The Small Change of Conversation™
I found the phrase in a book by Henry James. It's a useful concept for students of foreign languages. The pages in this series (and my website in general) will help you speak with Dutch people.
I hope you have the passive vocabulary to understand what people say or write to you - to comment on that, learn the phrases on this page that look useful to you, make them part of your active vocabulary.

Commenting on Statements and Opinions

(het) kleingeld 2 small change

Words

(het) commentaar 2	comment
(de) commentator 2	(professional) commentator
(de) mening	opinion
meningen 2	opinions
(de) opinie 2	opinion
(het) standpunt	viewpoint, position

commentaar geven 2 3 to comment more formal:  commentaar leveren 2 (leveren 2 to supply, deliver) je mening geven 2 3 stating your opinion De meningen zijn verdeeld 2 3 Opinions [are divided] vary

(het) feit	fact
feiten	facts
(de) waarheid 2	truth
(het) verzinsel	fiction, something made up
(de) leugen	lie, untruth
leugens 2	lies
betrouwbaar 2	reliable, trustworthy
geloofwaardig	['belief-worthy'] - credible
eerlijk	honest
objectief 2	objective, impartial
niet objectief 2 3	subjective, biased
eenzijdig 2	one-sided
(het) vooroordeel 2	prejudice, preconceived notion
bevooroordeeld 2	prejudiced, biased

(de) reactie	reaction
reageren 2 3	to react
reageren op 2 3	to react to
(de) uitspraak	1. pronunciation 2. statement
uitspraken doen 2 3	making statements
zich uitspreken 2 3	to speak out, stating an opinion reflexive verbs
(het) verslag	report, account
verslag doen 2 3 4	to report
rapporteren 2 3	to report
(de) stelling 2	1. military position 2 ~statement
stellingen 2 3	statements, propositions, theorems, theses - more below

Zeggen  'to Say,'
Denken  and Vinden  'to Think'

Men zegt dat ... ['People say that ...'] - usually translated as: 'It is said that ...' Ik denk dat het te laat is I think it's too late Ik vind 't te duur 2 3 I [find] think it's too expensive

Wat zegt U ervan? 2 What do you say (of/about it)? (polite, formal 'you') Wat zegt U d'rvan? 2 3 4 What do you say (of/about it)? (polite, formal 'you') - that D Wat zeg jij d'r van? 2 3 What do you say (of it)? (informal 'you') Wat denk jij? 2 3 What do you think (of it)? - What's your opinion (on this)? Wat denk jij d'r van? 2 What do you think (of it)? Wat vind jij ervan? 2 What do you think (of it)? Wat heb je daarop te zeggen? 2 What do you say about that? What's your reaction to that? Denk je ook niet dat ...? 2 3 [Don't] Do you also think that ...? Do you agree that ...? Vind je ook niet? 2 3 Don't you think so too? Don't you agree?

Vragen  'to Ask'

Vragen 2 'to ask'

Vraag niet waarom 2 Do not ask why Mag ik U iets vragen? 2 3 [May I ...] Could I ask you something?
(de) vraag 2 'question'
- plural: vragen 2 'questions'
Dat is een goede vraag 2 3 That's a good question Ik heb een heleboel vragen 2 3 I have a great many questions

Zich Afvragen  'to Wonder'

Ik vraag me wel eens af ... 2 (3 4) Sometimes I wonder ... Ik vraag me af hoe 't komt 2 I wonder [how it comes] what's causing it, why it is

Weten  'to Know'

Ik weet 't niet 2 I don't know Dat wist ik niet 2 I didn't know that Ik weet er niks van 2 I know nothing about it (either general knowledge or familiarity with an event or incident) Daar weet ik niks van 2 I know nothing about that (either general knowledge or familiarity with an event or incident) Er is mij niets van bekend 2 I know nothing about it, I have no knowlewdge of it

Dat weet ik niet 2 I don't know (about) that Ik wist 't wel 2 I knew it! Ik wil 't weten 2 I want to know (it) Ik zou wel eens willen weten ... 2 I would like to know ...

Ze weten 't niet 2 They don't know [it]

Ik weet 't eigenlijk niet 2 3 4 I actually don't know, I'm not sure

't Is niet iets waar ik veel van weet 2 3 4 It's not something I know [much] a lot about Hoe weinig we weten 2 How little we know, our knowledge is limited

Hij weet waar-(d)ie 't over heeft 2 He knows what he's talking about Wat weet hij ervan? 2 3 slow What does he know about it? (implying: not much!)

Begrijpen  'to Understand'

Ik begrijp wat je bedoelt 2 I [understand] see what you mean Ik begrijp niet wat je bedoelt 2 I don't understand what you mean Nou begrijp ik 't 2 Now I understand (it) Nou begrijp ik waarom 2 3 4 Now I understand why Het is me een raadsel 2 It's a [riddle] mystery to me Hoezo? 2 3 [how so?] What do you mean?

Verwachten  'to expect'

Zoals je zou verwachten 2 3 As you would expect, as expected Niet zoals je zou verwachten 2 Not as you would expect, not as expected Niet wat je zou verwachten Not what you would expect Dat had ik niet verwacht 2 3 I had not expected that

Zich Verbazen  'to Be Surprised, Amazed'

't Verbaast me 2 3 I'm surprised 't Verbaast me niet 2 3 I'm not surprised 't Verbaast me niks 2 'I'm not surprised at all' Het zou me niet verbazen 2 'I would not be surprised'

Ik sta nergens meer van te kijken 2 Nothing surprises me anymore Daar kijkt niemand meer van op 2 3 Nobody is surprised, impressed by that anymore

to Agree

Dat is zo 2 3 It's like that, That is true, There is that, You're right Dat is wel zo, maar ... 2 3 4 That is true, but ... There is that, but ...

het eens zijn (met) 2 3 ('to agree, ~to be on one page with') Ik ben het met je eens 2 I agree with you, I think you're right Helemaal mee eens! 2 3 I fully agree other meanings of  'eens'

gelijk hebben 2 means 'to be right, to be correct' groot gelijk 2 "absolutely right" Je hebt gelijk You are right (informal, singular 'you') Je hebt gelijk gekregen It turns out you were right je hebt helemaal gelijk 2 You're absolutely right U heeft helemaal gelijk You're absolutely right (polite 'you') Daar heb je gelijk mee 2 3 You're right about that Hij heeft ergens wel gelijk 2 3 4 He is partly right, he's correct in some aspects Ik blijf erbij dat hij gelijk heeft 2 3 4 [I remain of the opinion] - I am still convinced that he is right overtuigd van hun gelijk 2 convinced, certain, absolutely sure of their being right Je hebt niet altijd gelijk 2 3 You're not always right Ik geef je geen ongelijk I'm not saying you're wrong (you're right) other meanings of  'gelijk'

Er is wat voor te zeggen 2 3 Something can be said in favor of it (cautious approval) Daar is wat voor te zeggen 2 3 Something can be said in favor of that (cautious approval) Dat voel je goed aan You have a good sense of it (understanding the subconscious signals)

Er zit wat in 2 3 4 5
Daar zit wat in 2 3 literally: there's something in it, it contains something - or figuratively: there's something to it, there's a good idea in it, there's some truth in it Misschien zit er wat in 2 3 Maybe it contains something // Maybe there is something to it

Net goed! 2 1. Just right! (Just as it should be -or- the right amount)
2. (in a vengeful mood:) the right comeuppance, deserved punishment) Goed zo! 2 3 1. you're doing well, you've done well
2. serves them right! the right comeuppance

Dat is ook zo 2 3 [That what you're saying is also like that] - it is like that, that is also true, "you are right"

Doubt

Ik begin te twijfelen 2 3 I'm starting to doubt Ik ben gaan twijfelen I've begun to have doubts Dat betwijfel ik 2 I doubt that, I have my doubts about that

geloven 2 'to believe'

Ik geloof niet dat dat zo is 2 3 4 I don't [believe] think it's like that Dat geloof ik niet I don't believe that, I don't think it's like that Ik geloof er niks van 2 3 [I believe nothing of it] - I don't believe a word of it En jij gelooft dat? 2 And you believe that? Geloof jij erin? 2 Do you believe (in) it? Do you think it's true? Geloof je 't zelf? 2 Do you believe so yourself? (Are you kidding me or are you trying to fool me?)

waar true
other meanings of   'waar'

Echt waar? 2 [Really true?] Really? 't Kan wel waar zijn 2 It may be true (but ...) 't Kan best wel waar zijn 2 3 It may well be true, it's possible that that is the truth Wat is er van waar? 2 3 4 What (part) of it is true? Ik weet niet wat er van waar is 2 ['I don't know what of it is true'] - I'm not sure in how far it's true, how much of it is true

Ik weet niet of dat zo is 2 I don't know, I'm not sure that it is like that Ik weet niet of dat echt zo is I don't know if it's really like that, I doubt that it's true
echt 2 3 'real, really' ‑>>

zeker 2 certain, sure - more
Ben je daar zeker van? 2 3 4 Are you sure (of it)? Are you certain it's like that? Ik weet 't zeker 2 3 [I know for sure] - I'm sure of it

Er klopt iets niet 2 3 4 It doesn't add up, something doesn't make sense, it's inconsistent 't Is niet logisch 2 3 It's not logical

't Is niet zo overtuigend 2 It's not very convincing

Dat is maar de vraag 2 3 4 That [is just] remains a question - there is no certainty about that, no definite answer

sterk verhaal 2 3 ['strong' story] - 'tall' (exagerrated) tale 't Lijkt me sterk dat ... 2 3 [It looks 'strong' to me that ...] - It can't be true, it's not credible Dat lijkt me sterk 2 3 4 [That looks 'strong' to me] - That can't be true, I don't believe that

Dat meen je niet! 2 3 You can't be serious! ‑>>

Laat me niet lachen 2 Don't make me laugh (What you're suggesting is ridiculous)

Zeg je echt wat je vindt? 2 3 4 5 Do you really say what you're thinking?

Ja, maar ... Yes, but ...(voicing objections, raising points-against)

to Disagree

Wat een onzin! 2 Such nonsense! Wat een onzin allemaal! 2 3 4 All of it is nonsense! It's total nonsense

Hij zit te zwammen He's talking nonsense

Dat is helemaal niet zo 2 3 [That] It isn't like that at all

Ik denk het niet 2 3 I don't think so, I don't agree, I'm of another opinion Ik denk van niet 2 3 4 5 6 I don't think so

Je hebt niet altijd gelijk 2 3 You're not always right

Het gaat te ver 2 It goes too far

't Was dus allemaal gelogen 2 [So all of it was lied] So it were all lies
liegen 'to lie,' say what is not

tegenspreken 2 3 4 to [speak against] contradict Hij sprak hun tegen 2 He contradicted them, he said their version was untrue or not correct

Dutch blij (blije - blij / blije ) usually means 'glad,' happy about something, 'pleased, delighted, contented' but it also can mean cheerful, happy, merry, 'in a good mood.' ‑>>
Ik ben er niet blij mee 2 3 1. I'm not happy with it (an item)
2. I'm not happy about it (a situatiom or an outcome) Ben je nou blij? Are you happy now? (something happened that the addressed person wanted but that the speaker is not happy with)

 I don't Care, Never Mind etc.

I don't care.
'niets' is a little stronger than  'niet' 2

't Zal me worst wezen 2 (saying) '['It will be sausage to me'] - meaning 'I don't care at all'

aantrekken 2 3 is literally 'pull towards you' or 'to attract' - and also 'putting on clothes'
'zich niets/niks aantrekken van'   means 'not care, not mind, not bother about'

Ik trek me er niks van aan 2 3 4
Ik trek me d'r niks van aan 2 3 ~It doesn't bother me, I dont't pay attention ot it, I don't care Ik lap 't aan m'n laars 2 (saying) ['I'm sticking it to my boot'] I don't care about, I'm ignoring that comment or rule Trek je er niks van aan 2 Don't pay attention to it, don't let it bother you, don't get upset over it Trek 't je niet aan 2 3 4 Don't get upset over it, don't pay attention to it, don't let it bother you Zich nergens iets van aantrekken 2 3 4 5 Not be concerned about anything, just doing, 'not give a damn'

't Spijt me, ik ben Uw naam vergeten 2 I'm sorry, I forgot your name 't Geeft niet 2 3 It doesn't matter, it's OK, never mind, don't worry about it.

Ik vind 't niet erg 2 3 4 I don't mind, it doesn't bother me Ik hoop dat je het niet erg vindt I hope you don't think it's bad, I hope you don't mind Ik vind het heel erg I think it's [very] really bad, I'm upset over it more 'erg vinden'

Wil je koffie of thee? 2 3 Would you like coffee or tea? 't Is allebei goed 2 3 [It is ...] Both are good, OK with me Wat 't makkelijkst voor je is 2 What is most easy for you

'Niet uitmaken' 2 'doesn't matter'
'Niets uitmaken' 2 'makes no difference'

't Maakt niet uit 2 It doesn't matter 't Maakt niets uit 2 3 4 It makes no difference 't Maakt me niet uit 2 3 It's the same to me, it doesn't matter to me 't Maakt toch allemaal niks uit 2 [All of it doesn't make a difference] - Whatever you do, it doesn't help Wat maakt 't uit? 2 3 What difference does it make? (None - it doesn't matter) Kwenie (Ik weet niet) of 't wat uitmaakt I dont know if it makes any difference (maybe it's pointless) Ik denk niet dat 't veel uitmaakt [I don't think that it matters much] - I think it doesn't make much difference Qua inkomen maakt 't niet veel uit 2 3 ([Regarding income ...] 'It doesn't make much difference in income' Ziet U - het maakt niets uit, het is hetzelfde See! It doesn't make [any] a difference, it [is the same] doesn''t change

Last hebben van 2 usually means 'to be bothered by, given trouble by,' but you can say:
Ik heb er geen last van 2 3 It doesn't bother me, I don't mind (usually said about an inconvenience) more 'last hebben van' and 'last krijgen van'

geven om to care about, ~find important, ~like Hij geeft er niet om 2 3 He doesn't care for it, it's of no interest to him Ze geven niet om snoep 2 3 They don't care for candy, they're not interested in candy, they don't have a great liking for candy (hypothetical children) Ik hou er niet van 2 3 I don't like it, I don't enjoy it, I don't care for it 'To care for' can also mean 'to take care of' - 'to support, help, provide with' - that is zorgen voor 2 3 - more

Miscellaneous

Dat is interessant 2 That's interesting ... maar gaat U verder 2 3 ... but please continue (polite)

Aan de ene kant .... 2 3 'on the one [side] hand' Aan de andere kant .... 2 3 'on the other hand'

Dat is een ander verhaal 2 That's another story

krachtige taal 2 3 [powerful language] - a powerful statement

Is dat nog steeds zo? 2 3 Is [that] it still like that?

vertellen 2 to tell'
Wie heeft je dat verteld? 2 Who told you (singular) that? Wie heeft jullie dat verteld? 2 Who told you (plural) that? Niemand heeft me iets verteld 2 Nobody told me anything Ze hebben jullie onwaarheden verteld 2 They have told you guys [untruths] lies

Ik zie het verband 2 3 I see how it's connected (the Gestalt) Alles grijpt in elkaar 'Everything is connected'

Dat is nogal logisch 2 3 4 That's rather logical, that's self-evident (I see that)

Als ik het zo hoor ... 2 [(When) As I hear it like this] - Hearing this ... I understand, I gather

Waarom is dat eigenlijk? 2 3 4 Why is that (actually)? What's the reason for it?

Ik vind het heel erg I think it's [very] really bad, I'm upset over it

Is het echt zo erg? 2 3 4 5 Is it really that bad?

't Is niet aan ons om te oordelen 2 3 4 It's not for (up to) us to judge

Er wordt al zoveel gezegd 2 So much is being said already Er is al zoveel gezegd 2 So much has been said already ->>

Als je 't vaak genoeg hoort ... 2 [When you hear it often enough] - When it's told many times ... (you may start believing it)

oud nieuws 2 old news (nothing new, not exciting, boring) niks nieuws 2 3 nothing new, not new, 'same old' Dat is oud nieuws 2 That's old news

Zit niet zo te zeuren! 2 Now stop that nagging! I'm sick of your pointless, annoying comments ‑>>

Daar heb ik niet over nagedacht 2 I have not thought it over Ik heb er niet goed over nagedacht 2 3 4 I have not thought it out well

Ik heb er m'n eigen ideeën over 2 3 4 I have my own ideas about it (I do not agree with the majority opinion)

Ben ik de enige die zo denkt? 2 3 Am I the only one who thinks that way, the only person of that opinion? Ben ik de enige die dat vindt? 2 3 Am I the only one who thinks that way, the only person of that opinion?

Wat ik je zeg 2 It's like I say, Absolutely! (I'm right) Zeg dat wel! 2 3 You can [surely] say that! (That statement is absolutely correct - and obvious) Daar kun je donder op zeggen! 2 3 It will be like that, Absolutely! (That statement is absolutely correct)

... wat ik je brom 2 said after making a somewhat controversial statement, meaning 'it will turn out I was right about this'

punt - uit! 2 3 period! - finished! that's it! (end of discussion)

Stellingen

A.C. Schuffelen, 1940

Rienk Baarsma, 1993

stellingen 2 3 statements, propositions, theorems, theses

The Small Change of Conversation™
More pages like this:
Meet and Greet
Why? / Because / The Reason / Cause & Effect
Ziek - Talking about Not Feeling Well
Chance, Luck, Outcomes and Risk
Talking about Time
Expectations and What Happens

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