Short team update meeting | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: During a short team update meeting, colleagues review progress, identify an approval blocker, and assign follow-up steps..

EN → NL / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Short team update meeting to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Laten we deze voortgangsvergadering kort houden en de agenda doornemen.

LAH-tun vuh DAY-zuh VOHRT-khahngs-vur-GAH-duh-ring KORT HOW-dun en duh ah-ZHEN-dah DOHR-nay-mun. Let's keep this update meeting short and work through the agenda.
B

Ik kan beginnen met de voortgang van de ontwerptaak.

IHK kahn buh-GIH-nun met duh VOHRT-khahng vahn duh ONT-vair-tahk. I can start with progress on the design task.
A

Noem daarna alsjeblieft eventuele problemen die de planning kunnen beïnvloeden.

NOOM DAH-nah ahl-shuh-BLEEFT ay-vun-TOO-uh-luh proh-BLAY-mun dee duh PLAH-ning KUN-nun bay-IN-vloo-dun. After that, please mention any blockers that could affect the timeline.
B

Het grootste probleem is dat we wachten op goedkeuring van het juridische team.

Hut KHROHT-stuh proh-BLAYM iss daht vuh VHAHK-tun op KHOOT-kur-ing vahn ut yuh-REE-dis-uh teem. The main blocker is waiting for approval from the legal team.
A

Wie moet na dit gesprek contact met hen opnemen?

VEE MOHT nah dit khuh-SPREK KON-TAHKT met HEN OHPE-NAY-mun? Who should follow up with them after this call?
B

Ik kan dat doen, maar eerst heb ik de nieuwste versie van het document nodig.

IHK kahn daht doon, mahr AIRST hep ik duh NEEV-stuh VAIR-see vahn ut doh-koo-MENT NOH-dikh. I can do it, but I need the latest document version first.
A

Ik zal iemand vragen om het vandaag te sturen.

IHK zahl EE-mahnt VRAH-khun om ut vahn-DAHKH tuh STUR-un. I'll ask someone to send it today.
B

Dan zouden we het nog steeds voor de geplande deadline moeten kunnen afronden.

DAHN ZOW-dun vuh ut nokh stays vohr duh guh-PLAHN-duh DEAD-line MOOT-un KUN-nun ah-FROHN-dun. Then we should still be able to finish by the planned deadline.
A

Na de vergadering stuur ik een schriftelijke samenvatting van de beslissingen.

NAH duh vur-GAH-duh-ring STUR ik un SKHRIHF-tuh-luh sah-mun-VAHT-ing vahn duh buh-SLISS-ing-un. After the meeting, I'll send a written summary of the decisions.
B

Dat helpt iedereen om helder voor ogen te hebben wat de volgende stappen zijn.

Daht helpt EE-duh-rayn om HEL-dur vohr OH-khun tuh HEB-un vaht duh VOL-khun-duh STAH-pun zayn. That will help everyone stay clear on the next steps.

Word by Word

Laten 'Laten' begins the exact construction 'Laten we ...', which means let us or let's do something together. In this sentence, it introduces the suggestion to keep the meeting short and review the agenda.
we 'we' refers to the speaker and the other people in the meeting together. In 'Laten we ...', it identifies the people included in the suggestion.
deze 'deze' means this and points to the particular meeting being discussed. It comes directly before the noun 'voortgangsvergadering'.
voortgangsvergadering 'voortgangsvergadering' means a progress meeting, a meeting for reviewing how work is developing. It is a compound used here for the short team update meeting.
kort 'kort' means short in 'deze voortgangsvergadering kort houden'. It describes the desired duration of the meeting.
houden 'houden' means keep or maintain in 'kort houden', so the meeting should remain short. The reusable pattern is 'iets kort houden', with the object and describing word included.
en 'en' means and and links the two suggested actions: keeping the meeting short and reviewing the agenda. It joins the two parts of 'Laten we deze voortgangsvergadering kort houden en de agenda doornemen'.
de 'de' is the definite article used before 'agenda' in 'de agenda'. Together, they refer to the specific agenda for this meeting.
agenda 'agenda' means agenda, the list of subjects or points to discuss in a meeting. A common pattern is 'de agenda doornemen' when reviewing that list.
doornemen 'doornemen' means go through or review in 'de agenda doornemen'. It is useful with an object such as an agenda, document, or list.
Ik 'Ik' means I and identifies the speaker as the person who can begin. It is capitalized here because it starts the sentence.
kan 'kan' expresses ability in 'Ik kan beginnen', meaning I can start. The reusable pattern is 'Ik kan' followed by an infinitive such as 'beginnen'.
beginnen 'beginnen' means start or begin in 'kan beginnen'. After 'kan', the action word stays in this infinitive form.
met 'met' means with in 'beginnen met de voortgang'. The common pattern is 'beginnen met' followed by the activity or subject that will be started with.
voortgang 'voortgang' means progress, the development or advancement of the work. In 'de voortgang van de ontwerptaak', it is followed by 'van' to specify whose progress is meant.
van 'van' links 'voortgang' to 'de ontwerptaak' and means of in this context. The pattern 'de voortgang van iets' identifies the work whose progress is being discussed.
ontwerptaak 'ontwerptaak' means design task. It is the specific task whose progress is being reviewed in the meeting.
Noem 'Noem' asks the listener to mention or name something. In 'Noem daarna alsjeblieft eventuele problemen', it is a direct request to list possible problems.
daarna 'daarna' means after that and places the request after the previous agenda point. It is useful for linking one step to the next.
alsjeblieft 'alsjeblieft' means please and makes 'Noem daarna' a polite request. It can be placed with a request to soften its tone.
eventuele 'eventuele' means any possible or possible in 'eventuele problemen'. It presents the problems as ones that may or may not exist.
problemen 'problemen' means problems, referring here to issues that could delay or affect the work. It is used after 'eventuele' in 'eventuele problemen'.
die 'die' introduces the part of the sentence that describes which problems are meant: 'die de planning kunnen beïnvloeden'. It refers back to 'problemen'.
planning 'planning' means the schedule or timeline for the work. In 'de planning beïnvloeden', it is the schedule that may be affected.
kunnen 'kunnen' expresses possibility in 'die de planning kunnen beïnvloeden', meaning that the problems could affect the schedule. It is followed by the infinitive 'beïnvloeden'.
beïnvloeden 'beïnvloeden' means affect or influence in relation to the planning. The pattern 'iets beïnvloeden' takes the thing that may be affected as its object.
Het 'Het' is the definite article before 'grootste probleem' in 'Het grootste probleem'. It points to the main problem being identified.
grootste 'grootste' means greatest or main in 'Het grootste probleem'. Here it identifies the most important blocker among the problems being discussed.
probleem 'probleem' means problem and refers here to the main blocker preventing progress. The phrase 'het grootste probleem' names the central issue.
is 'is' means is and connects 'Het grootste probleem' with the explanation that follows. It introduces the statement about what the problem consists of.
dat 'dat' introduces the explanation 'dat we wachten op goedkeuring'. Here it connects the problem with the situation causing it.
wachten 'wachten' means wait in 'we wachten op goedkeuring'. The common pattern is 'wachten op' something that has not arrived or been provided yet.
op 'op' is used after 'wachten' in 'wachten op goedkeuring' and corresponds to waiting for something. This fixed pattern is 'wachten op' plus the expected thing.
goedkeuring 'goedkeuring' means approval, the permission needed from the legal team. It is the thing being waited for in 'wachten op goedkeuring'.
juridische 'juridische' means legal and describes the team responsible for the approval. It appears before 'team' in 'het juridische team'.
team 'team' means team and refers here to the legal group whose approval is needed. It is part of 'het juridische team'.
Wie 'Wie' means who and asks which person is responsible for the follow-up. In 'Wie moet ...?', it starts a question about the person who should act.
moet 'moet' expresses obligation or responsibility in 'Wie moet na dit gesprek contact met hen opnemen?'. It asks who has to carry out the follow-up action.
na 'na' means after and places the follow-up after 'dit gesprek'. The pattern 'na iets' identifies the time following an event.
dit 'dit' means this and points to the conversation that has just been mentioned. It comes before 'gesprek' in 'dit gesprek'.
gesprek 'gesprek' means conversation and refers here to the current call or meeting discussion. 'Na dit gesprek' means after this conversation.
contact 'contact' means contact in the expression 'contact met hen opnemen'. The whole expression means to get in touch with them; a reusable pattern is 'contact opnemen met iemand'.
hen 'hen' means them and refers to the legal team in 'contact met hen opnemen'. It identifies the people who should be contacted.
opnemen 'opnemen' means take up in isolation, but in 'contact met hen opnemen' it contributes to the meaning get in touch or make contact. The complete reusable expression is 'contact opnemen met iemand'.
doen 'doen' means do or carry out in 'Ik kan dat doen'. Here it refers back to the follow-up action of contacting the legal team.
maar 'maar' means but and introduces a limitation to 'Ik kan dat doen'. The speaker can do it, but needs the latest document first.
eerst 'eerst' means first and shows that getting the latest document must happen before the follow-up. It is useful for ordering actions.
heb 'heb' is the form used with 'ik' in 'eerst heb ik de nieuwste versie van het document nodig'. Together with 'nodig', the construction expresses what the speaker needs.
nieuwste 'nieuwste' means newest or latest in 'de nieuwste versie'. It identifies the most recent version of the document.
versie 'versie' means version, referring to a particular edition of the document. The phrase 'de nieuwste versie van het document' specifies which edition is needed.
document 'document' means document and identifies the material whose version is required. It follows 'van' in 'de nieuwste versie van het document'.
nodig 'nodig' means needed in 'de nieuwste versie van het document nodig'. The construction 'iets nodig hebben' is used to say that someone needs something.
zal 'zal' expresses a future intention or commitment in 'Ik zal iemand vragen'. The reusable pattern is 'Ik zal' followed by an infinitive for an action the speaker intends to take.
iemand 'iemand' means someone and refers to an unspecified person who will be asked to send the document. It is the person receiving the request in 'iemand vragen'.
vragen 'vragen' means ask in 'iemand vragen om het vandaag te sturen'. The reusable pattern is 'iemand vragen om iets te doen'.
om 'om' introduces the action requested in 'vragen om het vandaag te sturen'. In this construction, it links the request to the following 'te' infinitive.
vandaag 'vandaag' means today and sets the requested sending time. It appears before 'te sturen' in 'het vandaag te sturen'.
te 'te' marks the infinitive in 'te sturen'. Together with 'om', it forms the request construction 'om het vandaag te sturen'.
sturen 'sturen' means send in 'het vandaag te sturen'. It is the action that the unspecified person is being asked to carry out.
Dan 'Dan' means then and draws a conclusion from the document being sent today. It introduces the expected result about finishing on time.
zouden 'zouden' makes the expected result less direct or certain in 'zouden we ... moeten kunnen afronden'. It presents finishing on time as an expectation based on the conditions just mentioned.
nog 'nog' means still in 'nog steeds'. It shows that the expected ability to finish remains possible despite the earlier blocker.
steeds 'steeds' reinforces the continuing meaning in the exact expression 'nog steeds', meaning still. The expression is useful when a situation continues over time.
voor 'voor' means by or before in 'voor de geplande deadline'. It marks the time limit that must not be passed.
geplande 'geplande' means planned and describes the deadline that has already been set. It appears before 'deadline' in 'de geplande deadline'.
deadline 'deadline' means deadline, the final time by which the work should be completed. The phrase 'voor de geplande deadline' means by the planned deadline.
moeten 'moeten' contributes the expectation of necessity in 'zouden ... moeten kunnen afronden'. Together with 'kunnen', the expression means should be able to finish.
afronden 'afronden' means finish or complete in 'moeten kunnen afronden'. A common pattern is 'iets afronden', with the work being completed as the object.
vergadering 'vergadering' means meeting and refers to the team meeting that has just taken place. The phrase 'Na de vergadering' means after the meeting.
stuur 'stuur' means send in 'stuur ik een schriftelijke samenvatting'. Because 'Na de vergadering' comes first, the subject 'ik' follows the verb here.
een 'een' means a or an and introduces one written summary. It appears before 'schriftelijke samenvatting'.
schriftelijke 'schriftelijke' means written and describes the summary as something provided in writing. It comes before 'samenvatting' in 'een schriftelijke samenvatting'.
samenvatting 'samenvatting' means summary, a shortened account of the decisions. In this sentence, it is the document that will be sent after the meeting.
beslissingen 'beslissingen' means decisions and identifies the outcomes that the summary will cover. It follows 'van' in 'een schriftelijke samenvatting van de beslissingen'.
helpt 'helpt' means helps and describes what the summary does for everyone. It is used with the person or group receiving help in 'helpt iedereen'.
iedereen 'iedereen' means everyone and refers to all the people who need to understand the next steps. It is the group helped by the summary.
helder 'helder' means clear in the expression 'helder voor ogen te hebben'. Together, the expression means to have something clearly in mind.
ogen 'ogen' means eyes, but in 'helder voor ogen te hebben' it is part of an expression meaning clearly in mind. The meaningful reusable pattern is 'iets helder voor ogen hebben'.
hebben 'hebben' means have in 'helder voor ogen te hebben'. Within the full expression, it describes keeping the next steps clearly in mind.
wat 'wat' means what and introduces the information that everyone should understand: 'wat de volgende stappen zijn'. It asks which steps are next within the sentence.
volgende 'volgende' means next or following and describes the steps that come after the current meeting. It appears before 'stappen'.
stappen 'stappen' means steps and refers to the actions to take after the meeting. The phrase 'de volgende stappen' means the next steps.
zijn 'zijn' means are in 'wat de volgende stappen zijn'. It connects 'de volgende stappen' with the information being clarified.

Grammar Points

eventuele juridische + zelfstandig naamwoord

een eventuele juridische beslissing

ay-ven-TOO-uh-luh yuh-REE-dis-uh buh-SLISS-ing

a possible legal decision

Adjectives usually take -e before a noun: eventueel becomes eventuele and juridisch becomes juridische.

de grootste + zelfstandig naamwoord

de grootste ontwerptaak

duh KHROHT-stuh ONT-vair-tahk

the largest/main design task

The superlative is formed with -ste; groot becomes grootste, usually with de before a noun.

Dutch Vocabulary

beginnen verb
buh-GIH-nun to start; to begin

Ik kan beginnen met de voortgang van de ontwerptaak.

beïnvloeden verb
bay-IN-vloo-dun to affect; to influence

Problemen die de planning kunnen beïnvloeden.

doornemen verb
DOHR-nay-mun to go through; to review

De agenda doornemen.

eventueel adj
ay-vun-TOO-AYL possible; any eventuele

Eventuele problemen die de planning kunnen beïnvloeden.

goedkeuring noun
KHOOT-kur-ing approval

Wachten op goedkeuring van het juridische team.

groot adj
KHROHT large; main grootste

Het grootste probleem.

juridisch adj
yuh-REE-dis legal juridische

Het juridische team.

kort adj
KORT short

Laten we deze voortgangsvergadering kort houden.

noemen verb
NOO-mun to mention Noem

Noem daarna alsjeblieft eventuele problemen.

ontwerptaak noun
ONT-vair-tahk design task

De voortgang van de ontwerptaak.

voortgang noun
VOHRT-khahng progress

De voortgang van de ontwerptaak.

voortgangsvergadering noun
VOHRT-khahngs-vur-GAH-duh-ring progress meeting

Laten we deze voortgangsvergadering kort houden.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

progress

Show Answervoortgang

design task

Show Answerontwerptaak

short

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to go through; to review

Show Answerdoornemen