maandag 26 december 2011

Deceptive Dutch Word, 26 December 2011

poets = prank/ first person singular of "poetsen" -> to polish

(pronunciation = poots)

maandag 14 november 2011

Deceptive Dutch Word, 14 November 2011

word

First person singular of "worden" = "to become".

Pronounced like "warden" (short first syllable). When the first syllable is pronounced long, it is "woorden" = "words".

maandag 7 november 2011

Deceptive Dutch Word, 7 November 2011

look = type of plant

bieslook = chives
knoflook = garlic
look-zonder-look (zonder = without) = sauce-alone

maandag 1 augustus 2011

Deceptive Dutch Word, 1 Augustus 2011

brave = honest/well-behaved


"Brave" is the adjective used with the definite article. For the indefinite article, neuter words take "braaf". Diminutives always take the neuter form.

THE
de brave auto (car, masculine)
de brave beweging (motion/movement, feminine)
het brave paard (horse, neuter)

A/AN
een brave auto
een brave beweging
een braaf paard

DIMINUTIVE
een braaf autootje
een braaf beweginkje
een braaf paardje

N.B.
Strictly speaking, Dutch words have a grammatical gender. For the neuter form it is easy: those are "het" words. However, most Dutch people wouldn't be able to tell you which words are feminine and which are masculine, because both are "de" words. (Including me. I looked these up.)

maandag 4 juli 2011

Monday, 4 July 2011

pool = pole (from north and south pole, but also an inhabitant of Poland)

Pools = Polish (the language)

maandag 20 juni 2011

Deceptive Dutch Word, 20 June 2011

This week's deceptive Dutch word:

sukkel = nitwit/fool

The verb 'sukkelen' means 'to be sickly'.

maandag 9 mei 2011

maandag 2 mei 2011

Deceptive Dutch Word, 2 May 2011

This week's deceptive Dutch word:

leek (pronounced "lake") = an uninitiated person, a layman.

woensdag 30 maart 2011

Deceptive Dutch Word, 30 March 2011

This week's deceptive Dutch word:

pad = path/toad

The difference becomes apparent in the article, the plural, and the diminutive.
Path = het pad, de paden, het paadje
Toad = de pad, de padden, het padje

(The article for plural is always "de", and the article for the diminutive is always "het".) 

maandag 21 maart 2011

Deceptive Dutch Word, 21 March 2011

spring = jump/explode/snap

(As most Dutch infinitives end in -en (e.g. "springen"), the verbs that I mention here are usually conjugations.)

maandag 14 maart 2011

dinsdag 8 maart 2011

Deceptive Dutch Word, 8 March 2011

gun = allow/bestow on

From the verb "gunnen". Here are the conjugations. In the second and third person is another DDW.

ik gun
jij (je)/u gunt
hij/zij (ze)/het gunt
wij gunnen
jullie gunnen
zij (ze) gunnen

In "gunnen" (for example "ik gun het jou" - "I bestow it on you") is the feeling of complete confidence that the thing that is 'received' is deserved, like allowing someone their holiday because it's the first one they've been able to afford in five years, or donating a large sum to a deserving charity.

zondag 20 februari 2011

Past DDWs

Past Deceptive Dutch Words, in alphabetical order.

arts = physician (24 May, 2010)
bad = bath/prayed (10 May, 2010)
bang = afraid (2 August, 2010)
been = leg/bone (12 July, 2010)
bid = 1st person singular of the verb "to pray" (inf. = bidden) (27 September, 2010)
big = piglet (13 September, 2010)
boom = tree (29 March, 2010)
bout = bolt (context: bolts and screws)/leg (cooked) (27 December, 2010)
brand = fire (noun) (17 March, 2010)
consequent = consistent (15 November, 2010)
den = pine (tree) (14 February, 2010)
egel = hedgehog (23 August, 2010)
elders = elsewhere (22 November, 2010)
gang = corridor/aisle/speed (4 October, 2010)
gist = yeast (17 May, 2010)
hen = hen/them (24 January, 2011)
hens = fire (coll.) (24 January, 2011)
keel = throat (29 November, 2010)
knikkers = marbles (26 April, 2010)
last = burden/cargo (8 November, 2010)
lied = song (25 October, 2010)
lol = fun (15 December, 2010)
lucifer = match (stick) (26 July, 2010)
mens = human (being) (5 April, 2010)
mop = joke (17 January, 2011)
nut = purpose/usefulness (5 July, 2010)
paling = eel (30 August, 2010)
pink = little finger (20 December, 2010)
put = water well (10 January, 2011)
reeks = series (6 September, 2010)
roman = novel (book) (7 February, 2011)
rug = back/spine (9 August, 2010)
sage = legend (12 April, 2010)
slang = snake/tube/hose (1 November, 2010)
slot = end/castle/lock (21 June, 2010)
spanning = stress/suspence (19 July, 2010)
spit = roasting spit/backache/dig (verb) (31 January, 2011)
stage = internship (3 January, 2011)
stem = voice/vote (9 June, 2010)
step = scooter (29 March, 2010)
stopcontact = wall socket (11 October, 2010)
storing = interruption/failure (3 May, 2010)
tree = step/stair (29 March, 2010)
trots = pride/proud (31 May, 2010)
vent = bloke/fellow (28 June, 2010)
vet = fat/greas(y) (19 April, 2010)
wankel = rickety/wobbly (20 September, 2010)
wee = faint/labour pain (7 June, 2010)
wet = law/regulation (22 March, 2010)
wimper = eyelash (16 Augustus, 2010)
wit = white (18 October, 2010)