Home
Site Map
Mobile
Learning Dutch?
There's Never Been
A Better Time
Pronunciation
Listening
Hear Names
Words
Phrases
Grammar
Search my site: Facebook

Dutch Conversations: Eating and Drinking, Food Phrases

The Most Basic Phrases - Conversations Template - Talking about the Weather - Talking about Travel - Sleep - Sayings and Expressions

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
'Units'
Phrases, Conversations, Talking about Food
Food Sayings

Food Vocabulary

de / het / 't click to hear
de click to hear het click to hear 't click to hear
(the)
een, 'n click to hear (a)
één click to hear (one)
>> >>
From the Basic Dutch pages:
(het) eten click to hear food
(het) drinken click to hear drink >>
(de) maaltijd click to hear meal >>
(het) water click to hear water
(de) suiker click to hear sugar
(het) zout click to hear salt
(het) vlees click to hear meat
(de) vis click to hear fish
(de) melk click to hear milk >>
(de) boter click to hear butter
(de) kaas click to hear cheese >>
(de) eieren click to hear eggs
(de) rijst click to hear rice
(de) aardappels click to hear potatoes
(het) brood click to hear bread >>
(het) graan click to hear cereal, grain
(de) groente click to hear vegetables >>
(het) fruit click to hear fruits >>
(de) appel click to hear apple
(de) sinaasappel click to hear orange
(de) noten click to hear nuts
(de) bessen click to hear berries
(de) jam (E) click to hear jelly, jam
(de) taart click to hear cake
(de) soep click to hear soup
(de) wijn click to hear wine
(het) snoep click to hear candy
(het) vergif click to hear poison
[cauliflower]
vegetables
[grapes]
fruits
[plate of food]
dinners
[loaf of bread]
breakfast, lunch,
drinks and snacks
some
overlap
with:
[plate of food]
meals
- 2 3
[grapes]
food
- 2 3 4 5
and
see
also:
[pan]
kitchen
- 2 3 4 5 6
Bread - Milk and Cheese - Spices - Nutritional Values - Recipes - Malay words in Dutch - my first food page

(het) eten click to hear is the common Dutch word for 'food' - (het) voedsel click to hear ('food') is a bit bookish - (de) eetlust click to hear 2 'appetite'
gezonde voeding click to hear 2 healthy food, wholesome nutrition
(de) honger click to hear 'hunger' - hongerig click to hear 2 'hungry' - honger stillen click to hear 2 3 'to satisfy, alleviate hunger'
(het) drinken click to hear ('drink,' things to drink) - Dutch (de) drank click to hear usually means 'liquor'
(de) dorst click to hear 2 3 'thirst' - dorstig click to hear 2 'thirsty' - dorst lessen click to hear 2 'to slake, quench thirst'
(het) ontbijt click to hear 'breakfast' - (de) lunch click to hear 2 'lunch' - (het) avondeten click to hear 2 'dinner' - warm eten click to hear 2 'hot food'
Most people use the English word for 'lunch' - if it's a hot meal, you could say (het) middageten click to hear ('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 click to hear 2 3 ('something with your coffee') /or/ iets bij de thee click to hear 2 3 ('something with your tea') - een koekje bij de thee click to hear ('a cookie with your tea')

(de) smaak click to hear 2 taste ‑>> - (de) nasmaak click to hear aftertaste
(de) bijsmaak click to hear 2 3 'side' taste, "secondary taste," 'hint of'
zoet click to hear (zoet/zoete click to hear 2) sweet ‑>>
zout click to hear 2 3 (zout/zoute click to hear 2) salt, salty ‑>>
zuur click to hear 2 (zuur/zure click to hear 2) acid, sour ‑>>
bitter click to hear (bitter/bittere click to hear 2 bittere click to hear) 2 3 bitter ‑>>
hartig click to hear (hartige click to hear 2) savory, not sweet, 'salty' - a good Dutch word for the fifth basic taste 'umami'?
pittig click to hear 2 (3) 'full-flavored, strong-tasting'
'Spicy, hot' is scherp click to hear 2 3 4 5 (scherpe click to hear 2) which can also mean 'sharp' like a knife - vlijmscherp click to hear ('very sharp' - knives)
to avoid confusion, some Dutch people use the Malay word pedis click to hear for 'hot, spicy'
machtig click to hear 2 ['powerful'] - 'filling, heavy'
flauw click to hear 'weak of taste, missing something' (not enough salt?)
(de) geur click to hear 2 3 smell, odor
ruiken click to hear to smell (notice a smell)
ruiken naar click to hear 2 3 to smell of, to smell like
See also: Herbs and Spices and more 'Taste'

The Verbs

'Eten' click to hear 'to eat' and 'drinken' click to hear '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.
Also note that 'eten' inserts a G in the past participle
eten
to eat
at
ate
gegeten
eaten
click to hear
drinken
to drink
dronk
drank
gedronken
drunk
click to hear

simple present tense
eten to eat
ik eet I eat
jij eet you eat (singular, informal you)
hij eet he eats
wij eten we eat
jullie eten you eat (plural, informal you)
zij eten they eat
U eet you eat (polite you)
click to hear
simple past tense
(eten) to eat
ik at I ate
jij at you ate
hij at he ate
wij aten we ate
jullie aten y'all ate
zij aten they ate
U at you ate
click to hear
ik heb gegeten click to hear I have eaten

simple present tense
drinken to drink
ik drink I drink
jij drinkt you drink
hij drinkt he drinks
wij drinken we drink
jullie drinken you drink
zij drinken they drink
U drinkt you drink
click to hear
simple past tense
(drinken) to drink
ik dronk I drank
jij dronk you drank
hij dronk he drank
wij dronken we drank
jullie dronken y'all drank
zij dronken they drank
U dronk you drank
click to hear
ik heb gedronken click to hear I have drunk
'Drunk' - stupified by drinking too much alcohol is dronken click to hear
Er loopt een dronken man te schreeuwen click to hear 2 There's a drunk guy shouting

eten met mes en vork click to hear 2
met mes en vork eten click to hear 2 eating with, using knife and fork eten met vrienden click to hear
met vrienden eten click to hear eating with, in the company of friends eten van een bord click to hear 2
van een bord eten click to hear 2 3 eating from a plate Hij dronk uit de fles click to hear 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
click to hear 2

ik ben aan 't koken click to hear I'm cooking, preparing hot food Ik heb de aardappelen gekookt click to hear 2 'I have boiled the potatoes' Vind je 't leuk om te koken? click to hear 2 3 Do you like to cook? Do you enjoy cooking? (een) gekookt ei click to hear 'boiled egg' Ik heb de aardappelen gekookt click to hear 2 'I have boiled the potatoes' de gekookte aardappels click to hear 'the boiled potatoes' more 'koken'  below
bereiden click to hear 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
click to hear 2

ik ben een brood aan 't bakken click to hear 2 I'm baking [a] bread ik heb de aardappelen gebakken click to hear 'I have [baked] fried the potatoes' (het) gebakken ei click to hear 'fried egg' gebakken champignons click to hear 2 3 sautéed mushrooms kort gebakken click to hear 2 baked, fried, sautéed shortly, '~rare' - More about Verbs - Easy Verbs

[Marco with a cap
         saying 'Captain Cook']
(de) kok click to hear (cook)

'Units'

(The official word is 'partitives' or 'partitive phrases.' My dictionary translates that as 'deelaanduidend woord.' click to hear 2 3)
See also: the 'Units' page
een krop sla click to hear a head of lettuce
een stronkje witlof click to hear a head of Belgian endive
een stronk andijvie click to hear a head of endive
een teentje knoflook click to hear 2 a clove of garlic
een tros druiven click to hear 2 3 a bunch of grapes
een handvol rozijnen click to hear a handful of raisins
een snufje zout click to hear a dash of salt
een korreltje zout click to hear a grain of salt
een mespuntje
cayennepeper click to hear

a ['knifetip'] pinch
of red hot pepper
een klontje boter click to hear a knob of butter
een pakje boter click to hear 2 a packet of butter
een bal gehakt click to hear a meatball [ground meat
ball] - also: 'a jerk'
een moot vis click to hear a piece of fish, a fish steak
een ons ham click to hear 2 3 100 grams of ham
(about 3 ounces)
een pond kaas click to hear 2 500 grams of cheese
(about a pound)
een plakje kaas click to hear a slice of cheese
een stuk kaas click to hear 2 a piece of cheese
een graankorrel click to hear a grain of cereal
een sneetje brood click to hear
sneetjes brood click to hear 2
a slice of bread
slices of bread
een gesneden brood click to hear a sliced loaf of bread
een boterham met kaas click to hear 2

boterhammen met kaas click to hear 2
a slice of bread with cheese
(open-faced sandwich?) ->>
slices of bread with cheese
een broodje kaas click to hear (2) a cheese sandwich
een klontje suiker click to hear 2 a sugarcube
suikerklontje click to hear
suikerklontjes click to hear 2
sugarcube
sugarcubes
een schepje suiker click to hear a spoonful of sugar
een potje honing click to hear 2 a (small) jar of honey
een reep chocola click to hear 2 a bar of chocolate
een plakje cake click to hear 2 3
plakjes cake click to hear 2
a slice of banana bread
slices of banana bread
een plakje ontbijtkoek click to hear a slice of spice cake
een kommetje pap click to hear 2 (3) a small bowl (cup) of porridge
een zakje patat click to hear
een zak patat click to hear
a small bag of French fries
a bag of French fries
- also: 'a jerk'
een kopje soep click to hear 2 a cup of soup
een kop soep click to hear 2 a 'cup' of soup >>
een kom soep click to hear a bowl of soup
een bord soep click to hear a plate of soup
een kopje thee click to hear a cup of tea
een kopje koffie click to hear a cup of coffee
'n bakkie troost click to hear 2 a cup of coffee (slang)
een scheutje melk click to hear a splash of milk
een wolkje melk click to hear a [small cloud] dash of milk
een glas melk click to hear a glass of milk
een pak melk click to hear 2 3 4 a carton of milk
een glas sinaasappelsap click to hear 2 a glass of orange juice
een flesje water click to hear a small bottle of water
een slokje water click to hear a sip of water
een slok bier click to hear a gulp of beer
een glas bier click to hear a glass of beer
een krat bier click to hear a case of beer
een fles wijn click to hear a bottle of wine
een borrel click to hear a glass of liquor
een glaasje likeur click to hear 2 a glass of sweet liquor
voor 't eten click to hear 2
['before eating']
- 'before lunch/dinner'
onder 't eten click to hear 2
'while we were eating'
- 'during lunch/dinner'
na 't eten click to hear 2
'after we had eaten'
- 'after lunch/dinner'
These phrases can also be found in instructions for when to take medication: before a meal / with food / after a meal Op de nuchtere maag click to hear 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

Inviting Etc.

Heb je honger? click to
 hear ['Have you hunger?'] - 'Are you hungry?'
Ik heb honger click to
 hear 'I am hungry'
Ik heb geen honger click to hear 2 3 4 'I'm not hungry'
Ik kom om van de honger click to hear 2 3 ['I'm dying of hunger, I'm starving'] - 'I'm famished, I'm very hungry' (jocular)
Ik sterf van de honger click to hear 2 3 ['I'm dying of hunger, I'm starving'] - 'I'm famished, I'm very hungry' (jocular)
Ik heb dorst click to hear 'I am thirsty'
We gaan zo eten click to hear 2 3 'We'll eat soon, in a few minutes'
Eten over een paar minuten click to hear 2 Food (dinner, lunch) will be ready in a few minutes (preliminary call)
Kom je eten? click to hear 2 3 'Are you coming, food is ready'
Aan tafel! click to hear 2 'Come to the table, food is ready' (it always sounds a bit impatient to me)
Eet smakelijk! click to hear 'Bon appetit! Enjoy your meal!'
Proost! click to hear 2 'Cheers!'
Wil je wat eten? click to hear 'Would you like something to eat?'
Wil je wat drinken? click to hear 2 'Would you like something to drink?'
Wat wil je drinken? click to hear 2 'What would you like to drink?'
Een kopje thee alstublieft click to hear 'A cup of tea, please' (polite)
Een kopje koffie graag click to hear 'A cup of coffee, please' (informal)
koffie met melk en suiker click to hear 'coffee with [milk] cream and sugar'
Mag ik een glas water? click to hear 2 '[May I] Can I have a glass of water, please?'
Mag ik wat water? click to hear Could I have some water, please?
Mag ik een beetje kaas? click to hear 2 'Could I have [a little] some cheese, please?'
Heb je wat brood? click to hear 'Would you have some bread?'
Mag ik de boter? click to hear 2 3 Could I have the butter? Please pass the butter
Wil je een kopje thee? click to hear 2 Would you like a cup of tea?
Zal ik je een kopje thee inschenken? click to hear Shall I pour you a cup of tea?
Nee, dank U click to hear 2 No, thank you (polite)
Nee, dank je click to hear 2 No, thank you (informal)
Ja, alstublieft click to hear 2 Yes, please (polite)
Ja, alsjeblieft click to hear 2 3 Yes, please (informal)
Ja, graag click to hear 2 Yes, please (informal) - I'd like that
Alstublieft click to hear /and/ alsjeblieft click to hear 2 are also used when handing someone something, like 'here you are'
Dank U wel click to hear thank you (polite)
Dank je wel click to hear thank you (informal)
Bedankt click to hear thanks, thank you (informal)
Wil je koffie of thee of iets fris? click to hear 2 3 Would you like coffee or tea or [something 'fresh'] - juice or soda?
Wil je koffie of thee of iets anders? click to hear 2
Would you like coffee or tea or something else?
Wil je koffie of thee? click to hear 2 3 Would you like coffee or tea?
't Is allebei goed click to hear 2 3 [It is ...] Both are good, OK with me
Wat 't makkelijkst voor je is click to hear 2 What is most easy for you
Drink je alcohol? click to hear 2 3 Do you drink alcohol?
Ik ben blij met een kopje thee click to hear [I am happy] I will be happy with a cup of tea
Wil je kaas of ham op je brood? click to hear 'Would you like cheese or ham on your bread?'
Wil je iets toe? click to hear 2 3 Would you like dessert?
Het smaakt naar meer click to hear 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? click to hear 2 3 Would you like to stay for [food - usually:] dinner
Er is genoeg eten click to hear 2 3 'There is enough food'
Je kunt wel blijven eten click to hear 2 3 'You may stay [to eat] for dinner (or lunch)'
Je hoeft niet weg te gaan click to hear 2 3 'You don't have to leave'
Drink eerst even rustig een kopje thee click to hear 2 'First, relax and have a cup of tea'
Kom je thee drinken? click to hear 2 ~Come have some tea
Kom je een kopje thee drinken? click to hear 2 ~Come have a cup of tea
te eten uitnodigen click to hear 2 ['for eating, to invite'] 'to invite, ask for dinner'
te eten vragen click to hear ['for eating, to ask'] 'to invite, ask for dinner'
Kom je een keer bij ons eten? click to hear 2 3 'Would you like to come for dinner at our house sometime?' (singular 'you')
Komen jullie ... click to hear 2 3 (plural 'you')
Wil je een keer bij mij komen eten? click to hear 2 3 'Would you like to come for dinner at my house sometime?' (singular 'you')
Willen jullie ... click to hear 2 3 (plural 'you')
Zullen we ergens gaan eten? click to hear 2 'Shall we go eat somewhere?' (i.e. in a restaurant)
Een goede bekomst! click to hear 2 3 (old-fashioned, said after a meal, 'hoping for a good digestion')

More Questions

Heb je al gegeten? click to hear 2 Have you eaten already? Did you already have dinner?
Heb je nog niet gegeten? click to hear 2 Have you not eaten yet? Did you not have dinner (or lunch) yet?
Ik heb geen ontbijt gehad click to hear 2 'I didn't have breakfast'
Moet je nog eten? click to hear 2 Do you still have to eat? Have you not eaten yet?
Is er wat te eten? click to hear 2 3 slow 'Is there something to eat?'
Wanneer heb je gegeten? click to hear 2 When (what time) have you eaten?
Wanneer heb je voor 't laatst gegeten? click to hear 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? click to hear 2 'What have you eaten, what did you have?'
Waar heb je gegeten? click to hear 2 'Where have you eaten?'
Ik heb thuis gegeten click to hear 'I have eaten at home'
(te click to hear 'at' + huis click to hear 2 'house')
Met wie heb je gegeten? click to hear 2 'With whom did you eat?'
Heb je goed gegeten? click to hear 2 'Have you eaten [good] well?'
Was 't lekker? click to hear 2 'Was it good, did you enjoy it?' (think of: 'to like') ->>
Heb je lekker gegeten? click to hear 2 'Was the food to your liking, did you enjoy your meal?'
Heb je genoeg gegeten? click to hear Have you eaten enough?
Heb je te veel gegeten? click to hear 2 '[Have you eaten] Did you eat too much?'
Ik heb te veel gegeten click to hear 'I have eaten too much'
Ik voel me zo vol click to hear 2 'I feel so full' (I have eaten too much)
Heb je genoeg gedronken? click to hear 'Did you drink enough?'
Als je vis eet, moet je ook wat drinken click to hear 2 3 4 'When you're having fish, you should also drink something'
Vis moet zwemmen click to hear 2 3 4 'Fish has to swim, fish gotta swim' - drink well when you're eating fish
Je moet wat drinken click to hear 2 3 'You should drink something'
Heb je genoeg water? click to hear 2 Do you have enough water?
met kleine slokjes drinken click to hear 2 '[drink with] take small sips'
Zijn de appels groen? click to hear 2 'Are the apples green?'
Zijn de bananen nog groen? click to hear 'Are the bananas still green?'
Zijn de bananen al geel? click to hear 2 'Are the bananas already yellow?'
Zijn de perziken al rijp? click to hear 2 'Are the peaches ripe already?'
Is 't nog goed? click to hear 2 3 'Is it still good?' - i.e. not spoiled, still good and safe to eat
tenminste houdbaar tot ... click to hear 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? click to hear 2 Is there still enough bread?
Heeft U bananen? - Nee click to hear 'Do you have bananas? - No' (polite 'you')
Er zijn geen bananen click to hear 'There are no bananas'
Heeft U sinaasappels? - Ja click to hear 'Do you have oranges? - Yes' (polite 'you')
Er zijn wel sinaasappels click to hear 'We do have oranges'
Hoe is de koffie op je werk? click to hear 'How is the coffee at work?'
Heb je je koffie op? click to hear 2 3 'Did you finish your coffee?'
Drink je thee click to hear 2 3 'Drink your tea'
Laat je thee niet koud worden click to hear 2 3 'Don't let your tea get cold'
M'n thee is koud geworden click to hear 2 My tea has gone cold
Onderweg drinken we een kopje koffie click to hear 2 'We'll have a cup of coffee on the way, on the road'

Comments

Het eten was erg lekker click to hear 2 3 4 'The food was very good, I really enjoyed the food'
Het eten was heerlijk click to
  hear 'The food was delicious, I really enjoyed the food'
food superlatives: erg lekker click to hear 2 'very good'
heerlijk click to hear 2 3 'delicious'
verrukkelijk click to hear 2 3 / verrukkelijke click to hear 2 delightful, divine
zalig click to hear 2 'heavenly'
(de) godenspijs click to hear 'the food of the gods, ambrosia'
ambrozijn click to hear 2 'the food of the gods, ambrosia'
nectar click to hear 'the drink of the gods, nectar'
't eten - 't was lekker click to hear 'the food - it was good, we enjoyed it'
't eten - 't was koud click to hear 'the food - it was cold'
verpieterd click to hear food that's been kept warm too long and lost taste
smullen click to hear 2 / lekker smullen click to hear 2 'to eat with great enjoyment'
Vers brood is altijd lekker click to hear 2 Fresh bread is always [tasty] good
't Smaakt naar nootjes click to hear 2 'It tastes like nuts, it has a nutty taste'
't Heeft iets van chocola click to hear 2 3 ['It has something of chocolate'] 'There's a hint of chocolate'
't Ruikt naar bloemetjes click to hear It smells like flowers
't Ruikt zo branderig click to hear 2 3 There is a smell like (something) burning
Wat ruik ik toch? click to hear 2 3 [What do I smell?] - What is that smell? (I wonder, I can't identify it)
de geur van dennennaalden click to hear the smell of pine needles
't Ziet er vies uit click to hear 2 'It looks unappetizing'
jasses! click to hear 2 3 / jakkes! click to hear / bah! click to hear yuck! (said when something tastes really bad)

Narrative

Hollandse kost click to hear Basic Dutch food, the simple Dutch cuisine - >>
Ik heb net een sinaasappel gegeten ... click to hear 2 'I just [ate] had an orange ...'
... en een kopje thee gedronken click to hear '... and [have drunk] drank a cup of tea'
Ik eet elke dag een sinaasappel click to hear 2 'I eat an orange every day'
Ik heb gisteren niet veel gegeten click to hear 2 'I didn't eat much yesterday'
We zaten aan het ontbijt click to hear 'We were having breakfast, we were at breakfast'
We zitten te eten click to hear ['We're eating'] 'We're having dinner (or lunch)'
Na de lunch click to hear 'after lunch' - see also: before, during and after above
En dan gaan we eten click to hear 2 'And then we'll eat'
Een eenvoudige doch voedzame maaltijd click to hear 2 3 4 A simple but nutritious meal (Marten Toonder)
Alsof m'n mond in brand stond click to hear 2 'As if my mouth was on fire, as if there was a fire in my mouth'
't Heeft een rare bijsmaak click to hear 2 3 There is a strange (secondary) taste to it
Ik eet geen witlof meer want het is te duur click to hear 2 'I don't eat Belgian endives anymore because [it] they are too expensive'
Vrijdags eten we vaak vis click to hear 2 3 4 On Fridays we often [eat] have fish
's Woensdags eten we vaak linzen click to hear 2 3 On Wednesdays we often have [eat] lentils
Gisteren hebben we erwtensoep gegeten. click to hear Yesterday we [have eaten] had pea soup (for dinner.)
Ik ga morgen bij m'n moeder eten click to hear 'I'll have dinner at my mother's house tomorrow'
Dat hebben we een tijd niet gehad click to hear 2 We haven't had (eaten) that for a while
We eten het nooit meer click to hear 2 3 We never [eat] have it anymore
We krijgen iemand te eten click to hear 2 We're having a dinner (or lunch) guest
But: We kregen brood te eten click to hear 2 We were given bread to eat
Ik ben met de Kerst vijf pond aangekomen click to hear 2 'I gained 5 pounds over the Christmas holiday'
Hij drinkt snel een biertje click to hear 2 He is quickly drinking a beer, he quickly has a beer.
Bij 't ontbijt drink ik thee click to hear 2 At breakfast I drink tea
Bij de lunch drink ik melk click to hear 2 3 At lunch I drink milk
Bij 't avondeten drink ik wijn click to hear 2 At dinner I drink wine
En toen dronken we koffie click to hear 'And then we had coffee'
Hij vroeg om een glas water click to hear 2 3 He asked for a glass of water
Hij dronk alleen water click to hear 'He only drank water'
Vroeger kostte een zakje patat een kwartje click to hear 'In the past, a small bag of French Fries could be had for a quarter (25¢)'
Ik heb een kater click to hear 'I have a hangover'
- (de) 'kater' click to hear 2 can als be 'a male cat'
De vader voerde het kind langzaam een bord pap click to hear 2 3
'The dad slowly fed the child a [plate] bowl of porridge'

Preferences

Waar hou(d) je van? click to hear What do you like? (food, drink, music, movies, TV) ->>
Ik hou(d) van soep click to hear 2 'I like soup' (the D of 'ik houd' is rarely pronounced) ->>
Hij houdt niet van spruitjes click to hear 2 He doesn't like Brussels sprouts'
Hij lust geen spruitjes click to hear 2 'He doesn't like Brussels sprouts'
Ik hou(d) niet van vis click to hear 2 'I don't like fish'
Hij houdt erg van soep click to hear 2 'He really likes soup, he likes soup a lot'
Ik ben gek op drop click to hear 2 3 'I really like liquorice, I'm crazy about liquorice'
Ik heb zin in ijs click to hear 2 3 'I feel like ice cream, I would really like some ice cream now'
Heb je zin in een borrel? click to hear 'Would you like a glass of liquor?'
Ik heb zo'n zin in een kopje thee click to hear 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 click to hear 2 I have a great craving for something tasty, something really nice (usually sweet)
Ik ben allergisch voor eieren click to hear 2 'I'm allergic to eggs'
't Bederft m'n eetlust click to hear 2 It [ruins] spoils my appetite
Ik mag geen varkensvlees eten click to hear 'I'm not allowed to, I can't eat pork' (religion, doctor's orders)
Het eten van varkensvlees is verboden click to hear 'Eating pork is not allowed'
('verboden' click to hear 2 think of: 'forbidden')
Het drinken van alcohol is toegestaan click to hear 'Drinking alcohol is permitted'
Ik eet geen paardenvlees click to hear 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 click to hear 2 'I don't eat beef'
Ik kan geen rundvlees eten click to hear 2 'I may not eat beef, it's not good for me to eat beef'
Ik krijg er last van click to hear 2 3 'It's going to bother me, it'll give me trouble, make me sick'
Ik wil geen vlees eten click to hear 2 'I don't want to eat meat'
Ik wil liever geen vlees eten click to hear 2 3 'I'd rather not eat meat, I'd prefer not to eat meat'
Slakken staan me tegen click to hear 'I'm revolted by [the idea of eating] snails'
cafeïne click to hear 2 caffein
cafeïnevrij click to hear 2 3 [caffein-free] decaf - it sounds a bit bookish
zonder cafeïne click to hear 2 [without caffein] decaf - this sounds more 'natural'
Heeft U cafeïnevrij? click to hear 'Do you have decaf?'
Heeft U zonder cafeïne? click to hear 'Do you have decaf?'
Mag ik zonder cafeïne? click to hear
'Could I (May I?) have decaf?'

Various: Dieting, Resolutions, Etiquette, Slang

Morgen gaan we lijnen click to hear 'Tomorrow we'll start dieting'
Ik word te dik click to hear 2 3 I'm getting [too] fat
Elk pondje gaat door het mondje click to hear 'Every pound goes through the mouth'
Ik ben vijf kilo afgevallen click to hear 2 I've lost 5 kilograms (10 pounds)
Gezond eten click to hear 'Eat wholesome food' (A New Year's resolution) ->>
(niet noodzakelijkerwijs biodynamisch click to hear 2 not necessarily organic 'health' food)
biologisch click to hear [biological] 'organic'
Drinken met mate click to hear 'Drink alcohol in moderation' (A New Year's resolution)
Niet praten met je mond vol click to hear 2 'Don't speak [with] when your mouth is full'
Is er wat te nassen? click to hear 'Is there something good to eat?' (Slang)
'nassen' - think of: to nosh
" Da' lus' ik nie' " click to hear
('Dat lust ik niet' click to hear)
'I don't like that, I don't want to eat it' (Slang)
vreten click to hear 2 'to eat like a beast' (Slang) >>
zuipen click to hear 2 'to quickly drink much alcohol' (Slang) >>
koek en zopie click to hear 2 'simple snacks and drinks from a hole-in-the-wall place'

In A Restaurant

We gaan uit eten click to hear 'We're going to eat out'
een duur restaurant click to hear 'an expensive restaurant'
een sjieke (chique) tent click to hear 'a classy place' (slang)
De koffie is klaar click to hear 'Coffee is ready' (a sign in a window)
Heeft U een ander tafeltje? click to hear 'Would you have another table?' (I want to sit somewhere else)
Wat zou U aanraden? click to hear 2 'What would you recommend?'
Heeft U iets vegetarisch? click to
       hear 'Do you have something vegetarian?'
een vegetarische schotel click to hear 2 'a vegatarian dish'
een vegetarische maaltijd click to hear 'a vegetarian meal'
Ik ben vegetariër click to hear 'I'm a vegetarian'
Ik ben geen vegetariër click to hear 2 'I'm not a vegetarian'
Mag ik de rekening? click to hear 2 3 ['May I have the bill?'] 'Check, please' - numbers
in jest: Hoeveel is de schade? click to hear 'What's the damage?' - like, 'How far does that set me back?'
(de) fooi click to hear 2 'tip'
Laatste ronde! click to hear 2 'Last call!' - last ordering of drinks before closing time

In The Kitchen, Cooks Talking

Dutch 'Koken' click to hear 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 click to hear Boil the potatoes for 17 minutes
De aardappels koken click to hear 'The potatoes are boiling'
de kokende aardappels click to hear the boiling potatoes
kokende olie click to hear boiling oil (NOT: 'cooking oil')
de gekookte aardappels click to hear 'the boiled potatoes'
(het) kooknat click to hear 2 3 the water used to boil vegetables etc.
De aardappels zijn gekookt geworden click to hear 'The potatoes have been boiled' ->>
Ik heb de aardappelen gekookt click to hear 2 'I have boiled the potatoes'
aan de kook brengen click to hear to bring to a boil
Breng 't aan de kook click to hear 2 3 'Bring it to a boil'
Als 't eenmaal kookt ... click to hear 2 3 Once it's boiling, when it's boiling ...
Laat 't twintig minuten koken click to hear 2 3 '[Let it boil] Keep it boiling for 20 minutes'
van de kook click to hear 2 3 ['off the boil'] - no longer boiling
De soep kookte over click to hear 'The soup boiled over'
De pap is overgekookt click to hear 'The porridge has boiled over'
Ik ben aan 't koken click to hear I'm cooking, preparing hot food
Hou(d) je van koken? click to hear 2 Do you like to cook? Do you like cooking?
Vind je 't leuk om te koken? click to hear 2 3 Do you like to cook? Do you enjoy cooking?
Ik maak pap voor 't ontbijt click to hear 2 I'm making porridge for breakfast
Ik moet met 't eten aan de gang click to hear 2 ['I have to get going with the food'] I have to start cooking
Bietjes en spinazie passen goed bij elkaar click to hear 'Red beets and spinach go together well, are a good fit'
't Past er goed bij click to hear 2 'It goes together well'
een goede combinatie click to hear 2 'A good combination'
Je proeft 't niet click to hear 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 click to hear 'I'm afraid it's not ready yet'
Het is bijna klaar click to hear It's almost ready
Er zijn geen tomaten click to hear 2 'There are no tomatoes'
Er zijn groene tomaten click to hear 'There are green tomatoes' ('We have green tomatoes')
Morgen ga ik witlof maken click to hear Tomorrow I'll prepare Belgian endives.
Laat 't afkoelen click to hear 2 Let it, allow it to cool down
Doe de aardappels in de pan click to hear 2 3 Put the potatoes in the pan
Knip de peterselie met een schaar click to hear 2 Cut the parsley [with a] using scissors
Ik heb de eieren laten schrikken click to hear ['I startled the eggs'] - pouring cold water over just-boiled eggs for easy peeling
Een ei hoort erbij click to hear 'An egg [belongs to it] should be part of any meal' (advertizing slogan)
Ik heb de aardappelen gebakken click to hear 'I have [baked] fried the potatoes'
Ik ben een brood aan 't bakken click to hear 2 'I am baking (a) bread'
Ik heb brood gebakken click to hear 2 3 'I baked (a) bread'
't Brood is gebakken click to hear 'The bread has been baked' ->>
Doe het brood in de diepvries click to hear 2 3 Put the bread in the freezer
Het brood is niet goed gerezen click to hear 2 'The bread did not rise well'
Ik wil niks verloren laten gaan click to hear 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 click to hear 2 3 4 [That should first be finished] - We should use (or eat) that first
Mag ik het recept? click to hear 2 3 'Can I have the recipe?'
't Is niet vies ... click to hear 2 3 It doesn't taste bad ...
Maar 't had lekkerder kunnen zijn click to hear 2 But it could have been better (-tasting)
Maar 't is ook niet bijzonder click to hear 2 But is isn't very special either
Maar 't was ook niet geweldig click to hear 2 3 But is isn't great either
Er is meer van te maken click to hear 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 click to hear 2 3 4 You could [rip open] open a can - you could use canned
Ik ben bang dat de avocado's nog niet rijp zijn click to hear 2 'I'm afraid the avocados are not ripe yet' Snijd de tomaten terwijl je de champignons bakt click to hear 'Cut the tomatoes while you're sautéing the mushrooms' Ik vind het heel erg als ik eten weg moet gooien click to hear 2 3 4 I feel bad, I hate it when I have to throw out food Je moet er af en toe in roeren click to hear 2 3 4 You need to stir [in] it occasionally, from time to time

Food-Related Sayings and Expressions

Jan Salie click to hear 2 ['John Sage'] a person without initiative or energy - old-fashioned (salie = sage, a mild herb)
Vis noch vlees click to hear 2 'neither fish nor [meat] fowl' - something hard to define
Een appeltje voor de dorst click to hear 2 ['a small apple for the thirst'] a nest egg, money put away for bad times
De dorst naar kennis click to hear "the thirst for knowledge"
Er zit geen brood in click to hear ['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 click to hear 2 'Man cannot live by bread alone' (there is a need for something more, i.e. spirituality)
't Is geen vetpot click to hear ['It's not a pot of grease'] - there is not much money to be made from it
Ik ben helemaal gaar click to hear ['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 click to hear ['On a slow burner'] 'On the back burner' - something given low priority, not pursued vigorously
Wat de boer niet kent dat lust-ie niet click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear 2 3 [heavy] 'hard to digest' - usually said of unpleasant knowledge or things you have to accept
Wat je ver haalt is lekker click to hear 2 ['What you get from far away tastes good'] 'Exotic food is always good'
Hij lust er wel pap van click to hear 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 click to hear 2 '[You can't argue about taste] There's no accounting for taste' De gustibus non disputandum
Honger maakt rauwe bonen zoet click to hear 2 ['hunger makes raw beans sweet'] Want changes your perception
Het oog is groter dan de maag click to hear 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 click to hear 2 'Like mustard after the meal' - something that comes in too late and is now useless
De hond in de pot vinden click to hear ['Finding the dog in the cooking pot']
Dan vind je de hond in de pot click to hear 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 click to hear 'throwing soot [into] on the food' - ruining plans
De kat op het spek binden click to hear 2 ['tying the cat to the bacon'] - (to the speaker) 'a dangerous policy that sets up for failure'
Water bij de wijn doen click to hear 2 3 '(mixing) water into the wine' - going for a compromise
Water bij de wijn click to hear 2
Als een mes door de boter click to hear 'Like a knife [cutting] through butter' - very easily
(Het is click to hear) boter aan de galg click to hear ['It's butter on the gallows'] - something valuable wasted, a useless effort
Maar wij zitten met de gebakken peren click to hear 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 click to hear 2 'Play a trick, a practical joke on someone'
Waarom zijn de bananen krom? click to hear 'Why are bananas [crooked] not straight?' - rhetorical question, often said when there is no answer to another 'why ...?'
't Kaf van 't koren scheiden click to hear ['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 click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear 2 [Change of food makes people eat] - Food variety helps the appetite
(de) spijs click to hear 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: The Most Basic - Weather - Sleep - Various - Fun Things to Say
- Speaking Dutch, Speaking about Dutch - Jobs and Work - The Senses - Sayings and Idiom
Life - Change - Time
Further Study: Basic Dutch Words - Pictures Dictionary - Easy Dutch - Lessons - Pronunciation - Listening - Reading - Grammar

email - Copyright © Marco Schuffelen 2013. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed, or hotlinked to.
Don't be a dief (thief) / dievegge (female thief) - diefstal (theft) - stelen (to steal) - heler (dealer in stolen goods) - hear Dutch - 2