At the A1 level, you only need to know 'gemiddeld' as a way to talk about simple numbers and frequency. You might use it to say how many hours you sleep or how much coffee you drink. It is a useful word for basic self-introduction and daily routines. You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just focus on the adverbial use: 'Ik werk gemiddeld acht uur.' In this context, it simply means 'usually' or 'on average'. It helps you provide more accurate information about your life without needing to be exact every single time. Imagine you are talking to a new friend: you can use this word to describe your habits. It's a 'safety word' that means you don't have to be 100% precise. At this stage, treat it as a fixed block that you can insert into sentences about time, money, and quantity. You might also see it in very simple weather reports. The goal is to recognize the word when you hear it in a sentence with numbers. It is one of the first 'statistical' words you will learn, and it makes your basic Dutch sound a bit more sophisticated. Don't worry about the '-e' ending too much yet; just try to use the base word 'gemiddeld' correctly in the middle of your sentences.
At the A2 level, you should start using 'gemiddeld' more actively and correctly. This is the level where you talk about your environment, your work, and your hobbies in more detail. You will encounter 'gemiddeld' when looking at prices in the supermarket, reading simple news articles, or talking about the weather. You should begin to distinguish between the adverb ('Ik sport gemiddeld twee keer per week') and the inflected adjective ('De gemiddelde prijs is hoog'). You are expected to know that 'gemiddelde' often takes an '-e' when it comes before a noun. This is also the level where you might use the noun form 'het gemiddelde' to talk about school grades or simple results. You can use it to compare things: 'Dit huis is duurder dan gemiddeld.' This allows for more complex comparisons than just 'big' or 'small'. You are building a toolkit to describe the world around you, and 'gemiddeld' is a key part of that. It helps you talk about what is 'normal' in your country versus the Netherlands. You will also hear it in public transport announcements or on the radio. It's a very practical word for an A2 learner because it appears in so many 'real-life' situations like shopping and travel.
At the B1 level, 'gemiddeld' becomes a tool for discussion and expressing opinions on social issues. You will use it to talk about trends in society, such as 'De gemiddelde Nederlander heeft minder vrije tijd.' You should be comfortable using it in both formal and informal writing. You will also learn to use related terms like 'bovengemiddeld' (above average) and 'benedengemiddeld' (below average). At this stage, you should understand the nuance between 'gemiddeld' (neutral/statistical) and 'middelmatig' (qualitative/often negative). You can participate in debates where statistics are used to support an argument. For example, in a discussion about health, you might say, 'Gemiddeld eten we te veel suiker.' You will also encounter the word in more complex grammatical structures, such as in subordinate clauses. Your listening skills should allow you to catch 'gemiddeld' even when spoken quickly in a news broadcast. You are no longer just using it for personal habits, but for describing the state of the world. It is a vital word for the 'Inburgering' (integration) exams, as many questions about Dutch society rely on understanding what is 'average' in terms of work, family, and education.
At the B2 level, you use 'gemiddeld' with precision in professional and academic contexts. You understand that it refers specifically to the arithmetic mean and can distinguish it from the median or mode if necessary. You can use it in reports to summarize data: 'Het gemiddelde rendement op deze investering was vijf procent.' You are also aware of the idiomatic uses and the cultural weight of the 'average' in Dutch culture (the 'doe maar gewoon' mentality). You can use the word to analyze complex information and provide summaries. Your use of adjective inflection with 'gemiddeld' should be flawless, and you should be able to use the noun form 'het gemiddelde' in various prepositional phrases like 'in vergelijking met het gemiddelde'. You can also use it to describe abstract concepts, like 'de gemiddelde levensverwachting'. At this level, you can read complex articles in newspapers like NRC or Volkskrant, where 'gemiddeld' is used to discuss sociology, economics, and science. You can also use it to qualify your statements, making your arguments more nuanced and less prone to overgeneralization. It is a word that helps you sound more professional and intellectually grounded in your Dutch communication.
At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of 'gemiddeld' and its place in the Dutch language. You can use it to discuss the limitations of statistics—for instance, how a 'gemiddelde' can be misleading if there are outliers. You use the word effortlessly in high-level academic writing and complex professional negotiations. You are familiar with more obscure synonyms and can choose between 'gemiddeld', 'doorsnee', 'paritair', or 'mediaan' depending on the exact nuance you want to convey. You understand the stylistic impact of using 'gemiddeld' versus more descriptive language. You can follow fast-paced academic lectures or political debates where 'gemiddeld' is used as a basis for policy decisions. You can also use the word in a more philosophical sense, discussing the 'gemiddelde mens' in literature or sociology. Your mastery of the word is such that you can use it ironically or to make a rhetorical point. You are also aware of the historical development of the word and how its meaning has solidified in the context of modern Dutch bureaucracy and social science. At C1, 'gemiddeld' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a conceptual tool that you use to navigate the highest levels of Dutch discourse.
At the C2 level, your command of 'gemiddeld' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can appreciate the word's role in the 'polder' model and its implications for Dutch identity. You can use it in creative writing to evoke a sense of the mundane or the universal. You understand the most subtle connotations, such as when 'gemiddeld' is used to downplay excellence or to enforce social conformity. You can analyze the use of 'gemiddeld' in complex legal or scientific documents where every word has specific weight. You can also play with the word, using it in puns, wordplay, or complex metaphors. You are aware of how 'gemiddeld' interacts with other statistical terms in specialized fields like econometrics or theoretical physics. Your ability to use the word is perfect across all registers, from the most formal scientific paper to the most casual street slang (where you might intentionally avoid it for effect). At this level, you don't just 'know' the word; you 'feel' its position within the entire web of the Dutch language. You can discuss the etymology and the evolution of the concept of 'the average' in Western thought and how the Dutch word 'gemiddeld' uniquely captures that history.

gemiddeld en 30 segundos

  • Gemiddeld means average or mean.
  • It can be an adjective (gemiddelde), adverb, or noun (het gemiddelde).
  • It is used for math, weather, habits, and social trends.
  • Commonly used to describe the 'typical' person or situation.
The Dutch word gemiddeld is a cornerstone of the Dutch language, functioning as both an adjective and an adverb to describe the concept of an average or mean. At its most basic level, it refers to a mathematical value calculated by summing several quantities and dividing by the total number of items. However, its usage in daily Dutch life extends far beyond the classroom or the calculator. When you use gemiddeld, you are often talking about what is typical, normal, or expected within a specific group or timeframe. In the Netherlands, a country famous for its love of statistics and 'polderen' (consensus-seeking), the idea of the 'average' person or 'de gemiddelde Nederlander' is a frequent topic of conversation in news, politics, and social circles.
Mathematical Context
In school or professional settings, it refers strictly to the arithmetic mean. For example, calculating the mean score of a class test.
Social Context
Used to describe the 'everyman' or the standard lifestyle, such as the average house price or the average amount of coffee consumed per person.
Frequency Context
Used to describe how often something happens over a period, like 'On average, I go to the gym twice a week.'
Understanding this word requires recognizing its flexibility. It can describe a person's height, the temperature of a season, or the performance of a stock market index.

De gemiddelde temperatuur in juli is twintig graden Celsius.

This sentence illustrates the adjective form where it modifies the noun 'temperatuur'. Note how the '-e' is added because it is a definite noun phrase.

Ik werk gemiddeld veertig uur per week.

Here, it acts as an adverb, modifying the verb 'werk' to indicate frequency. The Dutch people value 'normaal doen' (acting normally), and gemiddeld is the linguistic yardstick for that normality. Whether you are discussing the weather, which is a national pastime in the Netherlands, or discussing your grades in a Dutch university, this word will appear constantly. It is not just a word for mathematicians; it is a word for anyone trying to navigate the expectations and realities of Dutch society.

Het gemiddelde van deze drie getallen is tien.

In this case, 'het gemiddelde' is used as a noun, meaning 'the average'. This is a very common way to express the result of a calculation.

Zijn prestaties zijn gemiddeld, niet uitmuntend.

This usage implies 'mediocre' or 'standard', showing the qualitative side of the word.

Hoeveel verdien je gemiddeld per maand?

This is a standard question about income or earnings. In summary, gemiddeld is an indispensable tool for description and analysis in Dutch, bridging the gap between precise mathematics and everyday social observation. It allows speakers to generalize safely and describe patterns in a way that is universally understood in the Low Countries.
Using gemiddeld correctly involves understanding its three main grammatical roles: as an adverb, an adjective, and a noun. This versatility is what makes it so powerful in Dutch. Let us break down these usages with detailed explanations and examples.
As an Adverb
When used as an adverb, 'gemiddeld' modifies a verb or an entire sentence. It does not change its form. It answers the question 'To what extent?' or 'At what rate?'. For example: 'Wij wandelen gemiddeld vijf kilometer per dag.' (We walk on average five kilometers per day.)
As an Adjective
As an adjective, it precedes a noun and describes it. It must follow Dutch adjective inflection rules. This means it often gets an '-e' ending. For example: 'De gemiddelde prijs' (The average price) or 'Een gemiddeld kind' (An average child - note no '-e' because 'kind' is a neuter 'het-word' and the article 'een' is indefinite).
As a Noun
The noun form is 'het gemiddelde'. It is always a 'het-word'. You use this when you want to talk about the average as a concept or the result of a calculation. For example: 'Het gemiddelde van de klas was een zeven.' (The class average was a seven.)
One of the most common sentence patterns involving gemiddeld is stating a statistic.

De gemiddelde Nederlander fietst veel.

In this sentence, 'gemiddelde' is an inflected adjective. It refers to the stereotypical or statistical representative of the population.

Dit jaar was het gemiddeld warmer dan vorig jaar.

Here, it functions as an adverbial modifier for the adjective 'warmer', indicating that across the whole year, the temperature was higher on average.

Boven het gemiddelde scoren is altijd goed.

This uses the noun form in a prepositional phrase ('boven het gemiddelde'), meaning 'above average'.

Zijn cijfers zijn gemiddeld.

When used at the end of a sentence like this, it acts as a predicate adjective, meaning 'His grades are average'. No '-e' is added here because it is not followed by a noun.

Wat is het gemiddelde verbruik van deze auto?

This is a common question for car buyers, asking about fuel consumption. By mastering these patterns, you can discuss data, habits, and expectations with precision. Whether you are writing a formal report or chatting with a friend about your electricity bill, gemiddeld will be your go-to word for summarizing information.
You will encounter gemiddeld in a wide variety of contexts in the Netherlands and Flanders. From the evening news to the supermarket aisles, it is a word that permeates Dutch life.
The Weather Forecast (Het Weerbericht)
Dutch meteorologists love this word. They use it to compare today's weather with historical data. 'Het is vandaag warmer dan gemiddeld voor deze tijd van het jaar' (It is warmer today than average for this time of year).
News and Economy
Economic reports frequently mention 'het gemiddelde inkomen' (the average income) or 'de gemiddelde inflatie' (the average inflation). It is the basis for discussing the 'purchasing power' (koopkracht) of citizens.
Education and Schools
Students and teachers use it to discuss grades. 'Wat is je gemiddelde?' (What is your average [grade]?) is a question every Dutch student has heard.
In the workplace, gemiddeld is used to set benchmarks and evaluate performance. A manager might say, 'Onze gemiddelde reactietijd moet omlaag' (Our average response time must decrease). This shows how the word is tied to efficiency and goals.

De gemiddelde wachttijd is tien minuten.

You might hear this on a recorded message while waiting for customer service.

Ik ben een gemiddelde loper; ik ben niet de snelste.

In a sports context, a runner might use it to describe their skill level.

Hoeveel calorieën zitten er gemiddeld in een appel?

Health-conscious individuals use it to discuss nutrition.

De gemiddelde kijker vindt dit programma leuk.

Television producers use this to talk about their target audience.

Het regent hier gemiddeld vaker dan in Spanje.

A common observation about the Dutch climate! In summary, if there is a number involved, there is a high chance gemiddeld is nearby. It is the bridge between raw data and human understanding in the Dutch-speaking world.
Even though gemiddeld seems straightforward, English speakers often make specific errors when translating 'average' into Dutch. Understanding these pitfalls will make your Dutch sound much more natural.
Confusing Adjective and Noun
In English, 'average' is the same word for the noun and the adjective. In Dutch, you must distinguish between 'gemiddeld' (adj/adv) and 'het gemiddelde' (noun). Saying 'Wat is de gemiddeld?' is incorrect; it must be 'Wat is het gemiddelde?'.
Overusing it for 'Ordinary'
While 'average' can mean 'ordinary' in English, in Dutch, 'gemiddeld' often retains a slightly more statistical feel. If you want to say a movie was just 'average' (not great, not bad), Dutch people often use 'middelmatig' or 'gewoon'. Using 'gemiddeld' here might sound like you calculated the movie's score.
Adjective Inflection Errors
Forgetting the '-e' is common. Because 'gemiddeld' is often used with 'de' words (like de prijs, de temperatuur), you almost always need that '-e'. 'De gemiddeld prijs' is a classic mistake; it should be 'De gemiddelde prijs'.
Another mistake is the placement of the word in a sentence. Dutch adverbs have specific 'homes'.

Fout: Ik drink gemiddeld drie koffie.

Actually, this is acceptable, but learners often try to put it at the very end like 'Ik drink drie koffie gemiddeld', which sounds clunky.

Goed: Ik drink gemiddeld drie koppen koffie per dag.

Fout: Het gemiddelde van mensen is groot.

This sounds like 'The average of people is tall'. It's better to say 'De gemiddelde mens is lang'.

Fout: Ik ben gemiddelde.

This is wrong because when 'gemiddeld' is a predicate adjective (after 'zijn'), it doesn't get an '-e'. The correct version is 'Ik ben gemiddeld'.

Goed: De gemiddelde lengte is 1.80 meter.

By being aware of these subtle differences, you will avoid the 'English-thinking' trap and speak Dutch that sounds authentic and statistically accurate!
Dutch has several words that overlap with gemiddeld, and choosing the right one depends on whether you are talking about math, social norms, or quality.
Middelmatig
This means 'mediocre' or 'second-rate'. Use this when 'average' has a negative connotation of being 'nothing special'. Example: 'Een middelmatige film' (A mediocre movie).
Doorsnee
Literally 'cross-section'. It means 'typical' or 'standard'. 'Een doorsnee Nederlander' is a very common alternative to 'een gemiddelde Nederlander'. It feels slightly more descriptive and less like a math result.
Normaal / Gewoon
These mean 'normal' or 'just/ordinary'. When you say 'I'm just an average guy', you would likely say 'Ik ben een gewone jongen' rather than using 'gemiddeld'.
Let's compare gemiddeld with its cousins in more detail.

Zijn cijfers zijn gemiddeld. (His grades are mathematically in the middle.)

Zijn cijfers zijn middelmatig. (His grades are not very good; they are just 'okay'.)

See the difference? One is a statement of fact, the other is a judgment.

Het gemiddelde inkomen stijgt. (The statistical mean income is rising.)

Een doorsnee inkomen is genoeg om van te leven. (A typical income is enough to live on.)

De mediaan is vaak een betere maatstaf dan het gemiddelde.

This is a very B2/C1 level sentence discussing statistics.

Hij is een alledaagse verschijning.

'Alledaags' means 'everyday' or 'commonplace'. It's another way to say something is average in the sense of being frequent and unremarkable. Understanding these nuances allows you to be more precise. Use gemiddeld for numbers and data, doorsnee for typical examples, and middelmatig for quality judgments.

Ejemplos por nivel

1

Ik slaap gemiddeld acht uur.

I sleep eight hours on average.

Used as an adverb here.

2

Hij drinkt gemiddeld drie kopjes koffie.

He drinks three cups of coffee on average.

Adverb modifying the quantity.

3

Het is gemiddeld tien graden.

It is ten degrees on average.

Common in weather descriptions.

4

Ik werk gemiddeld vijf dagen.

I work five days on average.

Adverbial usage.

5

Een appel kost gemiddeld vijftig cent.

An apple costs fifty cents on average.

Used for prices.

6

Wij lopen gemiddeld vier kilometer.

We walk four kilometers on average.

Adverbial usage.

7

Zij leest gemiddeld één boek per maand.

She reads one book per month on average.

Adverbial usage.

8

Het regent gemiddeld vaak in Nederland.

It rains on average often in the Netherlands.

Modifying the adverb 'vaak'.

1

De gemiddelde prijs van een brood is twee euro.

The average price of a loaf of bread is two euros.

Inflected adjective 'gemiddelde'.

2

De gemiddelde Nederlander is vrij lang.

The average Dutchman is quite tall.

Used to describe a group characteristic.

3

Wat is het gemiddelde van deze klas?

What is the average of this class?

Noun form 'het gemiddelde'.

4

In de zomer is het gemiddeld vijfentwintig graden.

In the summer, it is twenty-five degrees on average.

Adverbial usage.

5

Een gemiddeld gezin heeft twee kinderen.

An average family has two children.

Adjective 'gemiddeld' (no -e because 'gezin' is neuter and 'een' is indefinite).

6

Zijn cijfers zijn dit jaar gemiddeld.

His grades are average this year.

Predicate adjective.

7

Hoeveel verdien je gemiddeld per uur?

How much do you earn on average per hour?

Adverbial usage in a question.

8

De gemiddelde wachttijd is vijf minuten.

The average waiting time is five minutes.

Inflected adjective.

1

Het gemiddelde inkomen is de laatste jaren gestegen.

The average income has risen in recent years.

Noun phrase with 'het'.

2

Zij scoort altijd bovengemiddeld op haar toetsen.

She always scores above average on her tests.

Compound word 'bovengemiddeld'.

3

De gemiddelde levensverwachting is in Nederland hoog.

Average life expectancy is high in the Netherlands.

Abstract noun phrase.

4

Gemiddeld genomen zijn mensen hier erg vriendelijk.

Taken on average, people here are very friendly.

Fixed expression 'gemiddeld genomen'.

5

Dit resultaat ligt ver onder het gemiddelde.

This result lies far below the average.

Prepositional phrase with the noun.

6

De gemiddelde student heeft een studieschuld.

The average student has a student debt.

Generalizing about a social group.

7

Het regent hier gemiddeld honderd dagen per jaar.

It rains here on average one hundred days per year.

Frequency adverb.

8

Zijn prestaties zijn helaas slechts middelmatig, niet gemiddeld.

His performance is unfortunately only mediocre, not average.

Contrast between statistical and qualitative 'average'.

1

We moeten het gemiddelde verbruik van de vloot reduceren.

We must reduce the average consumption of the fleet.

Formal business context.

2

De gemiddelde jaarlijkse neerslag is toegenomen door klimaatverandering.

Average annual precipitation has increased due to climate change.

Scientific/Environmental context.

3

Het rekenkundig gemiddelde is niet altijd de beste maatstaf.

The arithmetic mean is not always the best measure.

Technical term 'rekenkundig gemiddelde'.

4

De gemiddelde Nederlander hecht veel waarde aan privacy.

The average Dutchman attaches great importance to privacy.

Sociological observation.

5

Zijn salaris is aanzienlijk hoger dan het landelijk gemiddelde.

His salary is considerably higher than the national average.

Comparison with a noun phrase.

6

Hoe bereken je het gewogen gemiddelde van deze cijfers?

How do you calculate the weighted average of these figures?

Specific term 'gewogen gemiddelde'.

7

De gemiddelde kijkcijfers van dat programma vallen tegen.

The average viewing figures of that program are disappointing.

Media industry context.

8

In vergelijking met het Europese gemiddelde scoren wij goed.

In comparison with the European average, we score well.

Comparative prepositional phrase.

1

De gemiddelde afwijking van de norm is statistisch significant.

The average deviation from the norm is statistically significant.

Advanced statistical terminology.

2

Men moet waken voor de tirannie van het gemiddelde.

One must guard against the tyranny of the average.

Philosophical/Rhetorical use.

3

Het gemiddelde als concept verhult vaak de individuele variatie.

The average as a concept often hides individual variation.

Abstract academic discussion.

4

De gemiddelde groeisnelheid van de economie stagneert.

The average growth rate of the economy is stagnating.

Macroeconomic context.

5

Zijn oeuvre overstijgt het gemiddelde niveau van zijn tijdgenoten.

His body of work transcends the average level of his contemporaries.

Literary/Artistic criticism.

6

De spreiding rondom het gemiddelde is in dit geval cruciaal.

The spread around the average is crucial in this case.

Scientific analysis.

7

Het gemiddelde huishoudinkomen is een povere indicator voor welzijn.

Average household income is a poor indicator of well-being.

Sociological critique.

8

De gemiddelde Nederlander bestaat niet, aldus de koningin.

The average Dutchman does not exist, according to the queen.

Reference to a famous Dutch political quote.

1

Het streven naar het gemiddelde kan de innovatiekracht fnuiken.

The striving for the average can stifle the power of innovation.

High-level vocabulary ('fnuiken').

2

De ontlezing onder de gemiddelde bevolking is een zorgwekkende trend.

The decline in reading among the average population is a worrying trend.

Complex social commentary.

3

Het gemiddelde is hier louter een mathematisch construct zonder ontologische basis.

The average here is merely a mathematical construct without an ontological basis.

Philosophical/Scientific register.

4

In de statistiek is het gemiddelde slechts één aspect van de centrale tendentie.

In statistics, the average is only one aspect of central tendency.

Highly technical terminology.

5

De gemiddelde burger voelt zich vaak niet gehoord door de politieke elite.

The average citizen often feels unheard by the political elite.

Political science context.

6

Door de wet van de grote getallen nadert het resultaat het gemiddelde.

Through the law of large numbers, the result approaches the average.

Probability theory context.

7

Het gemiddelde van alle menselijke ervaringen is onmogelijk te kwantificeren.

The average of all human experiences is impossible to quantify.

Existential/Philosophical context.

8

Zijn retoriek appelleert aan het gemiddelde sentiment in de samenleving.

His rhetoric appeals to the average sentiment in society.

Advanced linguistic analysis.

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