Bedeutung
Not achievable.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Dutch professionals are very direct. If they say 'Dat is onmogelijk', they are usually giving an honest assessment of resources, not trying to be rude. In Flanders, people might use 'Dat gaat niet' or 'Dat is niet mogelijk' slightly more often to sound a bit softer than the direct Northern Dutch 'onmogelijk'. Because of the history of land reclamation, 'onmogelijk' is a word associated with the limits of nature that the Dutch love to challenge. Younger generations often shorten it to just 'Onmogelijk!' as a one-word exclamation on social media, similar to 'No way!'
The 'Lijk' Rule
Whenever you see '-lijk' at the end of a Dutch word, it usually sounds like 'luck'. Don't try to pronounce it as 'like'!
Don't be too blunt
In social situations, 'Dat is onmogelijk' can sound like you are calling the other person a liar. Use 'Echt?' or 'Dat kan ik bijna niet geloven' to be softer.
Bedeutung
Not achievable.
The 'Lijk' Rule
Whenever you see '-lijk' at the end of a Dutch word, it usually sounds like 'luck'. Don't try to pronounce it as 'like'!
Don't be too blunt
In social situations, 'Dat is onmogelijk' can sound like you are calling the other person a liar. Use 'Echt?' or 'Dat kan ik bijna niet geloven' to be softer.
Use it for emphasis
You can add 'volstrekt' (completely) before it to sound very certain: 'Dat is volstrekt onmogelijk!'
Nuchterheid
Embrace the Dutch realism. Saying something is impossible isn't negative; it's just being practical.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the best response to: 'Kun je een olifant in je jaszak stoppen?'
Can you put an elephant in your coat pocket?
An elephant is too big for a pocket, making it physically impossible.
Fill in the missing word.
Het is ______ om zonder zuurstof te ademen.
The sentence needs the adjective 'impossible' to describe the act of breathing without oxygen.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ik heb gisteren een UFO gezien!' B: '______! Dat geloof ik niet.'
B is expressing disbelief, so 'Onmogelijk' is the correct reaction.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Which situation fits 'Dat is onmogelijk'?
The shock and logical contradiction of a car being stolen while you are inside it warrants 'Dat is onmogelijk!'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Onmogelijk vs. Mag Niet
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenCan you put an elephant in your coat pocket?
An elephant is too big for a pocket, making it physically impossible.
Het is ______ om zonder zuurstof te ademen.
The sentence needs the adjective 'impossible' to describe the act of breathing without oxygen.
A: 'Ik heb gisteren een UFO gezien!' B: '______! Dat geloof ik niet.'
B is expressing disbelief, so 'Onmogelijk' is the correct reaction.
Which situation fits 'Dat is onmogelijk'?
The shock and logical contradiction of a car being stolen while you are inside it warrants 'Dat is onmogelijk!'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
'Onmogelijk' is a single adjective, while 'niet mogelijk' is a negation. 'Onmogelijk' is more common in idiomatic speech.
Yes! 'Een onmogelijk mens' is someone who is very difficult to deal with.
It is usually left in English, but the translation would be 'Onmogelijke missie'.
In the North (Netherlands), it is hard/guttural. In the South (Belgium), it is soft.
Yes, this is a common way to express personal inability.
As a predicate adjective (after 'is'), no. As an attributive adjective (before a noun), it becomes 'onmogelijke'.
Not if you are talking about a task. 'Het is onmogelijk om dit morgen af te hebben.' is fine.
The opposite is 'mogelijk' (possible).
Yes, as an exclamation: 'Onmogelijk!'
Yes, often abbreviated or used with emojis like 😱.
It is the noun form, meaning 'impossibility'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Dat kan niet
similarThat cannot be / That's not possible
Uitgesloten
synonymExcluded / Out of the question
Onwaarschijnlijk
contrastUnlikely
Mogelijk
contrastPossible
Onuitvoerbaar
specialized formUnfeasible
