Gezellig!
Gezellig - Cozy, Nice, Good atmosphere
100 followers! Thank you everyone! :)
3 notes, April 18, 2012
I am a student of the Dutch language. Here are some of the words and expressions that I find both baffling and hilarious.
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A whistle that costs a penny
Fluitje van een cent - A whistle that costs a penny (Or: a flute that costs a penny)
This is said when something is extremely easy to do.
3 notes, March 30, 2012
A Monkey Sandwich Story
Een broodje aap verhal - A monkey sandwich story
This is what the Dutch call an urban legend.
9 notes, March 22, 2012
Talking about little cows and little calfes
Praten over koetjes en kalfjes - Talking about little cows and little calfes
When speaking with an acquaintance and just making small talk. Talking about things like the weather, the day, or other non-important things is what this expression means.
2 notes, March 10, 2012
What the farmer doesn’t know, he doesn’t eat.
Wat de boer niet kent, dat vreet hij niet - What the farmer doesn’t know, he doesn’t eat.
If someone is being picky with their food, this is commonly used. If you are a farmer in Dutch country, odds are you only eat what you have produced on your land. So trying new food is out of the question.
7 notes, March 8, 2012
Eating out of my nose
Uit mijn neus aan het eten - Eating out of my nose
This expression is used when you are doing absolutely nothing.
15 notes, March 7, 2012
When a whale pees
Als de potvis in de pispot pist, heb je een pispot vol met potvis pis - When the whale pees in the potty, you have a potty full whale of piss.
This is a fun tongue-twister in dutch.
7 notes, February 16, 2012
Party Pig
Feestvarken - Party Pig
When you first look at this word you might determine that it’s similar to the English equivalent party animal. You couldn’t be more wrong.
The way the Dutch celebrate things like birthdays has little if no room for party animals. You typically sit an a large circle with friends and family, congratulate everyone related to the birthday person, and eat snacks. No piñata, no cake with candles, just one big game of Duck Duck Goose with the Goose never being called.
The feestvarken is the person who is hosting the party.
40 notes, October 17, 2011
Go With That Banana!
Gaan met die banaan - Go with that banana
Similar to: Just do it, Let’s go
It took me a while to figure where this expression originated from and in the end it turned out to be a wild goose chase. There’s no magical, popular banana to follow or anything awesome like that. The Dutch just say it because it rhymes.
38 notes, October 13, 2011
Plaszak - Pee bag
Some trains in the Netherlands don’t have bathrooms. NS, the transit authority in charge of managing the trains has decided to distribute these bags as a solution.
15 notes, October 7, 2011
“…Kiele kiele kiele een auto heeft 4 wielen.” (blah blah blah a car has 4 tires.)
7 notes, October 3, 2011
Joke Coat
Grapjas - Joke coat (a funny person)
Similar to: Joker, kidder, you silly
8 notes, September 29, 2011
The Monkey Comes Out of the Sleeve
De aap komt uit de mouw - The monkey comes out of the sleeve.
This expression is used when someone has revealed information about their own hidden agenda. Like when your wife gets pregnant but later reveals it’s your neighbors baby. When nonsense is going on the Dutch like to use the
official mascot of shenanigans, the monkey, in their expressions.
8 notes, September 28, 2011
