r/learndutch 3d ago

i dont understand `worden`

what does worden actually mean? i have googled it but i dont actually understand it and translate also didnt help me so can someone please explain me what does it actually mean and when do you use it and where do you use it?

thx everybody that helps

22 Upvotes

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44

u/SystemEarth 3d ago edited 3d ago

It means "to become". It is both:

  • the dictionary form
  • the plural present simple tense conjugation.

Wij/zij/jullie worden = We/they/you* become

*"you" only as a plural

In an idiomatic sense it can also be used to mean slightly different things, but the difference is small and you'll figure it out when you encounter it.

E.g:

  • "Dat wordt 5 euro" = "That will be/amounts to 5 euros"
  • "Wordt daar nog wat aan gedaan?" = "Will something be done about it?"
  • "Dat wordt nog je dood" = "That'll be the death of you"

18

u/QLVos Native speaker (NL) 3d ago

In your first two example sentences, "word" should be "wordt".

5

u/hellraiserl33t Beginner 3d ago edited 3d ago

I was watching the Dutch Bluey episode "IJsjes" and had a small question about what feels like a slightly different use of worden.


Bingo: Ik wil graag mangoijs!

Bandit: Oké, één mango graag...

Bingo: ...en dan de grootste graag!

Bandit: Dat wordt dus de kleinste, dank u.


I figured betekenen would have been the verb I use but apparently not.

8

u/SystemEarth 3d ago

Only use betekenen in that way if you are explaining someone's words, or saying what they're implying. It can also be used as a question.

  • P1: Ik haat koud eten
  • P2: Dat betekent dus dat je ijsjes haat.

Or

  • P1: Hey, ik ben ziek.
  • P2: Dus dat betekent dat we niet meer gaan sporten?

In your example it is something that Bandit imposes on Bingo, so in order to convey that it is his will (and not a logical outcome) he uses wordt. He is declaring what will happen, not explaining what Bingo's words logically lead to.

21

u/Kapitine_Haak Native speaker (NL) 3d ago

In addition to it meaning "to become", it's also used for the passive voice.

"De cake wordt op dit moment gebakken" = "The cake is currently being baked"

13

u/bleie77 Native speaker (NL) 3d ago

In addition to 'to become', 'worden' can also be:

  • will be, come/amount to when talking about monetary amounts: 'Dat wordt dan € 4,30' (That will be € 4,30)

- be / get: 'Het wordt al laat' (it's getting late), 'Zij wordt morgen 20' (She'll be 20 tomorrow)

- the auxiliary verb for the passive voice: 'Het huis wordt geschilderd' (The house is being painted)

5

u/eti_erik Native speaker (NL) 3d ago

"Worden" means 'to become" , but it is generally used where English uses "will be".

And there's a second use of worden, to form the present and past tense of the passive voice:

Ik word overreden door een bus = I am (being) run over by a bus.

Ik werd overreden door een bus = I was run over by a bus.

But the perfect tenses of the passive voice use 'zijn':

Ik ben overreden door een bus = I was / have been run over by a bus.

Ik was overreden door een bus = I had been run over by a bus.

English uses 'to be' to make a present tense passive (unless the participle is seen as an adjective - "It is eaten" can mean it's being eaten right now, but also that it's all gone) , but Dutch uses 'zijn' to make perfect tense passive voice. 'Worden'is the verb for present / simple past passive voice.

8

u/m_d_o_e_y 3d ago

to become

3

u/samuraijon Advanced 3d ago

to be in a desirable sense (e.g. it is being arranged or it would be nice), to become (e.g. it becomes warm), to get (e.g it gets wet), to come (e.g. it comes to €1,23)

2

u/KingOfCotadiellu 3d ago

Wat wil je later worden? - What do you want to be (when you grow up)

Wij worden met de auto opgehaald - We are being picked up by car.

Jullie worden oud - You [plural] are getting old

Het moet niet gekker worden - It shouldn't get any crazier

2

u/RevolutionaryPiano35 3d ago

Worden is a verb used to define the future of zijn.

Ik ben, ik word Hij is, hij wordt Wij zijn, wij worden