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What Do the Dutch Say? Trivia Quiz

The Dutch have some interesting words to describe things. I give you a Dutch word or words and a literal translation that make up that word or words. Can you guess its meaning?

A multiple-choice quiz by Shaffyre. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Shaffyre

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
294,766

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
893

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "Spijker" means "nail" and "broek" means "pants", but what is a "spijkerbroek"? Hint

Denim jeans

Rubber hammer

Nail holder

Work clothes

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Question 2 of 10

2. "Boter" means "butter" and "ham" is the same as in English. So what are you eating when you are eating a "boterham"? Hint

Bacon fat

Sandwich

Toast with ham

Greased pig

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Question 3 of 10

3. What do you do with "gestampte muisjes"? "Gestampte" means "pounded" and "muisjes" means "little mice". Hint

Put them on bread

Bury them

Train them to chase mice

Use them for pest control

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Question 4 of 10

4. A "krent" literally is a currant, but it can also be used for people. What kind of person would you call a "krent"? Hint

A weathered farmer

An old, wrinkled person

A cheap or tight person

An alcoholic

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Question 5 of 10

5. Your "nicht" is your niece (or cousin). What type of person is also called a "nicht"? Hint

A homosexual man

A hippie

The family fool

The matriarch of a family

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Question 6 of 10

6. No literal translation given for this one as that would make it too easy. What is "chocoladepasta"? Hint

Chocolate mousse

Chocolate spread

Chocolate vermicelli

Chocolate sprinkles

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Question 7 of 10

7. What does one do when you go "vreemd", where "vreemd" means "strange" or "unknown"? Hint

Disappear

Be a party animal

Have an affair

Go psychotic

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Question 8 of 10

8. A "koe" is a "cow" and a "voet" is a "foot", so what is a "koevoet"?
Hint

Cow dung

Cowboy

Crowbar

Shank

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Question 9 of 10

9. "Hagel" means "hail" and "slag" means "blow" or "stroke". What is "hagelslag"? Hint

Hailstorm

Staple gun

Lightning

Chocolate sprinkles

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Question 10 of 10

10. "Muggen" are mosquitoes or gnats, and a "zifter" is "a person who strains". But what kind of person would you call a "muggenzifter"? Hint

A cheap or tight person

A person who splits hairs

An old, wrinkled person

An entomologist

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Spijker" means "nail" and "broek" means "pants", but what is a "spijkerbroek"?

Answer: Denim jeans

When the denim pants he sold kept on tearing, Jacob Davis came upon the idea to use copper rivets to reinforce them. It is from these rivets that the name "spijkerbroek" comes, literally meaning "pants with nails". In Dutch the singular "broek" is used for "pants". The plural form is "broeken".

2. "Boter" means "butter" and "ham" is the same as in English. So what are you eating when you are eating a "boterham"?

Answer: Sandwich

When you make a sandwich you will spread it with "boter" and you may put some "ham" on it. In old Dutch, "ham" also referred to a "lump" or "chunk". The word "boterham" is used both for a slice of bread and for a sandwich. Several slices or sandwiches will be "boterhammen".

3. What do you do with "gestampte muisjes"? "Gestampte" means "pounded" and "muisjes" means "little mice".

Answer: Put them on bread

"Gestampte muisjes" is made from ground aniseed and sugar. Originally they were whole sugar coated aniseeds but because it was difficult for the elderly to eat, the manufacturer decided to offer a ground variation. The name "muisjes" comes from the original sugar coated aniseeds, which looked like little mice with the "tail" of the aniseed still sticking out.

4. A "krent" literally is a currant, but it can also be used for people. What kind of person would you call a "krent"?

Answer: A cheap or tight person

The term comes from the days that currants were used as a means of payment and therefore very valuable. Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" will most certainly be called a "krent". The plural of "krent" is "krenten".

5. Your "nicht" is your niece (or cousin). What type of person is also called a "nicht"?

Answer: A homosexual man

The term most probably comes from homosexual men often being effeminate. In Dutch the daughter of your brother, sister, uncle or aunt is your "nicht". The daughter of your "nicht" (your "second cousin") and the daughter of your uncle or aunt (your "great-niece") is your "achternicht", which would loosely translate as "behind niece" or "rear niece".

6. No literal translation given for this one as that would make it too easy. What is "chocoladepasta"?

Answer: Chocolate spread

"Chocoladepasta" is a chocolate spread to put on your bread, made of cocoa powder, sugar and fats (vegetable oil). It is also called "pasta", for short. "Pasta" is the Dutch for "paste" as well as for "pasta" as in "Italian pasta".

7. What does one do when you go "vreemd", where "vreemd" means "strange" or "unknown"?

Answer: Have an affair

"Vreemdgaan" literally means "to go strange". About the most important thing when one has an affair is that it remains unknown, especially to your partner.

8. A "koe" is a "cow" and a "voet" is a "foot", so what is a "koevoet"?

Answer: Crowbar

It is named a "koevoet" because one end of a crowbar is shaped like a cow's foot. It is also called a "breekijzer" in Dutch, an "iron" to "break" something with.

9. "Hagel" means "hail" and "slag" means "blow" or "stroke". What is "hagelslag"?

Answer: Chocolate sprinkles

"Hagelslag" is the chocolate sprinkles that the Dutch like to put on their bread. Yes, the Dutch tend to put things on their bread that may be a little strange to others. The name comes from when you pour "hagelslag" from the box onto your bread, it looks like hail striking down.

10. "Muggen" are mosquitoes or gnats, and a "zifter" is "a person who strains". But what kind of person would you call a "muggenzifter"?

Answer: A person who splits hairs

A "muggenzifter" is a narrow minded person who tends to find fault with everything. The expression comes from the Bible, namely Matthew 23:24 - "Gij blinde wegwijzers, die de mug uitzift, maar de kameel doorzwelgt." (NBG51) or in English: "Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." (KJV)

Source: Author Shaffyre

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Leau before going online.
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