1. to cancel/terminate, to resign, to give notice
[verb]
[op-zeg-gen, zei/zeg-de op, op-ge-zegd]
“Opzeggen” in this translation has nothing to do with “zeggen”: to say. It does however in the second translation below. The past tense of ‘opzeggen’ in its meaning of ‘to give notice’, ‘to cancel’ can also be ‘zegde’. This comes unnatural to most Dutch people hence you will mostly hear ‘zei’. “Opzeggen” is mostly used when cancelling subscriptions, tenancy or (job) contracts.
Examples:
– “Na de incorrecte berichtgeving hebben veel mensen hun abonnement op de krant opgezegd.”
(“After the inaccurate news coverage many people cancelled their newspaper subscription.”)
– “Goedemiddag, u spreekt met Janssen. Ik wil graag mijn abonnement opzeggen.” (“Good afternoon, this is Janssen speaking. I would like to cancel my subscription.”)
– “U wilt uw abonnement opzeggen, tja, dat kan alleen schriftelijk. De opzegtermijn is 2 maanden… en ik zie dat uw abonnement net met een jaar is verlengd. Jammer maar helaas! Tot ziens.”
(“You would like to cancel your subscription, well, that is only possible in writing. There is a 2 months’ notice and I see we have just extended your subscription with a year. Too bad. Bye now.”)
– “Heb je het al gehoord, Paula heeft haar baan opgezegd! Een absolute aderlating voor het bedrijf!”
(“Have you heard the news, Paula has resigned from her job! An absolute drain on the company resources.” Literally an “aderlating” is a ‘bloodletting’ and is not only a drain on resources but also implies the person was doing a very good job.)
– “Wat?! Ga je verhuizen? Wanneer?!” – “Volgende maand al jongen! Ik heb de huur vanochtend opgezegd.”
(“What?! You are moving? When?!” – “Next month already mate/buddy! I terminated the tenancy this morning.”)
– “Ik ben van plan om mijn baan op te zeggen, maar ik weet het nog niet helemaal zeker.”
(“I plan to hand in my notice, but I am not entirely sure yet.”)
Related words:
– Ontslag nemen: to resign, to quit one’s job [verb] [nam ontslag, ontslag genomen].
– Ontslag indienen: to hand in one’s resignation [verb] [diende ontslag in, ontslag ingediend].
– Ontslaan: to lay off, to dismiss, to fire [verb] [ontsloeg, ontslagen].
– Beëindigen: to terminate, to end [verb] [beëindigde, beëindigd].
– Opzegging: termination, cancellation, resignation, notice [noun] [de opzegging, de opzeggingen].
Extra: A big annoyance in the Netherlands is the difficulty that it can take to cancel a subscription (to a magazine, cable, internet, phone). Often contracts are renewed automatically each year unless you cancel in time which usually involves a 2 to 3 months’ notice in writing. Then of course they may still pretend they never received your letter… I’ve just googled a bit and apparently there is at least one website that offers assistance in cancelling subscriptions: www.abonnementenopzeggen.nl .
2. to read out (loud), to recite
[verb]
[op-zeg-gen, zei op, op-ge-zegd]
You will also hear ‘hardop opzeggen’ (to read out with a loud voice). Since ‘zeggen’ is used in its meaning of ‘to say’ the past tense that you will hear is ‘zei’. The verb ‘oplezen’ is used when you are just reading and not so much reciting.
Examples:
– “Als je de woorden opzegt blijven ze misschien beter hangen.”
(“If you read the words out loud, you may remember them better.” ‘Hangen’ is informal, a bit like ‘to stick’.)
– “Elke avond zegt hij trouw zijn gebeden op.”
(“Every night he says his prayers with dedication.”)
Related words:
– Oplezen: to read out [verb] [las op, opgelezen].