Doe NormaalDutch words your textbook skipped
Slang, chat words and everyday expressions, explained in English with real examples. All of them come up in Doe Normaal. Looking for chat shorthand like ff and wss? See Dutch texting abbreviations.
Slang and swearing
Words your textbook skipped, from straattaal to the swear words you'll hear on every terrace.
- sowiesoSowieso means 'anyway' or 'in any case', and on its own it's a very Dutch way to say 'definitely!'. Here's how to use it.
- straattaal: wollah, mattie, doekoeStraattaal is Dutch street slang: wollah (I swear), mattie (mate), doekoe (money). Where it comes from and how it's used.
- kut, m'n reet, jezusKut, m'n reet, jezus: the mild Dutch swearing you'll hear among friends, what it means, and when not to use it.
Texting and group chats
How Dutch people actually text: shorthand, little words and replies.
- wssWss is short for waarschijnlijk, 'probably'. You'll only ever see it written, in WhatsApp and other chats. Here's how it's used.
- zo vanRetelling a conversation in Dutch? Use 'zo van': 'en zij zo van…' = 'and she was like…'. The Dutch version of storytelling 'like'.
- trouwensTrouwens means 'by the way'. It goes at the start or at the end of a sentence, and it's in almost every Dutch group chat.
- appenIn the Netherlands you don't text, you 'app': appen, een appje sturen, terugappen. Everyone uses WhatsApp, so the verb stuck.
Everyday expressions
Short phrases Dutch people use all day, and what they really mean.
- tochToch can mean 'still', 'anyway', 'surely' or 'right?', depending on where it goes. The most useful little word in Dutch, explained.
- hoezoHoezo means 'why (do you ask)?', 'how come?' or 'what do you mean?'. It's not quite the same as waarom. Here's the difference.
- ja jaOne 'ja' is yes. 'Ja ja', said slowly, means 'yeah right': you don't believe a word of it. Here's how to hear (and text) the difference.
- grapjeGrapje is 'a little joke', and 'nee, grapje' is how Dutch people say 'just kidding'. Here's how it works, with examples.
- kom op / kom maar opKom op means 'come on' (hurry up, or don't be like that). Kom maar op means 'bring it on'. One little word makes the difference.
- net goedNet goed! means 'serves you right'. It's what you say when someone gets what they deserve. Here's how to use it (and how not to).
- goed bezigGoed bezig means 'good going' or 'well done'. Said with a straight face after a mistake, it means the opposite. Examples inside.
- stiekemStiekem means 'secretly' or 'sneakily'. Dutch people also use it to admit something: 'stiekem best leuk' = actually kind of nice.
- bestIn Dutch, 'best goed' means 'pretty good', not 'the best'. A classic trap for English speakers, with examples of how it's used.
- eigenlijkEigenlijk means 'actually' or 'really', and Dutch people use it to make questions and refusals softer. Here's how.
- gewoonGewoon means 'normal', but most of the time Dutch people use it as 'just' or 'simply'. Very Dutch, very common. Examples inside.
- lukkenLukken means 'to work out' or 'to manage'. 'Het lukt!' = I did it! 'Lukt het?' = are you managing? A verb you'll use daily.
- zin hebbenZin hebben in iets = to feel like something. 'Ik heb er zin in' = I'm looking forward to it. 'Geen zin' = can't be bothered.
- lekkerLekker means tasty, but also nice, comfy, well, and even 'serves him right'. The Dutch use it for almost everything. Examples.
- gefeliciteerd, beterschap, welterustenGefeliciteerd (congratulations), beterschap (get well soon), welterusten (good night): the Dutch wishes, and the birthday rule.
Dating and relationships
From 'mijn vriend' to breaking up: the words you need to follow Dutch dating drama.
- afsprekenAfspreken means to arrange to meet: with friends, or on a date. And 'afgesproken!' means 'deal!'. How the Dutch make plans.
- mijn vriend / mijn vriendinIn Dutch, 'mijn vriend' usually means 'my boyfriend'. For a friend, say 'een vriend van me'. How not to confuse your date.
- het uitmakenHet uitmaken = to break up. 'Het is uit' = it's over. 'Het is klaar' = I'm done. The Dutch words for the end of a relationship.
- op een roze wolk zittenOp een roze wolk zitten (on a pink cloud) is the Dutch 'on cloud nine': usually about being in love or a new baby.
- lengteDutch men are among the tallest in the world (1.83 m on average), so 'lengte' is practically required on Dutch dating profiles.
Dutch life and culture
Words that only make sense once you know a bit about how the Dutch live.
- terrasjeEen terrasje pakken = having a drink outside a café. The moment the sun shows up, even at 12 degrees, the Dutch go terrassen.
- borrelA borrel is drinks with snacks, often after work on a Friday. Bitterballen included. What it is, and how to talk about it.
- koffie verkeerdKoffie verkeerd literally means 'wrong coffee': more warm milk than coffee. Order one and you sound like a local. Here's why.
- gezelligGezellig is cosy, fun, sociable and nice all at once. Why there's no English word for it, and how Dutch people use it every day.
- half achtHalf acht is 7:30, not 8:30. Dutch counts half towards the next hour. The classic trap for English speakers, explained.
- agendaA Dutch agenda is your diary or calendar, and Dutch social life runs on it. Plus 'een gaatje': the free slot you make for someone.
- katerEen kater is a hangover, and also a male cat. 'Ik heb een kater' = I'm hungover. How to talk about the morning after.
- bakfietsA bakfiets is a cargo bike with a big box in front, the unofficial symbol of young city parents. Plus: who 'bakfietsouders' are.
- HollanderA Hollander is strictly someone from Holland, two of the twelve provinces. Why not every Dutch person likes the word.
- onder de rivierenOnder de rivieren (south of the big rivers) is the Catholic, carnaval-loving south. Boven de rivieren is everyone else.
- niet lullen maar poetsenNiet lullen maar poetsen = stop talking, start working. Rotterdam's unofficial motto, and a jab at those talkers in Amsterdam.
Grammar in real life
Patterns you'll hear constantly, explained with real sentences instead of tables.
- -je: wijntje, appje, terrasjeWijntje, terrasje, appje: the Dutch -je makes things small, but mostly cosy and casual. How the diminutive really works.
- zitten / staan / liggen + teIk zit te werken, hij staat te koken: Dutch uses zitten, staan or liggen + te for 'being busy doing'. How it works.
- het eens zijn met'I agree' in Dutch is 'ik ben het met je eens': het and eens go around the person. How it works, with examples.
- zich bemoeien metZich bemoeien met = to meddle, to stick your nose in. 'Bemoei je er niet mee!' = stay out of it! Very useful in group chats.
- 's nachts's Nachts (at night), 's ochtends (in the morning), 's avonds (in the evening): what that 's is, and how to use them.