Link

1. link, connection, relationship [noun] [de link, de links] [‘link‘] Iconspeaker_klein

As with quite a few other words, we took this word from English 🙂 And we didn’t even change the plural, which normally would end with "-en". "Linken" does exist though, but it’s the Dutch verb for "to link". In stead of "linken" you can also use "een link leggen" – literally: "to lay a link" – hence "to link" or "to make the connection".

In the context of the Internet, there’s also the verb "doorlinken", which would translate to "to hyperlink".

Examples:
– "De link naar onze website werkt niet meer."
("The link to our website does not work anymore.")

– "Wat is de link tussen die twee mensen?"
("Wat is the relationship between those two people?")

– "Heeft Frank de link nog niet gelegd?" – "Nee, het is ongelofelijk! Het is echt een inkoppertje…"
("Hasn’t Frank made the connection yet?" – "No, it’s unbelievable! It’s really a piece of cake…")

Related words:
– "Schakel": link.

Example:
– "Dat is de ontbrekende schakel…" / "Jij bent de zwakste schakel!"

("That’s the missing link…" / "You’re the weakest link!")

– "Verbinding": connection.
– "Ketting": chain.

Extra:
Let’s do some Internet vocabulary! You may find that a lot of the words are English…
– "(Web)site": (web)site.
– "Mp3-tje": ((informal) diminutive of "mp3"): mp3.
– "Downloaden": to download.
– "Opslaan/saven": to save.
– "klikken": to click.
– "Pagina": page.
– "Plaatje": pic(ture).
– "Tekst": text.
– "Filmpje": ((informal) diminutive of "film") video.

2. risky, dicey, shifty   [adjective] [‘link‘]  Iconspeaker_klein_3

"Link" in the meaning of "risky" has a somewhat informal connotation.

Examples:
– "Ik steek hier niet de snelweg over, dat is veel te link met al die auto‘s die voorbij racen."
("I’m not crossing the highway over here, it’s way too risky with all those cars racing by.")

– "Wie zijn die kleerkasten?" – "Dat zijn linke jongens, laten we gaan…"
("Who are those muscle necks?" – "They are a shifty lot, let’s go…")

Related words:
– "Gevaarlijk": dangerous.
– "Lijp": (informal) risky, tricky.
– "Linke soep": risky business, lit. risky soup 🙂