Learn how to say, "I don't understand"
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Hallo! Hello and welcome to Dutch Survival Phrases brought to you by DutchPod101.com, this course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to the Netherlands. You will be surprised at how far a little Dutch will go. |
| Now, before we jump in, remember to stop by DutchPod101.com and there, you will find the accompanying PDF and additional info in the post. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| In this lesson, we will look at a very useful phrase, meaning "I don't understand." It is very useful because there will be many times you won't immediately understand what people are saying. |
| In Dutch, "I don't understand" is Ik begrijp het niet.Let's break it down by syllable: Ik be-grijp het niet. |
| Let's have a look at the components of this expression. |
| The first word, Ik, in this context, means, "I." |
| Ik. |
| In our expression, Ik is followed by begrijp, which means, "understand." |
| The form begrijp comes from the verb begrijpen, "to understand." |
| Let's break this word down by syllable: Be-grijp. |
| The last two words in this context, het niet, literally mean, "it not." |
| That was: het niet. |
| Now, to recap, we have: Ik begrijp het niet, "I don't understand." |
| We can add the word sorry to the phrase above, which in this context means, "I'm sorry." |
| So the whole phrase will be, "I'm sorry. I don't understand." |
| In Dutch, this is Sorry, ik begrijp het niet. |
| Another way to express that you don't understand is by asking the question, "What does it mean?" |
| This phrase in Dutch is Wat betekent dat? |
| Let's break it down by syllable: Wat be-te-kent dat? |
| The first word, wat, means, "what." |
| The second word is betekent, meaning, "means." |
| Betekent comes from the verb betekenen, which is "to mean." |
| Let's break it down by syllable: Be-te-kent. |
| The whole phrase once again is Wat betekent dat? |
| The last word dat means, "that." |
Outro |
| Okay, to close out this lesson, we'd like you to practice what you've just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for saying it aloud. You have a few seconds before I give you the answer, so good luck, that also means “good luck” in Dutch. |
| "I don't understand." - Ik begrijp het niet. |
| Ik begrijp het niet. |
| Ik begrijp het niet. |
| "I'm sorry. I don't understand." - Sorry, ik begrijp het niet. |
| Sorry, ik begrijp het niet. |
| Sorry, ik begrijp het niet. |
| "What does it mean?" - Wat betekent dat? |
| Wat betekent dat? |
| Wat betekent dat? |
| All right, that's going to do it for today. Remember to stop by DutchPod101.com and pick up the accompanying PDF and additional info in the post. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. Tot ziens! |
Comments
HideHello Listeners, do you have any body languages to mean "I don't understand" in your country?
Hi Aminah!
Bedankt voor je bericht! (Thank you for your message!) 😊 We are here to support you on your language learning journey. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions.
Dank je wel!
Team DutchPod101.com
👍
Hoi Lynn,
Dat vind ik fijn om te horen. Heel graag gedaan 😇
Jacob,
Team DutchPod101.com
Ik waardeer het enorm dat je zowel letterlijke betekenis als vertaling geeft.
I really appreciate that you give both literal meaning and translation. (Dutch thanks to Google Translate).
Het helpt me veel.
Bedankt
Hoi Lance,
Yeah, Dutch can be tricky sometimes.
Je kunt iemand niet verstaan maar wel begrijpen. ?
Jacob,
Team DutchPod101.com
Hoi Jacob
I was very surprised to read your comment that begrijpen and verstaan have different meanings in Dutch. In Afrikaans begryp and verstaan have the same meaning like as in German (verstehen and begreifen). I think maybe begryp and begreifen tend to mean more "comprehend."
Hallo Maria,
Thank you for your comment and of course for your suggestions.
Next there will be recordings for the new lessons I shall keep this mind
and speak more slowely. Hopefully the lessons will be a little easier to
understand than.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Jacob,
Team DutchPod101.com
Hello!
As further I go (in your program) as more I think that you need to change the pronunciation section... I feel not good in study because now the phrases and words are pronounced too quickly for me. And also I can't share the parts of phrases: I mean that when I finish to listen the phrase I already forgot the beginning of it/I can't repeat the first part! It'll be very good if it"ll be possible:
1) to change the speed of pronunciation of words and phrases.
2) to share the parts of phrases.
Thank you in advance))) Waiting for your changes)))
Hoi Jaqueline,
Thank you for your comment.
In Dutch there is a difference between "verstaan" en "begrijpen".
Ik begrijp je niet = I don't understand what you mean.
Ik versta je niet = I can't hear what you are saying.
Hope that makes a little bit more sense.
Jacob,
Team DutchPod101.com
Hello,
I heard today the frase "Ik versta u niet". Does this has the same meaning as "Ik begrijp het "? What is the difference between verstaan and begrijpen?
I live in Belgium so I don't know if this is a local difference.
Hi Joe,
Thank you for commenting. :thumbsup:
If we want to say" what are you talking about ? " in Dutch , we can use the phrase " Waar heb je het over ? ".
Did you hear a different translation ?
Jacob,
Team DutchPod101.com
In the expanded vocab the statement is Waar heb je het over?
But the translation says: "What are you talking about?"
I must be missing something?
Hoi Lina Bui,
Thank you very much for your comment and good to hear you are enjoying DutchPod101.com.
Good luck or as we say in Dutch..succes! with learning Dutch and if there is anything we can help
you with, please let us know!
Graag gedaan!
Jacob,
Team DutchPod101.com
Thank you for this course.
Firstly, when i tried to learn casual Dutch, i found this language a most difficult one of the world. Unlucky, i also dont live in a English-using country. It is difficult for me.
So, i am very happy to find this course. Everyday, i enjoy the lesson, simple and clear. Only wanna to say: Dank u wel.
:smile:
*kind* comment :smile::smile::smile:
Hoi Tom,
Thank you so very much for your kinda comment!! Always great to hear !!:thumbsup::heart:
Succes!!
Jacob,
Team DutchPod101.com
Loving the lessons. So clear and easy to pick up. Thanks DutchPod!
Tot Zeins!
Tom
Hello Bharti
Can you please write to us at contactus@dutchpod101.com ?
Sincerely
Piotr
Team DutchPod101.com
i am unable ti access this lesson? its asking me to upgrade...then what about free lessons? how many days can we access freely?
Hoi Denise,
Welcome here and thank you for your comment!
We are happy to hear that you enjoyed the lesson!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Jacob,
Team DutchPod101.com