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Disambiguation: Many common words can have more than one meaning, with different translations
List of Prepositions and Other 'Little Words' — Pages: - Aan - Achter - Af - Al - Als - Binnen/Buiten - Daar - Dan - Dat - Door - Eens - Er - Erg - Even - Haast - Het - In - Laat - Maar - Na - Naar - Net - Nog - Of - Om - Onder/Boven - Op - Over - Toen - Uit - Van - Voor - Vroeg - Waar - Wat - Weg - Zo - more
zo |
very, a high degree of |
so | Dat is zo ouderwets! That's so old-fashioned! Ik voel me zo vol 2 I feel so full (I've eaten too much) Je lacht zo lief 2 3 You [laugh] smile so sweetly |
thàt | niet zo vaak 2 3 not that often 't Is niet zo duur 2 3 It's not that expensive 't Is niet zò duur 2 3 4 5 It's not thàt expensive | ||
such a, a very |
zo'n
2
3
= zo een
2
3 'such a'
zo'n mooie dag 2 such a beautiful day Hij is zo'n goede kok He's such a good cook Ik heb zo'n zin in een kopje thee 2 3 ['I have such a great desire for ...'] - What I'd really like now is a cup of tea | ||
this way, that way |
We kunnen niet zo doorgaan 2 3 4 We can't go on like this, We can't go on this way 't Lijkt maar zo It only looks that way Waarom is dat zo? 2 3 Why is that so? Why is it that way? Why is it like that? | ||
in a moment, soon |
Ik kom zo bij U 2 I'll [come to you] be with you in a moment Tot zo! 2 3 ['Till in a moment'] - See you soon! We gaan zo eten 2 3 We'll [eat] have dinner (or lunch) in a few minutes |
1. zo = so (very) | |
zo = thàt (very) | |
zo'n = such a, a very |
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zoveel = so much, so many | |
zulk = such | |
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2. zo = this/that way, like this/that | |
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zo-iets = such a thing, something like that | |
zo-iemand = such a person, someone like that |
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zoals, zo ... als, net zo ... als = like, as, just like, similar to, the way that |
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aldus, alzo = 'in this way' ('thusly') | |
also, too = ook | |
so (in conclusion) = dus | |
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3. zo = in a moment, soon | |
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Ik heb geen keelpijn of zo maar m'n stem die kraakt zo I don't have a sore throat or something like that but my voice is croaking badly
't Wordt zo vroeg donker 2 3 | It gets dark so early |
Dat is zo ouderwets! | That's so old-fashioned! |
't Is zo voorspelbaar wat-ie doet | It is so predictable what he does, his behavior is so predictable |
Ik was zò ziek 2 3 | I was so very sick |
Ik was zò kwaad 2 | I was so very angry |
Ik kan me d'r zò kwaad over maken 2 | It [can make] makes me so very angry |
Je lacht zo lief 2 3 | You [laugh] smile so sweetly |
Ik vind 't zo zielig 2 3 | [I think it's very pitiable] - I'm very sorry (for them, about it) |
Ik ben zo duf 2 3 | [I'm so very dense, dazed] - I don't feel very bright, I'm not fully aware, 'I'm out of it' |
Ik zou zo graag ... 2 3 | I would really like to ... (a great wish of mine is ...) |
Ik voel me zo vol 2 | I feel so full (having overeaten) |
Dat was niet zo leuk 2 3 | That was not very funny, that was bad |
Je geeft 't slechte weer zo mooi weer | You [represent] depict the bad weather so beautifully |
Je geeft 't goede weer zo goed weer 2 | You [represent] portray the [good] beautiful weather [so] very well |
't Is niet zo overtuigend 2 | It's not very convincing |
't Is niet zo duur 2 3 | It's not that expensive |
't Is niet zò duur 2 3 4 5 | It's not thàt expensive |
Is 't al zò laat? 2 | Is it already that late? |
't Komt niet zo nauw 2 | It's not that [narrow] strict - it's flexible, there's a lot of leeway |
Doe niet zo stoer! | [Don't act that bravely] - Don't pretend to be (that) brave |
Doe niet zo raar! 2 | [Don't act that weirdly] - try to be a regular person |
Niet zo goed | Not that good (I'm feeling poorly) |
Niet zo vaak 2 3 | Not that often |
Zit niet zo te zeuren 2 | Now don't nag that much, Stop that horrible nagging (pointless complaining) |
Ik kan zo gauw geen voorbeeld bedenken 2 3 | I can't think of an example [that] quickly, in the rush of things |
Toen ik z'n fiets optilde begreep ik hoe hij zo hard kon rijden 2 3 4 | When I lifted up his bike I understood how he could ride that fast ->> |
Ik had me nog nooit zo ziek gevoeld 2 3 | I had never felt that sick before (literally: 'never yet' translated as: 'never before' ->>) |
Misschien was ik nooit zo slim 2 3 | Maybe I never was that clever |
This 'zo' can also be found as zo'n 2 - a contraction of 'zo een' ("zo 'n") 2 meaning 'such a' or 'a very' - note that usually zo'n sounds the same as zoon ('son') - >> but you can exaggerate and insert a Dutch W: zoown/zowun 2 3 4
zo'n mooie dag 2 | such a beautiful day |
zo'n sombere zomer | such a dark, gloomy Summer |
Hij is zo'n goede kok | He's such a good cook |
Ik heb zo'n zin in iets lekkers 2 | I have (such) a great craving for something tasty, something really nice (usually sweet) |
Ik heb zo'n zin in een kopje thee 2 3 | ['I have such a great desire for ...'] - What I'd really like now is a cup of tea |
't Zal wel niet zo'n vaart lopen 2 3 4 | (saying) ['It's not going to pick up such a speed']- It won't happen soon (don't worry about it) |
'Zoveel' 2 3 4 (the stress can be either on 'veel' or on both 'zo' and 'veel') is 'so much' or 'so many.' It can be both an adjective or adverb and a noun ('so much, so many things')
Zoveel dingen om aan te denken 2 | So many things to think about, so many things to keep in mind |
Er is nog zoveel te doen 2 3 | There is still so much to do |
Ik heb al zoveel | I already have so much (so many things, so much stuff) |
Er gaat altijd zoveel mis 2 | There are always so many things going wrong |
't Had zoveel mooier kunnen zijn 2 3 | [It could have been so much more beautiful] - usually said when something disappoints or doesn't work out |
... omdat er zoveel te zien was | ... because there was so much to see |
Er wordt al zoveel gezegd 2 | So much is being said already |
Er is al zoveel gezegd 2 | So much has been said already ->> |
Zulke dingen als vrijheid, en gelijkheid | Such things as freedom, and equality |
Zulke dingen als sterke drank | Such things as [strong drink] liquor |
Zulke grote voeten! 2 | Such big feet! |
Zulke dingen gebeuren | Such things, things like that happen |
't Is buiten zulk prachtig weer | It's such wonderful weather outside |
't Is zulk mooi weer buiten | It's such nice weather outside, It's so nice outside |
't Is overdag zulk mooi weer 2 3 | [It's such nice weather in the daytime] - In the daytime the weather is so nice |
We kunnen niet zo doorgaan 2 3 4 | We can't go on like this, We can't go on this way |
Er moet iets veranderen 2 | Something gotta change |
Zo kun je 't ook doen 2 3 | You can also do it this way |
Je kunt 't ook zo doen 2 3 4 | You can also do it this way |
Ga zo voort! 2 | [Go on, continue like that] Carry on! |
Goed zo! 2 3 | 1. you're doing well, you've done well
2. serves them right! the right comeuppance |
Veel mensen denken zo | Many people think that way |
Zeg dat het niet zo is! | Say it ain't so! |
Waarom is dat zo? 2 3 | Why is that so? Why is it that way? Why is it like that? |
Zo gaat 't altijd 2 3 4 | [It always goes ...] - It's always like this |
Zo te zien 2 3 | As I see it, From what I see, From my observation |
Zo is 't echt 2 3 | That's how it is in reality, It's really like that |
Ik weet niet of dat zo is 2 | [I don't know] I'm not sure (if) it's like that |
Ik weet niet of dat echt zo is | [I don't know] I'm not sure (if) it's really like that |
't Lijkt maar zo | It only looks that way, the reality is different |
Misschien lijkt 't maar zo 2 3 4 | Maybe it only looks that way |
Of lijkt dat maar zo? 2 3 | Or does [that] it only look that way? |
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" |
't Mocht niet zo zijn 2 3 | It was not to be (something hoped-for sadly didn't happen) |
Zo doe je dat 2 3 | That's the way to do [that] it |
Zo is 't nou eenmaal 2 3 | That's how it is (you can't change it) |
Ik heb 't maar zo gelaten 2 | I left it like that (I didn't act to change or correct it) |
Dat zeg je niet zo 2 3 | You don't say (that) it that way That's not the (correct) way to say it |
Als ik het zo hoor ... 2 | Hearing this ... (I gather, understand) |
Dat is helemaal niet zo 2 3 | [That] It isn't like that at all |
Is dat nog steeds zo? 2 3 | Is [that] it still like that? |
Dat is zo 2 3 | It's like that, That is true, There is that |
Dat is wel zo, maar ... 2 3 4 | That is true, but ... There is that, but ... |
Zo werkt dat niet 2 3 | It doesn't 'work' that way |
Zo gaat 't ook 2 3 4 5 | This works too, you can do it this way too |
| |
zo-iets 2 3 | such a thing, something like that |
zo-iemand 2 | such a person, someone like that |
Hoe kan iemand zo-iets doen? | How can someone do something like that? (it's beyond me) |
Heb je wel eens zo-iets meegemaakt? 2 | Have you ever experienced such a thing? |
Je kunt zo-iemand niet serieus nemen 2 3 | You can't take a person like that seriously |
zo-even (zoëven) 2 3 | 'a moment ago' |
'Zo' meaning 'that way' or 'like that' is also found in a word like zoals 2 ('like,' 'as,' 'similar to,' 'the way that') - and its split-up form zo ... als 2 with an adverb in between. And also: net ... als 2 ('just like.') See also the 'als' and 'net' disambiguation pages.
Zoals 't klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens 2 3 4 5 | ['There is no place where the clock ticks like at home'] 'Home sweet home' |
Zo oud als de weg naar Kralingen 2 3 | As old as the [road to K.] hills - Sayings |
Zo dood als een pier | As dead as a [rainworm] doornail |
't Is niet zo erg als 't lijkt 2 3 | It's not as bad as it looks |
Ik ben niet meer zo slim als ik ooit was 2 | I'm no longer as clever [as I ever was] as I was in the past, as I used to be |
Hoe kan ik zo stom zijn? 2 3 | How can I be that stupid? (anger about a mistake) |
Zoals ik al zei ... | [Like] As I already said, As I said before ... |
Mijn zoon is net zo mager als ik | My son is just as skinny as I am |
Hij is net zo slim als z'n moeder 2 | He's just as clever as his mom |
Dat is twee keer zo ver 2 3 4 | That's twice as far
('als' and the comparison item are left out) |
Zoals je weet 2 3 4 5 6 | As you know ..., like you know ... |
Another common phrase with 'zo' meaning 'as' is zo ... mogelijk 2 ('as ... as possible') - but by itself, zo mogelijk ... means 'if possible'
zo lang mogelijk 2 | as long as possible |
zo spoedig mogelijk 2 | as soon as possible |
zo weinig mogelijk 2 3 | as little as possible |
Old-fashioned words for this 'zo' meaning 'in this way' are aldus 2 (think of 'thus' / 'thusly') and 'alzo' 2
... en aldus geschiedde 2 3 | ... and that's what happened |
Leer ons alzo onze dagen tellen | So teach us to number our days (Ps 90:12) - Teach us to count our days this way |
Heeft U ook postzegels? 2 3 | Do you [have] sell stamps too? |
Er is beneden ook een slaapkamer | There's also a bedroom downstairs, there's also a downstairs bedroom |
Dat staat ons ook te wachten 2 | That's also [waiting for, expected] going to happen to us, here |
Dat is ook goed 2 | That's also good, that's OK too |
Dat zou je ook kunnen doen 2 3 | You could do that too, it's OK to do that instead |
Je kunt ook een blikje opentrekken 2 3 4 | You [can also] could [rip open] open a can - you could use canned |
Denk je ook niet dat ... 2 3 | Aren't you also thinking that ... |
Toen ik jouw leeftijd was had ik er ook veel last van 2 3 | When I was your age it also bothered me a lot, I had a lot of trouble with it too |
De vochtigheid heeft er ook mee te maken 2 | The humidity is also involved in it |
Ik weet 't ook niet | I also don't know (it) - I don't know either |
... maar 't is ook niet bijzonder 2 | ... but it's also not very special (less successful cooking, art) |
... maar 't was ook niet geweldig 2 3 | ... but it was also not great, it wasn't great either (less successful cooking, art) |
Misschien heeft 't daar ook mee te maken 2 3 | Maybe it has to do with that too |
Wat je ook doet ... 2 3 | Whatever you do ... (it doesn't make a difference, it's hopeless) |
English 'so' can also mean drawing a conclusion, something like 'I gather, I get the impression, in conclusion, I understand.' This is said in Dutch as dus - "So you want to be a rock 'n' roll star?"
|
fietspad (no motorcycles) |
Occasionally, English 'so' is said as 'het' ('it') in Dutch:
Omdat ik het zeg
2
3
4
Because I say [it] so
(an authoritarian statement)
Al zeg ik 't zelf
2
3
[Even if I say so myself] - If I may say so
Tot zo! 2 3 | ['Till in a moment'] - See you soon! |
We gaan zo eten 2 3 | We'll eat (have dinner or lunch) in a moment |
Ik ben zo klaar | I'll be ready (done) in a moment |
Ik kom zo bij U 2 | I'll [come to you] be with you in a minute |
Zullen we zo gaan? 2 3 | Shall we go (leave) in a moment? |
Ik ga er zo mee beginnen 2 3 4 | I'll start on it soon, in a moment (but also said when endlessly postponing) |
Dat zie je zo 2 3 4 | [You see that in an instant] - You notice that right away |
zodra 2 3 | as soon as |
zodra we klaar zijn | as soon as we're ready, right away when we're ready |
zodra 't licht wordt 2 3 4 | as soon as it gets light |
See and Hear also: Hurry, Haste and Urgency in the Time Thesaurus
Dutch Vocabulary Overview - Dutch Grammar Overview - Listen to and Read Dutch
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