table


 

[noun]  
[de ta-fel, de ta-fels] 

A "tafel" is a table, simple as that! Don't confuse "tafel" with "tabel", which also translates to "table", e.g. a table in Excel.

You may often see the idiom "aan tafel", which generally translates to "at the table", but which may also be a command to come sit down at the table to have dinner.

Examples:
- "Aan tafel, iedereen! Het eten is klaar!" 
("Everybody sit down at the table! Dinner's ready!")

- "Alle ingredienten van het nieuwe recept liggen op de keukentafel." 
("All ingredients of the new recipe are on the kitchen table.")

- "Mam, mag ik van tafel opstaan?" 
("Mum, can I get up from the table?")

Expressions:
-
"Ter tafel brengen": to lay on the table, to put forward.
- "Iemand onder de tafel drinken": to drink someone under the table.

Example:
- "Heb je een kater?" – "Ja, ik ben gisteren compleet onder de tafel gedronken door Lisa…" -"Watje…"
("Do you have a hangover?" – "Yes, Lisa completely drank me under the table yesterday…" – "Wimp…" Lit.: "I was completely drunk under the table by Lisa yesterday")

- "W.v.t.t.k. / Wat verder ter tafel komt": a.o.b. / any other business.

Related words:
- Bestek: cutlery [noun] [het bestek, <no plural>].
- Meubel: piece of furniture [het meubel, de meubelen/meubels].
- Stoel: chair [noun] [de stoel, de stoelen].
- Aanrecht: kitchen sink [noun] [het aanrecht, de aanrechten].

Example:
- "De afwas staat al op het aanrecht…"
("The dishes are already in the kitchen sink." Note that "aanrecht" refers to the entire worktop, including the sink)

- Tafellaken: table cover/cloth [noun] [het tafellaken, de tafellakens].
- Tafeldame / tafelheer: (his/her) dinner partner (lit.: table lady/lord) [noun] [de tafeldame / de tafelheer, de tafeldames / de tafelheren].
- Tafeltennis: table tennis [noun] [het tafeltennis, <no plural>].