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Common Dutch and English Words False Friends

In a Dutch text you'll notice words that look the same as English words — some have the same meaning, like (het) water click to hear 2 but some have a different meaning, sometimes related, sometimes completely different.

For native speakers of English and other people fluent in English, these pages can also be useful to learn Dutch pronunciation — you'll probably tend to say these words in the English way, and that will quickly show you the differences

More or less 'complete' versions:
Long - Medium - Short, 'Smartphone'

[Bumper sticker saying: 'Proud Parent of a Kind Child'] [imaginary shopping list: worst brood gist room bier]
(het) boodschappenlijstje click to hear 2 3
(imaginary) shopping list

Hover the cursor over a (singular) Dutch noun to see its article (de/het)
(for words that can be both a noun and another kind of word I put the article between parentheses)

False Friends
Meaning of Dutch Word Dutch English
Dutch Translation  
of English Word  		 synonyms,
description,
alternate words
1. arm (the body part)
2. poor (not rich // pitiable)
 (de) arm   arm
click to hear		 arm
  de arm   arm
click to hear arm (the body part)
  het wapen   wapen
click to hear weapon, also: coat of arms
1. bath
2. ik bad click to hear I prayed >>
  (het) bad   bad
click to hear		 bad slecht click to hear not good
afraid, scared bang click to hear bang
  de knal   knal
click to hear loud noise
1. money services
2. bench
  de bank   bank
click to hear 		bank
  de bank   bank
click to hear money services
leg
  het been   been
click to hear 2 3		 been past participle of 'to be'
ik ben geweest click to hear I have been
bear
 de beer  beer
click to hear		 beer
 het bier  bier
click to hear the yellow drink with white foam
young pig
 de big  big
click to hear		 big groot click to hear 2 large, tall, big, great ‑>>
tree ‑>>
 de boom  boom
click to hear 2 		boom
 de dreun  dreun
click to hear heavy, low sound
 de explosie  explosie
click to hear explosion
   - also:
 de ontploffing  ontploffing
click to hear
 de hoge vlucht  hoge vlucht
click to hear sudden quick growth
   - also:
 de hausse   hausse
click to hear
   
 de explosieve groei  explosieve groei
click to hear
 de stok  stok
click to hear
 de lat  lat
click to hear stick, pole
bean
 de boon  boon
click to hear 2		 boon
 de zegen  zegen
click to hear blessing
 het voordeel  voordeel
click to hear advantage
angry (boos / boze click to hear) boos click to hear boos
 het boegeroep  boegeroep
click to hear 2 loud sounds of disapproval
boat
 de boot  boot
click to hear		 boot
 de laars  laars
click to hear calf-covering footwear
well-behaved, harmless
braaf / brave click to hear 2		 brave click to hear 2 brave moedig click to hear 2 courageous
dapper click to hear courageous
 de krijger  krijger
click to hear 2 a brave (Native American warrior)
fire
 de brand  brand
click to hear		 brand
 het merk  merk
click to hear name on product, trademark
wide, broad
breed / brede click to hear 2		 breed click to hear breed
 het ras  ras
click to hear 2,
 de/het soort  soort
click to hear
animals offspring classification
letter (mail) ‑>>
 de brief  brief
click to hear 2		 brief kort click to hear 2 3 short
bread
 het brood  brood
click to hear 2		 brood
 het gebroed  gebroed
click to hear 2,
 het broedsel  broedsel
click to hear
(old-fashioned) offspring, spawn
 het addergebroed  addergebroed
click to hear,
  het adderengebroed  adderengebroed
click to hear
"vipers' spawn" (pretty bad creatures)
'Value-Added Tax'
(a kind of sales tax)
 de BTW  BTW
click to hear 2		 BTW trouwens click to hear 2 by the way, 'but also'
1. through
2. by		 door click to hear door
 de deur  deur
click to hear 2 entry to room or house
boxes
 de doos  doos
- dozen click to hear 2		 dozen click to hear 2 dozen
 het dozijn  dozijn
click to hear 12
elsewhere,
in another place		 elders click to hear elders wijze oude mannen click to hear 2
wise old men ('village elders')
each, every
elk / elke click to hear		 elk click to hear elk
 de eland  eland
click to hear large kind of deer
a dandy
 de fat  fat
click to hear		 fat
 (het) vet  vet
click to hear grease // greasy
dik click to hear heavy, voluminous
- dik / dikke click to hear 2
a fairy
 de fee  fee
click to hear		 fee kosten click to hear a charge, money that needs to be paid
corridor, hallway
 de gang  gang
click to hear		 gang
 de bende  bende
click to hear bunch of bad guys
1. slippery
2. smooth		 glad click to hear glad blij click to hear happy, joyful
1.whole
2. very ‑>> 		heel click to hear heel
 de hiel  hiel
click to hear tendon at the back of the foot
 het kapje  kapje
click to hear 2 end piece of a loaf of bread ‑>>
him hem click to hear hem
 de zoom  zoom
click to hear 2 3 finished edge of fabric
how? hoe click to hear hoe
 de hak  hak
click to hear 2 hoe
 de schoffel  schoffel
click to hear 2 scuffle hoe, Dutch hoe
the North-West part
of the country ‑>>
Holland click to hear
Holland
 Nederland click to hear 2 Don't say 'Holland'  when speaking Dutch
it's a pity
jammer click to hear 2
jammer
 de stoorzender  stoorzender
click to hear broadcasting station
deliberately interfering with reception
of another radio station
chin
 de kin  kin
click to hear 2 		kin
 de familie  familie
click to hear ~relatives ‑>>
child
 het kind  kind
click to hear 2		 kind aardig click to hear friendly, caring
also: vriendelijk click to hear
 de/het soort  soort
click to hear type
alphabet character
 de letter  letter
click to hear 2		 letter
 de letter  letter
click to hear 2 letter, character
 de brief  brief
click to hear mail message
member
 het lid  lid
click to hear 2		 lid
 de/het deksel  deksel
click to hear pan cover
lung
plural: longen click to hear
 de long  long
click to hear		 long lang click to hear (lang lange click to hear) not short
file, folder, holder for papers
 de map  map
click to hear		 map
 de kaart  kaart
click to hear 2 geographical representation,
drawing of an area
fashion
 de mode  mode
click to hear		 mode
 de manier  manier
click to hear 2 manner, way of doing
 de stand  stand
click to hear setting - also:
 de instelling  instelling
click to hear 2
 de houding  houding
click to hear attitude
joke ‑>>
also:
 het mopje  mopje
click to hear
 de mop  mop
click to hear 2		 mop
 de dweil  dweil
click to hear 2 wet-cleaning cloth
 de zwabber  zwabber
click to hear raghead on a stick
mosquito
 de mug  mug
click to hear		 mug
 de beker  beker
click to hear large cup
 de mok  mok
click to hear 2 large cup
or ‑>> of click to hear of van click to hear origin or ownership ‑>>
1. baseball cap
2. rotten, not good
 (de) pet  pet
click to hear 2 		pet
 het huisdier  huisdier
click to hear domestic animal
 (de) favoriet  favoriet
click to hear favorite
little finger, 'pinky'
 de pink  pink
click to hear		 pink roze click to hear 'white' skin color
disaster
rampzalig click to hear 2
disastrous
 de ramp  ramp
click to hear		 ramp
 de helling  helling
click to hear slope, incline
 de afrit  afrit
click to hear 2 3 highway exit road
 de oprit  oprit
click to hear 2 highway entry // driveway
quickly (old-fashioned) rap click to hear rap praten click to hear to rap, to talk, to chat - also: kletsen click to hear 2
kloppen click to hear to knock
music type
strange, weird, odd
raar / rare click to hear 2		 rare click to hear rare zeldzaam click to hear 2 uncommon, unusual - also: ongebruikelijk click to hear 2
kort gebakken click to hear 2 'sautéed shortly,' underdone meat
- rood van binnen click to hear 2 ('red on the inside')
remainder, remnant
 de rest  rest
click to hear 2		 rest
 de rust  rust
click to hear 2 a time of quiet, relaxation,
low activity
robbery, theft
 de roof  roof
click to hear 2		 roof
 het dak  dak
click to hear 2 top cover of building or structure
smoke
 de rook 
rook click to hear		 rook
 de toren  toren
click to hear castle (chess) - the Dutch
word 'toren'  also means 'tower'
 de roek  roek
click to hear a crow-like bird
cream
 de room  room
click to hear		 room
 de kamer  kamer
click to hear -
 de zitkamer  zitkamer
click to hear ('living room')
-
 de slaapkamer  slaapkamer
click to hear 2 ('bedroom')
1. grate
2. schedule, roster
 het rooster 
rooster click to hear 2
rooster
 de haan  haan
click to hear 2 chicken male
back (body part)
 de rug  rug
click to hear		 rug
 het kleed  kleed
click to hear carpet, tapestry
 het tapijt  tapijt
click to hear 2 carpet, tapestry
a time of quiet, low activity
 de rust  rust
click to hear 2		 rust
 de roest  roest
click to hear iron oxidation
- rust roest click to hear low activity
leads to stagnation
1. snake
2. hose
 de slang  slang
click to hear 2 		slang
 het slang  'slang' (Engl.)
click to hear subgroup jargon
- also:
 het Bargoens  Bargoens
click to hear 2 ‑>>
weak slap click to hear slap
 de klap  klap
click to hear 2 a hit in the face // setback
bright, intelligent slim click to hear slim slank click to hear slender - also: dun click to hear thin,
or: mager click to hear skinny
klein click to hear 2 small:
 de kleine kans  kleine kans
click to hear 2 'slim chance'
 de dikke kans  (dikke kans
click to hear 2 'fat chance')
1. pillowcase
2. (cars) wrecking place
 de sloop  sloop
click to hear 2		 sloop
 de sloep  sloep
click to hear 2 small boat
1. lock
2. end
3. castle
 het slot  slot
click to hear 2 		slot
 de plaats  plaats
click to hear (fitting, right) place
spider
 de spin  spin
click to hear		 spin
 de draai  draai
click to hear turn // perception control
ridicule, derision
spotten met click to hear 2
to make fun of // to defy
 de spot  spot
click to hear 2		 spot
 de plaats  plaats
click to hear place - also:
 de plek  plek
click to hear 2
 de vlek  vlek
click to hear 2 stain, a small dirty or
ydiscolored area
 de smet  smet
click to hear 2 stain, disgrace, something to be ashamed of, a moral failure
inflexible star click to hear star
 de ster  ster
click to hear distant sun // great performer
1. stick (on large tools)
bezemsteel click to hear 'broomstick'
2. stem (plants)
 de steel  steel
click to hear 2 		steel
 het staal  staal
click to hear improved iron
1. voice
2. vote
 de stem  stem
click to hear		 stem
 de steel  steel
click to hear 2 stalk of plants
interruption
 de storing 
storing click to hear 2
storing
 opslaan click to hear 2 to put things in storage
 de opslag  opslag
click to hear 2 storage
high winds, gale
 de orkaan  ~orkaan
click to hear 2 hurricane
 de storm  storm
click to hear 2		 storm
 het onweer  onweer
click to hear electrical storm, thunderstorm:
 de bliksem  bliksem
click to hear 'lightning' &
 de donder  donder
click to hear 'thunder'
erg slecht weer click to hear 2 very bad weather
- also:
 het noodweer  noodweer
click to hear 2
naughty stout click to hear stout zwaar click to hear heavy, sturdily built (people)
dapper click to hear, moedig click to hear 2 brave, courageous (obsolete meaning in Dutch: Karel de Stoute click to hear 'Charles the Bold')
beach
 het strand  strand
click to hear		 strand
 de/het draad  draad
click to hear thread, string, wire
pliers
 de tang  tang
click to hear 2		 tang ~
 de sterke smaak  sterke smaak
click to hear strong taste
~
 de scherpe geur  scherpe geur
click to hear sharp smell
~
 de typische geur  typische geur
click to hear characteristic smell
toe
 de teen  teen
click to hear		 teen
 de tiener  tiener
click to hear English
 de teenager  'teenager'
is more common
1. naar ... toe click to hear to
2. come on!		 toe click to hear 2 toe
 de teen  teen
click to hear foot finger
till, to ‑>> tot click to hear tot
 de peuter  peuter
click to hear 2 small child
 de dreumes  dreumes
click to hear small child
stairs
 de trap  trap
click to hear		 trap
 de val  val
click to hear device or trick
to catch an animal or person
stairs step
also:
 de trede  trede
click to hear
 de tree  tree
click to hear		 tree
 de boom  boom
click to hear 2 main forest element
1. ik trek click to hear 2 I pull, I drag
2. hunger, an appetite
3. difficult journey
 (de) trek  trek
click to hear 2		 trek
 de trek  trek
click to hear 2 difficult journey
 de trekboer  trekboer
click to hear 2 South-African Boer pioneer
fast, firmly connected, not loose vast click to hear vast heel groot click to hear, gigantisch click to hear 2 very large
a guy, a bloke, a man (somewhat unfavorable)
 de vent  vent
click to hear		 vent
 het luchtgat  luchtgat
click to hear 2 opening to let gas (air) out
ontluchten click to hear 2 to let gas (air) out
stoom afblazen click to hear 2 to blow off steam,
relieve pressure (literally and figuratively)
1. fat, greasy
(vet / vette click to hear 2)
2. fat, grease
 (het) vet  vet
click to hear		 vet
 de veteraan  veteraan
click to hear 2 veteran
 de dierenarts  dierenarts
click to hear veterinarian, animals doctor
1. mitt
2. for, because
 (de) want  want
click to hear 2 		want
 de behoefte  behoefte
click to hear a need
 het gebrek aan  gebrek aan
click to hear lack of
 (het) verlangen  verlangen
click to hear 2 desire // to desire
law
 de wet  wet
click to hear		 wet nat click to hear water-drenched
miracle
 het wonder  wonder
click to hear		 wonder zich afvragen click to hear to wonder, to be curious
sausage
 de worst  worst
click to hear		 worst
 het ergste  ergste
click to hear the most awful
slechtste click to hear the lowest quality

More or less 'complete' versions:
Long - Medium - Short, 'Smartphone'

email - Copyright © Marco Schuffelen 2024. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed, or hotlinked to.
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