Latest / Learn Dutch with Fexingo / Dutch Verb 'Zijn' – To Be Basics
Transcript
- Lucas: Hey Luna, welcome back to Learn Dutch with Fexingo! Episode 20 already — how are you feeling? Luna: I'm excited! We've learned so much already. Today, what's the tiny topic? Lucas: Today we're going to tackle one of the most important verbs in any language: the verb 'to be'. In Dutch, that's 'zijn'. Luna: Oh, 'zijn' — I've seen that before. But how do we use it? Lucas: Let's start with the first person: 'I am' in Dutch is 'ik ben'. Can you repeat that? Luna: Ik ben. Lucas: Perfect. 'Ik ben'. So if I say 'I am Lucas', that's 'Ik ben Lucas'. Luna: Ik ben Luna. That's easy! Lucas: Yes! Now for 'you are' — singular informal 'you' — it's 'jij bent'. Say it with me: jij bent. Luna: Jij bent. Lucas: Great. So 'jij bent Luna' means 'you are Luna'. Luna: En jij bent Lucas. And you are Lucas. Lucas: Exactly! Now for 'he is' — that's 'hij is'. And 'she is' is 'zij is'. Luna: Hij is, zij is. So 'hij is Lucas' and 'zij is Luna'? Lucas: Precies. Exactly. Now let's do the plural. 'We are' is 'wij zijn'. Luna: Wij zijn. That sounds like the verb itself. Lucas: Yes, 'zijn' is the infinitive, and for 'we', 'you all', and 'they', we use 'zijn' as well. So 'wij zijn'. Luna: Wij zijn. So 'wij zijn bij Fexingo'? We are at Fexingo? Lucas: Yes! 'Wij zijn bij Fexingo' — that works. Next, 'you all are' is 'jullie zijn'. Luna: Jullie zijn. Lucas: And 'they are' is 'zij zijn' — same spelling as 'she', but with a different meaning. Luna: Zij zijn. So 'zij zijn vrienden' — they are friends? Lucas: Yes! 'Zij zijn vrienden.' Let's put it all together. Can you say 'I am a student'? Luna: Ik ben een student. Lucas: Perfect. 'You are a teacher'? Luna: Jij bent een leraar. Lucas: Almost — 'leraar' is correct. And 'he is a doctor'? Luna: Hij is een dokter. Lucas: Yes. 'She is a friend'? Luna: Zij is een vriendin. Lucas: The feminine 'vriendin' — nice! Now plural: 'we are happy'? Luna: Wij zijn blij. Lucas: Yes! 'You all are nice'? Luna: Jullie zijn aardig. Lucas: And 'they are from Amsterdam'? Luna: Zij zijn uit Amsterdam. Lucas: Perfect! You've got it. Let's do a quick review: I am? Luna: Ik ben. Lucas: You are? Luna: Jij bent. Lucas: He is? Luna: Hij is. Lucas: She is? Luna: Zij is. Lucas: We are? Luna: Wij zijn. Lucas: You all are? Luna: Jullie zijn. Lucas: They are? Luna: Zij zijn. Lucas: Wonderful! Now you know the verb 'to be' in Dutch. Practice these forms and soon you'll be making all kinds of sentences. Luna: Thanks Lucas! This was clear. I'll practice 'ik ben', 'jij bent', and all the rest. Lucas: And don't forget — Fexingo has more episodes to help you. Keep listening, keep repeating. See you next time! Luna: Doei, tot ziens!