11 untranslatable Dutch words (yes, gezellig is there)

Normally we would try and teach you some decent Dutch words (or maybe seven). However, some Dutch words are just not meant to be translated, making it harder for non-Dutch speakers to get a sense of all this Dutch mambo jumbo.

Let’s take a look at these untranslatable Dutch words. We will give you a literal translation, and try to find the best way to describe what it means in English — we’ll probably throw in a pun or two along the way. (Luckily, that’s not hard as they are littered with puns anyway). 🤷‍♀️

Afbellen

The word afbellen roughly translates to “calling it off.” It usually refers to when you cancel on a friend last-minute, often because you would rather be in bed watching Netflix alone. 🛋

But, it can also refer to the act of calling people to cancel. Like when you have to call your grandma and six cousins to cancel that kaasstroopwafel (get-together) you had planned with your family. So you can say “Ik ben de hele familie aan het afbellen.” (I’m cancelling the whole family gathering).

Afblazen

Afblazen literally means “blow-off.” It is very similar to the above and might even be a better fit for rearranging for that solo Netflix and chill.

person-watching-tv
Me afblazen after cancelling all my plans. Image: Depositphotos

Plaatsvervangende schaamte

Plaatsvervangende schaamte is that feeling of shame you experience caused by someone else’s (stupid) actions. Ah yes, second-hand embarrassment. That’s got to be one of the top 5 worst feelings ever. 🤦‍♂️

It’s that feeling you get when you see your President making a fool of himself in a press conference (a completely hypothetical situation of course).

When digging through the possible meaning of these words, we found the term “vicarious shame” which is another interesting way of putting it.

Leedvermaak

“Leedvermaak” is the complete opposite! It describes the feeling of enjoying someone else’s misfortune. 😈

You have probably heard of the infamous German version of the phrase — “schadenfreude”. This idea may be applicable to your feelings about a few political figures (not naming any, so don’t “@” us)!

Uitzieken

This word is literally translated as “out-sicking” — meaning when you are sick, you let the illness take its course as you get some rest until it is over.🌡

Make sure not to mix it up with “zieken” — which means teasing somebody. That can lead to an awkward conversation if you are calling in sick at work. 🙈

If you want to hear it from a real Dutchie, Elisette puts it way better than we could. 😉

Bouwvak

The word is derived from “bouw-vakantie” which means build holiday. It’s when nearly all the construction work is halted in order for the construction workers to go on holiday.

The first Saturday of the “bouwvak” is “Zwarte Zaterdag” — when the roads to France are all choked up with holiday-going Dutchies in their caravans.

Bouwvak has not so much to do with Bouwvakkersdecolleté (Builder’s bum), but for obvious reasons, it’s wise not to mix these two up.

Uitwaaien

Uitwaaien means “blowing out” — but it has nothing to do with that semi-legal herb. You could take a joint to the beach when you’re going for “uitwaaien“, but it simply means going for a walk and getting some air (preferably at a windy beach).

Who said it’s limited to humans? Image: Pixabay.

Uitbuiken 

There have got to be more words for “uitbuiken'” in other languages, help us out, folks! It literally translates to “belly-ing out” and means letting the food settle after a nice meal. It’s shorthand for nurturing a food baby. 🤰 🥪

Natafelen

The word uitbuiken is not to be confused with natafelen, which is more focused on the gezelligheid (cosiness) of sitting with friends or family at a table after a meal, drinking a bit, and having some fun conversations. 🍻

Voorpret

Voorpret = pre-fun. Voorpret is about enjoying an event or something before happens. You typically experience it before weddings, parties, and holidays. What’s the proper English term? Pre-party fun, perhaps? “Looking forward to it”? 🥳

Both don’t quite cover it, think about it as the fun you’re having when reading an article on Rotterdam’s architecture before the visit to the town itself.

Gezellig

Together with lekker, the two words are the most used examples of untranslatable words in Dutch. If you’ve ever had the misfortune to be trapped in a Dutch circle of death, you will have heard this phrase used many times.

As you should know, after spending more than seven minutes at any Dutch gathering, the word gezellig can be used in so many ways. “Echt gezellig”; lying about how “gezellig it was with my mother-in-law”; or a sarcastic “GEZELLIG HOOR” when your cousin is fighting with your racist aunt in a discussion about Zwarte Piet.

READ MORE | Dutch swear words: the guide to insults and cursing in the Netherlands

Now that you’ve gotten the hang of those untranslatables, you can go ahead and add them to your growing list of Dutch vocab and use them almost exclusively for the next few days. 😉

Liked that little video? Be sure to subscribe to DutchReview on Youtube for more of the good stuff!

Feature Image: Pixabay

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in August 2018, and was fully updated in August 2022 for your reading pleasure.

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱http://www.abuzervanleeuwen.nl
Abuzer founded DutchReview a decade ago because he thought expats needed it and wanted to make amends for the Dutch cuisine. He has a Masters in Political Science and IT but somewhere always wanted to study history or good old football. He also a mortgage in the Netherlands and will happily tell you too how to get one. Born and raised in Rotterdam, Abuzer now lives in Leiden but is always longing back to his own international year in Italy.

Liked it? Try these on for size:

What do you think?

10 COMMENTS

  1. Hi you guys & girls,

    Great article, let me suggest another one….

    Bit more down to Earth and highly amazing the seafaring English never got around to developing this word….

    “Varen”as in bootje varen not “fern” doesn’t seem to have an English equivalent.

    Seafaring comes close, but I never heard faring being used, it’s always sailing or steaming. Both of which refer to the method of propulsion not to the actual activity of moving a boat or ship through the water…..

    Or am I missing something?

      • When we start to talk dutch we are using so many expressions out of the seaman’s language that we can not really avoid it .
        Van wanten weten
        Boven water blijven
        Ten tij en ten ontij
        In veilige haven zijn
        De wind in de zeilen hebben
        In t water vallen
        Je schepen verbranden enz enz enz All these are just normal daily language expressions ,used by everybody ,even people that have never put a foot in salt water ..(could be difficult to find among the dutch )
        Ok ,goede vaart !

  2. Plaatsvervangende schaamte may not be translatable to english, but it is in spanish: vergüenza ajena. lovely concept

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related posts

Latest posts

Wet and windy weather forecast for the Netherlands this weekend

Perhaps, like us, you've been enjoying the brief period of sunny weather and warm, terras-friendly temperatures. Maar helaas... it looks like rainy Dutch weather...

Dutch fraternity publicly sends out a “slut-list” objectifying fellow female students

Male-dominated student associations in the Netherlands appear to have a track record of questionable (disgusting) sexist behaviour — and it seems like no matter...

Why didn’t they tell me? A guide for visiting the Netherlands

I’ve been frequenting the lowlands for a good many years now, and when I first came over, I had little idea of what to...

It's happening

Upcoming events

The latest Dutch news.
In your inbox.