Latest / Learn Dutch with Fexingo / Dutch Cooking: Peeling and Boiling Basics
Transcript
- Lucas: Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of Learn Dutch with Fexingo. I am Lucas, and this is Luna. If Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with this language, we are so glad to have you here. Luna: Hi guys! It is so good to be back at the mic. Last time we were chopping onions and stirring sauces, right? My kitchen was a bit messy but my Dutch improved. Lucas: Exactly. And today, we are going to add three more very important actions to your cooking toolkit. We will keep it simple, slow, and repetitive so you really lock these in. Let's start with the potato. Luna: The potato. Okay. So, when I have a raw potato, I take off the skin. What is the word for that? Lucas: That verb is 'schillen'. To peel. So if you say 'Ik schil de aardappel', it means 'I peel the potato'. Listen closely. Lucas: Ik schil de aardappel.... Ik schil de aardappel. Luna: Okay, let me try. Ik schil... de aardappel. Is that right? Lucas: Yes, that is perfect. You said it clearly. 'Ik schil de aardappel.' Good job. Now, imagine you have peeled the potato, but what about the onion? Luna: Oh no, not the onion. Onions make me cry every time. But I need to cut it up for the stew. Lucas: Right. The verb for cutting or slicing is 'snijden'. In the first person singular, present tense, it becomes 'Ik snijd'. So, 'Ik snijd de ui' means 'I cut the onion'. Lucas: Ik snijd de ui.... Ik snijd de ui. Luna: Let me try that. Ik snijd... de ui. Wait, does the 'd' sound soft there? Lucas: It is a gentle 'd'. Just like in 'dag'. Try again. Ik snijd de ui. Luna: Okay. Ik snijd de ui. Yeah, that feels better. So far we have peeling potatoes and cutting onions. Lucas: Correct. Now, usually after we prep our vegetables, we need to get some water ready. Do you remember how to say 'water'? Luna: Yes, water. And the verb for cooking or boiling is 'koken'. So, 'Ik kook het water'? Lucas: Spot on. 'Ik kook het water'. It literally means 'I boil the water'. This is very common before you drop pasta or veggies in. Lucas: Ik kook het water.... Ik kook het water. Luna: I can do that. Ik kook het water. It sounds very straightforward. No tricky spelling changes here. Lucas: No tricky changes. Now, the final step in our little recipe. Once everything is cooking, you often need to mix it together. Luna: Mixing or stirring. That is 'roeren', right? Lucas: Yes. And 'de saus' means 'the sauce'. So, put it all together. 'Ik roer de saus'. Lucas: Ik roer de saus.... Ik roer de saus. Luna: Let's see. Ik roer de saus. Oh, I love that one. It sounds smooth. Ik roer de saus. Lucas: Perfect. Let's run through all four quickly so they stick in your memory. First, the potato. Luna: Ik schil de aardappel. Lucas: Next, the onion. Luna: Ik snijd de ui. Lucas: Then, the water. Luna: Ik kook het water. Lucas: And finally, the sauce. Luna: Ik roer de saus. Lucas: Excellent. You are getting faster. Let's put them into a tiny scene. Imagine you are making a quick vegetable soup for dinner. Luna: Okay, setting the scene. I walk into the kitchen. It is Tuesday night. I am hungry. Lucas: You grab a potato from the bowl. What do you say? Luna: Well, I start by cleaning up. Ik schil de aardappel. Then I see the onion box. Lucas: Do you avoid it? Luna: No, I face my fears. Ik snijd de ui. Tears falling, but I keep going. Lucas: Brave. Now the pot needs heat. Luna: Ik kook het water. I wait for the bubbles. Then I add my ingredients. Lucas: And to finish the flavor? Luna: Ik roer de saus. Stirring it all together until it smells amazing. Lucas: That was a lovely little story. You used every phrase naturally. Before we go, I want to mention something small. Honestly, if today was worth a coffee to you, that's the link — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. That is F. E. X. I. N. G. O. Listener support keeps this ad-free and helps us record more episodes like this. Luna: Yeah, thanks for listening. It really helps us keep making content that is easy to follow along with while you cook or clean. Lucas: So, back to our soup. You have finished stirring. The soup is ready. How do you feel? Luna: I feel proud. I cooked in Dutch. Ik heb een lekkere maaltijd gemaakt. Lucas: That is great. Even though we only learned four verbs today, you combined them into a real narrative. Repetition works. Luna: It really does. I think I will actually make those phrases part of my routine. Next time I cook, I will talk to myself in Dutch. Lucas: Please do. Your neighbors might find it strange, but your Dutch will thank you. Let's review one last time slowly. Luna: Okay, here we go. Ik schil de aardappel. Lucas: Ik snijd de ui. Luna: Ik kook het water. Lucas: Ik roer de saus. Luna: See you next time, Lucas. Thanks for cooking with me. Lucas: See you later, Luna. Keep practicing these till we chat again.