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The Conversations and Phrases pages are of course only a template, suggestions and model sentences. You may have other preferences and priorities than I. Substitute other words to create your own narrative. Find words below or on the pages linked to below or use the 'search' function (top left on most pages.)
| Basic Food Vocabulary |  | Internal Links: My Other Food Pages |  | The Verbs | 
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| 'Units' |  | Phrases, Conversations, Talking about Food |  | Food Sayings | 
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| de / het / 't   de  het  't  | (the) | een, 'n  | (a) | één   | (one) | >> >> | 
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Find additional food and drinks words on these pages:
| ![[cauliflower]](artwork3/bloemkool100.jpg) vegetables | ![[grapes]](artwork3/sinaasappel100.jpg) fruits | ![[plate of food]](artwork3/filosoof100.jpg) dinners | ![[loaf of bread]](artwork3/brood100.jpg) breakfast, lunch, drinks and snacks | 
| some overlap with: | ![[plate of food]](artwork2/tuinbonenmeal100.jpg) meals - 2 3 | ![[grapes]](everydaypix/druiven100.jpg) food - 2 3 4 5 | and see also: | ![[pan]](artwork2/steelpannetje100.jpg) kitchen - 2 3 4 5 6 | 
(het) eten 
 is the common Dutch word for 'food'
- (het) voedsel
 is the common Dutch word for 'food'
- (het) voedsel  
  ('food') is a bit bookish - (de) eetlust
  ('food') is a bit bookish - (de) eetlust
   
 2
'appetite'
   2
'appetite'
gezonde voeding
      
  2
  healthy food, wholesome nutrition
  2
  healthy food, wholesome nutrition
 
(de) honger
   
  'hunger' - hongerig
 'hunger' - hongerig
    
  2
 'hungry' 
- honger stillen
 2
 'hungry' 
- honger stillen
   
  2
 3
 'to satisfy, alleviate hunger'
 2
 3
 'to satisfy, alleviate hunger' 
(het) drinken
  
 ('drink,' things to drink) -
  Dutch (de) drank
  ('drink,' things to drink) -
  Dutch (de) drank
 
  usually means 'liquor'
 usually means 'liquor' 
  (de) dorst
   
  2
  3 
 'thirst' 
 - dorstig
  2
  3 
 'thirst' 
 - dorstig
   
  2
 'thirsty' 
 - dorst lessen
 2
 'thirsty' 
 - dorst lessen
   
  2
 'to slake, quench thirst'
 2
 'to slake, quench thirst' 
(het) ontbijt  
 'breakfast' -
(de) lunch
  'breakfast' -
(de) lunch
   
  2
'lunch' - 
  (het) avondeten
  2
'lunch' - 
  (het) avondeten  
 2
'dinner' - 
 warm eten
 2
'dinner' - 
 warm eten 
 2
  'hot food'
 2
  'hot food'
 
Most people use the English word for 'lunch' -
if it's a hot meal, you could say (het) middageten  
 ('afternoon meal.')
 ('afternoon meal.') 
 For 'snacks' I usually use the English word, because the
traditional Dutch words feel somewhat old-fashioned
 >>. 
But you could say:   iets bij de koffie
 
 2
 3 
 ('something with your coffee') /or/
  iets bij de thee
 2
 3 
 ('something with your coffee') /or/
  iets bij de thee
 
 2
 3 
 ('something with your tea') -
 een koekje bij de thee
 2
 3 
 ('something with your tea') -
 een koekje bij de thee
   
 ('a cookie with your tea')
 ('a cookie with your tea')
(de) smaak
   
 2
 taste
  ‑>> 
 - (de) nasmaak
 
 2
 taste
  ‑>> 
 - (de) nasmaak 
   
 aftertaste
 aftertaste
 
(de) bijsmaak
   
 2
 3 
 'side' taste, "secondary taste," 'hint of'
 2
 3 
 'side' taste, "secondary taste," 'hint of'
zoet  
 (zoet/zoete
  (zoet/zoete  
 2)
 sweet ‑>>
  2)
 sweet ‑>> 
 
zout
 
  2
 3 
  (zout/zoute
 2
 3 
  (zout/zoute  
 2)
salt, salty  ‑>>
 2)
salt, salty  ‑>>
 
zuur
 
 2
 (zuur/zure
 
 2
 (zuur/zure  
 2)
acid, sour ‑>>
 2)
acid, sour ‑>>
 
bitter 
  
 (bitter/bittere
 
 (bitter/bittere
 
 2
 bittere
 2
 bittere   
  )
  2
  3 
bitter ‑>>
)
  2
  3 
bitter ‑>>
 
hartig
 
 (hartige
  (hartige
 
 2)
 savory, not sweet, 'salty'
 - a good Dutch word for the fifth basic taste 'umami'?
 2)
 savory, not sweet, 'salty'
 - a good Dutch word for the fifth basic taste 'umami'? 
 
pittig 
 2
 (3)
  'full-flavored, strong-tasting'
 2
 (3)
  'full-flavored, strong-tasting'
'Spicy, hot' is   scherp
 
  2
 3 
 4
 5
 (scherpe
 2
 3 
 4
 5
 (scherpe
 
  2)
 which can also mean 'sharp' like a knife
 - vlijmscherp
 2)
 which can also mean 'sharp' like a knife
 - vlijmscherp 
  
 ('very sharp' - knives)
 
('very sharp' - knives)
heet   
  2
  3 
(hete
  2
  3 
(hete   
  2
 3 
 - heet / hete
 2
 3 
 - heet / hete   
  2)
 is also said for 'spicy, hot' but it's even more confusing because
like in English it also means 'hot, high temperature'
  2)
 is also said for 'spicy, hot' but it's even more confusing because
like in English it also means 'hot, high temperature'
To avoid confusion, some Dutch people use the Malay word
pedis 
  
 for 'hot, spicy'
 
for 'hot, spicy'
  
machtig  
   2
['powerful'] - 'filling, heavy'
2
['powerful'] - 'filling, heavy'
  sappig
 
  2
3 'juicy'
 2
3 'juicy'
  mals 
  2
3
 'tender' (meat)
 2
3
 'tender' (meat)
  flauw 
  'weak of taste, missing something' (not enough salt?)
 'weak of taste, missing something' (not enough salt?)
(de) geur
    
 2
  3 smell, odor
 
 2
  3 smell, odor
ruiken 
   
 to smell (notice a smell)
 to smell (notice a smell)
ruiken naar  
 
 2
 3 
to smell of, to smell like
 2
 3 
to smell of, to smell like
See also: Herbs and Spices
 and  more 'Taste'
 'to eat' and
 'drinken'
 'to eat' and
 'drinken' 
  'to drink' are  - strong verbs - meaning they have a vowel change
 in the past tense. 'Eten' (like most strong verbs with an
 A in the past tense) also changes that A from 'short' to 'long' 
 between singular and plural.
 'to drink' are  - strong verbs - meaning they have a vowel change
 in the past tense. 'Eten' (like most strong verbs with an
 A in the past tense) also changes that A from 'short' to 'long' 
 between singular and plural.| eten to eat | at ate | gegeten eaten |   | 
| drinken to drink | dronk drank | gedronken drunk |   | 
 I have eaten
 
I have eaten
| 
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 I have drunk
 
I have drunk
 
 
 
  2
 There's a drunk guy shouting
 2
 There's a drunk guy shouting   
eten met mes en vork
   
 2
 2
met mes en vork eten 
   
 2
eating with, using knife and fork
eten met vrienden
 2
eating with, using knife and fork
eten met vrienden
   
 
met vrienden eten 
   
 eating with, in the company of friends
eten van een bord
eating with, in the company of friends
eten van een bord
   
 2
 2
van een bord eten 
   
 2
 3
eating from a plate
Hij dronk uit de fles
 2
 3
eating from a plate
Hij dronk uit de fles
  
  2
 3
He drank from the bottle
 2
 3
He drank from the bottle
 
| koken to cook; to boil | - | ik kook I am cooking | - | ik kookte I was cooking | - | ik heb gekookt I have cooked |  2 | 
  
ik ben aan 't koken
 
 I'm cooking, preparing hot food
Ik heb de aardappelen gekookt
I'm cooking, preparing hot food
Ik heb de aardappelen gekookt
    
  2
'I have boiled the potatoes'
Vind je 't leuk om te koken?
 
2
'I have boiled the potatoes'
Vind je 't leuk om te koken?
   
 2
 3 
 Do you like to cook? Do you enjoy cooking?
 (een) gekookt ei
 2
 3 
 Do you like to cook? Do you enjoy cooking?
 (een) gekookt ei
 
 'boiled egg'
Ik heb de aardappelen gekookt
  'boiled egg'
Ik heb de aardappelen gekookt
    
  2
'I have boiled the potatoes'
 de gekookte aardappels
 
2
'I have boiled the potatoes'
 de gekookte aardappels
   
 'the boiled potatoes'
  more  'koken'  below
'the boiled potatoes'
  more  'koken'  below
 
bereiden
  
  2 
 'preparing food' - old-fashioned
2 
 'preparing food' - old-fashioned
| bakken to bake, fry, sauté | - | ik bak I am baking | - | ik bakte I was baking | - | ik heb gebakken I have baked |  2 | 
ik ben een brood aan 't bakken
 
 2
  I'm baking [a] bread
ik heb de aardappelen gebakken
 2
  I'm baking [a] bread
ik heb de aardappelen gebakken
    
  'I have [baked] fried the potatoes'
(het) gebakken ei
 'I have [baked] fried the potatoes'
(het) gebakken ei
    
 'fried egg'
gebakken champignons
 'fried egg'
gebakken champignons
  
  2
  3
 sautéed mushrooms
 kort gebakken
 
  2
  3
 sautéed mushrooms
 kort gebakken
  
  2
  baked, fried, sautéed shortly, '~rare'
- More about Verbs
  - Easy Verbs
 2
  baked, fried, sautéed shortly, '~rare'
- More about Verbs
  - Easy Verbs
| ![[Marco preparing food']](artwork/CaptainCook.jpg) (de) kok  (cook) | 
 2
  3)
  2
  3) 
 | 
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| 
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| voor 't eten  2 ['before eating'] - 'before lunch/dinner' | onder 't eten  2 'while we were eating' - 'during lunch/dinner' | na 't eten  2 'after we had eaten' - 'after lunch/dinner' | 
 2
 'on an empty stomach'
 2
 'on an empty stomach'
| Vocabulary, words: see and hear above | Phrases, Conversations, Talking about Food: |  | 
|---|
| Inviting Etc. |  | More Questions |  | Comments |  | Narrative, Talk about Food |  | 
|---|
| Preferences |  | Various: Dieting, Resolutions, Etiquette, Slang |  | 
|---|
| In A Restaurant |  | In The Kitchen, Cooks Talking |  | Drinks |  | Food Sayings | 
|---|
| Heb je honger?  | ['Have you hunger?'] - 'Are you hungry?' | 
| Ik heb honger  | 'I am hungry' | 
| Ik heb geen honger  2
 3 
 4 | 'I'm not hungry' | 
| Ik kom om van de honger  2
  3 | ['I'm dying of hunger, I'm starving'] - 'I'm famished, I'm very hungry' (jocular) | 
| Ik sterf van de honger  2
 3 | ['I'm dying of hunger, I'm starving'] - 'I'm famished, I'm very hungry' (jocular) | 
| Ik heb dorst   | 'I am thirsty' | 
| We gaan zo eten  2
 3 | 'We'll eat soon, in a few minutes' | 
| Eten over een paar minuten  2 | Food (dinner, lunch) will be ready in a few minutes (preliminary call) | 
| Kom je eten?  2
  3 | 'Are you coming, food is ready' | 
| Aan tafel!  2 | 'Come to the table, food is ready' (it always sounds a bit impatient to me) | 
| Eet smakelijk!   | 'Bon appetit! Enjoy your meal!' | 
| Proost!  2 | 'Cheers!' | 
| Wil je wat eten?   | 'Would you like something to eat?' | 
| Wil je wat drinken?  2 | 'Would you like something to drink?' | 
| Wat wil je drinken?  2 | 'What would you like to drink?' | 
| Een kopje thee alstublieft   | 'A cup of tea, please' (polite) | 
| Een kopje koffie graag   | 'A cup of coffee, please' (informal) | 
| koffie met melk en suiker   | 'coffee with [milk] cream and sugar' | 
| Mag ik een glas water?  2 | '[May I] Can I have a glass of water, please?' | 
| Mag ik wat water?   | Could I have some water, please? | 
| Mag ik een beetje kaas?  2 | 'Could I have [a little] some cheese, please?' | 
| Heb je wat brood?   | 'Would you have some bread?' | 
| Mag ik de boter?  2
 3 | Could I have the butter? Please pass the butter | 
| Wil je een kopje thee?  2 | Would you like a cup of tea? | 
| Zal ik je een kopje thee inschenken?  | Shall I pour you a cup of tea? | 
| Nee, dank U  2 | No, thank you (polite) | 
| Nee, dank je  2 | No, thank you (informal) | 
| Ja, alstublieft  2 | Yes, please (polite) | 
| Ja, alsjeblieft  2
 3 | Yes, please (informal) | 
| Ja, graag  2 | Yes, please (informal) - I'd like that | 
| Alstublieft  /and/
      alsjeblieft  2 | are also used when handing someone something, like 'here you are' | 
| Dank U wel  | thank you (polite) | 
| Dank je wel  | thank you (informal) | 
| Bedankt  | thanks, thank you (informal) | 
| Wil je koffie of thee of iets fris?  2
 3 | Would you like coffee or tea or [something 'fresh'] - juice or soda? | 
| Wil je koffie of thee of iets anders?  2 | Would you like coffee or tea or something else? | 
| 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 | 
| Drink je alcohol?  2
 3 | Do you drink alcohol? | 
| Ik ben blij met een kopje thee   | [I am happy] I will be happy with a cup of tea | 
| Wil je kaas of ham op je brood?  | 'Would you like cheese or ham on your bread?' | 
| Wil je iets toe?  2
  3 | Would you like dessert? | 
| Het smaakt naar meer  2 | ['it tastes like more'] 'It was so good I'd like some more, I wouldn't mind a second helping' (informal) | 
| Wil je blijven eten?  2
 3 | Would you like to stay for [food - usually:] dinner | 
| Er is genoeg eten  2
  3 | 'There is enough food' | 
| Je kunt wel blijven eten  2
  3 | 'You may stay [to eat] for dinner (or lunch)' | 
| Je hoeft niet weg te gaan  2
  3 | 'You don't have to leave' | 
| Drink eerst even rustig een kopje thee  2 | 'First, relax and have a cup of tea' | 
| Kom je thee drinken?  2 | ~Come have some tea | 
| Kom je een kopje thee drinken?  2 | ~Come have a cup of tea | 
| te eten uitnodigen  2 | ['for eating, to invite'] 'to invite, ask for dinner' | 
| te eten vragen  | ['for eating, to ask'] 'to invite, ask for dinner' | 
| Kom je een keer bij ons eten?  2
  3 | 'Would you like to come for dinner at our house sometime?' (singular 'you') | 
| Komen jullie ...  2
  3 | (plural 'you') | 
| Wil je een keer bij mij komen eten?  2
 3 | 'Would you like to come for dinner at my house sometime?' (singular 'you') | 
| Willen jullie ...  2
 3 | (plural 'you') | 
| Zullen we ergens gaan eten?  2 | 'Shall we go eat somewhere?' (i.e. in a restaurant) | 
| Een goede bekomst!  2
 3 | (old-fashioned, said after a meal, 'hoping for a good digestion') | 
| Heb je al gegeten?  2 | Have you eaten already? Did you already have dinner? | 
| Heb je nog niet gegeten?  2 | Have you not eaten yet? Did you not have dinner (or lunch) yet? | 
| Ik heb geen ontbijt gehad  2 | 'I didn't have breakfast' | 
| Moet je nog eten?  2 | Do you still have to eat? Have you not eaten yet? | 
| Is er wat te eten?  2
  3 
  slow | 'Is there something to eat?' | 
| Wanneer heb je gegeten?  2 | When (what time) have you eaten? | 
| Wanneer heb je voor 't laatst gegeten?  2 | When have you eaten last, how long ago was your last meal? What was the last time you had something to eat? | 
| Wat heb je gegeten?  2 | 'What have you eaten, what did you have?' | 
| Waar heb je gegeten?  2 | 'Where have you eaten?' | 
| Ik heb thuis gegeten   | 'I have eaten at home' (te  'at' + 
  huis  2 
  'house') | 
| Met wie heb je gegeten?  2 | 'With whom did you eat?' | 
| Heb je goed gegeten?  2 | 'Have you eaten [good] well?' | 
| Was 't lekker?  2 | 'Was it good, did you enjoy it?' (think of: 'to like') ->> | 
| Heb je lekker gegeten?  2 | 'Was the food to your liking, did you enjoy your meal?' | 
| Heb je genoeg gegeten?  | Have you eaten enough? | 
| Heb je te veel gegeten?  2 | '[Have you eaten] Did you eat too much?' | 
| Ik heb te veel gegeten   | 'I have eaten too much' | 
| Ik voel me zo vol  2 | 'I feel so full' (I have eaten too much) | 
| Heb je genoeg gedronken?   | 'Did you drink enough?' | 
| Als je vis eet, moet je ook wat drinken  2
  3 
  4 | 'When you're having fish, you should also drink something' | 
| Vis moet zwemmen  2
 3 
 4 | 'Fish has to swim, fish gotta swim' - drink well when you're eating fish | 
| Je moet wat drinken  2
  3 | 'You should drink something' | 
| Heb je genoeg water?  2 | Do you have enough water? | 
| met kleine slokjes drinken  2 | '[drink with] take small sips' | 
| Zijn de appels groen?  2 | 'Are the apples green?' | 
| Zijn de bananen nog groen?   | 'Are the bananas still green?' | 
| Zijn de bananen al geel?  2 | 'Are the bananas already yellow?' | 
| Zijn de perziken al rijp?  2 | 'Are the peaches ripe already?' | 
| Is 't nog goed?  2
 3 | 'Is it still good?' - i.e. not spoiled, still good and safe to eat | 
| tenminste houdbaar tot ...  2 | ["can be kept at least till ..."] 'good till at least ...' - 'best before ...' - 'sell by ...' (remember that in Dutch dates, the day comes before the month) | 
| Is er nog genoeg brood?  2 | Is there still enough bread? | 
| Heeft U bananen? - Nee  | 'Do you have bananas? - No' (polite 'you') | 
| Er zijn geen bananen  | 'There are no bananas' | 
| Heeft U sinaasappels? - Ja  | 'Do you have oranges? - Yes' (polite 'you') | 
| Er zijn wel sinaasappels  | 'We do have oranges' | 
| Hoe is de koffie op je werk?   | 'How is the coffee at work?' | 
| Heb je je koffie op?  2
  3 | 'Did you finish your coffee?' | 
| Drink je thee  2
  3 | 'Drink your tea' | 
| Laat je thee niet koud worden  2
 3 | 'Don't let your tea get cold' | 
| M'n thee is koud geworden  2 | My tea has gone cold | 
| Onderweg drinken we een kopje koffie  2 | 'We'll have a cup of coffee on the way, on the road' | 
| Het eten was erg lekker  2
 3
 4 | 'The food was very good, I really enjoyed the food' | 
| Het eten was heerlijk  | 'The food was delicious, I really enjoyed the food' | 
| food superlatives: erg lekker  2 | 'very good' | 
| heerlijk  2
 3 | 'delicious' | 
| verrukkelijk  2
  3 
 / verrukkelijke  2 | delightful, divine | 
| zalig  2 | 'heavenly' | 
| (de) godenspijs  | 'the food of the gods, ambrosia' | 
| ambrozijn  2 | 'the food of the gods, ambrosia' | 
| nectar  | 'the drink of the gods, nectar' | 
| 't eten - 't was lekker  | 'the food - it was good, we enjoyed it' | 
| 't eten - 't was koud   | 'the food - it was cold' | 
| verpieterd   | food that's been kept warm too long and lost taste | 
| smullen  2
  / lekker  smullen  2 | 'to eat with great enjoyment' | 
| Vers brood is altijd lekker  2 | Fresh bread is always [tasty] good | 
| 't Smaakt naar nootjes  2 | 'It tastes like nuts, it has a nutty taste' | 
| 't Heeft iets van chocola  2
  3 | ['It has something of chocolate'] 'There's a hint of chocolate' | 
| 't Ruikt naar bloemetjes   | It smells like flowers | 
| 't Ruikt zo branderig  2
 3 | There is a smell like (something) burning | 
| Wat ruik ik toch?  2
  3 | [What do I smell?] - What is that smell? (I wonder, I can't identify it) | 
| de geur van dennennaalden  | the smell of pine needles | 
| 't Ziet er vies uit  2 | 'It looks unappetizing' | 
| jasses!  2
 3 
 / jakkes!  / bah!   | yuck! (said when something tastes really bad) | 
| Hollandse kost   | Basic Dutch food, the simple Dutch cuisine - >> | 
| Ik heb net een sinaasappel gegeten ...  2 | 'I just [ate] had an orange ...' | 
| ... en een kopje thee gedronken   | '... and [have drunk] drank a cup of tea' | 
| Ik eet elke dag een sinaasappel  2 | 'I eat an orange every day' | 
| Ik heb gisteren niet veel gegeten  2 | 'I didn't eat much yesterday' | 
| We zaten aan het ontbijt  | 'We were having breakfast, we were at breakfast' | 
| We zitten te eten  | ['We're eating'] 'We're having dinner (or lunch)' | 
| Na de lunch   | 'after lunch' - see also: before, during and after above | 
| En dan gaan we eten  2 | 'And then we'll eat' | 
| Een eenvoudige doch voedzame maaltijd  2
 3 
 4 | A simple but nutritious meal (Marten Toonder) | 
| Alsof m'n mond in brand stond  2 | 'As if my mouth was on fire, as if there was a fire in my mouth' | 
| 't Heeft een rare bijsmaak  2
  3 | There is a strange (secondary) taste to it | 
| Ik eet geen witlof meer want het is te duur  2 | 'I don't eat Belgian endives anymore because [it] they are too expensive' | 
| Vrijdags eten we vaak vis  2
  3 
  4 | On Fridays we often [eat] have fish | 
| 's Woensdags eten we vaak linzen  2
 3 | On Wednesdays we often have [eat] lentils | 
| Gisteren hebben we erwtensoep gegeten.  | Yesterday we [have eaten] had pea soup (for dinner.) | 
| Ik ga morgen bij m'n moeder eten  | 'I'll have dinner at my mother's house tomorrow' | 
| Dat hebben we een tijd niet gehad  2 | We haven't had (eaten) that for a while | 
| We eten het nooit meer  2
 3 | We never [eat] have it anymore | 
| We krijgen iemand te eten  2 | We're having a dinner (or lunch) guest | 
| But: We kregen brood te eten  2 | We were given bread to eat | 
| Ik ben met de Kerst vijf pond aangekomen  2 | 'I gained 5 pounds over the Christmas holiday' | 
| Hij drinkt snel een biertje  2 | He is quickly drinking a beer, he quickly has a beer. | 
| Bij 't ontbijt drink ik thee  2 | At breakfast I drink tea | 
| Bij de lunch drink ik melk  2
 3 | At lunch I drink milk | 
| Bij 't avondeten drink ik wijn  2 | At dinner I drink wine | 
| En toen dronken we koffie   | 'And then we had coffee' | 
| Hij vroeg om een glas water  2
 3 | He asked for a glass of water | 
| Hij dronk alleen water   | 'He only drank water' | 
| Vroeger kostte een zakje patat een kwartje  | 'In the past, a small bag of French Fries could be had for a quarter (25¢)' | 
| Ik heb een kater   | 'I have a hangover' | 
| - (de) 'kater'  2 | can als be 'a male cat' | 
 2
3
  2
3
| Waar hou(d) je van?   | What do you like? (food, drink, music, movies, TV) ->> | 
| Ik hou(d) van soep  2 | 'I like soup' (the D of 'ik houd' is rarely pronounced) ->> | 
| Hij houdt niet van spruitjes  2 | He doesn't like Brussels sprouts' | 
| Hij lust geen spruitjes  2 | 'He doesn't like Brussels sprouts' | 
| Ik hou(d) niet van vis  2 | 'I don't like fish' | 
| Hij houdt erg van soep  2 | 'He really likes soup, he likes soup a lot' | 
| Ik ben gek op drop  2
  3 | 'I really like liquorice, I'm crazy about liquorice' | 
| Ik heb zin in ijs  2
   3 | 'I feel like ice cream, I would really like some ice cream now' | 
| Heb je zin in een borrel?  | 'Would you like a glass of liquor?' | 
| Ik heb zo'n zin in een kopje thee  2
  3 | 'I really wouldn't mind a cup of tea, that's what I'd like most now' | 
| Ik heb zo'n zin in iets lekkers  2 | I have a great craving for something tasty, something really nice (usually sweet) | 
| Ik ben allergisch voor eieren  2 | 'I'm allergic to eggs' | 
| 't Bederft m'n eetlust  2 | It [ruins] spoils my appetite | 
| Ik mag geen varkensvlees eten  | 'I'm not allowed to, I can't eat pork' (religion, doctor's orders) | 
| Het eten van varkensvlees is verboden   | 'Eating pork is not allowed' | 
| ('verboden'  2 | think of: 'forbidden') | 
| Het drinken van alcohol is toegestaan   | 'Drinking alcohol is permitted' | 
| Ik eet geen paardenvlees  2
  slow | 'I don't eat horse meat, I refuse to eat horse meat' (the N of 'paardenvlees' is not pronounced) | 
| Ik eet geen rundvlees  2 | 'I don't eat beef' | 
| Ik kan geen rundvlees eten  2 | 'I may not eat beef, it's not good for me to eat beef' | 
| Ik krijg er last van  2
 3 | 'It's going to bother me, it'll give me trouble, make me sick' | 
| Ik wil geen vlees eten  2 | 'I don't want to eat meat' | 
| Ik wil liever geen vlees eten  2
  3 | 'I'd rather not eat meat, I'd prefer not to eat meat' | 
| Slakken staan me tegen  | 'I'm revolted by [the idea of eating] snails' | 
| cafeïne  2 | caffein | 
| cafeïnevrij  2
  3 | [caffein-free] decaf - it sounds a bit bookish | 
| zonder cafeïne  2 | [without caffein] decaf - this sounds more 'natural' | 
| Heeft U cafeïnevrij?  | 'Do you have decaf?' | 
| Heeft U zonder cafeïne?  | 'Do you have decaf?' | 
| Mag ik zonder cafeïne?   | 'Could I (May I?)  have decaf?' | 
| Morgen gaan we lijnen  | 'Tomorrow we'll start dieting' | 
| Ik word te dik  2
  3 | I'm getting [too] fat | 
| Elk pondje gaat door het mondje   | 'Every pound goes through the mouth' | 
| Ik ben vijf kilo afgevallen  2 | I've lost 5 kilograms (10 pounds) | 
| Gezond eten  | 'Eat wholesome food' (A New Year's resolution) ->> | 
| (niet noodzakelijkerwijs biodynamisch  2 | not necessarily organic 'health' food) | 
| biologisch   | [biological] 'organic' | 
| Drinken met mate  | 'Drink alcohol in moderation' (A New Year's resolution) | 
| Niet praten met je mond vol  2 | 'Don't speak [with] when your mouth is full' | 
| Is er wat te nassen?   | 'Is there something good to eat?' (Slang) 'nassen' - think of: to nosh | 
| " Da' lus' ik nie' "   ('Dat lust ik niet'  ) | 'I don't like that, I don't want to eat it' (Slang) | 
| vreten  2 | 'to eat like a beast' (Slang) >> | 
| zuipen  2 | 'to quickly drink much alcohol' (Slang) >> | 
| koek en zopie  2 | 'simple snacks and drinks from a hole-in-the-wall place' | 
| We gaan uit eten   | 'We're going to eat out' | 
| een duur restaurant  | 'an expensive restaurant' | 
| een sjieke (chique) tent   | 'a classy place' (slang) | 
| De koffie is klaar   | 'Coffee is ready' (a sign in a window) | 
| Heeft U een ander tafeltje?  | 'Would you have another table?' (I want to sit somewhere else) | 
| Wat zou U aanraden?  2 | 'What would you recommend?' | 
| Heeft U iets vegetarisch?  | 'Do you have something vegetarian?' | 
| een vegetarische schotel  2 | 'a vegatarian dish' | 
| een vegetarische maaltijd  | 'a vegetarian meal' | 
| Ik ben vegetariër   | 'I'm a vegetarian' | 
| Ik ben geen vegetariër  2 | 'I'm not a vegetarian' | 
| Mag ik de rekening?  2
  3 | ['May I have the bill?'] 'Check, please' - numbers | 
| in jest: Hoeveel is de schade?   | 'What's the damage?' - like, 'How far does that set me back?' | 
| (de) fooi  2 | 'tip' | 
| Laatste ronde!  2 | 'Last call!' - last ordering of drinks before closing time | 
 2
 can mean both 'to boil' (bring a liquid to its boiling point and
  keep it boiling) and 'to cook' (prepare hot food)
 2
 can mean both 'to boil' (bring a liquid to its boiling point and
  keep it boiling) and 'to cook' (prepare hot food)
| Kook de aardappels zeventien minuten   | Boil the potatoes for 17 minutes | 
| De aardappels koken  | 'The potatoes are boiling' | 
| de kokende aardappels   | the boiling potatoes | 
| kokende olie   | boiling oil (NOT: 'cooking oil') | 
| de gekookte aardappels  | 'the boiled potatoes' | 
| (het) kooknat  2
 3 | the water used to boil vegetables etc. | 
| De aardappels zijn gekookt  | 'The potatoes have been boiled' ->> | 
| Ik heb de aardappelen gekookt  2 | 'I have boiled the potatoes' | 
| aan de kook brengen   | to bring to a boil | 
| Breng 't aan de kook  2
 3 | 'Bring it to a boil' | 
| Als 't eenmaal kookt ...  2
 3 | Once it's boiling, when it's boiling ... | 
| Laat 't twintig minuten koken  2
 3 | '[Let it boil] Keep it boiling for 20 minutes' | 
| van de kook  2
 3 | ['off the boil'] - no longer boiling | 
| De soep kookte over  | 'The soup boiled over' | 
| De pap is overgekookt  | 'The porridge has boiled over' | 
| Ik ben aan 't koken   | I'm cooking, preparing hot food | 
| Hou(d) je van koken?  2 | Do you like to cook? Do you like cooking? | 
| Vind je 't leuk om te koken?  2
 3 | Do you like to cook? Do you enjoy cooking? | 
| Ik maak pap voor 't ontbijt  2 | I'm making porridge for breakfast | 
| Ik moet met 't eten aan de gang  2 | ['I have to get going with the food'] I have to start cooking | 
| Bietjes en spinazie passen goed bij elkaar   | 'Red beets and spinach go together well, are a good fit' | 
| 't Past er goed bij  2 | 'It goes together well' | 
| een goede combinatie  2 | 'A good combination' | 
| Je proeft 't niet  2
  3 | 'You don't taste it, you won't notice the taste of this ingredient or procedure' | 
| Ik ben bang dat het nog niet klaar is  | 'I'm afraid it's not ready yet' | 
| Het is bijna klaar   | It's almost ready | 
| Er zijn geen tomaten  2 | 'There are no tomatoes' | 
| Er zijn groene tomaten   | 'There are green tomatoes' ('We have green tomatoes') | 
| Morgen ga ik witlof maken  | Tomorrow I'll prepare Belgian endives. | 
| Laat 't afkoelen  2 | Let it, allow it to cool down | 
| Doe de aardappels in de pan  2
  3 | Put the potatoes in the pan | 
| Knip de peterselie met een schaar  2 | Cut the parsley [with a] using scissors | 
| Ik heb de eieren laten schrikken  | ['I startled the eggs'] - pouring cold water over just-boiled eggs for easy peeling | 
| Een ei hoort erbij   | 'An egg [belongs to it] should be part of any meal' (advertizing slogan) | 
| Ik heb de aardappelen gebakken   | 'I have [baked] fried the potatoes' | 
| Ik ben een brood aan 't bakken  2 | 'I am baking (a) bread' | 
| Ik heb brood gebakken  2
 3 | 'I baked (a) bread' | 
| 't Brood is gebakken   | 'The bread has been baked' ->> | 
| Doe het brood in de diepvries  2
 3 | Put the bread in the freezer | 
| Het brood is niet goed gerezen  2 | 'The bread did not rise well' | 
| Ik wil niks verloren laten gaan  2 | [I want nothing go to get lost] - 'I don't want anything to go to waste, I don't want to waste anything' | 
| Dat moet eerst op  2
  3 
  4 | [That should first be finished] - We should use (or eat) that first | 
| Mag ik het recept?  2
  3 | 'Can I have the recipe?' | 
| 't Is niet vies ...  2
  3 | It doesn't taste bad ... | 
| Maar 't had lekkerder kunnen zijn  2 | But it could have been better (-tasting) | 
| Maar 't is ook niet bijzonder  2 | But is isn't very special either | 
| Maar 't was ook niet geweldig  2
  3 | But is isn't great either | 
| Er is meer van te maken  2
 3 
 4 | [More can be made of it] - It could be better, you could do more with it, there is room for improvement | 
| Je kunt ook een blikje
    opentrekken  2
 3 
 4 | You could [rip open] open a can - you could use canned | 
 2
'I'm afraid the avocados are not ripe yet'
Snijd de tomaten terwijl je de champignons bakt
  2
'I'm afraid the avocados are not ripe yet'
Snijd de tomaten terwijl je de champignons bakt
  
 'Cut the tomatoes while you're
   sautéing the mushrooms'
Ik vind het heel erg
  als ik eten weg moet gooien
'Cut the tomatoes while you're
   sautéing the mushrooms'
Ik vind het heel erg
  als ik eten weg moet gooien
  
  2
  3 
  4
  I feel bad, I hate it when I have to
throw out food 
Je moet er af en toe in roeren
  2
  3 
  4
  I feel bad, I hate it when I have to
throw out food 
Je moet er af en toe in roeren
  
  2
  3 
  4
  You need to stir [in] it occasionally,
 from time to time
  2
  3 
  4
  You need to stir [in] it occasionally,
 from time to time 
 2 
 ['John Sage'] a person without initiative or
energy - old-fashioned  (salie = sage, a mild herb)
  Vis noch vlees
 2 
 ['John Sage'] a person without initiative or
energy - old-fashioned  (salie = sage, a mild herb)
  Vis noch vlees
 
 2
'neither fish nor [meat] fowl'
 - something hard to define
  Een appeltje voor de dorst
 2
'neither fish nor [meat] fowl'
 - something hard to define
  Een appeltje voor de dorst 
 
 2
['a small apple for the thirst']
- a nest egg, money put away for  bad times
 
  De dorst naar kennis
 2
['a small apple for the thirst']
- a nest egg, money put away for  bad times
 
  De dorst naar kennis
 
 "the thirst for knowledge"
  Er zit geen brood in
  "the thirst for knowledge"
  Er zit geen brood in
 
 ['there [sits] is no bread in it']
- 'You can't make a living from it, it doesn't generate much income'
   De mens kan niet alleen van brood leven
['there [sits] is no bread in it']
- 'You can't make a living from it, it doesn't generate much income'
   De mens kan niet alleen van brood leven
 
 2
'Man cannot live by bread alone'
 (there is a need for something more, i.e. spirituality)
 't Is geen vetpot
 2
'Man cannot live by bread alone'
 (there is a need for something more, i.e. spirituality)
 't Is geen vetpot
 
 ['It's not a pot of fat']
 - there is not much money to be made from it
Ik ben helemaal gaar
['It's not a pot of fat']
 - there is not much money to be made from it
Ik ben helemaal gaar
  
    ['I'm fully cooked'] -  I've had it, I'm done for, 
  I've worked on this, lived with this for too long
   Op een laag pitje
      ['I'm fully cooked'] -  I've had it, I'm done for, 
  I've worked on this, lived with this for too long
   Op een laag pitje 
 
 ['On a slow burner'] 'On the back burner' -
 something given low  priority, not pursued vigorously
 Wat de boer niet kent dat lust-ie niet
  ['On a slow burner'] 'On the back burner' -
 something given low  priority, not pursued vigorously
 Wat de boer niet kent dat lust-ie niet
 
 2
 3 
 4
  ['What the peasant doesn't know he doesn't like']
    - 'The peasant doesn't like the unfamiliar'
    - commenting on a reluctance to even taste unfamiliar food 
 Bitter in de mond maakt het hart gezond
 2
 3 
 4
  ['What the peasant doesn't know he doesn't like']
    - 'The peasant doesn't like the unfamiliar'
    - commenting on a reluctance to even taste unfamiliar food 
 Bitter in de mond maakt het hart gezond       
  
 2
   'bitter in the mouth makes the heart healthy'
  - nonsense remark about the supposed health benefits of bitter-tasting
  medicine or food
  
't Is zwaar te verteren
  2
   'bitter in the mouth makes the heart healthy'
  - nonsense remark about the supposed health benefits of bitter-tasting
  medicine or food
  
't Is zwaar te verteren 
  
 2
 3 
   [heavy] 'hard to digest' - usually said of
  unpleasant knowledge   or things you have to accept 
  Wat je ver haalt is lekker
 2
 3 
   [heavy] 'hard to digest' - usually said of
  unpleasant knowledge   or things you have to accept 
  Wat je ver haalt is lekker
 
 2
  ['What you get from far away tastes good']
    'Exotic food is always good'
 Hij lust er wel pap van
 2
  ['What you get from far away tastes good']
    'Exotic food is always good'
 Hij lust er wel pap van
   
 2
  3 
   ['~he would really like it as porridge'] A
   food or pleasant   activity he can't get enough of 
 Over smaak valt niet te twisten
  2
  3 
   ['~he would really like it as porridge'] A
   food or pleasant   activity he can't get enough of 
 Over smaak valt niet te twisten
 
 2
  '[You can't argue about taste] There's no accounting for
 taste' De gustibus non disputandum 
Honger maakt rauwe bonen zoet
 2
  '[You can't argue about taste] There's no accounting for
 taste' De gustibus non disputandum 
Honger maakt rauwe bonen zoet
 
 2
['hunger makes raw beans sweet']
 - Want changes your perception
Het oog is groter dan de maag
 2
['hunger makes raw beans sweet']
 - Want changes your perception
Het oog is groter dan de maag 
  
 2
['the eye is bigger than the stomach']
- said when you can't finish the food you put on your plate 
 Als mosterd na de maaltijd
 2
['the eye is bigger than the stomach']
- said when you can't finish the food you put on your plate 
 Als mosterd na de maaltijd
 
 2
  'Like mustard after the meal' - something that
 comes in too late and is now useless
 De hond in de pot vinden
 2
  'Like mustard after the meal' - something that
 comes in too late and is now useless
 De hond in de pot vinden
 
 ['Finding the dog in the cooking pot']
  ['Finding the dog in the cooking pot'] 2
  ['Then you'll find the dog in the cooking pot']
    - When you're very late for a meal, you may find the dog finishing 
the leftovers - general meaning: coming late you
 may be left empty-handed
 Roet in 't eten gooien
 2
  ['Then you'll find the dog in the cooking pot']
    - When you're very late for a meal, you may find the dog finishing 
the leftovers - general meaning: coming late you
 may be left empty-handed
 Roet in 't eten gooien
 
 'throwing soot [into] on the food'
 - ruining plans
De kat op het spek binden
'throwing soot [into] on the food'
 - ruining plans
De kat op het spek binden
 
 2
     ['tying the cat to the bacon'] - 
 (to the speaker) 'a dangerous policy that sets up for failure'
Water bij de wijn doen
 2
     ['tying the cat to the bacon'] - 
 (to the speaker) 'a dangerous policy that sets up for failure'
Water bij de wijn doen
 
  2
 3   
'(mixing) water into the wine'
 - going for a compromise
 2
 3   
'(mixing) water into the wine'
 - going for a compromise
 2
 
 Als een mes door de boter
 2
 
 Als een mes door de boter
 
 'Like a knife [cutting] through butter'
 - very easily
(Het is
'Like a knife [cutting] through butter'
 - very easily
(Het is
 
 )
 boter aan de galg
)
 boter aan de galg
   
 ['It's butter on the gallows'] -
   something valuable wasted, a useless effort
 Maar wij zitten met de gebakken peren
  ['It's butter on the gallows'] -
   something valuable wasted, a useless effort
 Maar wij zitten met de gebakken peren
 
 2
 3 
['But we are left with the baked pears']
 - But we are the ones that have to pick up the pieces
  Iemand een poets bakken
 2
 3 
['But we are left with the baked pears']
 - But we are the ones that have to pick up the pieces
  Iemand een poets bakken
 
 2 
 'Play a trick, a practical joke on someone'
  Waarom zijn de bananen krom?
 2 
 'Play a trick, a practical joke on someone'
  Waarom zijn de bananen krom?
    
 'Why are bananas [crooked] not straight?'
    - rhetorical 
 question, often said when there is no answer to another 'why ...?'
  't Kaf van 't koren scheiden
  'Why are bananas [crooked] not straight?'
    - rhetorical 
 question, often said when there is no answer to another 'why ...?'
  't Kaf van 't koren scheiden   
 
 ['Separating the chaff from the wheat'] -
 Separating the useful from the useless, the men from the boys,
the sheep from the goats
Een koekje van eigen deeg
  ['Separating the chaff from the wheat'] -
 Separating the useful from the useless, the men from the boys,
the sheep from the goats
Een koekje van eigen deeg
    
 2
   ['a cookie of (your) own dough'] 'a taste of your own
    medicine' 
 - you yourself getting the bad treatment you thought up for (or already
    meted out to)  others 
't Is geen zuivere koffie
  2
   ['a cookie of (your) own dough'] 'a taste of your own
    medicine' 
 - you yourself getting the bad treatment you thought up for (or already
    meted out to)  others 
't Is geen zuivere koffie
  
 2
  3 
  quick
   ['it's not pure coffee - there's something
  wrong with that coffee'] - 'there's something fishy going on'
Verandering van spijs doet eten
  2
  3 
  quick
   ['it's not pure coffee - there's something
  wrong with that coffee'] - 'there's something fishy going on'
Verandering van spijs doet eten
  
  2
  [Change of food makes people eat] - Food
 variety helps the appetite
 2
  [Change of food makes people eat] - Food
 variety helps the appetite
  is an old-fashioned word for 'food' 
   ‑>>
  More Sayings
  is an old-fashioned word for 'food' 
   ‑>>
  More Sayings
Mavis Haggar from the U.K. asked about decaf and suggested a few of
the 'Preferences' lines.
Margreet Hirs told me the meaning of the saying
 'hij lust er wel pap van'
 and gave an explanation
 for it.
More Phrases:
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