{"id":2196,"date":"2013-06-05T20:01:52","date_gmt":"2013-06-05T20:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/?p=2196"},"modified":"2013-06-05T22:14:47","modified_gmt":"2013-06-05T22:14:47","slug":"im-just-making-a-goat-and-other-stupid-mistakes-ive-made-in-dutch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/im-just-making-a-goat-and-other-stupid-mistakes-ive-made-in-dutch\/","title":{"rendered":"I’m just making a goat and other stupid mistakes I’ve made in Dutch"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Quacktaculous \/ Flickr Creative Commons<\/p><\/div>\n

Every Monday morning, my husband gathers with his colleagues for their weekly office meeting.<\/p>\n

And every Monday morning, just before the meeting officially begins, they have what I like to call the “Stupid things Tiffany said this week” briefing.<\/p>\n

This is when my husband lists all the notable flub-ups I’ve made in Dutch since the last Monday meeting.<\/p>\n

The first time my husband told me this, I was so embarrassed.<\/p>\n

“No, no, don’t be embarrassed” my husband said. “They’re so impressed. They always go on about how good your Dutch is. Especially in the short time you’ve been here. They just think your mistakes are cute.”<\/p>\n

Now, when something bizarre comes out of my mouth, we both simultaneously shout “That’s one for the morning meeting!”<\/p>\n

Though, sadly, in the past 3 years, those Monday morning meetings have gotten to be pretty boring. My language skills are at the point where there’s hardly anything to report any more.<\/p>\n

Here’s the thing… at some point during your language learning journey you are going to say something stupid. It’s inevitable. It comes with the territory. It’s also the only way you learn.<\/p>\n

But that underlying fear of screwing up holds a lot of people back. If you’re one of those people, take heart. Whatever embarrassing mistake you make, I can guarantee you I’ve already made it.<\/p>\n

Using het<\/em> when the correct article is de<\/em>?<\/a> Guilty.<\/p>\n

Glaring word order mistakes?<\/a> Guilty.<\/p>\n

Referring to someone as je<\/em> when I should have used the formal u<\/em>?<\/a> Guilty.<\/p>\n

Choking on that phlegm rattling g? Guilty, guilty, guilty.<\/p>\n

Guilty as charged. On all accounts.<\/p>\n

But, really, those are just minor offenses.<\/p>\n

Here are the real doozies:<\/p>\n

What I wanted to say:<\/strong> I can’t stay awake.
\nWhat I should have said:<\/strong> Ik kan niet meer wakker blijven.
\nWhat came out of my mouth:<\/strong> Ik kan niet meer makker worden.
\nWhat’s so embarrassing about that?<\/strong> What I really said was “I can’t wake up again” or “I’m dead.”<\/p>\n

What I wanted to say:<\/strong> In the moonlight.
\nWhat I should have said:<\/strong>\u00a0In de manenschijn.
\nWhat came out of my mouth:<\/strong> In de manenschijt.
\nWhat’s so embarrassing about that?<\/strong> What’s not embarrassing about saying “In the moon sh*t”?<\/p>\n

What I wanted to say:<\/strong> I’d like macaroon ice cream.
\nWhat I should have said:<\/strong> Ik neem graag een bitterkoekjesijs.
\nWhat came out of my mouth:<\/strong> Ik neem graag een bitterballen ijs.
\nWhat’s so embarrassing about that?<\/strong> Bitterballen are fried meat gravy balls. Totally not something you want in your ice cream!<\/p>\n

What I wanted to say:<\/strong> That was delicious.
\nWhat I should have said:<\/strong> Het was lekker.
\nWhat came out of my mouth:<\/strong> Ik ben lekker.
\nWhat’s so embarrassing about that?<\/strong> Instead of telling my (then future) in-laws that the meal they served was delicious, I told them I was hot. As in sexy hot.<\/p>\n

What I wanted to say:<\/strong> I’m just joking.
\nWhat I should have said:<\/strong> Ik maak alleen maar een geintje hoor.
\nWhat came out of my mouth:<\/strong> Ik maak alleen maar een geitje hoor.
\nWhat’s so embarrassing about that?<\/strong> You miss one lousy vowel and instead of making jokes you’re making goats.<\/p>\n

There are more. Many more. But I think I’ve embarrassed myself enough.<\/p>\n

Now it’s your turn. What are some of the silly mistakes you’ve made while learning Dutch?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Every Monday morning, my husband gathers with his colleagues for their weekly office meeting. And every Monday morning, just before the meeting officially begins, they have what I like to call the “Stupid things Tiffany said this week” briefing. This is when my husband lists all the notable flub-ups I’ve made in Dutch since the…<\/p>\n

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