A little bit of etymology that is wedding related✨
Sergey and I eloped (=secretly got married) 1 year and 1 day ago in Denmark 🇩🇰
The English word comes from the Dutch 🇳🇱 word 'ontlopen'= to avoid. Funnily enough, we don't have a word for eloping in Dutch ourselves.
When doing this research, I also found that there -used to be- a very interesting word in Anglo-French 'aloper' = to run away from a husband with one's lover (mid-14c.)
Dutch Phrases for Relationships
Want to impress your Dutch partner? Here are some cute things to add to your vocab:
Mijn liefste – My dearest
Schatje – Darling (literally, “little treasure”)
Ik bewonder je zo - I admire you so
Ik hou van je – I love you
Dropje – my little piece of liquorice
Scheetje – my little fart
Fun fact: verliefd zijn op <person> (to be in love with) shares its root with lief (sweet). Because when you're in love, you're sweet to each other.
I had a photoshoot late last week and the pictures are truly amazing! They were made by @Esthereva
December has arrived, which also marks my last month in the Netherlands for the next 2 years 🥺 It’s bitterzoet 🥰
I truly admire all of you who’ve moved to the Netherlands. It takes so much moed (courage) and doorzettingsvermogen (determination) to start fresh in a new country and not know anything.
The most exciting part of the move is that we're choosing a new base (Paraguay), and we are becoming real nomads for the next 2 years at least. You can see our draft for 2025 below.
LANGUAGE TIP 📣 SAY THIS, NOT THAT
Looking for the perfect phrase to describe your partner or express love in Dutch?
❌ Hij is aardig. (He’s nice.)
✅ Hij is mijn rots in de branding. (He’s my rock and refuge.)
Or, for a playful twist:
🤭 Hij is mijn allesie. (He’s my everything—very casual and cute! and a tiny bit cringe)
Little Dutch Riddle
Ruzie = verbal fight Gevecht = physical fight
Ik ben het begin van liefde, maar het einde van een ruzie. Wat ben ik? I’m the beginning of love but the end of an argument. What am I?
Answer at the end of the email
Learning made easy with...
Better Read If you haven’t already explored Better Read, now’s the time! This amazing platform makes learning Dutch seamless and interactive. You can read Dutch texts, click on unfamiliar words, and instantly see translations in context—perfect for building your vocabulary on the go. Even more exciting, Better Read is rolling out updates that I’ll be incorporating into my classes soon, so you’ll have even more ways to boost your skills. Betterread.org
SLOW DUTCH Podcast Want to improve your listening skills while enjoying some gezellig stories? The Slow Dutch Podcast is perfect for beginners (A1 level) and English speakers learning Dutch. With just a little prior knowledge, you’ll be amazed at how much you can follow. Check it out on Spotify or YouTube. Veel plezier! = have fun!
Freebies on Jedutchy.com Looking for extra practice? I’ve put together a range of free learning tools on my website, so go ahead and explore!
NEWS 🗞️ WEEKLY BETTER READS (by clicking these links you have direct access to translating these texts )
