A1 Expression Neutral

Dat is jammer.

That is a pity.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A versatile Dutch phrase used to express mild regret or disappointment when things don't go as planned.

  • Means: 'That is a pity' or 'That's too bad'.
  • Used in: Casual conversations, missed appointments, or minor bad news.
  • Don't confuse: Use it for minor setbacks, not for major life tragedies.
Minor setback + Dutch directness = 'Dat is jammer!'

Explanation at your level:

At the A1 level, 'Dat is jammer' is a 'chunk'—a fixed phrase you can learn and use immediately. It means 'That is a pity.' You use it when you hear something slightly bad. For example, if your friend says, 'I cannot come to the cafe,' you say, 'Dat is jammer.' It is easy because the words are simple and the grammar does not change. It is one of the most useful phrases for a beginner to show they are listening and care about what the other person is saying.
At the A2 level, you start to see how 'jammer' fits into larger sentences. You learn the exclamation 'Wat jammer!' to show more feeling. You also learn that 'jammer' is an adjective, but it is mostly used with 'dat is' or 'het is.' You can now use it to respond to more complex situations, like a train delay or a shop being closed. You understand that it is a polite way to react to small problems in daily life.
At the B1 level, you begin to use the construction 'Het is jammer dat...' followed by a subordinate clause. You are now aware of the word order changes that happen (the verb goes to the end). You also start to distinguish between 'jammer' and 'zonde.' You know that 'zonde' is for wasted things, while 'jammer' is for disappointing situations. You can use 'jammer genoeg' to start a sentence and explain a regretful situation in more detail during a conversation or in an email.
At the B2 level, you understand the social nuances of the phrase. You know when 'Dat is jammer' might sound too weak and when it is perfectly appropriate. you can use it in professional settings to deliver minor bad news politely. You also start to recognize when someone is using the phrase sarcastically. You understand that the Dutch preference for 'nuchterheid' means this phrase is often preferred over more emotional alternatives, and you can navigate these cultural expectations in conversation.
At the C1 level, you have a deep grasp of the pragmatic functions of 'Dat is jammer.' You can use it as a conversational filler or a transition marker to move away from a negative topic. You are comfortable with the etymological background and how it relates to other Germanic languages. You can analyze the prosody of the phrase—how changing the pitch and stress can turn a sympathetic remark into a biting, ironic comment. You use the phrase with native-like timing and frequency.
At the C2 level, you possess a near-native mastery of the cognitive linguistics behind 'jammer.' You understand its role in the Dutch 'affective stance' and how it functions within the larger framework of Dutch politeness strategies. You can discuss the semantic shift from Middle Dutch lamentation to modern-day mild regret and how this mirrors broader societal changes in the Netherlands. You can use the phrase in sophisticated literary or rhetorical contexts, perhaps even subverting its common usage for stylistic effect.

Bedeutung

Expressing regret.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

The Dutch value 'nuchterheid' (sobriety/pragmatism). 'Dat is jammer' is the perfect response because it acknowledges the problem without making a scene. Flemish speakers might use 'Dat is spijtig' more often than 'Dat is jammer', as it sounds slightly softer and more formal. In Surinamese Dutch, the tone might be more expressive, but 'jammer' remains a staple for expressing regret. In meetings, 'Dat is jammer' is used to shut down an idea politely. It signals that the discussion is over and we are moving on.

💡

The 'Wat' trick

If you want to sound more empathetic, use 'Wat jammer!' instead of 'Dat is jammer.' The 'Wat' adds a little more 'oomph'.

⚠️

Avoid 'Ik ben jammer'

Never say 'Ik ben jammer.' It sounds like you are calling yourself a pathetic person. Always use 'Dat is jammer' or 'Ik vind het jammer.'

Bedeutung

Expressing regret.

💡

The 'Wat' trick

If you want to sound more empathetic, use 'Wat jammer!' instead of 'Dat is jammer.' The 'Wat' adds a little more 'oomph'.

⚠️

Avoid 'Ik ben jammer'

Never say 'Ik ben jammer.' It sounds like you are calling yourself a pathetic person. Always use 'Dat is jammer' or 'Ik vind het jammer.'

🎯

Sarcasm Alert

Be careful with your tone. If you say it too flatly, it can sound like you don't care at all about the other person's problem.

Teste dich selbst

Choose the best response to this situation: Your friend says, 'The concert is sold out.'

Vriend: 'De tickets voor het concert zijn op.' Jij: '...'

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Dat is jammer.

'Dat is jammer' is the appropriate response to disappointing news.

Complete the sentence with the correct word.

Wat ... dat je niet kunt komen!

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: jammer

'Wat jammer' is the standard exclamation for this context.

Match the phrase to the correct situation.

Which situation fits 'Dat is jammer'?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: The bakery is closed

'Jammer' is for minor setbacks like a closed shop.

Fill in the missing line in this dialogue.

A: 'Ik heb mijn trein gemist.' B: '...'

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Dat is jammer.

Missing a train is a classic 'jammer' moment.

Which of these is grammatically INCORRECT?

Which sentence is wrong?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Het is een jammer.

You cannot use 'een' with the adjective 'jammer'.

🎉 Ergebnis: /5

Visuelle Lernhilfen

When to use 'Jammer' vs 'Zonde'

😢

Jammer (Pity)

  • • Missed train
  • • Rainy day
  • • Friend is busy
  • • Sold out
🗑️

Zonde (Waste)

  • • Dropped food
  • • Broken toy
  • • Unused tickets
  • • Lost money

Häufig gestellte Fragen

14 Fragen

No, it is way too informal and light. Use 'Wat vreselijk' or 'Gecondoleerd' instead.

'Jammer' is an adjective used to react to news. 'Helaas' is an adverb used to deliver bad news.

No, it is an adjective. You cannot say 'een jammer'.

Yes! If you are talking about something that happened yesterday, 'Dat was jammer' is perfect.

It's not rude, but it is very childish or sarcastic. Don't use it with your boss!

You don't. Use 'Het spijt me' for apologies. Use 'Ik vind het jammer' to say 'I think it's a pity'.

Yes, but 'spijtig' is more common in Flanders.

No, it is strictly for negative or disappointing situations.

There isn't a direct opposite, but 'Dat is mooi' or 'Wat fijn!' are good positive reactions.

Yes, 'Het is jammer dat...' is very common in professional emails.

The sound is similar, but the meaning is different. 'Yammer' is about talking too much; 'jammer' is about pity.

Yes, 'Heel jammer' or 'Erg jammer' means 'Very much a pity'.

No, it is a very mild word. It's like a 3 out of 10 on the sadness scale.

Because it fits the Dutch culture of acknowledging problems without getting too emotional.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

Dat is zonde

similar

That's a waste

🔄

Helaas

synonym

Unfortunately / Alas

🔗

Wat een pech

similar

What bad luck

🔗

Helaas pindakaas

informal

Too bad, peanut butter

🔗

Spijtig

specialized form

Regrettable

🔗

Jammer de bammer

slang

Too bad (playful)

Wo du es verwendest

🚆

At the Train Station

Reiziger A: De trein naar Amsterdam heeft tien minuten vertraging.

Reiziger B: Oh, dat is jammer. Dan mis ik mijn afspraak.

neutral
☕

In a Cafe

Ober: Sorry, de appeltaart is op.

Klant: Wat jammer! Dan neem ik een koekje.

informal
📱

Texting a Friend

Sanne: Ik kan vanavond niet komen, ik moet werken.

Tom: Dat is jammer! Volgende keer beter.

informal
💼

At the Office

Collega: De vergadering is verplaatst naar maandag.

Jij: Dat is jammer, ik had me goed voorbereid.

neutral
❤️

Dating App

Match: Ik woon eigenlijk in België, niet in Nederland.

Jij: Oei, dat is jammer. Dat is een beetje ver weg.

informal
⚽

Watching Sports

Fan 1: Hij schiet... naast!

Fan 2: Ah, wat jammer! Dat was een mooie kans.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of someone 'yammering' (complaining) because something is a 'jammer' (pity).

Visual Association

Imagine a small child dropping an ice cream cone on a sunny day. A Dutch person standing nearby shrugs and says, 'Dat is jammer.'

Rhyme

Jammer de bammer, pak de hamer!

Story

You go to the bakery for a croissant. The baker says they are sold out. You feel a tiny bit sad. You say 'Dat is jammer.' The baker nods. You both move on with your lives. No drama, just 'jammer'.

Word Web

jammerzondespijtighelaaswat jammerjammer genoegjammerlijk

Herausforderung

Today, every time you see something slightly annoying (a red light, a slow computer), whisper 'Dat is jammer' to yourself.

In Other Languages

German high

Das ist schade.

German also uses 'Jammer' but usually as a noun meaning 'misery' (Weltschmerz vibes).

French high

C'est dommage.

French speakers might use it slightly more often in formal contexts than Dutch speakers use 'jammer'.

Spanish moderate

Es una lástima.

Spanish requires the article 'una', which Dutch learners often incorrectly carry over.

Japanese high

残念ですね (Zannen desu ne)

Japanese often adds 'ne' to seek agreement, whereas Dutch 'Dat is jammer' is more of a factual statement.

Arabic moderate

يا للأسف (Ya lal-asaf)

The Arabic version sounds slightly more poetic or formal than the very plain Dutch 'jammer'.

Chinese partial

太可惜了 (Tài kěxī le)

Chinese focuses more on the 'waste' of the opportunity, similar to Dutch 'zonde'.

Korean high

아쉽네요 (Aswipneyo)

The Korean term often implies a personal feeling of 'missing' something, while 'jammer' is more objective.

Portuguese high

É uma pena.

Like Spanish, it uses a noun ('pena') where Dutch uses an adjective.

Easily Confused

Dat is jammer. vs. Dat is zonde

Learners use 'jammer' when they mean 'zonde' (waste).

If you can say 'What a waste!' in English, use 'zonde'. If you say 'That's a pity!', use 'jammer'.

Dat is jammer. vs. Het spijt me

Learners use 'jammer' to apologize for their own actions.

'Jammer' is for external events. 'Het spijt me' is for your own mistakes.

FAQ (14)

No, it is way too informal and light. Use 'Wat vreselijk' or 'Gecondoleerd' instead.

'Jammer' is an adjective used to react to news. 'Helaas' is an adverb used to deliver bad news.

No, it is an adjective. You cannot say 'een jammer'.

Yes! If you are talking about something that happened yesterday, 'Dat was jammer' is perfect.

It's not rude, but it is very childish or sarcastic. Don't use it with your boss!

You don't. Use 'Het spijt me' for apologies. Use 'Ik vind het jammer' to say 'I think it's a pity'.

Yes, but 'spijtig' is more common in Flanders.

No, it is strictly for negative or disappointing situations.

There isn't a direct opposite, but 'Dat is mooi' or 'Wat fijn!' are good positive reactions.

Yes, 'Het is jammer dat...' is very common in professional emails.

The sound is similar, but the meaning is different. 'Yammer' is about talking too much; 'jammer' is about pity.

Yes, 'Heel jammer' or 'Erg jammer' means 'Very much a pity'.

No, it is a very mild word. It's like a 3 out of 10 on the sadness scale.

Because it fits the Dutch culture of acknowledging problems without getting too emotional.

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