{"id":7297,"date":"2021-05-03T11:00:31","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T11:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/?p=7297"},"modified":"2021-05-02T23:00:37","modified_gmt":"2021-05-02T23:00:37","slug":"curious-words-in-dutch-9-grapjas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/curious-words-in-dutch-9-grapjas\/","title":{"rendered":"Curious Words in Dutch 9: Grapjas"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all remember that person in our high school that had to make a joke out of everything. Entertaining, annoying, whatever. One thing was clear: they were the class clown! The Dutch somehow liken such funny people with jackets, because their word is:\u00a0grapjas\u00a0<\/em>(“joke jacket”). Wait, what?<\/p>\n

Previous posts in this series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Curious Words In Dutch<\/a><\/p>\n

What’s a grapjas<\/em>?<\/strong><\/h1>\n
\"joke<\/a>

Photo by Erik Brolin<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

What a weird word.\u00a0De grapjas\u00a0<\/em>is a\u00a0samenstelling\u00a0<\/em>(compound noun)<\/a> of\u00a0de grap\u00a0<\/em>(joke) and\u00a0de jas\u00a0<\/em>(jacket, coat). You would call somebody a\u00a0grapjas\u00a0<\/em>if you think they’re actually funny, but more than not, it’s used sarcastically:<\/p>\n

Wat een grapjas ben je toch. Kun je niet even serieus zijn?<\/em><\/p>\n

(You’re such a clown. Can’t you be serious for a second?)<\/p>\n

However, it can also be used positively, simply to refer to somebody that fools around, always up for a joke. For example, RTL Nieuws\u00a0<\/em>prepared an obituary for the recently deceased British Prince Philip, calling him a\u00a0grapjas<\/em>.<\/a>\u00a0Grapjassen\u00a0<\/em>usually make flauwe grappen\u00a0<\/em>(corny jokes).<\/p>\n

But what on earth is this compound? Clowns are supposed to be funny, but last time I checked, jackets didn’t have this reputation.<\/p>\n

There seems to be more weirdness going on with the Dutch word\u00a0jas<\/em>. For example, it appears that it’s unclear where exactly the word comes from<\/a>. Possibly from the Huns and Avars, who brought their models of jackets to Europe in the 5th century.<\/p>\n

Jas\u00a0<\/em>is clearly used as a\u00a0pars pro toto<\/em>, a part that describes the whole. Sometimes, the word\u00a0jas\u00a0<\/em>is specified further, as, say, a\u00a0mannenjas\u00a0<\/em>(men’s jacket). Perhaps a grapjas <\/em>is simply that – a jacket full of jokes. And over time, its use went from somebody wearing the\u00a0jas\u00a0<\/em>to becoming the\u00a0jas<\/em>. Who knows! If you have an idea, let me know in the comments!<\/p>\n

More funny clothes: Lolbroek<\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n

A\u00a0grapjas\u00a0<\/em>is nothing. What about a\u00a0lolbroek<\/em>? Most likely derived from the\u00a0grapjas<\/em>, the\u00a0lolbroek\u00a0<\/em>is used in the same way, and it has the same meaning. They’re fully interchangeable! It’s a samenstelling\u00a0<\/em>of de lol\u00a0<\/em>(fun) and\u00a0de broek\u00a0<\/em>(the pants), so it means “fun pants”! So we have fun pants and joke jackets in the Netherlands. What a country!<\/p>\n

I personally prefer\u00a0grapjas<\/em>, as it rolls of the tongue easier. But what do you prefer? And are there other “funny clothes” you know about? Perhaps in your language? Let me know in the comments below!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

We all remember that person in our high school that had to make a joke out of everything. Entertaining, annoying, whatever. One thing was clear: they were the class clown! The Dutch somehow liken such funny people with jackets, because their word is:\u00a0grapjas\u00a0(“joke jacket”). Wait, what? Previous posts in this series: Curious Words In Dutch…<\/p>\n

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