Dutch Has a Word for That: 15 Times Dutch Beats English Slang

Uitwaaien literally translates to something like “airing out in the wind”, but it in conversation it means “to clear your mind” or “to de-stress”

One of the many quirks of the Dutch language is that for many English slang phrases, the Dutch actually have a legitimate verb. Instead of using a whole phrase, a single word is used to capture the action. In addition to its array of colourful idioms, it’s a tendency that highlights the playfulness of Dutch culture.

So here’s a list of everyday Dutch words that match English slang expressions— great for sounding more natural and understanding native speakers better…

Uitwaaien — to clear your mind

Spijbelen — to play hooky

Bijkomen — to chill out (after something exhausting)

Opkrabbelen — to get back on your feet

Rondhangen — to hang around

Afknappen — to be totally turned off

Verpesten — to screw up

Sloffen — to drag your feet

Opscheppen — to show off

Snuffelen — to poke around

Scharrelen — to fool around or date casually

Kletsen — to talk a lot

Zakken — to bomb or totally flop

Lullen — to talk nonsense

Klieren — to mess around