nederlands

nederlands — noun

1. the language used in the Netherlands, especially when it is named with its Dutch

1.nounC1
Definition

the language used in the Netherlands, especially when it is named with its Dutch form rather than the usual English word Dutch

Example

The museum guide switched into Nederlands when the class from Utrecht arrived.

switch into Nederlands when addressing Dutch speakers

On the school form, Yara wrote Nederlands under home language.

write Nederlands as a language label

Common collocations
  • speak Nederlands
  • learn Nederlands
  • in Nederlands
  • translate into Nederlands
  • Nederlands course
Synonyms
  • Dutch

    the normal everyday English name for this language

  • Netherlandic

    formal and rare; mainly used in linguistic discussion

Grammar Patterns

speak Nederlands

in Nederlands

learn Nederlands

translate into Nederlands

Usage Note

Usually seen in language-study, translation, or labeling contexts. In ordinary English, speakers more often say Dutch for the language name.

Common Mistakes

She speaks the Nederlands at home.
She speaks Nederlands at home.
language names normally do not take 'the' in English.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Dutch is the normal English name for the language of the Netherlands, so it fits most everyday situations. Nederlands is the Dutch self-name and usually appears when a course, form, dictionary, or language menu keeps the original label instead of translating it. Flemish is not a full synonym for the whole language; it usually points to Dutch as spoken in Belgium or to regional varieties there. Netherlandic is a technical or academic label and sounds much more formal than either Dutch or Nederlands. If you are speaking to ordinary English users, Dutch is usually the safest choice.

Dutch ↗Flemish ↗Netherlandic

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • speak Nederlands
  • learn Nederlands
  • write in Nederlands

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicDutchEnglish

Nederlands comes from the Dutch country name Nederland and is the native name for the Dutch language. The country name goes back to an older idea meaning low land, referring to land close to sea level. English sometimes borrows Nederlands directly when a book, form, or language program keeps the Dutch label, although everyday English usually says Dutch instead.