Building what? (English/Dutch)
Having lived in the Netherlands for six years, I can relate to the other 'false friends' shown herein. One which still brings a smile to my face is when the Dutch refer to a building worker, bouwvakker with the 'v' pronounced as 'f' The vakker part is the one that causes most consternation to the English-speaking person. Likewise, a trade union here is a vakbond.
Sent by: EuroBazz
Comments
Tina
2009-10-27
I live in Schiedam and here the 'v' is also pronounced as 'f' but most Dutch don't realise themselves that they do this.
Daniel
2007-02-07
I bet you've lived in Amsterdam (or surroundings)! In other parts of the Netherlands we don't pronounce the 'v' as 'f'. ;-)
When I worked on a campsite I managed to receive on my customer list one week the Braas family from the Netherlands, the Pantz family from Germany, and the icing on the cake was the Vokkenrood family, also Nederlanders.
Not sure if it's custom everywhere but all my Dutch customers used to introduce themselves to me by approaching, shaking hands and giving the family name. I'm glad I was expecting them all or there might have been words said when someone strode up to me accusing me of being Vokkenrood!
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