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Dutch separable verbs

Opbellen becomes ik bel je op, but verbouwen never splits. Check any verb, see where the prefix goes, and browse all 544 separable verbs in the conjugator.

Separable or not? Check any Dutch verb

Type a Dutch verb to see if it splits, where the stress goes and what the participle is. It also knows verbs with two meanings, like voorkomen.

Where the prefix goes: opbellen

Main clauseik bel op
Questionbel jij op?
Subordinate clause… dat ik opbel
With a modal verbik wil opbellen
Perfect tenseik heb opgebeld
With om ... teom op te bellen
Imperativebel op!

Which prefixes split off?

  • Almost always separable: aan, af, bij, binnen, buiten, heen, in, langs, los, mee, na, neer, op, samen, tegen, terug, thuis, toe, uit, vast, voort, weg.
  • Never separable, and no extra ge- in the participle: be-, er-, ge-, her-, ont-, ver-.
  • Separable or not, depending on the stress: achter, door, mis, om, onder, over, vol, voor, weer. Stress on the prefix means separable (dóórlopen, hij loopt door). Stress on the verb means not separable (doorlópen, hij doorloopt).

Same spelling, two verbs

These verbs exist twice: once separable, once not. The stress tells you which one you hear, and each has its own meaning and forms.

All 544 separable verbs, by prefix

adem- (1)

auto- (1)

bekend- (1)

bezig- (1)

bloot- (1)

buiten- (1)

deel- (1)

eruit- (1)

feest- (1)

flauw- (1)

gerust- (1)

hard- (1)

huis- (1)

kaart- (1)

kennis- (1)

klok- (1)

koffie- (1)

kwijt- (1)

lastig- (1)

les- (1)

lief- (1)

nat- (1)

omhoog- (1)

onder- (1)

plaats- (1)

recht- (1)

ruzie- (1)

tegemoet- (1)

teleur- (1)

terecht- (1)

vol- (1)

weer- (1)

wit- (1)

Questions about Dutch verbs

What is a separable verb in Dutch?

A verb with a prefix that moves to the end of a main clause: opbellen becomes ik bel je op. In a subordinate clause the parts stay together (dat ik je opbel), and in the participle ge goes in the middle: opgebeld.

How do I know if a Dutch verb is separable?

Look at the prefix. aan-, af-, op-, uit-, mee- and similar prefixes split off. be-, ge-, her-, ont-, ver- and er- never do. With door-, over-, onder-, om- and voor- it depends on the stress: stress on the prefix means separable. When in doubt, use the checker on this page.

Where does the prefix go with a modal verb or with te?

With a modal verb the verb stays in one piece at the end: ik wil je opbellen. With te, it goes between the two parts: om je op te bellen.

Why is voorkomen sometimes separable and sometimes not?

Because they are two different verbs. Vóórkomen, with the stress on voor, means to occur and splits: het komt vaak voor. Voorkómen, with the stress on kómen, means to prevent and does not split: dat voorkomt problemen.

All verbsAll verbs A to ZPractise verbs daily in the Werkwoorden app

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