Preparing for Changeable Weather on a Hike | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: Before a hike, two adults plan clothing, trail safety, and a turn-back point because the weather may change..

EN → NL / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Preparing for Changeable Weather on a Hike to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

De weersverwachting voor de wandeling verandert steeds, met zon en kans op buien.

duh VAIRSS-fer-VAHK-ting voor duh VAHN-duh-ling vuh-RAHN-dert stayts, met zon en kahns op BUH-yun. The forecast for the hike keeps changing, with sun and possible showers.
B

Draag laagjes en neem een waterdichte jas mee.

DRAHK LAHK-yus en NAYM un VAH-ter-dikh-tuh yahs MAY. Wear layers and bring a waterproof jacket.
A

Het pad is open, maar het hogere deel kan modderig zijn.

ut paht is OH-pun, mahr ut HOH-khuh-ruh dayl kahn MOD-uh-rikh zine. The trail is open, but the higher section may be muddy.
B

We moeten het rustig aan doen, vooral op de stukken bergafwaarts.

vuh MOO-tun ut RUS-tikh ahn doon, vuh-RAHL op duh STUHK-un BERKH-ahf-vahrts. We should take it slowly, especially on the downhill parts.
A

Als het weer slecht wordt, kunnen we bij het uitzichtpunt omkeren.

ahls ut vair slekht vawrt, KUN-un vuh bye ut OYT-sikht-poont OM-kay-run. If the weather turns bad, we can turn back at the viewpoint.
B

Laten we dat zeggen voordat we beginnen, zodat niemand zich onder druk gezet voelt om door te gaan.

LAH-tun vuh daht ZEH-khun vuh-DAHT vuh buh-GIN-un, zoh-DAHT NEE-mahnt zikh ON-der druk zuh-ZET foolt om dohr tuh HAHN. Let's say that before we start, so no one feels pressured to continue.
A

Zullen we de groep eraan herinneren dat ze geen gewone schoenen moeten dragen?

ZUL-un vuh duh khroop ehr-AHN her-IN-uh-run daht zuh khayn KHUH-voh-nuh SKHOO-nun MOO-tun DRAH-khun? Should we remind the group not to wear casual shoes?
B

Vraag ze om geschikte schoenen te dragen; modderige paden kunnen glad zijn.

VRAHKH zuh om khuh-SKHIKHT-uh SKHOO-nun tuh DRAH-khun; MOD-uh-rih-khuh PAH-dun KUN-un khlaht zine. Ask them to wear proper shoes; muddy trails can be slippery.
A

Een herinnering om vanavond in te pakken zou helpen.

un her-IN-uh-ring om vah-NAH-vont in tuh PAHK-un zow HELP-un. A packing reminder tonight would help.
B

Stuur die vroeg genoeg, zodat iedereen zich kan voorbereiden.

STUUR dee vrookh guh-NOOKH, zoh-DAHT AY-duh-RAYN zikh kahn vohr-buh-RAY-dun. Send it early enough for everyone to prepare.

Word by Word

De De is the definite article meaning the in de weersverwachting and de wandeling. Use de before a definite noun when referring to a specific thing, such as de groep.
weersverwachting Weersverwachting means weather forecast here. It names the information about expected weather in de weersverwachting voor de wandeling; a useful pattern is weersverwachting voor + activity or place. You would use it when discussing what weather is expected.
voor Voor means for in voor de wandeling, identifying the activity the forecast concerns. Use voor before the person, activity, or place something is intended for or related to.
wandeling Wandeling means walk or hike here. In de wandeling, it identifies the planned outdoor activity; a useful pattern is een wandeling maken. You would use it when talking about going for a walk or hike.
verandert Verandert says that the forecast changes in the dialogue. With the repeated-time word steeds, verandert steeds describes something that keeps changing; you can use X verandert steeds for an unstable situation.
steeds Steeds means continually or repeatedly in verandert steeds. It shows that the change happens again and again rather than only once; use it with a verb to describe a recurring change.
met Met means with and introduces the accompanying conditions in met zon en kans op buien. Use met before something that accompanies an event, such as weather conditions or another feature.
zon Zon means sun in the weather description met zon. It names the sunny condition expected during the hike; you can use zon with weather descriptions such as veel zon.
en En connects zon and kans op buien, meaning and. Use en to join equivalent words, phrases, or clauses when adding information.
kans Kans means chance or possibility in kans op buien. The word identifies the possibility of something happening; a common pattern is kans op + noun, such as a chance of rain.
op Op completes the pattern kans op buien and introduces what the possibility concerns. Use kans op + noun to talk about the chance of an event or condition.
buien Buien means showers in the forecast. It refers to periods of rain that may occur, in the pattern kans op buien; you would use it when discussing changeable rainy weather.
Draag Draag is a direct instruction to wear in Draag laagjes. It tells someone what clothing to have on; a useful command pattern is Draag + clothing.
laagjes Laagjes means layers of clothing here. In Draag laagjes, it recommends wearing several light clothing layers so they can be adjusted; you would use it when advising someone how to dress for changing temperatures.
neem Neem means take in the instruction neem een waterdichte jas mee. Together with mee, neem ... mee means bring something along; use neem + object + mee when telling someone to bring an item.
een Een means a or an before waterdichte jas. It introduces one non-specific jacket; use een before a singular noun when the listener does not need a specific previously identified item.
waterdichte Waterdichte means waterproof and describes the jacket in een waterdichte jas. Use waterdichte before an item that keeps water out, especially when discussing clothing or equipment for rain.
jas Jas means jacket in waterdichte jas. It names the clothing item to bring; a useful pattern is een jas meenemen when saying that you will bring a jacket.
mee Mee contributes the meaning along or with you in neem een waterdichte jas mee. Together with neem, it makes the construction mean bring the jacket along; use neem ... mee for an item someone should take with them.
Het Het is the definite article meaning the in Het pad. It introduces the specific trail being discussed; use het before a definite noun when referring to an identified thing.
pad Pad means path or trail in Het pad. It identifies the route for the hike; you would use it when describing the condition, direction, or accessibility of a trail.
is Is states that the trail has the condition open in Het pad is open. Use is with a description to say what state or condition something is in.
open Open means open or accessible in Het pad is open. Here it says that the trail can be used; you can use X is open for a route, building, or facility that is available for use.
maar Maar introduces a contrast between the trail being open and the higher section possibly being muddy. Use maar to connect information that limits or contrasts with what was just said.
hogere Hogere describes the section as higher in het hogere deel. It identifies the part at a greater elevation; use hogere before a noun when comparing locations or levels.
deel Deel means part or section in het hogere deel. It identifies one portion of the trail rather than the whole route; a useful pattern is het deel van + noun.
kan Kan expresses possibility in kan modderig zijn, meaning may or can be muddy. Use kan + verb to describe something that is possible or possible for someone to do.
modderig Modderig means muddy in kan modderig zijn. It describes the possible condition of the trail; you would use it for ground, paths, or places covered with or affected by mud.
zijn Zijn means be in kan modderig zijn and completes the possible condition of the section. After kan, use zijn before a description when saying that something may have a certain state.
We We means we and refers to the people planning and taking the hike. In We moeten het rustig aan doen, it is the subject of the recommendation; use we when including yourself and others.
moeten Moeten expresses a recommendation or necessity in We moeten het rustig aan doen. It is followed by the action doen; use moeten + infinitive to say what someone must or should do.
rustig Rustig contributes the idea of calmly or slowly in rustig aan doen. Together with aan doen, it tells the hikers to avoid rushing; use rustig aan doen when advising someone to take things easy.
aan Aan is part of the expression rustig aan doen in this dialogue. It helps form the meaning take it easy or do something calmly, so it should be learned together with rustig aan doen.
doen Doen means do in rustig aan doen, where the complete expression means take it easy. After moeten, doen names the action being recommended; use moeten ... doen for an action someone should carry out.
vooral Vooral means especially and highlights the downhill sections as the place requiring extra care. Use vooral before the part of a situation that deserves particular attention.
stukken Stukken means sections or parts in de stukken bergafwaarts. It divides the trail into portions; a useful pattern is stukken + description when referring to particular sections of a route.
bergafwaarts Bergafwaarts means downhill and describes the direction of the sections. In stukken bergafwaarts, it identifies parts where the path goes down; you would use it when giving directions or safety advice on a slope.
Als Als means if and introduces the condition Als het weer slecht wordt. Use Als + clause to describe what will happen or what can be done under a particular condition.
weer Weer means weather in het weer slecht wordt. It refers to the outdoor conditions, not to the act of repeating something; use het weer when discussing weather conditions.
slecht Slecht means bad in het weer slecht wordt. It describes the weather as becoming unfavorable; use slecht with a noun or state when describing an undesirable condition.
wordt Wordt expresses a change into a condition in het weer slecht wordt, meaning the weather turns bad. Use X wordt + description when something changes and takes on a new state.
kunnen Kunnen expresses an available possibility in kunnen ... omkeren: the hikers can turn back. Use kunnen + infinitive to say that an action is possible or available as an option.
bij Bij means at or by and locates the turning point in bij het uitzichtpunt. Use bij before a place or landmark when saying where an action happens.
uitzichtpunt Uitzichtpunt means viewpoint, a place chosen for its view. In bij het uitzichtpunt, it identifies the landmark where the hikers can turn back; you would use it when describing a scenic stopping place.
omkeren Omkeren means turn back in kunnen ... omkeren. It names the action of reversing direction on the route; use kunnen omkeren when discussing the option of returning before reaching the destination.
Laten Laten begins the suggestion Laten we dat zeggen, meaning let us say that or let's say that. Use Laten we + infinitive to propose a joint action.
dat Dat means that and refers back to the plan to turn back at the viewpoint. In Laten we dat zeggen, it is the thing they want to state; use dat to refer to information already mentioned.
zeggen Zeggen means say in Laten we dat zeggen. It names the act of telling the group the agreed plan; a useful pattern is zeggen dat + clause when reporting what someone says.
voordat Voordat means before and introduces the earlier time in voordat we beginnen. Use voordat + clause to say that one action happens before another.
beginnen Beginnen means start or begin in voordat we beginnen. It refers to starting the hike; you would use it with an activity or event that is about to start.
zodat Zodat means so that and introduces the intended result in zodat niemand zich onder druk gezet voelt. Use zodat + clause to explain the result that an action is meant to produce.
niemand Niemand means no one and is the person who should not feel pressured. It refers to every person in the group individually; use niemand when saying that not a single person is included.
zich Zich marks the people experiencing the feeling in zich onder druk gezet voelt. It belongs to the reflexive construction with voelen; use zich when the person affected by the feeling is the same person being discussed.
onder Onder contributes under in the expression onder druk gezet, meaning put under pressure. Use onder druk in situations where someone experiences demands or pressure from others.
druk Druk means pressure in onder druk gezet. Together with onder and gezet, it describes someone being pressured; you can use onder druk staan or onder druk gezet worden for pressure situations.
gezet Gezet contributes the idea of being put in onder druk gezet. The full expression means put under pressure, so gezet should be understood as part of that construction rather than as the whole meaning by itself.
voelt Voelt means feels in zich onder druk gezet voelt. Here it describes the group's experience of pressure; use zich ... voelen to describe how someone feels in a situation.
om Om introduces the action connected to the pressure in om door te gaan. Together with te and the infinitive, it identifies what someone feels pressured to do; use om + te + infinitive for an intended action or purpose.
door Door contributes the meaning continuing in door te gaan. Together with te gaan, it forms the expression continue or go on; use door + te + infinitive when describing an action that continues.
te Te marks the infinitive in door te gaan. It connects the action of going with door to form the meaning continue; use te before an infinitive in this kind of construction.
gaan Gaan means go, but in door te gaan the complete expression means continue. It names the action that continues after door; you would use door te gaan when telling someone not to stop.
Zullen Zullen begins a suggestion or question about a joint action in Zullen we de groep eraan herinneren. Use Zullen we + infinitive when asking whether you and another person should do something.
groep Groep means group and refers to the hikers receiving the reminder. In de groep, it identifies the people being addressed together; use een groep for several people considered as one unit.
eraan Eraan belongs to eraan herinneren and refers back to the instruction or point that should be remembered. Use iemand eraan herinneren dat + clause to remind someone of information or an action.
herinneren Herinneren means remind in eraan herinneren dat ze geen gewone schoenen moeten dragen. It names the act of bringing information back to someone's attention; use iemand eraan herinneren dat + clause for a reminder about what someone should know or do.
ze Ze means them here and refers to the group in Vraag ze om geschikte schoenen te dragen. It is the people receiving the request; use Vraag ze om + action when asking others to do something.
geen Geen means no or not any before gewone schoenen. It negates the presence or use of the shoes; use geen + noun when saying that there is no such item or that someone should use none of it.
gewone Gewone describes the shoes as ordinary or casual in geen gewone schoenen. It contrasts everyday shoes with the suitable shoes recommended for the trail; use gewone before a noun for something standard or everyday.
schoenen Schoenen means shoes in gewone schoenen and geschikte schoenen. It names the footwear being discussed; a useful pattern is schoenen dragen for wearing shoes.
dragen Dragen means wear in ze geen gewone schoenen moeten dragen and geschikte schoenen te dragen. It names the action of having clothing or footwear on; use schoenen dragen for wearing shoes.
Vraag Vraag is a direct instruction meaning ask in Vraag ze om geschikte schoenen te dragen. Use Vraag + person + om + action when telling someone to ask another person to do something.
geschikte Geschikte means suitable or proper and describes the shoes needed for the trail. In geschikte schoenen, it identifies footwear appropriate for the conditions; use geschikte + noun when recommending something fit for a purpose.
modderige Modderige means muddy and describes the paths in modderige paden. It tells the listener that the paths may be affected by mud; use modderige before a noun for muddy outdoor surfaces.
paden Paden means paths or trails in modderige paden. It refers to trails in general rather than one named path; you would use it when discussing route conditions or several paths.
glad Glad means slippery in kunnen glad zijn. It describes a surface that may cause someone to lose their footing; use glad for paths, floors, or other surfaces with little grip.
herinnering Herinnering means reminder in Een herinnering om vanavond in te pakken. It names a message or prompt that helps people remember an action; a useful pattern is een herinnering om + action.
vanavond Vanavond means tonight and specifies when the packing should happen. Use it to refer to the evening of the current day, especially when arranging a task or message.
in In is the first part of the verb inpakken in in te pakken, meaning pack. It is not a separate location word here; the split form in te pakken is used after om to express the action of packing.
pakken Pakken means pack in in te pakken. Together with in, it forms inpakken, while te separates the prefix and verb in this infinitive construction; use inpakken when preparing belongings for a trip.
zou Zou presents the reminder as a helpful possibility in zou helpen, meaning would help. Use zou + infinitive when describing a possible or hypothetical result politely.
helpen Helpen means help in zou helpen. It describes the useful effect the reminder would have; after zou, use the infinitive helpen to say that something would help.
Stuur Stuur is a direct instruction meaning send in Stuur die vroeg genoeg. It tells someone to send the reminder; use Stuur + object when giving a simple sending instruction.
die Die means that or it here and refers back to the packing reminder. In Stuur die, it is the thing being sent; use die to point back to a specific previously mentioned item.
vroeg Vroeg means early in vroeg genoeg. It specifies that the reminder should be sent before the needed preparation time; use vroeg genoeg when something must happen early enough for a purpose.
genoeg Genoeg means enough and completes vroeg genoeg, meaning early enough. It shows that the timing must meet a required limit; use an adverb or adjective + genoeg to express a sufficient degree.
iedereen Iedereen means everyone and refers to all members of the group. In zodat iedereen zich kan voorbereiden, it is the person who should prepare; use iedereen when including every person in a group.
voorbereiden Voorbereiden means prepare in zich kan voorbereiden. Together with zich, it means prepare themselves for the hike; a useful pattern is zich voorbereiden op + noun or event.

Grammar Points

meenemen → neem ... mee (scheidbaar werkwoord)

Neem een waterdichte jas mee.

NAYM un VAH-ter-dikh-tuh yahs MAY.

Bring a waterproof jacket along.

In the imperative, the prefix mee moves to the end of the sentence.

voordat + bijzin: werkwoord achteraan

Voordat we beginnen, pakken we in.

vuh-DAHT vuh buh-GIN-un, PAHK-un vuh in.

Before we begin, we pack.

After voordat, the finite verb comes at the end of the subordinate clause.

Dutch Vocabulary

bui noun
BUH-y shower of rain buien

kans op buien

dragen verb
DRAH-khun to wear; to carry draag

Draag laagjes.

jas noun
yahs jacket; coat

een waterdichte jas

kans noun
kahns chance; possibility

kans op buien

laagje noun
LAHK-yuh layer laagjes

Draag laagjes.

meenemen verb
MAY-nay-mun to bring; to take along neem ... mee

neem een waterdichte jas mee

steeds adv
stayts 계속; constantly

De weersverwachting verandert steeds.

veranderen verb
vuh-RAHN-duh-run to change verandert

De weersverwachting verandert steeds.

wandeling noun
VAHN-duh-ling hike; walk

De weersverwachting voor de wandeling verandert steeds.

waterdicht adj
VAH-ter-dikht waterproof waterdichte

een waterdichte jas

weersverwachting noun
VAIRSS-fer-VAHK-ting forecast

De weersverwachting voor de wandeling verandert steeds.

zon noun
zon sun

met zon en kans op buien

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

chance; possibility

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to change

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hike; walk

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to wear; to carry

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