Lacht ze, huilt ze of kotst ze op de bank?
A2 Dutch listening practice · Dutch · Curated for beginners
Why are Dutch words like “kotsen” and “poepen” so direct?
Dutch is famous for using direct vocabulary where English speakers default to euphemism. Kotsen (“to vomit”) and poepen (“to poop”) sit in everyday adult Dutch speech without the awkwardness English attaches to them. Where English speakers reach for euphemisms like “throw up” or “go to the bathroom,” Dutch speakers tend to use the plain word. The directness fits a wider Dutch self-image often called bluntheid (“bluntness”).
In this clip, a friend watches a baby on a couch and asks the camera, “is ze nou aan het huilen of is ze nou aan het kotsen?” (“is she crying or vomiting?”), then adds “poepen kan natuurlijk ook” (“pooping is also possible”). The casual tone is the Dutch way.
Vocabulary frequency
How common is the vocabulary in this A2 Dutch listening practice listening practice?
General Dutch frequency
Spoken Dutch frequency
Words above this video’s level
Quick glosses for vocabulary that goes beyond this video’s A2 level.
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-NL 2014 (spoken). Buckets approximate; exact ranks not stored.
- ▸In Dutch sitcoms and family comedies (Nieuwe Buren, Toren C)
- ▸In Dutch parenting YouTube and TikTok (Ouders.nl, Kek Mama)
- ▸In Dutch dinner conversations between adults and kids
- ▸In Dutch self-help and health writing (Margriet, Libelle)
- ▸In Dutch stand-up bits about national bluntness (Theo Maassen, Brigitte Kaandorp)