wimp, softie, sissy, weakling
[noun]
[de slap-ja-nus, de slap-ja-nus-sen]
"Slapjanus" is derived from the adjective "slap": weak, soft, feeble. A "slapjanus" is somebody who can both be physically weak (little strength) and mentally weak (no determination, no motivation, can't get things done etc.). You will also hear "softie" (derived from the English 'soft') or 'watje'.
Examples:
– "Ik ga Yvette helpen verhuizen." – "Kan haar vriend niet helpen?" – "Jawel, maar hij is een beetje een slapjanus."
("I'm going to help Yvette move (house)." – "Isn't her boyfriend able to help?" – "Yes he is, but he is a bit of a softie.")
– "Aan slapjanussen hebben we niets in deze steeds harder wordende wereld!"
("Wimps are of no use to us in this ever toughening world!")
– "Ik ben zijn geklaag zat, als hij een slapjanus wil zijn, prima, maar val mij er niet mee lastig!"
("I'm sick of his whining, if he wants to be a sissy, fine, but don't bother me with it!")
Related words:
– Slap: weak, soft, feeble [adjective].
– Slappeling: weakling, wimp, softie [noun] [de slappeling, de slappelingen].
Example:
– "Jij slappeling! Geef je nu al op? Kom op, het is nog maar 200 kilometer naar Mordor!"
("You weakling! Are you giving up already? Come on, it's only 200 kilometres left to Mordor!")
– Soft: soft, weak [adjective, from English].
– Watje: sissy, wimp [noun] [het watje, de watjes].
– Zwak: weak [adjective].
“Slap”, got that. And the “janus” part, where would that originate?
Incidentally, a popular Internet pseudonym in the English-speaking world is “Hugh Janus”.
For Netherlanders, you need to pronounce the second name with an “a” as in “hay”…
Hi Chris – I looked around a bit but cannot come up with an answer that makes sense. There is the Roman god “Janus” but his description does not really call for the derivation of ‘slapjanus’.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janus
Hello,
THANKS FOR DOING THIS SITE. I’VE BEEN USING IT ONLY FOR COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW BUT IT BECAME A SOLID PART OF MY DAILY ROUTINE. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO LEARN DUTCH.
THANKS AGAIN AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Marek
(on the etymology of slapjanus): check for some hints at http://www.etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/slapjanus
Janus was a common used name in Belgium like Peter or John in England. It’s just to express it’s just an average person.
It’s a decent way to say: “wheak penis”
in dutch: slappe lul.
Meaning: a soft, lazy person.