het water
Water
Usage
The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing
Grammar Note
A "het" (neuter) word; Dutch nouns are either "de" or "het" words
het eten
Food
Usage
The general word when you are looking for something to eat
Grammar Note
A "het" word formed from the verb "eten"
het geld
Money
Usage
Comes up when paying or changing currency
Grammar Note
A "het" word; small change is "het kleingeld"
het toilet
Toilet
Usage
The word alone is enough to ask for directions
Grammar Note
A "het" word; the plural "de toiletten" takes "de", as all plurals do
het zakdoekje
Tissue
Usage
For asking at a shop or a diner
Grammar Note
A "het" word; every diminutive in "-je" is a "het" word
het medicijn
Medicine
Usage
The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom
Grammar Note
A "het" word; a pharmacy is "de apotheek" (a "de" word)
de bagage
Luggage
Usage
For checking in, picking up, or storing bags
Grammar Note
A "de" word, uncountable; one suitcase is "de koffer"
de sleutel
Key
Usage
For collecting or returning it at hotel reception
Grammar Note
A "de" word; plural "de sleutels"
het kaartje
Ticket
Usage
The base word for transport and admission tickets
Grammar Note
A "het" word (diminutive in "-je"); "het ticket" also works
het paspoort
Passport
Usage
Comes up at every check-in and border control
Grammar Note
A "het" word; plural "de paspoorten"
de telefoon
Phone
Usage
Refers to the device and to making a call
Grammar Note
A "de" word; a mobile is "de mobiel"
de oplader
Charger
Usage
When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café
Grammar Note
A "de" word derived from "opladen" (to charge)
het station
Station
Usage
The easiest landmark to name when asking directions
Grammar Note
A "het" word for a railway station; plural "de stations"
het ziekenhuis
Hospital
Usage
The first word you need if you fall ill
Grammar Note
A "het" compound of "ziek" (ill) and "huis" (house)
de politie
Police
Usage
For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help
Grammar Note
A "de" word for the force; an individual officer is "de agent"
de winkel
Shop
Usage
The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things
Grammar Note
A "de" word; plural "de winkels"
de kamer
Room
Usage
For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number
Grammar Note
A "de" word used for hotel rooms and rooms in general
de weg
Road
Usage
Used when asking directions, often over a map
Grammar Note
A "de" word; a town street is "de straat"
het gezin
Family
Usage
Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with
Grammar Note
A "het" word for the immediate household; the wider family is "de familie"
de naam
Name
Usage
For confirming a booking or introducing yourself
Grammar Note
A "de" word; surname "de achternaam", first name "de voornaam"
het hoofd
Head
Usage
Body-part word for pointing at where it hurts; show it while touching your head
Grammar Note
A "het" word; a headache is "hoofdpijn"
het oog
Eye
Usage
Body-part word for pointing out an eye problem
Grammar Note
A "het" word; both eyes are "de ogen" (plurals always take "de")
de tand
Tooth
Usage
Point to this at a dentist or pharmacy; it means a front tooth
Grammar Note
A "de" word; a molar is a different word, "de kies", and toothache is usually "kiespijn"
de keel
Throat
Usage
Point to this for a sore throat; the symptom is "keelpijn"
Grammar Note
A "de" word; the outside of the neck is "de hals" or "de nek"
de buik
Belly / Stomach area
Usage
Point to this for stomach ache; the symptom is "buikpijn"
Grammar Note
A "de" word for the belly as a whole; the stomach organ is "de maag"
de rug
Back
Usage
Point to this for back pain; the symptom is "rugpijn"
Grammar Note
A "de" word covering the whole back
de onderrug
Lower back
Usage
The area Japanese calls "koshi"; Dutch has no single word and names it as the lower back
Grammar Note
A "de" word; the hip at the side of the pelvis is "de heup", a different spot
de voet
Foot
Usage
Means only the foot below the ankle; for the whole leg use "het been"
Grammar Note
A "de" word; Dutch always separates "voet" (foot) from "been" (leg)
het been
Leg
Usage
The leg from thigh to ankle; the foot itself is "de voet", so pick the one that hurts
Grammar Note
A "het" word; "been" can also mean bone, but as a body part it is the leg
de hand
Hand
Usage
Means the hand below the wrist; the whole arm is "de arm"
Grammar Note
A "de" word; plural "de handen"
de borst
Chest (ribcage)
Usage
The ribcage, for reporting chest pain or tightness; chest pain is "pijn op de borst"
Grammar Note
A "de" word; the singular means the chest, but the plural "de borsten" means breasts, so keep it singular
het hotel
Hotel
Usage
Point to this as a destination in a taxi or on the street
Grammar Note
A "het" word; plural "de hotels"
de luchthaven
Airport
Usage
Point to this as a destination; everyday Dutch also says "het vliegveld", but signage and official names use "luchthaven"
Grammar Note
A "de" compound of "lucht" (air) and "haven" (harbour); "luchthaven" is standard in Belgium too
de bushalte
Bus stop
Usage
Point to this when asking where to catch a bus; stop signs are marked "halte"
Grammar Note
A "de" word; a tram stop is "de tramhalte"
de metro
Metro / Subway
Usage
Point to this to ask for the metro; in the Netherlands only Amsterdam and Rotterdam have one
Grammar Note
A "de" word; in Belgium Brussels has a "metro", while Antwerp's underground tram is the "premetro"
de ambassade
Embassy
Usage
Point to this as a destination if you lose your passport or need consular help
Grammar Note
A "de" word; a consulate is "het consulaat"
de geldautomaat
ATM / Cash machine
Usage
Point to this to ask where to withdraw cash; everyday Dutch says "de pinautomaat" and Belgians often say "bancontact", but "geldautomaat" works in both
Grammar Note
A "de" compound of "geld" (money) and "automaat" (machine)
het wisselkantoor
Currency exchange office
Usage
Point to this to ask where to change cash; found at airports and major stations
Grammar Note
A "het" compound of "wisselen" (to exchange) and "kantoor" (office)
de wasserette
Laundromat
Usage
Point to this to find a self-service laundry; in Belgium (Flanders) it is usually called "de wassalon"
Grammar Note
A "de" word; a dry cleaner that washes for you is "de stomerij", a different kind of shop
het consulaat
Consulate
Usage
Where to go if you lose your passport; an embassy is "de ambassade"
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, so the article is "het"; plural "consulaten", and the consul is "de consul"
More Dutch phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
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