What makes a word beautiful? Is it the sound, the meaning, or the feeling it evokes? A “mooi woord” (beautiful word) is, of course, subjective — but in Dutch, certain words consistently stand out. They are loved for their poetry, their expressiveness, or simply because they sound delightfully funny.
If you’re an expat learning Dutch, these words offer a perfect glimpse into the character of the Dutch language: practical, emotional, playful, and sometimes wonderfully weird. Below are some of the most popular, beautiful, and amusing Dutch words – (according to Learners and Locals) with explanations and example sentences to help you remember them.
❤️ Liefde (Love)
Unsurprisingly, liefde is often named as one of the most beautiful Dutch words. Its meaning is universal, but the soft sound of the word makes it especially warm.
Example (Dutch):
Liefde maakt het leven mooier.
English:
Love makes life more beautiful.
🌅 Ochtendgloren (Morning glow)
This poetic word refers to the first light of dawn, just before sunrise. It’s rarely used in daily conversation, but it appears often in literature and songs.
Example (Dutch):
In het ochtendgloren begon de stad langzaam te ontwaken.
English:
In the morning glow, the city slowly began to wake up.
🌆 Avondschemering (Evening twilight)
The counterpart to ochtendgloren, avondschemering describes the soft fading of daylight in the evening — a favorite word for poets and nature lovers.
Example (Dutch):
We wandelden door het park tijdens de avondschemering.
English:
We walked through the park during the evening twilight.
🌿 Soelaas (Relief)
Soelaas is a small word with a big emotional meaning. It refers to relief, comfort, or help in a difficult situation — and has a slightly old-fashioned, elegant feel.
Example (Dutch):
Dat gesprek bood eindelijk wat soelaas.
English:
That conversation finally brought some relief.
😌 Lanterfanten (To loaf around)
A favorite among expats! Lanterfanten means doing absolutely nothing productive — but in a relaxed, almost joyful way.
Example (Dutch):
Op zondag lanterfanten we het liefst de hele dag.
English:
On Sundays, we prefer to loaf around all day.
🐦Kissebissen (To bicker)
This word sounds exactly like what it means: small, often silly arguments, especially between people who actually like each other.
Example (Dutch):
Ze waren aan het kissebissen over wie de afwas moest doen.
English:
They were bickering about who had to do the dishes.
💘 Hoteldebotel (Madly in love)
One of the funniest and most expressive Dutch words. Hoteldebotel means being completely, head-over-heels in love — often used playfully.
Example (Dutch):
Hij is hoteldebotel op haar.
English:
He is madly in love with her.
Why These Words Matter When Learning Dutch
These words show that Dutch is much more than grammar rules and sentence structure. They reveal:
- how the Dutch express emotion and atmosphere,
- how humor is built into the language,
- and how sound and meaning often go hand in hand.
For expats learning Dutch, words like these make the language more memorable, human, and fun — and they’re great conversation starters with native speakers. Learning Dutch isn’t just about correctness. It’s also about discovering words that feel right.
