| TOP | 
| Learn Dutch
 -  Website Guide
 -  Dutch Words Verbs: Smartphone - List - Desktop - Shorts | 
|---|
You could read and listen to the examples first - 'immersion'
| Conjugation |  | Sample Sentences | 
|---|
| Related Words | 
|---|
   Vallen  
 
  'to fall' is a 
strong verb:
 'to fall' is a 
strong verb: 
  
| vallen to fall | - | viel fell | - | gevallen fallen |   | 
| overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| vallen | to fall | |
| ik val | I'm falling | |
| wij vallen | we're falling | |
| ik viel | I fell | |
| wij vielen | we fell | |
| ik ben gevallen | I have fallen | |
|   | ||
| simple past tense | ||
|---|---|---|
| (vallen) | to fall | |
| ik viel | I fell | |
| jij viel | you fell | |
| hij viel | he fell | |
| wij vielen | we fell | |
| jullie vielen | y'all fell | |
| zij vielen | they fell | |
| U viel | you fell | |
|  | ||
present perfect tense
ik ben gevallen
   
  2
 3
 4 
  I have fallen
 2
 3
 4 
  I have fallen
(notice  
  zijn
 as the  auxiliary verb of the perfect tense
  ‑>>)
 2
  I almost fell, I came close to
  falling
 Er is nauwelijks regen gevallen
 2
  I almost fell, I came close to
  falling
 Er is nauwelijks regen gevallen
   
 2
 3
There has [barely fallen]
  not been much rain 
De sneeuw die gevallen was
 2
 3
There has [barely fallen]
  not been much rain 
De sneeuw die gevallen was
  
  2
  The snow that had fallen
  2
  The snow that had fallen 
Hij viel uit een raam
  
  2
  He fell from a window 
 
Het viel uit de hemel
  2
  He fell from a window 
 
Het viel uit de hemel
  
  2
 3 
  It fell from the sky 
't Viel met bakken uit de hemel
 2
 3 
  It fell from the sky 
't Viel met bakken uit de hemel
 
  2
 3 
(saying) 
 It (rain) fell from the sky ['with' boxes]
 in buckets - heavy rain
't Valt met bakken uit de hemel
 2
 3 
(saying) 
 It (rain) fell from the sky ['with' boxes]
 in buckets - heavy rain
't Valt met bakken uit de hemel
 
  2
It (rain) is falling from the sky
 in buckets
 2
It (rain) is falling from the sky
 in buckets 
't Viel op de grond
  
  2
 3 
  It fell to the ground 
 Ze is niet op haar mondje gevallen
 2
 3 
  It fell to the ground 
 Ze is niet op haar mondje gevallen 
 2
3
(saying) 
 ['She didn't fall on her mouth'] - She
 never hesitates to speak up, she's not shy to speak her
  mind
2
3
(saying) 
 ['She didn't fall on her mouth'] - She
 never hesitates to speak up, she's not shy to speak her
  mind
 2
 He falls for blond girls 
Ze valt op blonde jongens
 2
 He falls for blond girls 
Ze valt op blonde jongens
  
  2
  She falls for blond guys
(de) blondine
 2
  She falls for blond guys
(de) blondine  
  2
  blonde, blond female
  2
  blonde, blond female 
Om elf uur viel ik in slaap
  
 2
'I went to sleep at eleven,
 I fell asleep at eleven' 
Hij viel als een blok in slaap
  2
'I went to sleep at eleven,
 I fell asleep at eleven' 
Hij viel als een blok in slaap
    
  2
  3
'He fell asleep very quickly'
 ('like a log')
  2
  3
'He fell asleep very quickly'
 ('like a log') 
More Sayings with 
 'vallen'
Met de deur in huis vallen
 
 ['storming into the house, flattening the door'] to come
 straight to the point, without delay or hesitation 
Daar kun je je geen buil aan vallen
['storming into the house, flattening the door'] to come
 straight to the point, without delay or hesitation 
Daar kun je je geen buil aan vallen
 
 
Je kunt je d'r geen buil aan vallen
    
 ['You're not going to fall and get a bump']
    'it's not a significant amount of money' - often said to people
 who are deliberating about a small expense 
 Over smaak valt niet te twisten
['You're not going to fall and get a bump']
    'it's not a significant amount of money' - often said to people
 who are deliberating about a small expense 
 Over smaak valt niet te twisten
 
 2
'[You can't argue about taste] There's no accounting for
 taste'  De gustibus non disputandum
Ben je van de trap gevallen?
 2
'[You can't argue about taste] There's no accounting for
 taste'  De gustibus non disputandum
Ben je van de trap gevallen? 
 2
 'Did you fall down the stairs?' - often
 jocularly asked of a person who has had a radically short haircut.
 Als morgen de hemel valt hebben we allemaal een blauwe
 muts
 2
 'Did you fall down the stairs?' - often
 jocularly asked of a person who has had a radically short haircut.
 Als morgen de hemel valt hebben we allemaal een blauwe
 muts
  
 2
 3
'If the sky falls tomorrow we'll all have a blue cap' - said in annoyed
  reaction to someone bringing up unpleasant scenarios ('now if the train
  is late, and if there is no coffee on the train ...')
 2
 3
'If the sky falls tomorrow we'll all have a blue cap' - said in annoyed
  reaction to someone bringing up unpleasant scenarios ('now if the train
  is late, and if there is no coffee on the train ...')
De zoutkorrels in de zandloper vallen één voor
      één heel langzaam naar beneden
 2
slow
slow2
The grains of salt in the hourglass
 fall down one by one, very slowly
  ‑>>
 2
slow
slow2
The grains of salt in the hourglass
 fall down one by one, very slowly
  ‑>> 
 
vallende sterren
  
  2
  falling stars, shooting stars, meteors 
(de) meteoor
  2
  falling stars, shooting stars, meteors 
(de) meteoor   
  2
  meteor
  2
  meteor
met vallen en opstaan
  
  2
 3 
  [with falling down and getting up (again)]
 - progress, but with many failures along the way
 2
 3 
  [with falling down and getting up (again)]
 - progress, but with many failures along the way
 
~with ups and downs 
laten vallen  
  2
  ['to let fall'] - to drop
 - more 'laten'
 2
  ['to let fall'] - to drop
 - more 'laten'
| laten vallen | to drop | |
| ik laat vallen | I drop | |
| wij laten vallen | we drop | |
| ik liet vallen | I dropped | |
| wij lieten vallen | we dropped | |
| ik heb laten vallen | I have dropped | |
|   | 
Hij laat alles vallen
  
  2
 3 
  He lets everything slip from his hands,
 he drops everything (also figuratively) 
Ik liet alles vallen
 2
 3 
  He lets everything slip from his hands,
 he drops everything (also figuratively) 
Ik liet alles vallen
  
  2
  I let everything slip from my hands,
 I dropped everything (also figuratively) 
Hij liet het masker vallen
  2
  I let everything slip from my hands,
 I dropped everything (also figuratively) 
Hij liet het masker vallen
  
  2
3 
  He dropped the mask (and showed his real -
  usually evil - self)
2
3 
  He dropped the mask (and showed his real -
  usually evil - self)  
    Meevallen
   
    2 
  'turning  out not to be as bad as expected'
   Tegenvallen
   2 
  'turning  out not to be as bad as expected'
   Tegenvallen
   
    2
   3 
   4
    'to be worse than expected, to disappoint'
   2
   3 
   4
    'to be worse than expected, to disappoint'
  
't Valt mee
     
   
(de) aanval
  
   The opposite of 'aanvallen' is
verdedigen
 
  
afvallen - to lose weight, drop weight 
 opvallen
  
  
omvallen   
  
Je moet niet in herhaling vervallen
  
  flauwvallen
 
  (de) inval 
  Hij is ziek geworden
  
  Friends Falling Out
 
 
Dutch (de) val   
  
 (het) geval   
  
(het) toeval  
  
  (de) bevalling 
  
 (de) overval
  
 
 (het) afval   
  
(het) verval   
  (het) interval   
  op de valreep 
  
  
More Good Dutch Smartphone Pages
 
email - 
Copyright © Marco Schuffelen  2019. 
 It's not as bad as expected
't Valt niet mee
 It's not as bad as expected
't Valt niet mee
  
  2
 3 
  It's not easy 
't Valt erg mee
 2
 3 
  It's not easy 
't Valt erg mee
     
   It's really not as bad as feared
 't Valt tegen
  It's really not as bad as feared
 't Valt tegen
     
   It's worse than expected,
    it's disappointing
  't Zal wel meevallen
  It's worse than expected,
    it's disappointing
  't Zal wel meevallen
     
   2
   3 
   [It will not be as bad as expected]
     It won't be very bad
't Lijkt mee te vallen
   2
   3 
   [It will not be as bad as expected]
     It won't be very bad
't Lijkt mee te vallen
  
  2
 3 
  It looks like it won't be that bad 
Misschien valt 't mee
 2
 3 
  It looks like it won't be that bad 
Misschien valt 't mee
     
   2
  3 
  4
  Maybe it won't be as bad as we feared
 Misschien valt 't wel mee
  2
  3 
  4
  Maybe it won't be as bad as we feared
 Misschien valt 't wel mee
     
   2
 3 
  Maybe it won't be as bad as we feared
   ‑>> 
Ik denk dat 't wel meevalt
  2
 3 
  Maybe it won't be as bad as we feared
   ‑>> 
Ik denk dat 't wel meevalt
  
  2
  3 
  I think it won't be that bad, I think it will
     be better than expected, I think it will
     be OK 
Als 't meevalt ...
  2
  3 
  I think it won't be that bad, I think it will
     be better than expected, I think it will
     be OK 
Als 't meevalt ...
  
  2
 3 
  If it goes well, if it's better than
     expected ... 
Als 't tegenvalt ...
 2
 3 
  If it goes well, if it's better than
     expected ... 
Als 't tegenvalt ...
  
  2
  3 
  If it doesn't go well, if it's worse than
     expected ...
  2
  3 
  If it doesn't go well, if it's worse than
     expected ... 
See also:  Splitting Verbs
een onverwachte tegenvaller
   
 2
 3 
an unexpected disappointing development
 2
 3 
an unexpected disappointing development
    2
  attack
  2
  attack 
 
aanvallen
 
  2
  to attack
 2
  to attack 
"Ik val aan - volg mij"
 'I am attacking - follow me'
'I am attacking - follow me'
  
Rear Admiral Karel Doorman
  
 at the Battle of the Java Sea, 1942
 Een aanval vanuit een land
  is een aanval door dat land
 
  at the Battle of the Java Sea, 1942
 Een aanval vanuit een land
  is een aanval door dat land
    
  An attack from a country
  is an attack by that country 
'Aanval' can also be a medical state:
 
   
An attack from a country
  is an attack by that country 
'Aanval' can also be a medical state:
  
(de) hartaanval
  
   2
heart attack
    2
heart attack 
(de) astma-aanval
  
 2 
 (3)  
 asthma attack
 
 2 
 (3)  
 asthma attack 
    
(de) woedeaanval
  
  ['anger attack'] fit of rage
  ['anger attack'] fit of rage
 'to defend' 
or zich verdedigen
 'to defend' 
or zich verdedigen 
 
 2
  3
 'to defend oneself'
  2
  3
 'to defend oneself'
  
See also: 
 Reflexive Verbs and
   Military
Ik ben vijf kilo afgevallen
  
  2
  I dropped 5 kilos (of weight) (11
pounds)
Ik wil drie kilo afvallen
 2
  I dropped 5 kilos (of weight) (11
pounds)
Ik wil drie kilo afvallen
  
  I want to shed 3 kilos 96 pounds) 
Je bent goed afgevallen
  I want to shed 3 kilos 96 pounds) 
Je bent goed afgevallen
  
  2
  You lost quite some weight 
Ik ben met de Kerst vijf pond aangekomen
  2
  You lost quite some weight 
Ik ben met de Kerst vijf pond aangekomen
  
 2
 'I've gained 5 pounds
 over the Christmas holiday'
 2
 'I've gained 5 pounds
 over the Christmas holiday'
 2
  to stand out, be conspicuous // to notice 
onopvallend
 2
  to stand out, be conspicuous // to notice 
onopvallend   
  inconspicuous, not standing out,
not very noticeable
't Viel me niet op
  inconspicuous, not standing out,
not very noticeable
't Viel me niet op
  
  2
  3 
  I didn't notice it 
't Is me niet opgevallen
  2
  3 
  I didn't notice it 
't Is me niet opgevallen
  
  2
  3 
  I didn't notice it 
't Is me nooit eerder opgevallen
  2
  3 
  I didn't notice it 
't Is me nooit eerder opgevallen
   
  2
 3 
 4
 5
I've never noticed it before 
't Valt niet op
 2
 3 
 4
 5
I've never noticed it before 
't Valt niet op
  
  2
  It doesn't stand out, you don't notice it,
 it's barely noticeable, it's not conspicuous
 2
  It doesn't stand out, you don't notice it,
 it's barely noticeable, it's not conspicuous 
 to fall over
  to fall over 
Je fiets is omgevallen 
  
  2
 3 
  Your bike has fallen over
 2
 3 
  Your bike has fallen over 
 2
 3 
  [Don't fall into repetitions] - Don't repeat
 yourself
 2
 3 
  [Don't fall into repetitions] - Don't repeat
 yourself  
 2
  to faint
  2
  to faint
'flauw' 
  (flauwe
(flauwe 
  2) usually
 means 'weak of taste' (not enough salt?) or it's said about
 somewhat mean jokes
 falling flat or something unfair, but it occasionally means 'weak, infirm'
 2) usually
 means 'weak of taste' (not enough salt?) or it's said about
 somewhat mean jokes
 falling flat or something unfair, but it occasionally means 'weak, infirm'
"Je moet niet flauw worden" 
  
  2
 3 
  [You shouldn't become faint]
- I don't want you to start feeling faint
 (offering food to a person who may need energy)
 2
 3 
  [You shouldn't become faint]
- I don't want you to start feeling faint
 (offering food to a person who may need energy) 
 2
  '(violent) incursion' (like by military or police)
 2
  '(violent) incursion' (like by military or police)
The word used to have a more general meaning of 'going into,' like
 in the name of a fictional café or it's said when you get a lot of
 unexpected visitors:
 de zoete inval 
  
  2
  (a pleasant place to go to)
 2
  (a pleasant place to go to)
 2
 3 
  He's [become sick] fallen ill
 2
 3 
  He's [become sick] fallen ill 
When friends fall out, no longer like each
other, don't get on anymore, Dutch says
ruzie krijgen 
  
 2 
 3  
 and then we say, the resulting situation is:
 2 
 3  
 and then we say, the resulting situation is:
Ze hebben ruzie
 
  2
 3
 2
 3 
or somewhat posh:
  Ze zijn gebrouilleerd
 
  2
 3 
(French OUI)
 2
 3 
(French OUI)
There's a Medieval word  de Minne  meaning 'love.' It
lives on in the only slightly old-fashioned
 (de) onmin 
  
 2 
 3  
('discord, strife, strained relation')
 
 2 
 3  
('discord, strife, strained relation')
 
Ze leven in onmin
  
  2
 3 
They're not on good terms,
 they live in strife
 2
 3 
They're not on good terms,
 they live in strife 
but  ruzie hebben 
  
 2 
 3  
just means people don't want to see each other, don't want to be in
each other's company - there don't have to be shouting matches or
violent arguments - actively engaging in exchanges of unpleasant
words, altercations or worse is
ruzie maken
 2 
 3  
just means people don't want to see each other, don't want to be in
each other's company - there don't have to be shouting matches or
violent arguments - actively engaging in exchanges of unpleasant
words, altercations or worse is
ruzie maken 
  
 2 
 3
 2 
 3 
(de) ruzie
 
  2
 3 
 argument, quarrel, row
 2
 3 
 argument, quarrel, row 
Ik kreeg de schuld van de ruzie
  
  [I got the blame of the quarrel]
  - I was blamed for the quarrel
[I got the blame of the quarrel]
  - I was blamed for the quarrel 
Related Words
 is 'fall' - a downward move, usually sudden
 and unwanted or unintended, but it
can also mean 'trap,' a device to catch (usually) animals
  is 'fall' - a downward move, usually sudden
 and unwanted or unintended, but it
can also mean 'trap,' a device to catch (usually) animals
(de) muizenval 
  2
  mouse trap
 2
  mouse trap 
(de) valstrik  
  2
 3 
  snare, trap - but also a psychological trap (for people)
 2
 3 
  snare, trap - but also a psychological trap (for people) 
'Fall, Autumn' is (de) herfst
 ‑>>
   2
  ‑>>
   2
 case, affair
  case, affair 
 
(het)  gevalletje 
   
  2
minor case, trivial, peculiar event, incident //
 hard-to-describe item, often a contraption 
een ernstig geval
 2
minor case, trivial, peculiar event, incident //
 hard-to-describe item, often a contraption 
een ernstig geval
  
  2
 3 
 4
a serious case
een geval apart
 2
 3 
 4
a serious case
een geval apart
  
  2
  3 
  4
  [a separate] an unusual case 
in 't uiterste geval
  2
  3 
  4
  [a separate] an unusual case 
in 't uiterste geval
  
  2
  3 
  4
  [in the extreme case] - in extreme
circumstances, 'if worst comes to worst'
in 't ergste geval ...
  2
  3 
  4
  [in the extreme case] - in extreme
circumstances, 'if worst comes to worst'
in 't ergste geval ...
  
  2
 3 
  [in the worst scenario] - the worst
outcome, 'if worst comes to worst' 
voor 't geval dat ...
 2
 3 
  [in the worst scenario] - the worst
outcome, 'if worst comes to worst' 
voor 't geval dat ...
  
  2
 3 
  in case that ... 
(het) ongeval
 2
 3 
  in case that ... 
(het) ongeval   
  2
  - a formal word for 'accident'
(het) ongeluk
  2
  - a formal word for 'accident'
(het) ongeluk   
  accident - the common word
  ‑>> 
 (het) spoedgeval
  accident - the common word
  ‑>> 
 (het) spoedgeval 
  2
 3 
  emergency, urgent case
  ‑>>
 (de) spoed
 2
 3 
  emergency, urgent case
  ‑>>
 (de) spoed  
  hurry, urgency
 ‑>>
  hurry, urgency
 ‑>> 
noodgevallen 
  2
  emergencies
 2
  emergencies
in geval van nood 
 
  2
 3 
 in case of an emergency,
 in an emergency 
 (het) voorval
 2
 3 
 in case of an emergency,
 in an emergency 
 (het) voorval  
  2
  incident, event, occurrence
  2
  incident, event, occurrence 
 chance, coincidence, random event
 ‑>> 
toevallig
  chance, coincidence, random event
 ‑>> 
toevallig 
  
  2
  random, by accident, not planned 
  
Dat kan geen toeval zijn!
 2
  random, by accident, not planned 
  
Dat kan geen toeval zijn!
   
 2
 3 
That cannot be just a coincidence
Misschien is 't toevallig
 2
 3 
That cannot be just a coincidence
Misschien is 't toevallig
   
 Maybe it's (just a) coincidence
 een toevallige voorbijganger
Maybe it's (just a) coincidence
 een toevallige voorbijganger 
  
  a random passer-by,
  a person who just happened to be passing by
a random passer-by,
  a person who just happened to be passing by
 baby delivery
  ‑>>
  baby delivery
  ‑>> 
een zware bevalling 
  
  2
  a difficult delivery
  2
  a difficult delivery 
 robbery; raid 
 (de) roofoverval
robbery; raid 
 (de) roofoverval
  
 2
(armed) robbery
 (de) overvaller
  2
(armed) robbery
 (de) overvaller
  
 2
 2
(armed) robber, mugger
 ‑>>
 2
  waste, refuse, garbage, trash
(de) afvalbak
  2
  waste, refuse, garbage, trash
(de) afvalbak   
  garbage can
  garbage can 
also: (de) vuilnisbak
   
  
 2
  decline, deterioration
  2
  decline, deterioration 
 
(de) bouwval 
  
  2
  a building in a very bad state
 2
  a building in a very bad state 
 interval, space, gap (in time)
  interval, space, gap (in time) 
 at the last moment,
 when leaving, finishing or closing
  at the last moment,
 when leaving, finishing or closing 
 
All rights reserved. This material
may not
 be published, broadcast,
rewritten,
 redistributed, or hotlinked to.
 Gij zult niet stelen
   
  'Thou shalt not steal'
  'Thou shalt not steal'