Buying Bread and Finding Orange Juice | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Buying Bread and Finding Orange Juice to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Hoeveel sneetjes brood moeten we kopen?

HOO-vayl SNAY-tyuhs broht MOO-tun vuh KOH-puh? How many slices of bread should we buy?

Vier sneetjes in totaal.

VEER SNAY-tyuhs in toh-TAHL. Four slices in total.

Twee voor mij en twee voor jou.

TVAY voor MY and TVAY voor YOW. Two for me and two for you.

Dat moet genoeg zijn. We hebben nog sinaasappelsap nodig.

Dut MOOT khuh-NOOKH zine. Vuh HEB-uh(n) nokh SEE-NAHS-ah-pul-sahp NOH-dikh. That should be enough. We still need orange juice.

Kun je het sinaasappelsap vinden?

Kuhn yuh hut SEE-NAHS-ah-pul-sahp VIN-duh(n)? Can you find the orange juice?

Nog niet. Laten we op de volgende plank kijken.

Nokh NEET. LAH-tuh vuh op duh VOL-khun-duh plank KAI-kuhn. Not yet. Let's check the next shelf.

Laten we een medewerker vragen.

LAH-tuh vuh un MAY-duh-vayr-kur VRAH-khun. Let's ask someone who works here.

Word by Word

Hoeveel “Hoeveel” asks for the number of something: here, how many slices. It comes directly before the noun phrase “sneetjes brood” in “Hoeveel sneetjes brood moeten we kopen?”. Use “Hoeveel” when asking for a quantity in a practical situation such as shopping.

sneetjes “Sneetjes” means slices, specifically the bread slices being counted here. The form is used with “brood” in “sneetjes brood”. This pattern is useful when talking about a number of slices of a food.

brood “Brood” means bread in “sneetjes brood”. It identifies what the slices are made of or refer to. Use it after a quantity word when specifying the type of food being bought.

moeten “Moeten” expresses what “we” should or must do in “moeten we kopen?”. Here it is followed by the action “kopen”. Use “moeten” with a subject and an action to discuss something that needs to be done.

we “We” means we, the two people deciding together what to buy. In “moeten we kopen?”, it is the subject of the question. Use “we” when including yourself and at least one other person in an action or decision.

kopen “Kopen” means buy in “moeten we kopen?”. It is the action being considered after “moeten”. Use “kopen” when talking about obtaining food or another item in a shop.

in “In” means in or as part of in “in totaal”. Here it helps form the expression meaning “in total”. Use “in totaal” to give the complete number or amount.

totaal “Totaal” refers to the complete amount in “in totaal”. Together, “in totaal” means that all the slices are counted as one combined number. Use this expression when stating the final quantity.

voor “Voor” means for in “voor mij” and “voor jou”. It marks who the slices are intended for. Use “voor” before a person when assigning an item or portion to them.

mij “Mij” means me in “voor mij”. After “voor”, it identifies the person who is to receive two slices. Use “voor mij” when saying that something is intended for you.

en “En” connects two items or parts of the sentence: “voor mij” and “voor jou”. It means and. Use “en” to join people, objects, or actions that belong together.

jou “Jou” means you in “voor jou”. After “voor”, it identifies the person who is to receive two slices. Use “voor jou” when saying that something is intended for the other person.

Dat “Dat” means that and refers back to the amount just discussed in “Dat moet genoeg zijn”. It introduces the idea that the quantity should be sufficient. Use “dat” to refer to something already mentioned.

moet “Moet” expresses should or must in “Dat moet genoeg zijn”. Here it presents the speaker’s expectation that the amount will be sufficient. It is followed by “genoeg zijn”, which describes the expected result.

genoeg “Genoeg” means enough in “genoeg zijn”. It says that the four slices should be sufficient for the two people. Use “genoeg” with “zijn” to say that an amount is sufficient.

zijn “Zijn” means be in “genoeg zijn”. It completes the expression describing the quantity as sufficient. Use “zijn” after a form such as “moet” when describing what something should be.

hebben “Hebben” means have in “We hebben nog sinaasappelsap nodig”. In this construction, it helps express that orange juice is still needed. Use “hebben” with an object and “nodig” to say that you need something.

nog “Nog” means still or yet in “We hebben nog sinaasappelsap nodig”. It shows that the orange juice remains to be obtained. Use “nog” when something is still required or has not happened yet.

sinaasappelsap “Sinaasappelsap” means orange juice, the drink the speakers still need to find. It is the object in “We hebben nog sinaasappelsap nodig” and “het sinaasappelsap”. Use it when asking for or locating orange juice in a shop.

nodig “Nodig” means needed in the construction “We hebben nog sinaasappelsap nodig”. Together with “hebben”, it expresses needing something; “sinaasappelsap” is the thing needed. Use “hebben ... nodig” when saying that you need a particular item.

Kun “Kun” means can in the request “Kun je het sinaasappelsap vinden?”. It asks whether the other person is able or willing to find the juice. Use “Kun je ...?” to make a practical request.

je “Je” means you in “Kun je het sinaasappelsap vinden?”. It is the person being asked to find the orange juice. Use “Kun je” before an action when asking someone to do something.

het “Het” is the definite article meaning the in “het sinaasappelsap”. It introduces the specific orange juice the speakers are looking for. Use “het” before this noun when referring to that particular product.

vinden “Vinden” means find in “Kun je het sinaasappelsap vinden?”. It is the action requested from the other person. Use “vinden” after “Kun je” when asking someone to locate an item.

niet “Niet” means not in “Nog niet”. It negates the idea that the orange juice has already been found. Use “nog niet” to say that something has not happened yet.

Laten “Laten” begins the suggestion “Laten we op de volgende plank kijken”, meaning let’s look on the next shelf. Together with “we”, it invites both people to do the action. Use “Laten we” before an infinitive when proposing a shared action.

op “Op” means on in “op de volgende plank”. It marks the shelf where they will look. Use “op” with a surface or location such as “de volgende plank” when saying where something is or where an action takes place.

de “De” is the definite article meaning the in “de volgende plank”. It refers to the specific next shelf they plan to check. Use it before this noun phrase when identifying that shelf.

volgende “Volgende” means next in “de volgende plank”. It identifies the shelf that comes after the one they are checking now. Use it before a noun when directing someone to the next item or place.

plank “Plank” means shelf in “de volgende plank”. It names the store fixture they will check for the orange juice. Use it with a location expression such as “op de volgende plank” when referring to a shelf.

kijken “Kijken” means look or check in “Laten we op de volgende plank kijken”. It describes inspecting the next shelf for the juice. Use “kijken” with “op” and a place when suggesting that someone inspect a location.

een “Een” means a or one in “een medewerker”. Here it introduces one staff member whom they can ask for help. Use “een” before a singular person or object when it is not yet specifically identified.

medewerker “Medewerker” means an employee or staff member in “een medewerker”. It refers to someone working in the grocery shop whom the speakers can ask for help. Use “een medewerker vragen” when asking a worker for information or assistance.

vragen “Vragen” means ask in “Laten we een medewerker vragen”. It describes requesting help or information from the staff member. Use it with the person being asked, as in “een medewerker vragen”.

Grammar Points

hoeveel + meervoudig zelfstandig naamwoord

Hoeveel sneetjes brood?

HOO-vayl SNAY-tyuhs broht?

How many slices of bread?

Na «hoeveel» staat een meervoudig zelfstandig naamwoord: «sneetjes», niet «sneetje».

laten we + infinitief

Laten we kijken.

LAH-tuh vuh KAI-kuhn.

Let's look.

«Laten we» vormt een voorstel. Het werkwoord erna staat in de infinitief: «kijken».

Dutch Vocabulary

brood noun

broht bread

genoeg adj

khuh-NOOKH enough

hebben verb

HEB-uh(n) to have

hoeveel det

HOO-vayl how many

in totaal phrase

in toh-TAHL in total

jou pron

YOW you

kopen verb

KOH-puh to buy

mij pron

MY me

nog adv

nokh still; yet

sneetje noun

SNAY-tyuh slice sneetjes

vier num

VEER four

zijn verb

zine to be

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

How many slices of bread should we buy?

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Hoeveel sneetjes brood moeten we kopen?

Four slices in total.

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Vier sneetjes in totaal.

Can you find the orange juice?

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Kun je het sinaasappelsap vinden?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

enough

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genoeg

how many

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hoeveel

slice

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sneetjes

bread

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brood