Dutch Intensifiers: Make Your Dutch More Expressive!
Learning Dutch? Then you’ve probably noticed that Dutch speakers love to make things extra!
Instead of simply saying koud (cold), you can say ijskoud (ice-cold); instead of moe (tired), you might be doodmoe (dead tired); and if you’re hungry, you could be uitgehongerd (starving).
These colourful Dutch intensifiers make everyday language more vivid, expressive and natural. In this blog, we explore useful expressions for cold and heat, hunger and thirst, tiredness, wealth and poverty, anger, happiness and fear.
For expats learning Dutch, these expressions are a fun way to move beyond textbook Dutch and sound more natural, fluent and confident.
Koud & Warm – Cold & Warm
| Nederlands | Engels |
| ijskoud | ice-cold |
| steenkoud | freezing cold |
| bitterkoud | bitterly cold |
| bloedheet | boiling hot |
| snikheet | scorching hot |
| gloeiend heet | red hot |
| kokend heet | boiling hot |
| loeiheet | blazing hot |
Honger & Dorst – Hunger & Thirst
| Nederlands | Engels |
| honger als een paard | as hungry as a horse |
| uitgehongerd | starving |
| dorst als een kameel | as thirsty as a camel |
Moe – Tired
| Nederlands | Engels |
| doodmoe | exhausted |
| bekaf | worn out (informal) |
| afgepeigerd | completely exhausted |
| gesloopt | shattered (British English) |
| uitgeput | exhausted |
| moe als een hond | dog-tired |
Rijk & arm – Rich & poor
| Nederlands | Engels |
| stinkend rijk steenrijk | filthy richfilthy rich |
| straatarm | dirt poor |
| platzak | broke |
| blut | broke |
Boos – Angry
| Nederlands | Engels |
| woest | furious |
| razend | furious |
| laaiend | absolutely furious |
| witheet | fuming |
| ziedend | boiling with anger |
Blij – Glad
| Nederlands | Engels |
| dolblij | thrilled |
| dolgelukkig | over the moon |
| in de wolken | on cloud nine |
| zo blij als een kind | as happy as a child |
| zielsgelukkig | incredibly happy |
Bang – Afraid
| Nederlands | Engels |
| doodsbang | terrified |
| bang als een wezel | scared stiff |
| een hart in de keel hebben | have your heart in your mouth |
| zich een hoedje schrikken | get the fright of your life |
Practice makes perfect – Oefening baart kunst
How do you apply this in daily life? Book a ‘Snap your city’ session with a Flowently tutor and go wild!
