[rainbow]
weather 		[a path]
the outdoors 		[cows]
animals 		[rose]
flowers 		[park]
parks 		[garden]
yard 		[family tree]
family tree

>>

[The Face of Dutch]

Dutch Everyday: Trees

[a leaf]
blad click to hear		 [leaves]
bladeren click to hear		 [small leaves]
blaadjes click to hear - 2 		[Fall changing of the colors]
herfstkleuren click to hear - 2
[fallen leaves]
dode bladeren click to hear		 [small branch]
takje click to hear		 [branch]
tak click to hear
[tree]
boom click to hear		 [small tree]
boompje click to hear		 [small tree]
boompje 		[trees]
bomen click to hear		 [trees]
bomen click to hear
[tree trunk]
boomstam click to hear		 [tree trunk]
boomstam click to hear		 [tree stump]
boomstronk click to hear		 [roots]
wortels click to hear
[roots]
wortels click to hear		 [forest]
bos click to hear		 [jungle]
oerwoud click to hear - 2 - 3 		[jungle]
oerwoud click to hear - 2 - 3
de / het / 't click to hear (the)
een, 'n click to hear - 2 (a, an)
één click to hear (one)
>>
(het) blad
(het) blaadje
(de) bladeren
hear 		(leaf)
(small leaf)
(leaves)
 (de) tak
(de) boomstam
(de) boomstronk
(de) wortel
hear - 2 		(branch)
(tree trunk)
(tree stump)
(root)
 (de) boom
(het) bos
(het) woud
hear 		(tree)
(forest)
(deep, vast forest)

Blad click to hear ('leaf') has the irregular plural: bladeren click to hear ('leaves') - both in the lengthening of the vowel and in the -eren ending.
The diminutive blaadje click to hear ('small leaf') also has that lengthened vowel.
You could also say, poetically (or rough): blâren click to hear ('leaves') though that word (written without the accent circonflexe) also means 'blisters.'
Dode bladeren click to hear, dooie blâren click to hear ('[dead] fallen leaves.')

Boom click to hear ('tree') is written with two O's, while the plural bomen click to hear ('trees') has only one O: but the sound is the same ("long O.")
The Dutch spelling rules are fairly straightforward, mostly consistent, and not difficult.
A double vowel is always long:
boom click to hear ('tree') - maan click to hear - 2 ('moon')
A single vowel will be long in an open syllable (ending in a vowel):
stro click to hear - 2 ('straw') - ma click to hear - 2 ('mom')
A single vowel will be short in a closed syllable (ending in a consonant):
bom click to hear - 2 ('bomb') - man click to hear - 2 ('man')
If there is only one (1) consonant between vowels when a word (or part of a word) is split up in syllables,
that consonant almost always goes to the second syllable, leaving the first syllable open with a long vowel:
bomen: bo-men click to hear ('trees') - manen: ma-nen click to hear - 2 ('moons')
If there are two or more consonants between vowels when a word (or part of a word) is split up in syllables,
then usually one of those consonants remains with the first syllable, and makes it a closed syllable with a short vowel:
bommen: bom-men click to hear - 2 ('bombs') - mannen: man-nen click to hear - 2 ('men').
fully explained.

[family tree]
stamboom click to hear >> 		Woud click to hear - 2 is a vast, deep forest, like: Het Zwarte Woud click to hear - 2 ('The Black Forest.')
Very large trees are sometimes called woudreuzen click to hear - 2 ('giants of the forest.')
Oerwoud click to hear - 2 - 3 ('jungle') is literally 'primeval forest.'
Wortels click to hear ('roots') is also the common word for 'carrots.'
Boomschors click to hear ('tree bark.') Also: bast click to hear
Kurk click to hear ('cork')
Note that boomstronk click to hear is 'tree stump,' while boomstam click to hear is 'tree trunk.'

[A Dutch flag on the edge of a puddle of water]
colors 		[grapes]
food 		[a house]
the house 		[books]
media 		[jacket]
clothing 		[a mirror]
beauty 		[glasses, watch, etc.]
necessities

>>

email - Copyright © Marco Schuffelen 2008. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't be a dief (thief) / dievegge (female thief) - diefstal (theft) - stelen (to steal) - heler (dealer in stolen goods) - hear Dutch - 2