› Start a conversation having fun with an excellent diminutive

Lead Dutch Institute suggests talking Dutch normally you could – no matter if your Dutch acquaintances cam English, and also for people who merely see a nutshell off Dutch. To obtain come instantly, they give you particular phrases to cope with this new Dutch into the go out-to-big date lifestyle.

This new Dutch hate flattery. In lieu of the French therefore the Italians, they’re not particularly really-noted for its personal eloquence.

Imagine of one’s Dutch national motto “doe maar gewoon, dan doe je gek genoeg” (merely act normal, which is crazy sufficient), and realize so it cannot grab loads of spoken fireworks to allure your mediocre Dutchman / lady.

The secret is to try to ensure that it stays simple and easy use as the couples conditions that one can to a max feeling – an indisputable fact that may appear slightly popular with the brand new sound system of Dutch. Listed below are some dos and don’ts to truly get you on right song.

› Don’t confuse leuk and you may lekker

You can go crazy that have compliments whenever teasing in the Dutch. However, if you wish to give it a try anyway, do not confuse the two Dutch conditions to have sweet, that’s: are lekker and leuk.

Lekker means something like delicious, tasty, otherwise luscious (yes, such as the sensual connotation) and makes reference to items you “just as in the body.” Leuk try nearer to sweet, amusing, otherwise witty and you may makes reference to things you “like with your mind.”

Which, lekker weertje (nice climate) is fine, if you’re leuk weertje (amusing environment) is a bit funny. Your good-searching colleague could well be pleased to be put because the mijn leuke school (my sweet colleague), however, you’ll frown during the mijn lekkere university (my personal tasty, luscious colleague).

When you’re doubtful, merely opt for leuk – it is preferable to-be funny rather than be slapped in the the face by your luscious colleague.

› Cannot discuss the major

It is merely as basic to go over the major from inside the Dutch teasing as in climbing a great Dutch slope: the brand new tops is about non-existent and for a non-native it’s easy to overlook him or her altogether.

After you pick adjectives to describe some thing – out-of a balancing toward buddy’s desirable flip-flops – follow mooi (pretty), leuk (sweet, come across past part), otherwise geinig (funny), and give a wide berth to fantastisch (fantastic), geweldig (great) and you will heerlijk (delicious).

› Other no-wade elements

These no-go portion tend to be: – appreciative noises (yes, those individuals are common in some circles) – one (specific, metaphorical, lyrical, an such like.) comments in your belle / beau’s looks – discover screens away from courtliness, machismo, otherwise sexism (inside Dutch attention, it can be difficult to state the spot where the that design starts while the other ends up, therefore it is better to play secure).

What to do.

Into the Dutch, diminutives will often have nothing at all to do with the real size of things. Hating pomp and you will flattery, the fresh new Dutch should put “-je” on the terms while making him or her sound shorter, cuter, far more intimate and you may gezellig.

You may make instant intimacy and you can fool around with “-jes” oneself. Try: – a standard comment such lekker weertje (sweet weather), lekker zonnetje (nice sunlight), leuk terrasje (sweet patio) – good rhetorical concern such as lekker weertje?, lekker zonnetje?, leuk terrasje? – or a deal biertje?, wijntje?, bitterballetje?

› Have fun with the non-native credit

Say any Dutch sentence you really have picked up until now – up-date away from chapter one of the (online) movement might help right here – research most pleased and you will obviously state that you’re practicing their Dutch.

Choose for a somewhat ridiculous phrase who may have zero flirtatious connotation after all, it is however impressive, such “Dit are een lange, brede straat,” otherwise “Heeft you misschien een bonuskaart?”

The item of your own affection could be surprised and you may happier because of the the just be sure to cam their vocabulary that can promote to train some more Dutch together.

› Ignore all of our suggestions and just do it now!

On the whole, it is not easy to think of a less strenuous and more enjoyable answer to initiate doing your own Dutch than just some harmless teasing with an informal Dutchy on the a sunny patio – perhaps seeing particular well-earned Heineken, otherwise a beneficial lekker wijntje.

Marloes van Rooijen works for the latest Head Dutch Institute, among the oldest language institutes in the Hague! For more information, please review below otherwise check out their site.

Marloes van Rooijen

Marloes van Rooijen works well with Lead Dutch Insititute getiton.com profile examples. In the Head Dutch, we need the children to help you house inside the with the The netherlands. We think one vocabulary it is a significant device so you can.