The pattern
A false friend is a Dutch word that looks like an English word but has a different meaning. Learn its real meaning together with the Dutch word for the English meaning.
- slim = clever (English slim is slank)
- eventueel = possibly, if needed (eventually is uiteindelijk)
- actueel = current, up to date (actually is usually eigenlijk)
- brutaal = cheeky, bold in a rude way (brutal is wreed or bruut)
- het kind = child (kind is aardig)
- het monster = sample (it can also mean a monster)
- door = through, or by (a door is de deur)
- bellen = to phone, to ring a bell (for call meaning give a name, use noemen)
Examples
| Mei is heel slim: ze spreekt vier talen. | Mei is very clever: she speaks four languages. |
| Yara kan eventueel op zaterdag werken. | Yara can work on Saturday if needed. |
| Is dit telefoonnummer nog actueel? | Is this phone number still up to date? |
| Die meeuw is echt brutaal: hij heeft mijn broodje gestolen! | That seagull is really cheeky: it stole my sandwich! |
| Lotte heeft een kind van drie. | Lotte has a three-year-old child. |
| Ik heb bij de drogist een gratis monster gekregen. | I got a free sample at the chemist's. |
| We fietsen door het park naar huis. | We cycle home through the park. |
| Deze taart is door Fatima gemaakt. | This cake was made by Fatima. |
| Ik bel je vanavond even. | I'll give you a quick call tonight. |
| Er wordt gebeld! Doe jij even open? | Someone's at the door! Can you get it? |
Why it works this way
Dutch and English are close relatives, so they share hundreds of old words. Over the centuries, some of those words drifted apart. English even borrowed slim from Dutch in the 1600s, and then each language took it in a different direction. Dutch door is related to English "through", while English "door" is related to Dutch deur: same letters, crossed wires. You will meet door meaning by again in the passive.
Another group came into Dutch from French. Eventueel and actueel kept the French meanings: possibly and current. Good news if you speak Spanish or German: Spanish "actual" and German "aktuell" also mean current, and German "eventuell" means possibly. German speakers have their own trap, though: slim looks like "schlimm" but means clever, and brutaal is much milder than German "brutal".
You will see eventueel a lot in letters from the gemeente, often as eventuele: Bij eventuele vragen kunt u ons bellen simply means "If you have any questions, you can call us." And when the GP asks for een urinemonster, relax: it is a sample, nothing scary.
Learning pairs works because the trap and the way out are stored together. How to learn Dutch grammar so it sticks has more ways to make words stay.
Remember: same face, different job. When a Dutch word looks just like an English one, you recognise the face, but check the job before you trust it.
Watch out
NotEventueel heb ik een baan gevonden.
SayUiteindelijk heb ik een baan gevonden.
eventually, meaning in the end, is uiteindelijk
NotActueel wil ik liever thee.
SayEigenlijk wil ik liever thee.
actually is eigenlijk; actueel means current
NotKun je de door even dichtdoen?
SayKun je de deur even dichtdoen?
a door is de deur; door means through or by
NotIedereen belt me Bas.
SayIedereen noemt me Bas.
bellen is for phone calls and bells; giving a name is noemen
Quick check
- Choose: Na drie keer heb ik ... mijn rijbewijs gehaald. (eventueel / uiteindelijk)
- What does Deze brief is door de gemeente gestuurd mean? (a) This letter was sent to the council. (b) This letter was sent by the council.
- Fix the verb: Wij bellen onze hond Max.
- What does Zijn uw gegevens nog actueel? mean? (a) Are your details actually correct? (b) Are your details still up to date?
Show the answers
- uiteindelijk (it means in the end; eventueel means possibly)
- (b) (door before the one who does the action means by)
- Wij noemen onze hond Max. (naming is noemen; bellen needs a phone or a bell)
- (b) (actueel means current, not actually)
Use it today
Make three flashcards, each with one pair and a sentence of your own, for example: slim means clever, and English slim is slank. Then use one out loud today, perhaps by telling a colleague that the seagulls in town are brutaal.