First Phrases

Winter home problems · Nederlands

Winter home problems phrases in Dutch: 15 phrases

Tell the landlord or agency that the heating, hot water or power has failed, report a leak, frozen pipe, damp or a window that will not close, ask them to send someone, book a plumber or electrician, ask when they can come, the cost and an invoice, and say it is urgent. Short, natural phrases for when something breaks at home in winter.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). "U" is the safe choice with a landlord ("verhuurder"), an agency ("makelaar" or "beheerder") and tradespeople; "je" is also common with younger people. "Loodgieter" = plumber, "elektricien" = electrician, "cv-ketel" = central-heating boiler. Phrases only: this card says nothing about who has to pay or fix what.

How to read the sounds: g and ch are a rough throat sound, written kh (like Scottish 'loch'), stronger than English h. ou/ui = 'ow'; ij/ei = 'ay' (as in 'say'); eu = a rounded 'uh' (like French 'peu'); uu = 'ew' (say 'ee' with rounded lips); oe = 'oo'. Stress is in CAPITALS.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    De verwarming doet het niet.
    Say it like: duh fer-WAR-ming doot hut neet
    The heating isn't working.
    Register: Add "sinds gisteren" (since yesterday).
  2. 02Neutral
    We hebben geen warm water.
    Say it like: vuh HEB-ben khayn warm WAH-ter
    We have no hot water.
    Register: Say "Ik heb" if you live alone.
  3. 03Neutral
    De radiator lekt.
    Say it like: duh rah-dee-AH-tor lekt
    The radiator is leaking.
    Register: Also "Er lekt water uit de radiator".
  4. 04Neutral
    De cv-ketel geeft een storingscode.
    Say it like: duh say-VAY-KAY-tul khayft un STOH-rings-koh-duh
    The boiler is showing a fault code.
    Register: Read out the code: "De code is E 14." "Storing" = fault.
  5. 05Neutral
    De stroom is uitgevallen.
    Say it like: duh strohm iss OWT-khuh-val-len
    The power has gone out.
    Register: Also "We hebben geen stroom".
  6. 06Neutral
    Een waterleiding is bevroren.
    Say it like: un WAH-ter-ly-ding iss buh-VROH-ren
    A water pipe has frozen.
    Register: Also "De leiding is dichtgevroren".
  7. 07Neutral
    Er zit schimmel en vocht op de muur.
    Say it like: er zit SKHIM-mul en vokht op duh mewr
    There is mould and damp on the wall.
    Register: "Schimmel" is mould, "vocht" damp.
  8. 08Neutral
    Het raam sluit niet goed.
    Say it like: hut rahm slowt neet khoot
    The window doesn't close properly.
    Register: Add "en het tocht" (and there is a draught).
  9. 09Polite
    Kunt u iemand langs sturen?
    Say it like: kunt ew EE-mant langs STEW-run
    Could you send someone round?
    Register: With younger people you can say "Kun je iemand langs sturen?".
  10. 10Polite
    Ik wil graag een afspraak maken met een loodgieter of elektricien.
    Say it like: ik vil khraakh un AF-sprahk MAH-kun met un LOHT-khee-ter of ay-lek-tree-SHEEN
    I'd like to make an appointment with a plumber or an electrician.
    Register: "Een afspraak maken" = to make an appointment.
  11. 11Neutral
    Wanneer kunnen ze langskomen?
    Say it like: VAH-nayr KUN-nun zuh LANGS-koh-mun
    When can they come by?
    Register: Add "vandaag" (today) or "morgen" (tomorrow).
  12. 12Neutral
    Wat gaat het kosten?
    Say it like: vat khaat hut KOS-tun
    What will it cost?
    Register: Also "Kunt u een offerte geven?" (can you give a quote?).
  13. 13Polite
    Mag ik een factuur, alstublieft?
    Say it like: makh ik un fak-TEWR ahls-tew-BLEEFT
    May I have an invoice, please?
    Register: "Factuur" is an invoice, "bonnetje" a receipt.
  14. 14Neutral
    Het is dringend.
    Say it like: hut iss DRING-unt
    It's urgent.
    Register: Add "alstublieft" to keep it polite.
  15. 15Neutral
    Ik heb een klein kind en het is erg koud.
    Say it like: ik hep un klyn kint en hut iss erkh kowt
    I have a small child and it's very cold.
    Register: For a baby: "een baby".

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Quick answers

How do you say the heating isn't working in Dutch?

Say: "De verwarming doet het niet." (The heating isn't working.)

Should I use informal or formal Dutch with a landlord or tradesperson?

"U" is the safe choice with a landlord ("verhuurder"), an agency ("makelaar" or "beheerder") and tradespeople; "je" is also common with younger people. "Loodgieter" = plumber, "elektricien" = electrician, "cv-ketel" = central-heating boiler. Phrases only: this card says nothing about who has to pay or fix what.

How do I ask someone to come and fix it in Dutch?

Say: "Kunt u iemand langs sturen?" (Could you send someone round?)

How do I ask when they can come and how much it costs in Dutch?

Try: "Wanneer kunnen ze langskomen?" (When can they come by?) and "Wat gaat het kosten?" (What will it cost?)

Winter home phrases in another language

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Dutch, another errand

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firstphrases.app/survival/winter-home-problems/nl/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint