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Test Your Dutch Trivia Quiz

Some real sense of Dutch vocabulary is required for this quiz as you have to select from 4 options the one that comes closest to the literal meaning of a given Dutch saying. Comparison with English proverbs in the notes.

A multiple-choice quiz by flem-ish. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
flem-ish

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
65,881

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
2176

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. 'Oude liefde roest niet'.What does this proverb literally mean? Hint

The love of the old is without ecstacy.

Old love does not find rest.

Old love does not become rusty.

Old love never becomes routine.

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Question 2 of 10

2. 'Je moet het ijzer smeden terwijl het heet is'. Hint

You should fix the horseshoe while it is red hot.

You should forge the iron while it is hot.

You should shape the horseshoe while it is in the fire.

You should not throw an old horseshoe into the fire.

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Question 3 of 10

3. 'Ze is bang van haar eigen schaduw.' Hint

She avoids walking in the shadow.

She is afraid of her own shadow.

She does not like eye-shade.

She is afraid of being shadowed.

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Question 4 of 10

4. 'Hij voelde zich het vijfde wiel aan de wagen'. Hint

He removed the hubcap from the wheel.

He felt the fifth wheel of the wagon to see if it was still o.k.

He felt he was the fifth wheel of the wagon.

He fixed the fifth wheel to the wagon.

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Question 5 of 10

5. 'Iemand stroop om de mond smeren'. Hint

To go poaching by moonlight.

To smear treacle around somebody's mouth.

To grease somebody's mouth with butter.

To smear treacle on the basket.

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Question 6 of 10

6. 'Je moet geen slapende honden wakker maken.' Hint

You should not shout at a sleeping dog.

You should not excite a sleepy dog.

You should not awake a sleeping dog.

You should not anger a sleepy dog.

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Question 7 of 10

7. Er kan maar een koetsier zijn. Hint

A soccer-club can only have one coach.

There is only one skipper who can set the course.

One couch is enough for expert lovers.

There can be only one coachman.

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Ze zullen je nog wel in het gareel leren lopen. Hint

You will have to learn how to peel shrimps.

That will teach you how to follow the pace.

That will teach you to remember to put the car into the garage.

They will teach you how to trot in harness.

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Je moet de tering naar de nering zetten. Hint

To recover from tuberculosis you need quality food

You should adapt your spending to your income

Good business depends on good spending

Businessmen are great spenders

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Question 10 of 10

10. Twaalf stielen, dertien ongelukken. Hint

Twelve jobs, thirteen accidents.

Twelve stiles, thirteen accidents.

Twelve different styles, thirteen failed books.

Twelve ballpoints, thirteen inkstains.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Oude liefde roest niet'.What does this proverb literally mean?

Answer: Old love does not become rusty.

English equivalent: Old love lies deep.

2. 'Je moet het ijzer smeden terwijl het heet is'.

Answer: You should forge the iron while it is hot.

A possible equivalent is: 'Make hay while the sun shines' and of course 'Strike while the iron's hot'.

3. 'Ze is bang van haar eigen schaduw.'

Answer: She is afraid of her own shadow.

Possible equivalent: She wouldn't say boo to a goose.

4. 'Hij voelde zich het vijfde wiel aan de wagen'.

Answer: He felt he was the fifth wheel of the wagon.

The English version: He felt the odd man out.

5. 'Iemand stroop om de mond smeren'.

Answer: To smear treacle around somebody's mouth.

Closest English equivalent: to butter up somebody.

6. 'Je moet geen slapende honden wakker maken.'

Answer: You should not awake a sleeping dog.

Nearest English equivalent. 'Let sleeping dogs lie'.

7. Er kan maar een koetsier zijn.

Answer: There can be only one coachman.

Nearest English equivalent: Too many cooks spoil the broth.

8. Ze zullen je nog wel in het gareel leren lopen.

Answer: They will teach you how to trot in harness.

Closest equivalent: 'They will make you toe the line'.

9. Je moet de tering naar de nering zetten.

Answer: You should adapt your spending to your income

English versions include "cut your coat according to your cloth" and "stretch your leg according to your coverlet."

10. Twaalf stielen, dertien ongelukken.

Answer: Twelve jobs, thirteen accidents.

Another version of this saying is: Twaalf ambachten, dertien ongelukken.
Accident or misfortune is what "ongeluk" literally means. In this context it has to be understood as "failure" in one's job.
B.t.w. Dutch is not only the official name of the language spoken in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (sometimes incorrectly referred to as Holland), but also the official name of the language spoken in the northern part of the federal state of Belgium, the so-called "Flemish Region" or "Flemish Community". The term Flemish is restricted to the dialects of the provinces of West- and East-Flanders. The dialects of Brabant, Antwerp and Limburg are not "Flemish". English-speakers incorrectly tend to use the term "Flemish" for what is technically the Belgian version of Dutch. The Belgian version of Dutch is linguistically speaking not a language of its own, but a different way of using the same language, which implies differences in intonation, pronunciation and vocabulary, but not in basic structure.Similar to the differences between American and British English.
The English proverb closest to :" Twaalf stielen, dertien ongelukken", is probably "A rolling stone gathers no moss".

Source: Author flem-ish

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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