Basic health and temperature | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic health and temperature..

EN → NL / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic health and temperature to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Het is te warm.

heht iss tuh VAHRM. It is too hot.
B

Het is te koud.

heht iss tuh KOWT. It is too cold.
A

Ik ben erg moe.

ik ben errkh MOO. I am very tired.
B

Ik heb erg veel honger.

ik hep errkh vayl HONG-er. I am very hungry.
A

Ik heb erg veel dorst.

ik hep errkh vayl DORST. I am very thirsty.
B

Ik voel me ziek.

ik VOOL muh ZEEK. I am feeling sick.

Word by Word

Het "Het" means "it" as the impersonal subject in "Het is te warm" and "Het is te koud". It refers to the general temperature or situation, not to a person. Use "Het is ..." when describing a general condition; new example: "Het is laat."
is "is" means "is" in "Het is te warm" and "Het is te koud". It is the present form of zijn used with Het. It comes after Het in the reusable pattern "Het is + adjective", for example when describing a temperature or another condition.
te "te" means "too" or "excessively" in "te warm" and "te koud". It comes directly before the adjective and shows that the temperature is beyond what is comfortable. Use "te + adjective" when saying that something exceeds an acceptable level.
warm "warm" means "warm" or "hot" in "Het is te warm". Here it describes the temperature and follows te, which makes the meaning "too warm". Use warm for talking about temperature; new example: "De thee is warm."
koud "koud" means "cold" in "Het is te koud". Here it describes the temperature and follows te, which makes the meaning "too cold". Use koud when telling someone that the surroundings or another thing has a low temperature.
Ik "Ik" means "I" in "Ik ben erg moe", "Ik heb erg veel honger", "Ik heb erg veel dorst", and "Ik voel me ziek". It marks the speaker as the subject and usually comes before the verb in these sentences. Use Ik when reporting your own condition, need, or feeling.
ben "ben" means "am" in "Ik ben erg moe". It is the present form of zijn used with Ik. The reusable pattern is "Ik ben + adjective", which is useful for describing your current state, such as tiredness.
erg "erg" means "very" or "strongly" in "erg moe", "erg veel honger", and "erg veel dorst". It intensifies the following description or amount, appearing before moe or veel here. Use erg before an adjective or an amount expression when you want to make the meaning stronger.
moe "moe" means "tired" in "Ik ben erg moe". It describes the speaker's state after ben, with erg showing that the tiredness is strong. Use the pattern "Ik ben ... moe" when telling someone that you are tired.
heb "heb" means "have" in "Ik heb erg veel honger" and "Ik heb erg veel dorst". It is the present form of hebben used with Ik; Dutch uses this verb in these expressions for hunger and thirst. Use "Ik heb ..." before the relevant noun phrase when reporting a bodily need.
veel "veel" means "much" or "a lot of" in "erg veel honger" and "erg veel dorst". It comes before honger and dorst to express the amount, while erg makes that amount stronger. Use veel before a noun when referring to a large amount.
honger "honger" means "hunger" in "Ik heb erg veel honger". It is the noun used after hebben to express that the speaker is hungry, with erg veel describing the amount. Use this expression when telling someone that you need food; new example: "Ik heb een beetje honger."
dorst "dorst" means "thirst" in "Ik heb erg veel dorst". It is the noun used after hebben to express that the speaker is thirsty, with erg veel describing the amount. Use this expression when telling someone that you need a drink; new example: "Ik heb een beetje dorst."
voel "voel" means "feel" in "Ik voel me ziek". It is the present form of voelen used with Ik, and it combines here with me and ziek to describe the speaker's condition. Use the pattern "Ik voel me + adjective" when reporting how you feel.
me "me" refers back to the speaker in "Ik voel me ziek" and forms the reflexive part of the expression "voel me". It comes after voel and before ziek, which describes the speaker's condition. Use "Ik voel me + adjective" to tell someone how you feel.
ziek "ziek" means "sick" in "Ik voel me ziek". It describes the speaker's condition after the expression voel me. Use "Ik voel me ziek" when telling someone that you feel unwell.

Grammar Points

hebben + honger/dorst

Ik heb veel honger.

ik hep vayl HONG-er.

I am very hungry.

Dutch uses hebben with honger and dorst, where English normally uses “to be”: Ik heb honger = I am hungry.

te + adjective

Het is te warm.

heht iss tuh VAHRM.

It is too warm.

te comes before an adjective to show that something exceeds the suitable or desired degree.

Dutch Vocabulary

dorst noun
dorst thirst

Ik heb erg veel dorst.

erg adv
errkh very

Ik ben erg moe.

hebben verb
HEB-en to have heb

Ik heb erg veel honger.

het pron
heht it

Het is te warm.

honger noun
HONG-er hunger

Ik heb erg veel honger.

ik pron
ik I

Ik ben erg moe.

koud adj
kowt cold

Het is te koud.

moe adj
moo tired

Ik ben erg moe.

te adv
tuh too

Het is te warm.

veel det
vayl much; a lot of

Ik heb erg veel honger.

warm adj
vahrm hot; warm

Het is te warm.

zijn verb
zine to be is

Het is te warm.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

It is too hot.

Show AnswerHet is te warm.

It is too cold.

Show AnswerHet is te koud.

I am very tired.

Show AnswerIk ben erg moe.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

hot; warm

Show Answerwarm

cold

Show Answerkoud

much; a lot of

Show Answerveel

thirst

Show Answerdorst