijk langzaam click to hear slow slow2 terribly slow
Dit is verschrikkelijk langzaam slow slow2 This is terribly slow ‑>>
Dit is niet verschrikkelijk langzaam click to hear This is not terribly slow
een verschrikkelijke winter click to hear a horrible winter
ik ben verschrikkelijk moe click to hear 2 I'm terribly, very tired
(de) schrikkeldag click to hear 2 (February 29) and (het) schrikkeljaar click to hear 'leap year' are probably not related ‑>>

Trouble, Bother and Getting Used to It

(De) last click to hear 2 is literally 'load, burden' but it's more often used as 'trouble, bother' - especially in phrases like:
last hebben van click to hear 2 to be bothered by, given trouble by and: last krijgen van click to hear to be bothered by, given trouble by - in the future or an expectation
Ik heb last van m'n maag click to hear My stomach is giving me trouble
Ik heb veel last van m'n maag click to hear My stomach is giving me a lot of trouble
Heb je d'r last van? click to hear 2 3 Does it bother you?
Ik had er eerder nooit last van click to hear 2 It never bothered me [earlier] before
Heb je er veel last van? click to hear 2 Does it bother you a lot?
Heb je er vaak last van? click to hear Does it often bother you?
Heb je geen last van het lawaai? click to hear 2 3 4 Doesn't the noise bother you? ‑>>
Ik heb er geen last van click to hear 2 3 It doesn't bother me, I don't mind
Ik krijg er last van click to hear 2 3 It's going to bother me, it will give me trouble (mentioning a food allergy)
Daar krijg je last van click to hear 2 3 That's going to bother you, that will give you trouble (a medical or dental problem that needs to be treated)
Leiden in last click to hear 'Leyden in trouble' - said when someone exaggerates the seriousness of their difficulties
lusten en lasten click to hear '[desires] pleasant things and burdens' - good things and bad
(de) lastpost click to hear slow  /  (het) lastpak click to hear 2 3 a person who is a nuisance, a pain in the neck
(de) overlast click to hear 2 inconvenience, nuisance, trouble
de minste overlast click to hear 2 the least trouble
Toen ik jouw leeftijd was had ik er ook veel last van click to hear 2 3 When I was your age it also bothered me a lot

(De) belasting click to hear is literally 'weight, load or burden put on something' but it usually means 'tax.' Strangely, some people use the Dutchified English word '(de) taks.'
  (het) belastingvoordeel click to hear 'tax benefit, fiscal advantage.'

'Lastig' click to hear 2 is 'difficult' or 'troublesome, bothersome'

Wat lastig! click to hear 2 What a bother! Such a pain! That's difficult!
Lies is lastig en laat alles liggen click to hear Lies is a pain-in-the-neck and doesn't clean up
Dat is erg lastig click to hear 2 3 4 That's very inconvenient, that's a bother
Dat is veel te lastig click to hear 2 3 4 That is way too much trouble, that's not worth the trouble

English 'to last,' continue for an amount of time is duren click to hear 2 ‑>>
't Duurde maar tien minuten click to hear It only lasted for 10 minutes

The shoemaker's foot model 'last' is (de) leest click to hear and the 'last' as 'final, after all others' is laatste click to hear 2
 de laatste trein click to hear 2 the last train (usually: of the day) ‑>>

More serious than 'last' is (het) probleem click to hear 2 3 'problem' - plural; (de) problemen click to hear 'problems, difficulties, trouble'

problematisch click to hear 2 problematic
in de problemen click to hear in trouble
Hij zit in de problemen click to hear 2 3 He's in trouble
Mochten er problemen zijn ... click to hear 2 [If there would be ...] - In case of problems ...
Dan zijn we van de problemen af click to hear 2 slow Then we'll be done with the problems
Alsof er geen grotere problemen in de wereld zijn click to hear As if there are [no bigger] not more serious problems in the world

'Moeilijk' click to hear (moeilijke click to hear) is 'difficult'

Alle begin is moeilijk click to hear 2 3 Every start is difficult, starting is always difficult
't Is moeilijk te vinden click to hear 2 3 It's hard to find
't Is moeilijk te zeggen click to hear 2 [It's difficult, hard to say] - I can't be sure if what I'm saying is correct
Wat een moeilijk woord! click to hear Such a difficult word!
moeilijke tijden click to hear 2 3 hard times
't Is veel moeilijker dan ik dacht click to hear 2 3 It's much more difficult than I thought
Maak 't niet te moeilijk click to hear Don't make it too difficult, too complicated
Probeer 't eenvoudig te houden click to hear 2 Try to keep it simple
Niet moeilijk doen! click to hear 2 3 Don't be difficult!
Doe niet zo moeilijk! click to hear 2 3 4 Don't make it difficult, don't make it complicated

The opposite of 'difficult' - 'moeilijk' click to hear is 'easy:' 'gemakkelijk' click to hear (gemakkelijke click to hear) and 'makkelijk' click to hear (makkelijke click to hear 2)
'Makkelijk' is more colloquial; I'd always use the GE- form in writing.

Deze woorden zijn moeilijk click to hear These words are difficult
Die woorden zijn gemakkelijk click to hear Those words are easy
Waarom moet 't zo moeilijk zijn? click to hear Why does it have to be so difficult?
Waarom kan 't niet gemakkelijk zijn? click to hear 2 Why can't it be easy? Why does it have to be hard?

(de) gemakkelijke stoel click to hear easy, lazy chair
't Zal niet gemakkelijk zijn click to hear 2 It won't be easy
Op den duur wordt 't makkelijker click to hear ['In the long run'] 'After a while it will be easier'
(Geld maakt niet gelukkig click to hear 2 Money doesn't make (you) happy, Money doesn't create happiness)
... maar 't is wel (ge)makkelijk click to hear 2 3 ... but it is convenient, it makes life easier
Maak 't jezelf gemakkelijk click to hear 2 3 [Make it easy for yourself] - Do it in an easy way, don't make it too complicated
But also:  Maak 't je gemakkelijk click to hear 2 3 Make yourself comfortable (relax etc.)
lekker makkelijk! click to hear 2 3 conveniently, enjoyably easy, I like the ease of it (a great convenience)

(het) gemak click to hear 'ease, convenience, leisure'
Hou je gemak! click to hear 2 3 [Stay at ease] - Don't get excited, 'keep your shirt on' gemakzuchtig click to hear 2 3 ('craving ease and comfort')

(De) moeilijkheid click to hear 2 can literally be 'difficultness' but it's usually 'difficulty.' The (irregular) plural is (de) moeilijkheden click to hear 2 ('difficulties, problems, trouble')
De moeilijkheid is ... click to hear 2 3 The problem is ... Hij is op de Noordpool in moeilijkheden geraakt click to hear 2 3 4 He ran into trouble on the North Pole

'Moeilijk' click to hear is derived from (de) moeite click to hear 2 'effort, exertion' and also 'bother, trouble' - and probably ultimately related to moe click to hear 2 3 4 ('tired')

Ik ben erg moe click to
      hear 2 I am very tired - more 'moe'
moeiteloos click to hear without (much) effort, easy
Doe geen moeite click to hear [No need to make an effort] - Don't bother
Al die moeite voor niks click to hear 2 All that effort [for nothing] without result - lamenting wasted energy
(de) vergeefse moeite click to hear 2 3 wasted trouble, effort without success
Kleine moeite! click to hear [Small effort] - You're welcome, don't mention it
niet de moeite waard click to hear 2 not worth the effort, not worth the trouble
Het is niet de moeite waard click to hear 2 It's not worth [the effort] your time and money
also as: Het is niet de moeite click to hear It's not worth [the effort] your time and money
zonder veel moeite click to hear 2 3 4 5 without much effort, without much trouble
... maar ik heb er moeite mee ... click to hear 2 3 4 ... but I have difficulty with ... (I can't -or- I can't accept)
Door de tegenwind kwamen we (maar) met moeite vooruit click to hear 2 3 4 Because of the [wind-against] headwind we only [moved forward] progressed [with difficulty] slowly

'Getting used to' trouble, bother and inconvenience is wennen aan click to hear 2 3 or just wennen click to hear

't Went click to hear 'You get used to it'
Alles went click to hear 2 3 You get used to anything, You can get used to anything
Ik ben eraan gewend click to hear 2 3 4 5 I've gotten used to it, I'm used to it
't Is maar wat je gewend bent click to hear 2 3 It's just what you're used to
Ik kan er moeilijk aan wennen click to hear 2 I have difficulty getting used to it
another 'used to':  Dat deed ik vroeger ook click to hear 2 3 I used to do that too [in the past]

(De) wending click to hear is a usually figurative change of direction, 'turn'
  onverwachte wending click to hear 2 3 'unexpected momentous development'

ontwenningsverschijnselen click to hear 2 'withdrawal symptoms' (in addiction - (de) verslaving click to hear)
also: onthoudingsverschijnselen click to hear 2 ‑>>

(English 'went,' the past tense of 'to go' is 'ging' click to hear 2 ‑>>
  Ik ging vroeg naar huis click to hear 2 3 4 I went home early

'Verwend' click to hear 2 3 4 'spoiled, pampered, treated too kindly'
  Je bent verwend click to hear 2 3 You're spoiled

(De) zorg click to hear 2 is 'care, support' like in
(de) thuiszorg click to hear 2 3 'home care' - nurses and other caregivers visiting patients and other people needing help at home
(de) nazorg click to hear 2 3 [after-care] 'follow-up'
or verzorgd click to hear '(well) cared for' or '(well) taken care of'
The verb zorgen click to hear 2 means 'to take care,' 'to care (for)' and 'take care of' and
zorgen voor click to hear 2 3 is 'to care for' or 'to take care of'

zorgen to take care etc.
ik zorg I'm taking care
ik zorgde I took care
ik heb gezorgd I have taken care
click to hear
zorgen to take care etc.
ik zorg I'm taking care
wij zorgen we're taking care
ik zorgde I took care
wij zorgden we took care
ik heb gezorgd I have taken care
click to hear 2
Zorg dat je op tijd bent click to hear 2 3 4 Take care, be sure to be in time Hij zorgt goed voor je click to hear 2 3 He takes good care of you Wie dan leeft, wie dan zorgt click to hear 2 3 He/She who then lives, can then deal with the problems - don't worry too much about the future

But the plural zorgen click to hear 2 usually means 'worries' (it's related to English 'sorrow') and the reflexive verb zich zorgen maken click to hear 2 means 'to worry.'
Maak je geen zorgen over mij click to hear Don't worry about me Ik begon me zorgen te maken click to hear 2 3 I was starting to worry zorgwekkend click to hear 2 [worry-raising] worrisome
zorgeloos click to hear 2 [worry-less] carefree
een onbezorgde oude dag click to hear 2 3 a worry-free, carefree old [day] age bezorgd click to hear 2 3 worried, concerned, anxious
(de) bezorgdheid click to hear 2 3 4 anxiety
voorzorgsmaatregelen click to hear preventive measures, precautions, safety measures uit voorzorg click to hear 2 3 [out of, because of caution] - as a precaution, 'to be prepared' Occasionally 'zorg' as 'worry' in the singular:
Dat is een zorg minder click to hear 2 3 4 That's one less worry - something we don't have to worry about anymore 't Is van later zorg click to hear 2 3 4 [It's of later worry] - We'll worry about it later

ongerust click to hear 2 worried, concerned ‑>>

zich ongerust maken click to hear 2 3 (over click to hear 2) to worry (about)
Ik ben ongerust click to hear 2 I'm worried

(de) bezorgdheid click to hear 2 3 4 anxiety, concern, apprehension
bezorgd click to hear 2 3 concerned, worried

'Bezorgen' click to hear 2 3 'to deliver,' literally, for instance packages, but also figuratively. Then it may be translated as 'to cause'
overlast bezorgen click to hear 2 3 causing inconvenience, 'be a nuisance'

voorzichtig click to hear 2 is 'careful, cautious' (it may go wrong)
voorzichtig! click to hear 2 'careful!'
ben voorzichtig click to hear 2 is 'be careful' - 'careful!' ‑>>
Je moet voorzichtig zijn click to hear 2 3 You have to be careful

pas op! click to hear be careful!
Je moet beter oppassen click to hear 2 3 You have to pay more attention, you should be more careful ‑>> zorgvuldig click to hear 2 careful, with care and precision, meticulous
onzorgvuldig click to hear 2 3 careless, sloppy, inaccurate
slordig click to hear 2 sloppy, careless

Preferences: 'Liever'

As mentioned above, 'lief' click to hear (lief/lieve click to hear) is 'dear, sweet' - but its comparative degree liever click to hear 2 3 and less commonly the superlative degree 'liefste' click to hear 2 3 can be used to state preferences
liever niet click to hear 2 'rather not,' "I'd prefer not to"
Ik wil liever geen vlees eten click to hear 2 3 I'd rather not eat meat
Wilt U liever met een tolk spreken? click to hear 2 Would you rather, would you prefer to speak through an interpreter?
Liever lui dan moe click to hear 2 ['Preferring lazy over tired'] - not willing to make an effort
Heb je dat liever? click to hear 2 Would you rather have that? Would you prefer that?
Wat wil je liever? click to hear 2 3 What would you rather have (or do)? What would you prefer?
Wil je dat liever? click to hear 2 3 4 Would you rather have (or do) that? Would you prefer that?
"Ik ga liever gewoon dood!" click to hear 2 3 4 'I'd rather die in the regular way' - when mock-protesting or trying to refuse something slightly risky, but more commonly commenting on an unpleasant task or given food you really don't like

'Rather' meaning 'quite, in a large degree' is nogal click to hear 2 in Dutch.

't Is nogal brutaal click to hear 2 3 It's rather insolent
Het is nogal ver click to hear It is quite far
Ik ben nogal bijgelovig click to hear 2 I'm rather superstitious ‑>>

Related Additional Phrases

Zal ik je een kopje thee inschenken? click to hear Shall I pour you a cup of tea?
Drink eerst even rustig een kopje thee click to hear 2 'First, relax and have a cup of tea'
We zaten gezellig te praten click to hear 2 We were having a pleasant conversation, a nice chat ->>
herinneringen ophalen click to hear 2 to reminisce, bringing up memories
We zaten gezellig herinneringen op te halen click to hear 2 We were reminiscing pleasantly, we were having a good time chatting about the past
De wind in de zeilen hebben click to hear 2 (saying) [Having] Catching the wind in the sails, going full sail' - making good progress, doing well in business
t Gaat me voor de wind click to hear 2 (saying) 'It's like I have the wind in my back' - I'm doing very well (in business)
De mooiste tijd van m'n leven click to hear 2 The [most beautiful] best time of my life
... en dan wordt 't spannend click to hear ... and then it gets exciting
(de) vreugde click to hear (2) joy, delight (old-fashioned)
een korte vreugde click to hear 2 a short happiness
Wat jammer! click to hear Such a pity! (disappointment)
Tegen heug en meug click to hear (saying) Doing something under protest, like having to eat something you really don't like
Ben je er overheen? click to hear 2 Are you 'over' it? - no longer affected by something - back to normal
Het spijt me click to hear 2 3 I'm sorry
Wat bezielt die mensen om dat te doen? click to hear 2 3 'What drives those people to do those (horrible) things?'
Niet voor herhaling vatbaar click to hear 2 3 [After a disappointment: 'not to be repeated'] - 'Let's not do (or have) that again'
t Blijft tobben click to hear 'There's always something' - things never go entirely right
Geen rozen zonder doornen click to
  hear ('No roses without thorns') Nice things come with possibly problematic attachments

David Luton - Thank you for the suggestion

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Don't be a dief (thief) / dievegge (female thief) - diefstal (theft) - stelen (to steal) - heler (dealer in stolen goods) - hear Dutch - 2