Learning a New Word | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Learning a New Word to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Wat betekent dit woord?

vaht buh-TAY-kunt dit vohrt? What does this word mean?

Het betekent een kleine kamer.

ut buh-TAY-kunt un KLAY-nuh KAH-mur. It means a small room.

Kun je het langzaam uitspreken?

kun yuh ut LAHNG-zahm OYT-spray-kuhn? Can you pronounce it slowly?

Ik deel het woord op in delen.

ik dayl ut vohrt op in DAY-lun. I'll break it into parts.

Kun je een voorbeeld geven?

kun yuh un vuh-BOHRLT KHAY-vun? Can you give me an example?

Deze kamer is schoon en licht.

DAY-zuh KAH-mur is skhohn un likht. This room is clean and bright.

Ik wil oefenen met dit woord.

ik vil OO-fuh-nun met dit vohrt. I want to practice using it.

Probeer het in een korte zin.

proh-BAYR ut in un KOR-tuh zin. Try it in a short sentence.

Word by Word

Wat “Wat” asks for the meaning of something in “Wat betekent dit woord?”. It is useful at the beginning of a question about information, such as the meaning of a word. You can use it when asking a teacher or another speaker for an explanation.

betekent “Betekent” means “means” in “Wat betekent dit woord?”. It identifies the meaning associated with a word or expression. A common pattern is “Wat betekent ...?” when asking what something means.

dit “Dit” means “this” and points to the word being discussed in “dit woord”. It comes directly before the noun it identifies here. Use it when referring to something nearby or currently under discussion.

woord “Woord” means “word” in “dit woord”. It identifies the language item whose meaning is being checked. You can use it when asking about, explaining, or practising a particular word.

Het “Het” means “it” as the subject in “Het betekent een kleine kamer.” Here it refers back to the word or item being discussed. The same form also appears as lowercase “het” when the word or object is referred to in other parts of the dialogue.

een “Een” introduces one non-specific item, meaning “a” in “een kleine kamer” and “een voorbeeld”. It comes before the noun phrase it introduces. Use it when mentioning one example or one thing without making it specific.

kleine “Kleine” means “small” in “een kleine kamer” and describes the room’s size. It appears before the noun “kamer” in this phrase. Use the pattern “een kleine” followed by a noun when describing one small thing.

kamer “Kamer” means “room” in “een kleine kamer” and “Deze kamer”. It names an indoor space. You can use it when describing or identifying a particular room.

Kun “Kun” expresses ability in the request “Kun je het langzaam uitspreken?”, meaning “Can you ...?”. Together with “je” it forms a direct request to another person. Use “Kun je ...?” when politely asking someone to do something.

je “Je” refers to the person being addressed in “Kun je het langzaam uitspreken?”. It identifies who is being asked to pronounce the word. Use it with “Kun” in a request directed at one person.

langzaam “Langzaam” means “slowly” in “het langzaam uitspreken” and describes how the pronunciation should be done. It comes before the action it modifies here. Use it when asking someone to perform an action at a slow pace.

uitspreken “Uitspreken” means “pronounce” in “Kun je het langzaam uitspreken?”. It names the action of saying a word aloud. Use it with the word or expression being pronounced, as in this request.

Ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the subject in “Ik deel het woord op in delen.” It is used when the speaker describes their own action. Use it at the beginning of a sentence about something you do.

deel “Deel” describes dividing or breaking something into parts in “Ik deel het woord op in delen.” Its meaning here depends on the full expression “deel het woord op”. Use this expression when explaining that you are separating something into parts.

op In “Ik deel het woord op in delen”, “op” helps form the expression for breaking something into parts. The complete meaning comes from “deel het woord op”, not from “op” alone. Use it as part of this expression when describing how something is divided.

in “In” means “into” in “op in delen” and shows what the word is divided into. It also appears in “in een korte zin”, where it means “in”. Use it to introduce the parts or setting that follow, depending on the construction.

delen “Delen” means “parts” in “in delen” and names the sections created by dividing the word. It follows “in” in this expression. Use it when describing something that has been separated into parts.

voorbeeld “Voorbeeld” means “example” in “een voorbeeld geven”. It refers to a sentence or situation that helps show how something is used. The common expression here is “een voorbeeld geven”, used when asking for or providing an example.

geven “Geven” contributes the action of giving in the expression “een voorbeeld geven”. Together, “een voorbeeld geven” means to provide an example. Use this expression when asking someone to show how a word or idea is used.

Deze “Deze” means “this” and identifies the particular room in “Deze kamer is schoon en licht.” It comes before “kamer” to point to a specific room. Use it when referring to something nearby or already identifiable in the situation.

is “Is” says that the room has the qualities described in “Deze kamer is schoon en licht.” It links “Deze kamer” with the descriptions that follow. Use it to describe what something is like.

schoon “Schoon” means “clean” in “Deze kamer is schoon”. It describes the condition of the room. Use it after “is” when saying that a place or object is clean.

en “En” means “and” and joins the two descriptions “schoon en licht”. It connects qualities that apply to the same room. Use it to add another related description.

licht “Licht” means “bright” in “Deze kamer is schoon en licht” and describes the room’s lighting. It is connected to “schoon” by “en”. Use it after “is” when describing a place that has plenty of light.

wil “Wil” expresses what the speaker wants in “Ik wil oefenen met dit woord.” It introduces the speaker’s intention to practise. Use the pattern “Ik wil” followed by an action when stating what you want to do.

oefenen “Oefenen” means “practise” in “Ik wil oefenen met dit woord.” It names the activity the speaker wants to do. Use it with the skill, language item, or activity you want to practise.

met “Met” means “with” in “oefenen met dit woord” and introduces what the speaker practises. It connects the activity “oefenen” with “dit woord”. Use it after “oefenen” when naming the thing you practise with.

Probeer “Probeer” tells the other person to try something in “Probeer het in een korte zin.” It is used as a direct instruction or encouragement. Use it when inviting someone to make an attempt at an activity.

korte “Korte” means “short” in “een korte zin” and describes the length of the sentence. It comes before “zin” in this phrase. Use the pattern “een korte” followed by a noun when asking for or describing something short.

zin “Zin” means “sentence” in “een korte zin”. It identifies the language unit in which the learner should use the word. You can use it when asking someone to put a word or expression into a sentence.

Grammar Points

Bijvoeglijk naamwoord vóór een zelfstandig naamwoord: klein → kleine

een kleine kamer

un KLAY-nuh KAH-mur

a small room

Voor een zelfstandig naamwoord krijgt klein vaak een -e: kleine. Het bijvoeglijk naamwoord staat vóór het zelfstandig naamwoord.

Dutch Vocabulary

betekenen verb

buh-TAY-kuh-nun to mean betekent

Wat betekent dit woord?

deel noun

dayl part

in delen

delen verb

DAY-lun to divide; to share deel

Ik deel het woord op

geven verb

KHAY-vun to give

een voorbeeld geven

kamer noun

KAH-mur room

een kleine kamer

klein adj

klayn small kleine

een kleine kamer

langzaam adv

LAHNG-zahm slowly

langzaam uitspreken

licht adj

likht bright

schoon en licht

schoon adj

skhohn clean

Deze kamer is schoon

uitspreken verb

OYT-spray-kuhn to pronounce

het langzaam uitspreken

voorbeeld noun

VORE-baylt example

een voorbeeld geven

woord noun

vohrt word

dit woord

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What does this word mean?

Show Answer

Wat betekent dit woord?

It means a small room.

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Het betekent een kleine kamer.

Can you pronounce it slowly?

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Kun je het langzaam uitspreken?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

small

Show Answer

kleine

to mean

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betekent

word

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woord

slowly

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langzaam