A real-life Dutch lesson from real-life flyers
• Let’s start where all Dutch ads do: with the word ACTIE
✨ It means sale or deal. You’ll see it in red, bold, and everywhere.
• Zeg het zo: [ˈɑk.si]
• De actie loopt t/m zondag = The promotion lasts through Sunday
• Grammar: it’s a de-word, so say de actie
• Next, the magic word: GRATIS
✨ Yes, it means free – and you’ll love seeing it.
• Flyers say: 2+2 gratis, gratis verzending, gratis Ariel pods bij aankoop
• Zeg het zo: [ˈɣraː.tɪs]
• Vocabulary tip: bij aankoop van = with the purchase of
• Want to talk about toothpaste? Learn: tandpasta
🦷 Tand = tooth, pasta = paste.
• Flyers mention: Elmex, Aquafresh, Colgate, Oral-B
• Useful phrase: 2 voor 4,18 → Two for €4.18
• Grammar: voor here = for the price of, not for someone
• Let’s dive into self-care Dutch!
✨ Verzorging = care
• You’ll see: gezichtsverzorging, mondverzorging, babyverzorging
• Grammar tip: Dutch builds long words from small parts.
• Gezicht = face → gezichtsverzorging = facial care
• Mondwater = mouthwash
🧼 Mond = mouth, water = water
• Seen in: CB12 mondwater, Listerine Total Care
• Common deals: 1+1 gratis, 50% korting
• Wasverzachter = fabric softener
👕 Was = laundry, verzachter = softener
• Flyers: Silan 40 wasbeurten → 40 loads
• Zeg het zo: [ˈʋɑs.vɛrˌzɑx.tər]
• Let’s practice how to read a flyer sentence:
“Vlekkeloos schoon zelfs in koude & korte cyclus”
• Translation: Spotlessly clean even in cold & short cycles
• Vocabulary:
- vlekkeloos = spotless
- zelfs = even
- cyclus = cycle
• Grammar: zelfs in + noun = even in (a context)
• Another one:
“Maak meer van je favoriete foto’s”
• Translation: Make more out of your favorite photos
• Learn the structure:
- maak meer van = get more out of
- je favoriete foto’s = your favorite photos
- Possessive: je = your
• Ready for carnival? Learn these Dutch words:
✨ Carnavalskleding = carnival clothes
• Flyers show: scrunchies, dierenmaskers, verkleedset, glitter legging
• Zeg het zo: [ˈkɑr.naː.vɑls.ˌkleː.dɪŋ]
• Grammar: it’s all compound nouns
- dier (animal) + masker → dierenmasker
- verkleed (dress-up) + set → verkleedset
• How about baby care? Learn:
👶 Luiers = diapers
• Flyers say: Pampers GIGA Weken – gratis verzending!
• Other words:
- wasbaar ondergoed = washable underwear
- maandverband = sanitary pads
- inlegkruisjes = panty liners
• Dutch ad structure tip:
Instead of full sentences, they use bare noun phrases:
• 2 voor 11.00 = 2 items for €11
• Alleen vandaag = today only
• Vanaf €0,99 = starting at €0.99
• OP = OP = while supplies last (literally: gone = gone)
• Culture note: Dutch ads love honesty and brevity
✨ Steeds verrassend, altijd voordelig = always surprising, always a deal
✨ Nergens voordeliger = nowhere cheaper
✨ Op Kruidvat kun je rekenen = You can count on Kruidvat
• Mini grammar summary:
- Dutch puts adjectives before nouns (goede actie)
- Possessives are short: je kaart, je foto’s
- Promotions use numbers & patterns, not full sentences
- Plurals often end in -s or -en: foto → foto’s, luier → luiers
You’ve learned:
• 30+ real Dutch words from flyers
• Grammar in context
• Key promo language
• Cultural expressions
• How to pronounce Dutch clearly
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 