Sleutel

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key, spanner, wrench, clef [noun] [de sleutel, de sleutels] [‘sleu-tul’]

The word "sleutel" is mostly used for keys to a lock of some kind. If you want, specifiy by adding a noun: "fietssleutel", "autosleutel", "kastsleutel" etc.

If you need a copy of a key, the common place to go is the shoe repairman, but certain hardware stores might provide this service too. Although they will only copy keys, such a place is also called a "sleutelmaker": a key maker, or a "sleutelmakerij": a place where one makes keys. Alternatively you might hear "slotenmaker": locksmith.

When clear from context you can use "sleutel" in the meaning of spanner or wrench, but if necessary you can specifiy the "sleutel" a bit more (see Related words).

Although "sleutel" can translate to "clef", it does not translate to the musical "key" of a composition. In case of the latter, we say "toonsoort" (lit. "kind of tone").

Examples:
– "<man tegen vrouw:> Heb jij mijn sleutels ergens zien liggen? Waarom ben ik deze toch altijd kwijt!"
("<man to woman:> Have you seen my keys lying around somewhere? Why do I always lose them!")

– "Zelfvertrouwen is de sleutel tot succes."
("Self-confidence is the key to success.")

– "Ik zal voor jou een sleutel laten namaken, dat is wel zo gemakkelijk!"
("I will have a key copied for you, that will make things easier!")

– "Je moet oppassen want je fietssleutel is helemaal verbogen; straks breekt hij nog!"
("You have to be careful because your bicycle key is completely bent; it might break!")

– "Laatst was ik zo dronken dat het me niet lukte om de sleutel in het slot te steken."
("I was so drunk the other day that I was unable to put the key into the lock.")

Related words:
– "Sleutelbos": bunch of keys.
– "Sleutelhanger": key ring.
– "G-sleutel": G clef.
– "Versleutelen": to encrypt.
– "Slot": lock.
– "Sleutelgat": keyhole.
– "Sleutelpositie": key position.
– "Engelse sleutel": monkey wrench, adjustable spanner.
– "Dopsleutel": socket spanner, socket wrench.
– "Inbussleutel": hex key, Allen key. Sometimes called an "IKEA-sleuteltje" since you always get these when you buy a do-it-yourself kit at IKEA.
– "Dropsleutel": typically Dutch key-shaped liquorice. They are also sold in fruit flavour. See an animation at Redband, the main producer in the Netherlands.

Kakker

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stuck-up, pompous person [noun] [de kakker, de kakkers] [‘ka-kur’]

One of the readers of the DWOTD was called a “kakker” recently. Now, is this unfriendly? Let’s try to explain what a “kakker” is!

The translation we have given here does not entirely reflect the concept of “kakker”. First some idiom background: “kakker” is derived from the word “kak”. In this context “kak” translates to “arrogance”, “airs”, “poshness” etc. Then you have the word “bekakt” which means “posh”, but not only the meaning of wealthy and rich, but also the mentality.

Mind that “kak” also translates to “shit” or “crap”, and “kakker” to “somebody who shits” but this is totally off-topic 🙂

So, basically a “kakker” is somebody from a somewhat posh environment, he or she might have airs, appear arrogant or stuck-up. However, in daily language a “kakker” has become the word for persons with a specific look associated with the posh environments. It is mainly used for their informal clothing style. “Kakkers” are associated with student fraternities, the field hockey sport, sculling/rowing and sailing/yachting.

Examples of “kakker” clothing for men are: red cotton pants with a checkered shirt, a v-neck sweater and a sailing jacket, together with brogue shoes or boat shoes.
For women: a similar outfit as for men but adjusted to women fashion 🙂  or:  v-neck dress shirt with body warmer, jeans with rolled up legs and beige Timberland boots.

Now these are just examples, of course variations exist.

Typical brands of clothing for kakkers are: Oilily, Benetton, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Scapa, Gaastra….

In the city of the Hague you might find “kakkers” in the quarters of Benoordenhout or Statenkwartier and you can find some “kakker” stores on the “Fred” (posh abbreviation for “Frederik Hendriklaan“).
In Amsterdam you will find “kakkers” in Oud-Zuid or at the P.C. Hooftstraat and in Rotterdam you can come across them in Kralingen.

Now is being called “kakker” a bad thing? No. It’s just a name for somebody belonging to a specific group of people. But, the word is of course mainly used by people who do not consider themselves a “kakker”!

Examples:
– “Op het schoolplein zie je vaak groepsvorming: aan de ene kant heb je de alto’s en aan de andere kant de kakkers.”
(“In the schoolyard one often sees groups being formed: on one side there will be the alternative kids, on the other side the posh ones.” This translation is a bit forced: “groepsvorming” is a typical Dutch word for people’s behaviour of socialising and hanging out with their own kind. An “alto” is an adolescent who is into alternative music like the grunge from the ninetees. It is derived from the Dutch word “alternatief”.)

– “Gisteren was ik op het terras van restaurant de Tuin aan de Kralingse Plas in Rotterdam. Daar waren best veel kakkers.”
(“Yesterday I was at the outdoor patio of restaurant de Tuin at the Kralingse Plas in Rotterdam. There were quite a few “kakkers” there.”)

– “Heb je de nieuwe vriendin van Peter al gehoord? Die praat echt bekakt!!”
(“Have you heard Peter’s new girlfriend? She really talks posh!!”)

Related words:
– “Koude kak”: typical “kak”-society like behaviour.
– “Bekakt”: posh, stuck-up.
– “Bekakt praten”: to talk with a posh accent.
– “Kakmeisje”: girl from a “kak” environment.
– “Expatkakker”: an expat who has adopted the “kakker” style 🙂
– “Kak”: shit, crap.

Dame

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lady [noun] [de dame, de dames] [‘daa-mu’]

To make up for DWOTD 264. Wijf, we close the week with "dame".
"Dame" has a very positive connotation in Dutch and evokes the association of decency and elegance.

The plural "dames" is very common as a form of address, contrary to the singular "dame". Its usage is quite similar to the English lady.

"Dame" can also be used for the "queen" in the game of chess.

Examples:
– "Dames en heren, mag ik even uw aandacht?"
("Ladies and gentlemen, may I please have your attention?")

– "<tegen je vriendin:> Hé mooi dame!"
("<to your girDamestoiletlfriend:> Hey beautiful lady!")

– "Pardon, kunt u mij zeggen waar ik het damestoilet kan vinden?"
("Excuse me, can you tell me where I can find the Ladies’ toilet/room?")

– "Het buurmeisje wordt al een echte dame, vind je niet?"
("The girl next door is becoming a real lady, don’t you think so?")

– "In het damestennis wordt sinds het debuut van Monica Seles flink gekreund."
("Since the debut of Monica Seles, there is considerable grunting in ladies tennis."Linda_de_mol_1
)

Related words:
– "Damesblad": women’s magazine. Common ones are "Margriet", "Libelle", "Viva" and "Linda" (by the
Dutch actress and tv hostess "Linda de Mol" who is apparantly also very successful in Germany).
– "Dame van lichte zeden": prostitute. Literally "Lady of easy virtue".

Meid

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1. young woman, girl, doll, gal [noun] [de meid, de meiden] [‘meid‘]

Today we cover "meid", a word that is often used for young(er) females but can also be used by older women amongst eachother. Contrary to "wijf", "meid" has a positive connotation. The plural "meiden" is quite commonly used to describe a group of young women. The use of "meid" or "meiden" is informal and translations also depend on the context and how the word is used, see Examples.

Related to "meid" is the word "meisje": "young girl/woman".

Examples:
– "Nicole is een toffe meid, vind je niet?"
("Nicole is a great girl, don’t you think")

– "<tegen een klein nichtje:> Zooooo, jij bent al een grote meid geworden!"
("<to a little niece:> Well, well…what a big girl you have become!" Lit.: "you’ve become a big girl already!")

– "Ik durf die knappe meid aan de bar echt niet aan te spreken…"
("I really don’t have the guts to go talk to that pretty girl at the bar…" The verb "durven" translates to "to dare", and "aanspreken" to "to approach and talk to".)

– "<hockeycoach:> Kom op meiden!! Nog 2 minuten, we hebben bijna gewonnen!!")
("<hockey coach:> Come on girls!! Two more minutes, we have almost won!!")

– "Hé lieve meid, ben je al thuis? En, ben je geslaagd?"
("Hey sweetie, are you already home? And, did you find what you were looking for?")

– "Ja meid, het valt niet mee hè, die ouderdom!"
("<one elderly woman to the other while taking a break on a park bench:> Yes my dear, it’s not that easy is it now, old age!")

– "Hé meid, wat zie je er leuk uit vandaag!"
("Hey doll, you’re looking great today!" You might also hear the more explicit  gays say this to each other.)

Expression:
– "Een slimme meid is op haar toekomst voorbereid": literally "A smart girl is prepared for her future" this was a slogan used by the Dutch government in the early nineties in order to stimulate grammar/high school girls to prepare for and later choose a scientific university study. The slogan was a lot more successful than the actual intent 🙂

Related words:
Dolly_dots– "Meisje": girl (from very young to early twenties).
– "Griet": like "meid" but less common and a bit old-fashioned.
– "Vrouw": woman, female.
– "Meidengroep": girl band. Two famous Dutch examples from the eighties are "Dolly Dots" and "Frizzle Sizzle".

2. maid, servant [noun] [de meid, de meiden] [‘meid‘]

In the meaning of maid or servant, usually an adjective is used, see the Related words. The word "meisje" can be used similarly.Gillende_keukenmeid_1

This usage of the word "meid" is a bit outdated though.

Leading up and during new year’s evening you might here talk of a so-called "gillende keukenmeid": screaming/yelling kitchen maid. This is a fire cracker making a high pitched noise.

Related words:
– "Dienstmeid": maid, servant.
– "Keukenmeid": kitchen maid.

Collegaatje

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colleague, co-worker (female) [noun] [het collegaatje, de collegaatjes] [‘ko-lee-gaa-tju’]

"Collegaatje" is the diminutive of "collega", the general word for "colleague" or "co-worker". The strange thing is however, that somehow the diminutive became the informal word for a female colleague. If you talk about a "collegaatje", every Dutch person knows you mean a female colleague. Don’t you just love the subtleties of the Dutch language… 🙂

Examples:
– "Wie was dat net aan de telefoon?" – "O, een collegaatje."
("Who were you talking to on the phone?" – "Oh, a co-worker." Literally: "Who was that just now on the phone?")

– "Schat, ik ben vanavond wat later thuis, ik ga wat drinken met een collegaatje."
("Honey, I’ll be home a little later tonight, I’m going out for a drink with a co-worker." To avoid marital problems, some men might prefer to use the general "collega"  😉 )

– "Komende maand krijgen we een nieuw collegaatje erbij, ik hoop dat ze een beetje verstand van zaken heeft!"
("Next month a new colleague will arrive, I hope she is knowledgeable!" Literally: "The coming month we’ll get a new colleague in addition, I hope she has a bit of knowledge of things/business!")

Related words:
– "Collega": colleague, co-worker.
– "Kamergenoot": office mate. This is also used in the translation of roommate (dorms).
– "Stagiair / stagiaire (fem.)": intern, trainee.