CORE VOCABULARY: HOW TO TALK ABOUT MONEY IN DUTCH
● Geld (money) is the core word for everything involving finances.
● Grootgeld (paper money) means bills or banknotes.
● Kleingeld (small change) refers to coins.
● Kids often get zakgeld (pocket money) from their parents.
● A pinpas (debit card) is used to betalen (pay) for daily purchases. 🏧
● Common money actions include verdienen (to earn), uitgeven (to spend), sparen (to save), and verspillen (to waste).
● Boodschappen doen (to do groceries), winkelen (to shop), uit eten gaan (to go out to eat) and op vakantie gaan (to go on vacation) all require money. 💸
VERBOS SEPARABLES (SEPARABLE VERBS) AND STRUCTURE RULES
● In Dutch, verbs like uitgeven (to spend), afmaken (to finish) and opstaan (to get up) are separable.
● In present tense, the main verb goes in 2nd position, and the prefix goes to the end:
→ Ik geef geld uit. (I spend money.)
● In the imperative (commands), it also separates:
→ Maak de zin af. (Finish the sentence.) 🧠
● In infinitive, it stays together:
→ Ik wil geld uitgeven. (I want to spend money.)
ORDER IS SACRED: WHY “IS” STAYS IN POSITION 2
● The verb in Dutch always takes second position, no matter what starts the sentence.
● Example:
✅ Voor mij is geldverspilling dingen kopen.
🚫 Voor mij geldverspilling is dingen kopen.
● Voor mij (for me) is just an introductory phrase and does not count as a subject.
● Is (is) remains in position 2, and the rest flows after. 📏
EXPRESSING FEELINGS ABOUT MONEY WITH CLARITY
● Graag means “with pleasure” or “gladly”.
● Niet graag = not gladly → used to express dislike.
● Example:
→ Ik geef niet graag geld uit. (I don’t like spending money.) 💔
● Meestal (usually) is a frequency adverb:
→ Ik spaar meestal met een doel. (I usually save with a purpose.)
● When expressing purpose, use:
→ om … te + infinitive
→ Ik spaar om een laptop te kopen. (I save to buy a laptop.) 🖥️
REAL EXAMPLES TO BUILD YOUR OWN MONEY SENTENCES
● Ik spaar graag geld. (I like saving money.)
● Ik geef geld uit aan boodschappen, kleding en cadeaus. (I spend money on groceries, clothes and gifts.)
● Voor mij is geldverspilling dingen kopen die ik niet nodig heb of niet gebruik. (For me, wasting money is buying things I don’t need or don’t use.)
● Zonder geld zitten is lastig. (Being without money is hard.)
● Geld is belangrijk, maar niet het belangrijkste in het leven. (Money is important, but not the most important thing in life.) 🧘
PRACTICAL STRUCTURES YOU NEED TO MASTER DUTCH
● Waaraan geef je geld uit? (What do you spend your money on?)
● Ik geef mijn geld uit aan rekeningen. (I spend my money on bills.)
● Maak de zin af. (Complete the sentence.)
● Dingen kopen die je niet nodig hebt = relative clause: things that you don’t need.
● Die ik niet gebruik = that I don’t use. 🔧
● All these forms combine verbs, negations, relatives, infinitives and purpose into real-world sentences.
CONCLUSION: DUTCH MONEY TALK = EASY WHEN STRUCTURE IS CLEAR
● Learn to recognize verbs like uitgeven and use them with the right structure.
● Always keep your verb in second place – no exceptions.
● Build from fixed phrases: niet graag, voor mij, meestal, om te + infinitive. 🧱
● Speak confidently about your spending, savings, opinions and financial habits.
● Combine your vocabulary with logic and rhythm – Dutch will flow. 💬
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 