Requesting privacy at a clinic reception | Learn Dutch in English

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Use Requesting privacy at a clinic reception to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik voel me er niet prettig bij om gevoelige details aan de receptie te bespreken.

ik fool muh ur neet PREH-tikh bay om khuh-VOO-luh-kuh day-TAHLS ahn duh reh-SEP-tsee tuh buh-SPRAY-kuh(n) I am not comfortable discussing sensitive details at the reception desk.

We kunnen naar een privéruimte gaan voor alles wat persoonlijk is.

vuh KUN-uh(n) nahr uh(n) pree-VAY-rowm-tuh khahn vohr AH-lus vut pair-SOHN-luk iss We can move to a private area for anything personal.

Dat zou helpen, omdat de wachtkamer heel dichtbij is.

daht zow HEL-puh(n), ohm-DAHT duh VAKHT-kah-mur hale DIKHT-bay iss That would help, because the waiting room is very close.

Uw privacy is belangrijk, en zulke details moeten niet in het openbaar worden besproken.

ew PRY-vuh-see iss buh-LAHNG-rayk, un ZUL-kuh day-TAHLS MOOT-uh(n) neet in ut OH-puh-bahr VOR-duh(n) buh-SPRAY-kuhn Your privacy matters, and those details should not be discussed in public.

Zou ik de meeste achtergrondinformatie in plaats daarvan op de schriftelijke formulieren kunnen zetten?

zow ik duh MAY-stuh AHKH-ter-khrownt-in-for-MAH-tsee in plahts duh-VAHN op duh SKHRIHF-tuh-luh-kuh for-moo-LEER-uh(n) KUN-uh(n) ZEH-tuh(n) Could I put most of the background on the written forms instead?

Dat kan, al kan de behandelaar u misschien nog steeds onder vier ogen vragen stellen.

daht kahn, ahl kahn duh buh-HAHN-duh-lahr ew muh-SKHEEN nokh stayts ON-dur veer OH-khuh(n) VRAHKH-uh(n) STEH-luh(n) You can, although the clinician may still ask questions in private.

Dat zou het gesprek voor mij een stuk makkelijker maken.

daht zow ut khuh-SPREHK vohr may uh(n) stuk MAY-kuh-lur MAH-kuh(n) That would make the conversation much easier for me.

Ik noteer uw voorkeur voordat u wordt opgeroepen.

ik noh-TEER ew VOHR-kur vohr-DAHT ew vort OP-khuh-ROO-puh(n) I will note your preference before you are called.

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” means “I” and is the person who feels uncomfortable in this sentence. It is used as the subject before a verb, as in “Ik voel”.

voel In “Ik voel me”, “voel” means “feel” and describes the speaker’s experience. The citation form is voelen; this form is used with “Ik”.

me “Me” refers back to the speaker in “Ik voel me”: the speaker feels a certain way. It is commonly used after voelen in expressions such as “zich prettig voelen” or “zich niet prettig voelen”.

er Here “er” refers to the situation being discussed, so “Ik voel me er niet prettig bij” means that the speaker is not comfortable with it. This use is part of the expression “zich ergens prettig bij voelen”.

niet “Niet” makes the statement negative: the speaker does not feel comfortable. It normally comes before the adjective or phrase being negated, as in “niet prettig”.

prettig “Prettig” means comfortable or pleasant in “Ik voel me er niet prettig bij”. It describes how the speaker experiences the situation, and it can be used after voelen in “zich prettig voelen”.

bij In “Ik voel me er niet prettig bij”, “bij” means “about” or “in connection with” the situation. The reusable pattern is “zich prettig voelen bij iets” for saying that something feels comfortable.

om Here “om” introduces the action that makes the speaker uncomfortable: “om gevoelige details ... te bespreken”. The pattern “om ... te” is used to connect an action or purpose to another part of the sentence.

gevoelige “Gevoelige” means sensitive and describes “details” that require privacy. The exact form appears before the noun in “gevoelige details”.

details “Details” means specific pieces of information, here information that is sensitive. It is used as the object of “bespreken” in “gevoelige details ... te bespreken”.

aan In “aan de receptie” and “aan de receptie te bespreken”, “aan” places the action at the reception desk. A useful location pattern is “aan” followed by a place or service point.

de “De” is the definite article in “de receptie”, meaning “the”. It appears directly before the noun “receptie”.

receptie “Receptie” means the reception desk or reception area where the speaker is standing. “Aan de receptie” is useful when describing something happening at a reception desk.

te Here “te” is the infinitive marker in “te bespreken”, linking the action of discussing to “om”. The pattern “om ... te” is used when one action or situation is connected to another action.

bespreken “Bespreken” means discuss, specifically discussing the sensitive details at the reception desk. It follows “te” in “om gevoelige details aan de receptie te bespreken”.

We “We” means “we” and refers to the people offering a solution at the clinic. It is used as the subject before “kunnen”, as in “We kunnen”.

kunnen “Kunnen” expresses ability or possibility here: the speakers can move to another area. It is followed by the infinitive “gaan” in “We kunnen ... gaan”.

naar “Naar” means “to” or “toward” and shows the destination in “naar een privéruimte”. It is commonly used before a destination with verbs of movement such as “gaan”.

een “Een” means “a” or “an” and introduces the non-specific destination “een privéruimte”. It comes directly before the noun.

privéruimte “Privéruimte” means a private space or room where personal matters can be discussed. It appears after “naar” in “naar een privéruimte gaan”.

gaan “Gaan” means go or move to another place, here to a private space. It follows “kunnen” in “We kunnen naar een privéruimte gaan”.

voor Here “voor” means “for” and indicates what the private area is intended for: “alles wat persoonlijk is”. It commonly introduces a purpose or intended use.

alles “Alles” means everything and refers here to all matters that are personal. It is followed by “wat persoonlijk is”, which specifies what “alles” includes.

wat In “alles wat persoonlijk is”, “wat” links “alles” to the description “persoonlijk is”. This pattern can specify the kind of thing referred to by “alles”.

persoonlijk “Persoonlijk” means personal in “alles wat persoonlijk is”. It describes the matters that can be handled in the private area.

is “Is” means “is” and states that the matters referred to are personal. It appears at the end of the clause “wat persoonlijk is”.

Dat “Dat” means “that” and refers to the proposed move to a private area. It is used at the beginning of “Dat zou helpen” to comment on a situation just mentioned.

zou “Zou” means “would” and presents the help as a possible result of moving to a private area. It is used with the infinitive “helpen” in “Dat zou helpen”.

helpen “Helpen” means help; here, moving to a private area would make the situation better for the speaker. It follows “zou” in the reusable pattern “Dat zou helpen”.

omdat “Omdat” means “because” and introduces the reason why the private area would help. It begins the reason clause “omdat de wachtkamer heel dichtbij is”.

wachtkamer “Wachtkamer” means waiting room, the area that is close to the reception desk. It is the subject of the clause introduced by “omdat”.

heel “Heel” means “very” and strengthens “dichtbij” in “heel dichtbij”. It is commonly placed directly before an adjective or adverb to intensify it.

dichtbij “Dichtbij” means nearby or very close, describing the location of the waiting room relative to the reception. It can be strengthened with “heel”, as in “heel dichtbij”.

Uw “Uw” means “your” in the formal form used when addressing the patient politely. It appears before “privacy” and also before “voorkeur” later in the dialogue.

privacy “Privacy” means privacy, especially the protection of personal information from public discussion. In “Uw privacy is belangrijk”, it is the subject of a statement about its importance.

belangrijk “Belangrijk” means important and describes the value of the patient’s privacy. The pattern “iets is belangrijk” is used to state that something matters.

en “En” means “and” and connects the statement about privacy with the statement about discussing details in public. It joins two related parts of the sentence.

zulke “Zulke” means “such” and refers to details of the kind just mentioned, namely sensitive details. It is used before a noun in “zulke details”.

moeten “Moeten” expresses a strong requirement here: the details should not be discussed publicly. It is followed by “worden besproken” in the passive construction.

in In “in het openbaar”, “in” means “in” and helps express that something happens publicly. The complete phrase “in het openbaar” is used for actions carried out where other people can hear or see them.

het “Het” is the definite article in the fixed phrase “het openbaar”. It appears directly before “openbaar”.

openbaar In “in het openbaar”, “openbaar” means public or openly, describing a place or situation where others may hear the discussion. The phrase “in het openbaar” is useful for contrasting public discussion with private discussion.

worden “Worden” helps form the passive expression “worden besproken”, meaning “be discussed”. Together with “moeten”, it presents the details as something that should not receive this action publicly.

besproken “Besproken” means discussed in “worden besproken”. With “worden”, it forms the passive expression for saying that the details should not be discussed in public.

meeste “Meeste” means most and indicates that the person wants to put the larger part of the background information on the forms. It appears before “achtergrondinformatie” in “de meeste achtergrondinformatie”.

achtergrondinformatie “Achtergrondinformatie” means background information about the person or situation. In this dialogue, it is the information the speaker wants to put on the written forms.

plaats In “in plaats daarvan”, “plaats” contributes to the meaning “instead” or “in place of that”. The complete expression is used to propose one option as an alternative to another.

daarvan In “in plaats daarvan”, “daarvan” refers back to the alternative being replaced and helps form the meaning “instead”. Keep it together with “in plaats” in this expression.

op Here “op” means “on” and indicates where the background information will be written: on the forms. The pattern “iets op een formulier zetten” is useful for putting information on a form.

schriftelijke “Schriftelijke” means written and describes the forms in contrast with information given orally. It appears before “formulieren” in “de schriftelijke formulieren”.

formulieren “Formulieren” means forms, the written documents on which the speaker can provide background information. It appears after “op” in “op de schriftelijke formulieren”.

zetten In “op de schriftelijke formulieren ... zetten”, “zetten” means put or write down information on the forms. The reusable pattern is “iets op een formulier zetten”, with the information object included.

kan “Kan” expresses possibility or permission in “Dat kan”: the speaker is allowed or able to provide the information on the forms. It can also be followed by an infinitive when describing what someone can do.

al Here “al” means “although” and introduces a qualification to the permission just given. In “al kan de behandelaar ...”, it signals that another part of the process may still happen.

behandelaar “Behandelaar” means the clinician or treating professional who may ask the patient questions. It is the person who performs the action in “de behandelaar ... vragen stellen”.

u “U” is the formal form of “you” and refers to the patient being addressed. Here it is the person who may be asked questions by the clinician.

misschien “Misschien” means perhaps and makes the possibility less certain: the clinician may still ask questions. It commonly appears before the action or possibility being presented.

nog In “nog steeds”, “nog” contributes the meaning “still”, showing that the action remains possible after the forms are completed. It is used together with “steeds” in this dialogue.

steeds In “nog steeds”, “steeds” also contributes the meaning “still”, emphasizing that the situation continues to apply. The expression “nog steeds” is a common way to describe an ongoing possibility or condition.

onder vier ogen “Onder vier ogen” means privately or in a one-to-one conversation, so the clinician can ask questions away from other people. Literally, “onder” means “under”, “vier” means “four”, and “ogen” means “eyes”, but together they form this idiomatic expression.

vragen In “vragen stellen”, “vragen” means questions, not the verb “to ask”. It is the thing being posed by the clinician, and the reusable expression is “vragen stellen” for asking questions.

stellen In “vragen stellen”, “stellen” means pose or ask, specifically to pose questions. This verb is used with the object “vragen” in the expression “vragen stellen”.

gesprek “Gesprek” means conversation and refers to the discussion that will become easier for the speaker. It commonly appears with verbs such as “maken” in “een gesprek makkelijker maken”.

mij “Mij” means “me” and identifies the person for whom the conversation would become easier. It follows “voor” in the phrase “voor mij”.

stuk In “een stuk makkelijker”, “stuk” means considerably or a lot, not a physical piece. This expression is used to strengthen a comparative such as “makkelijker”.

makkelijker “Makkelijker” means easier and compares the expected conversation with the current situation. It appears in the pattern “iets makkelijker maken”, meaning to make something easier.

maken In “het gesprek ... makkelijker maken”, “maken” means make or cause something to become a certain way. The complete pattern keeps the object before the adjective: “iets makkelijker maken”.

noteer “Noteer” means note or record, referring to the reception worker recording the patient’s preference. It is used before the object “uw voorkeur” in “Ik noteer uw voorkeur”.

voorkeur “Voorkeur” means preference, here the patient’s preference for handling sensitive information privately. It is the object of “noteer” in “Ik noteer uw voorkeur”.

voordat “Voordat” means before and introduces the event that must happen first: the patient being called. It begins the subordinate clause “voordat u wordt opgeroepen”.

wordt “Wordt” helps form the passive expression “wordt opgeroepen”, meaning “is called” or “is summoned”. Together with “voordat”, it describes what happens before the patient is called.

opgeroepen “Opgeroepen” means called or summoned in “u wordt opgeroepen”. With “wordt”, it forms the passive expression for the patient being called by the clinic.

Grammar Points

zich prettig voelen

voel me er niet prettig bij

fool muh ur neet PREH-tikh bay

I don't feel comfortable with it.

The reflexive pronoun changes with the subject: zich becomes me with ik.

gevoelige details

gevoelige details

khuh-VOO-luh-kuh day-TAHLS

sensitive details

An attributive adjective before a plural noun takes the -e ending: gevoelige.

Dutch Vocabulary

belangrijk adj

buh-LAHNG-rayk important

bespreken verb

buh-SPRAY-kuh(n) to discuss

detail noun

day-TAHL detail details

dichtbij adv

DIKHT-bay nearby

gevoelig adj

khuh-VOO-lukh sensitive gevoelige

in het openbaar phrase

in ut OH-puh-bahr in public

persoonlijk adj

pair-SOHN-luk personal

privacy noun

PRY-vuh-see privacy

privéruimte noun

pree-VAY-rowm-tuh private area

receptie noun

reh-SEP-tsee reception desk

wachtkamer noun

VAKHT-kah-mur waiting room

zich prettig voelen phrase

zikh PREH-tikh fool-uh(n) to feel comfortable voel me er niet prettig bij

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

waiting room

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wachtkamer

reception desk

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receptie

nearby

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dichtbij

private area

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privéruimte