A1 Expression Neutral 1 min de lectura

Het is gratis.

It is free.

Practícalo

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'Het is gratis' to tell someone that no payment is required for an item or service.

  • Means: It costs zero money.
  • Used in: Shops, events, or when giving gifts.
  • Don't confuse: 'Gratis' with 'Goedkoop' (cheap).
Zero coins + Happy face = 'Het is gratis!'

Explicación a tu nivel:

This phrase means you do not pay money. Use it when something is free.
You use 'Het is gratis' to indicate that an object or service has no financial cost. It is a very common, simple sentence structure.
This expression is the standard way to communicate that a transaction is not required. It is used in both formal business contexts and casual daily interactions to clarify pricing.
The term 'gratis' functions as a predicative adjective. It is essential for learners to distinguish this from 'goedkoop', which implies a low cost rather than an absence of cost.
Etymologically derived from Latin, 'gratis' serves as a lexical anchor in Dutch commerce. Its usage is strictly limited to financial contexts, distinguishing it from the polysemous nature of 'free' in English, which can also denote liberty or availability.
In Dutch, 'gratis' operates as an indeclinable adjective. Its semantic scope is narrow, strictly denoting a zero-price point. Unlike English 'free', which carries heavy ideological connotations, Dutch 'gratis' is primarily a functional, economic descriptor, reflecting the pragmatic nature of the language.

Significado

Stating that no money is required.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Dutch people appreciate 'gratis' items. It is common to see 'gratis' stickers at markets. Similar to the Netherlands, 'gratis' is the standard term used in all Flemish regions.

💡

Pronunciation

Practice the Dutch 'g' sound for the best result.

💡

Pronunciation

Practice the Dutch 'g' sound for the best result.

Ponte a prueba

Which sentence is correct for a free item?

Is it...?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Het is gratis

Gratis means free of charge.

🎉 Puntuación: /1

Ayudas visuales

Banco de ejercicios

2 ejercicios
Elige la respuesta correcta Fill Blank

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
Which sentence is correct for a free item? Choose A1

Is it...?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Het is gratis

Gratis means free of charge.

🎉 Puntuación: /2

Preguntas frecuentes

1 preguntas

Yes, in a financial sense.

Frases relacionadas

🔄

Voor niets

synonym

For nothing

Dónde usarla

🛍️

At a store

Customer: Hoeveel kost dit?

Clerk: Het is gratis.

neutral
🎁

Offering a gift

Friend: Wil je mijn oude boek?

You: Ja, graag! Hoeveel?

Friend: Het is gratis.

informal

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Gratis sounds like 'Great-is'. It's great when it is free!

Asociación visual

Imagine a shop where everything has a price tag of zero. You are walking out with a bag full of items and a big smile.

Rhyme

It costs no fee, it's gratis for me.

Story

I walked into a store. I saw a beautiful pen. I asked the clerk, 'How much?' He smiled and said, 'Het is gratis.' I was so happy!

In Other Languages

Most European languages use 'gratis' or a derivative. It is a very international word.

Word Web

betalenprijsgeldkopenkortinggratis

Desafío

Find three things in your house and label them 'gratis' if you didn't pay for them.

Review in 1, 3, 7, and 30 days.

Pronunciación

Stress Stress on the first syllable.

The 'g' is a guttural sound.

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
Dit product wordt kosteloos aangeboden.

Dit product wordt kosteloos aangeboden. (Pricing)

Neutral
Het is gratis.

Het is gratis. (Pricing)

Informal
Het kost niks!

Het kost niks! (Pricing)

Jerga
Helemaal voor nop!

Helemaal voor nop! (Pricing)

Derived from the Latin 'gratis', which is a contraction of 'gratiis', meaning 'by favor' or 'for thanks'.

Middle Ages:

Dato curioso

It is one of the few words that is almost identical in many European languages.

Notas culturales

Dutch people appreciate 'gratis' items. It is common to see 'gratis' stickers at markets.

“Kijk, een gratis krant!”

Similar to the Netherlands, 'gratis' is the standard term used in all Flemish regions.

“De parking is gratis.”

Inicios de conversación

“

Is deze koffie gratis?

Errores comunes

✗

Het is goedkoop.

✓

Het is gratis.

wrong context
If it is free, it is not just cheap, it is zero cost.

L1 Interference

0 1

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Es gratis.

None.

French Very Similar

C'est gratuit.

Pronunciation of the final consonant.

German moderate

Es ist kostenlos.

German prefers compound words.

Japanese Different

無料です (Muryō desu).

Different linguistic roots.

Arabic Different

إنه مجاني (Innahu majani).

Structural difference.

Spotted in the Real World

🌐

(2023)

“Gratis bezorging bij besteding boven 50 euro.”

Grocery store promotion.

Fácil de confundir

Het is gratis. vs Goedkoop

Learners think it means free.

Goedkoop means cheap, not free.

Preguntas frecuentes (1)

Yes, in a financial sense.

basic understanding

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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