1. just (for a moment)
[adverb]

“Even” is used very regularly in Dutch in the meaning “just for a moment” or “just for a little while”. When writing emails or texts on a cellphone, it’s often abbreviated to “effe” or “ff”. (The sign in the picture says: “ff pauze”, meaning: “[take a] little break”).

Examples:
– “Het is veel te lekker weer vandaag om binnen achter een scherm te zitten; ik ga even naar buiten.” 
(“The weather is far too good today to sit inside behind a screen; I’m just going outside (for a moment).”)

– “Waar is Linda?” – “Ze is even boodschappen doen”.
(“Where is Linda?” -“She just went out to do shopping.”)

– “Heb je even een kwartiertje voor me?” -“Liever later, ik ben net met iets bezig en dat gaat nog wel even duren.”
(“Can you spare me 15 minutes?” – “I prefer later, I’m just working on something that is going to take a little while”.)

– “Even geduld a.u.b., u wordt zo spoedig mogelijk geholpen.”
(“Please be patient, we will assist you as soon as possible”. Lit.: “[…] you will be helped as soon as possible.”)

Expressions:
– “Ho eens even”: wait a minute.

Example:
– “Ho eens even, als je mijn fiets wilt lenen moet je dat wel even vragen.”
(“Wait a minute, if you want to borrow my bike, you should ask.”)

Extra:
Dutch singer Gordon (who went to last year’s Eurovision Songfestival as one of the Toppers) had his biggest hit with “Kon ik maar even bij je zijn” (“If only I could be with you for just a while”).

2. even
[adjective/adverb]

The second meaning of “even” is “even” (not odd).

Examples:
– “Wat is je geluksgetal? Een even of een oneven getal?” 
(“What’s your lucky number? An even or uneven number?”)

Expressions:
– “Het is mij om het even”: It’s all the same to me, I don’t prefer one option over the other.

Related words:
– Oneven: odd, uneven [adjective/adverb].