GOESTING IN TAAL
  • Home
  • Books
  • Workshops
  • Learning
  • SHOP
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Books
  • Workshops
  • Learning
  • SHOP
  • Contact

BLOG

10 Flemish words and expressions you need to know if you’re an international student in Flanders!

5/11/2018

0 Comments

 
Welcome to all international students who have come to Belgium to do an Erasmus or a Master's degree! Today, I would like to share with you 10 typical words and expressions which are crucial to student life in Belgium!
 
1. Kot
If you are a student, chances are high that you are living in a kot. A kot is a student residence or a house shared with other students. Some example sentences:
               Zijt ge op kot?                                                     Are you in your kot?
               Ik zit op kot in de Parijstraat.                     I live in a kot in Parijsstraat.

 
2. Een pintje
As you have probably noticed, beer plays a pretty big role in student life in Belgium. We are the country of beer, after all. If you want to order a regular beer, like a Stella or a Jupiler, you ask for a “pintje”.
               Voor mij een pintje, alstublieft.                For me regular beer, please.
               Ik heb pintjes koud staan.                           I have beers in the fridge.

 
3. Brossen
Brossen means “to skip class”. For the people studying in Leuven, you will know there is a bar in the Old Market called “den Brosser” (basically, the person who skipped class).
               Hebt gij al vaak gebrost?                                    Have you skipped many classes?
               Ik denk da’k voor ene keer ga brossen.        I think I’m going to skip class for once.

 
4. Ik ben door.
Ik ben door means “I’m leaving” or “I’m going home”. This is the typical sentence we use when we leave a party. If someone says it to you, you can respond with “Salut”, “Joe” or “Tot de volgende!” (which mean bye or see you next time)
 
5. Ik ben erdoor!
Though it resembles the previous expression, the meaning is completely different. Ik ben erdoor means “I passed my exams!” which is of course great news, so we hope you will get the chance to use it. So take it easy on the “pintjes” and the “brossen” ?
 
6. Eerste zit / tweede zit
“Eerste zit” and “Tweede zit” represent the two periods in which we need to do exams.  Eerste zit is the first chance you get to take an exam (either in January or June) and Tweede zit is the period where you get to redo an exam if you failed the first time. (in August-September)
               Ik heb tweede zit.                                                I need to redo some exams.
               Ik ben er op alles door, in eerste zit!           I passed all my exams, in the first period!

 
7. De aula
De aula is the big room in which we have some of our classes and often also the graduation ceremony.
               In welke aula moeten we zijn?                 In which aula do we need to be?
               Ik zit vanachter in de aula.                         I’m in the back of the aula.
 
8. Een smoske
We already talked about pintjes, but of course a student also has to eat! One option could be a smoske. A smoske is a baguette with ham, cheese, mayonnaise and veggies. The name comes from the verb “smossen”, which means “to spill”, probably because of all of that mayonnaise.
 
9. Zeveren
Not everything about student life needs to be serious. Sometimes, it’s also nice to just hang out with friends and to kid around and philosophize about life. This is what we call “zeveren”, to talk about random stuff, to bullshit or to kid around.
               Ik ben maar aan’t zeveren.                             I’m just kidding around.
               Hij is weer aan’t zeveren zenne.                  He’s talking nonsense again.

 
10. Zalig!
And finally, if there is one word you definitely need to remember from this list, it’s definitely the last one: zalig, which means “awesome!” or “amazing!”.
               Zalig feestje!                                                       Awesome party!
               Zalige plaat!                                                        Awesome song!
               Hoe was’t gisteren? – Echt zalig!               How was it yesterday? – Really awesome


Free download

Get this article as a pdf + free audio to get the pronunciation right + 20 more typical sentences for student life!

You will also receive occasional updates (no spamming, I promise!) about activities for international students. You can unsubscribe any time.

Thank you!

We will be sending you an email with the pdf and audio file in a couple of minutes. Welcome to the Goesting in Taal community!

Picture
Picture
Do you want to learn more?
Check out our survival guide for international students here!

With this pocket-size book, you will be blending in with the locals in no time.

0 Comments

Wat betekent "precies" in het Vlaams?

1/11/2018

0 Comments

 
Het woord "precies" heeft twee functies in het Vlaams.
De eerste functie kennen jullie zeker al: "precies" als synoniem voor "exact" of "juist".
Bijvoorbeeld:
             Wat is precies het probleem?
             Wat bedoelt ge precies?
             Dat is precies wat ik bedoel!


Maar een tweede, interessante functie van het woord "precies" is om observaties of indrukken met anderen te delen.
In deze context is "precies" een synoniem voor 'ik heb de indruk dat" of "het lijkt alsof".
Bijvoorbeeld:
             Ik ken die kerel precies.                                  (= ik heb de indruk dat ik die kerel ken)
             Ge zijt precies moe.                                          (= je ziet er moe uit/ het lijkt alsof je moe bent)
             Er is precies niet veel volk vandaag.       (= ik heb de indruk dat er vandaag niet veel mensen zijn)

Deze tweede versie van "precies" speelt een belangrijke rol in sociale interacties, want het zijn dit soort zinnetje die we gebruiken om gesprekken te starten met onze vrienden en collega's!

Klaar voor een kleine oefening? Voeg het woordje "precies" toe aan de volgende zinnetjes!

  • Het is druk.
  • Het is een moeilijke vraag.
  • Hij is goedgezind.
  • Er is een storm gepasseerd in uw kamer.
  • Die twee komen goed overeen.
  • Die is gehaast.
  • Ik ken dat meisje van ergens.
Picture
0 Comments

    Sofie Begine

    Language Trainer specialising in informal language

    Exercises Spoken Flemish

    Archives

    March 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Curieuzeneus
    Expressions
    Gedicht
    Grammar
    It's Everywhere
    Key Phrases
    Key Words And Expressions
    Listening Exercise
    Music
    Quiz
    Update

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.