prijzen en 30 secondes
- Prijzen is the plural of 'de prijs', meaning the monetary value assigned to goods or services.
- It is used in daily life for shopping, bills, and discussing the general cost of living.
- Common adjectives used with prijzen include 'hoog', 'laag', 'scherp', and 'redelijk'.
- Be careful not to confuse it with the verb 'prijzen', which means 'to praise'.
The Dutch word prijzen is the plural form of the noun prijs. In its most common daily context, it refers to the amounts of money that you must pay to acquire goods or services. Whether you are walking through a bustling market in Utrecht, browsing an online webshop like Bol.com, or discussing the rising cost of living at a birthday party, prijzen is a word that appears constantly. It is an essential term for anyone navigating the Dutch economy, as it covers everything from the cost of a loaf of bread to the astronomical figures associated with the housing market in Amsterdam.
- Economic Context
- In the Netherlands, people are very conscious of 'prijzen'. The Dutch culture often emphasizes getting good value for money, which is why you will frequently see signs for 'scherpe prijzen' (sharp/competitive prices) in shop windows. When inflation occurs, the Dutch speak of 'stijgende prijzen' (rising prices), a topic that dominates news cycles and household budget discussions.
- The Dual Meaning
- While this entry focuses on monetary costs, it is important to note that 'prijzen' also means 'prizes' or 'awards' in English. If you win a lottery or a sports competition, the items you receive are also called 'prijzen'. Furthermore, 'prijzen' can function as a verb meaning 'to praise', though the context usually makes the noun usage clear.
De prijzen in deze supermarkt zijn veel lager dan die in de stad.
Understanding 'prijzen' involves more than just knowing it means 'prices'. It involves understanding the Dutch consumer mindset. The Dutch are known for 'prijzen vergelijken' (comparing prices). There are numerous websites dedicated solely to this activity, such as Kieskeurig or Tweakers for electronics. Using the word correctly means recognizing that it is a plural noun; you use it when talking about multiple items or the general concept of cost across a category.
Door de inflatie zijn de prijzen van benzine enorm gestegen.
- Daily Interaction
- When you enter a store and cannot find a price tag, you might ask: 'Wat zijn de prijzen van deze artikelen?' (What are the prices of these items?). In a restaurant, the menu lists the 'prijzen' for the dishes. If you are a freelancer, you might send a 'prijslijst' (price list) to your clients containing your various 'prijzen' for different services.
Wij bieden onze klanten altijd de beste prijzen aan.
Finally, the word is often used in compound nouns. For example, 'huizenprijzen' (house prices) is a very common term in Dutch news. 'Consumentenprijzen' (consumer prices) is used in economic reports. By learning 'prijzen', you unlock a vast array of vocabulary related to finance, shopping, and social status in the Netherlands.
Using prijzen correctly requires a grasp of its plural nature and the adjectives that typically accompany it. Because it is the plural of 'de prijs', it always takes the plural verb form and the definite article 'de'. You will rarely see it used with 'het'.
- Adjective Agreement
- When describing prices, the most common adjectives are 'hoog' (high), 'laag' (low), 'redelijk' (reasonable), and 'extreem' (extreme). For example: 'De hoge prijzen schrikken klanten af' (The high prices scare off customers). Notice that 'hoog' becomes 'hoge' because it precedes a plural noun.
Kunt u mij vertellen of deze prijzen inclusief btw zijn?
In business settings, you might encounter 'prijzen' in the context of 'offertes' (quotes). A company might say, 'Onze prijzen zijn concurrerend' (Our prices are competitive). If you are talking about the stock market, you use 'koersen' for stock prices, but for general commodities, 'prijzen' is the standard term.
De prijzen van de tickets variëren afhankelijk van de datum.
- Common Verb Pairings
- Prijzen 'stijgen' (rise), 'dalen' (fall), 'veranderen' (change), or 'blijven gelijk' (stay the same). You can also 'vergelijken' (compare), 'verlagen' (lower), or 'verhogen' (raise) prices. For example: 'De overheid probeert de prijzen te stabiliseren' (The government is trying to stabilize the prices).
Hebben jullie de prijzen op de website al aangepast?
Another important usage is in the phrase 'tegen elke prijs', which means 'at any cost' or 'at any price'. While 'prijs' is singular here, it relates to the same semantic field. In plural, you might hear 'voor deze prijzen kun je het niet laten liggen' (at these prices, you can't leave it behind/it's a steal).
If you spend any time in the Netherlands, you will hear prijzen in a variety of real-world scenarios. It is not just a classroom word; it is a survival word. From the moment you step into a 'supermarkt' to the time you read the 'ochtendkrant' (morning newspaper), the concept of prices is omnipresent.
- At the Supermarket
- Supermarkets like Albert Heijn or Jumbo often have speakers announcing 'knallende prijzen' (explosive/great prices) or 'verlaagde prijzen' (reduced prices). You might hear a shopper say to their partner, 'Kijk naar die prijzen, alles is weer duurder geworden!' (Look at those prices, everything has become more expensive again!).
De prijzen voor groenten zijn dit seizoen erg gunstig.
In the news, 'prijzen' is a keyword in economic segments. The newsreader might discuss 'de prijzen aan de pomp' (the prices at the pump, referring to gas prices) or how 'de prijzen op de woningmarkt' (the prices on the housing market) are affecting young starters. It is a word that bridges the gap between personal finance and national policy.
Op de markt kun je vaak over de prijzen onderhandelen.
- Professional Environment
- In an office, you might hear colleagues discussing 'inkoopprijzen' (purchase prices) versus 'verkoopprijzen' (selling prices). If you are involved in procurement, you will be constantly looking at 'offertes' and comparing the 'prijzen' of different suppliers to ensure the company gets the best deal.
De prijzen van energie gaan deze winter waarschijnlijk omhoog.
Socially, the Dutch are quite open about money compared to some other cultures, but there is still a limit. You might hear friends complain about the 'prijzen' of drinks in a touristy part of Amsterdam, using it as a way to bond over the shared experience of 'being Dutch' (i.e., being frugal and sensible with money).
Even though 'prijzen' seems straightforward, English speakers often stumble over a few specific hurdles when using it in Dutch. The most significant mistake is confusing the noun with the verb, or using it when another word like 'kosten' would be more appropriate.
- Noun vs. Verb Confusion
- In Dutch, 'prijzen' is also the infinitive of the verb 'to praise'. If you say 'Ik wil hem prijzen', you are saying 'I want to praise him', not 'I want his prices'. While context usually clarifies this, it can be confusing in written text. Always look for an article (de/het) or a possessive pronoun (onze/hun) to confirm it is a noun.
Fout: De kosten van deze auto zijn hoog. (Correct, but 'prijzen' refers to the tag, 'kosten' to the total expense).
Another common error is using 'prijzen' when you mean 'kosten' (costs). While related, they are not identical. 'Prijzen' are what is asked by the seller (the sticker price), whereas 'kosten' are what is actually spent or the overhead involved. For example, 'De prijzen van de materialen zijn laag, maar de kosten voor de arbeid zijn hoog' (The prices of materials are low, but the labor costs are high).
Juist: De prijzen in die winkel zijn inclusief btw.
- Singular vs. Plural
- English speakers often use the singular 'price' as a collective noun (e.g., 'Price is high'). In Dutch, you must choose: either 'De prijs is hoog' (referring to one specific thing) or 'De prijzen zijn hoog' (referring to prices in general). Using the singular to refer to a general trend sounds unnatural in Dutch.
Fout: De prijs van de huizen stijgen. (Verb doesn't match the noun).
Finally, watch out for the word 'prijzig'. It is an adjective derived from 'prijs' meaning 'expensive'. Some learners try to use 'prijzen' as an adjective, which is incorrect. You can say 'De prijzen zijn hoog' or 'Het is een prijzig product', but never 'Het is een prijzen product'.
To speak Dutch fluently, you need to know when to use prijzen and when to opt for a synonym. Dutch has several words that touch upon the concept of value and cost, each with its own specific nuance.
- Kosten vs. Prijzen
- 'Kosten' (costs) refers to the total amount of money, time, or energy needed. 'Prijzen' are the specific amounts requested by a seller. Use 'kosten' for internal expenses and 'prijzen' for external market values.
- Tarieven vs. Prijzen
- 'Tarieven' (rates/tariffs) is used for services that are billed per hour or per unit of use, like electricity, legal advice, or public transport. While you can use 'prijzen' for these, 'tarieven' sounds more professional and precise.
De tarieven voor de trein zijn vorig jaar verhoogd.
If you are talking about the value of something rather than its sticker price, you might use 'waarde'. For example, 'De emotionele waarde is groter dan de prijs' (The emotional value is greater than the price). In plural, 'waarden' usually refers to moral values, so stick to 'waarde' for financial worth.
De waarde van deze antieke klok is moeilijk te bepalen.
- Offerte vs. Prijslijst
- An 'offerte' is a personalized quote containing specific 'prijzen' for a project. A 'prijslijst' is a generic list of prices for standard products. If you want to know the price of a custom kitchen, you ask for an 'offerte', not just the 'prijzen'.
Onze offerte bevat een overzicht van alle prijzen.
In summary, while 'prijzen' is the go-to word for general shopping and economic costs, using 'tarieven' for services, 'kosten' for total expenditure, and 'waarde' for worth will make your Dutch sound significantly more advanced and natural.
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'prijzen' has three distinct roles: it is the plural of price, the plural of prize, and the verb to praise. All three share the root concept of 'assigning value'.
Guide de prononciation
- Pronouncing 'ij' like 'ee' (pree-zen).
- Pronouncing the final 'n' too strongly (it should be soft or silent).
- Using a sharp 's' instead of a voiced 'z'.
- Confusing the vowel with the 'ui' sound in 'pruizen' (which is not a word).
- Failing to stress the first syllable.
Exemples par niveau
De prijzen zijn hier laag.
The prices are low here.
Plural noun with plural verb 'zijn'.
Wat zijn de prijzen?
What are the prices?
Interrogative sentence.
Ik zie veel prijzen.
I see many prices.
Direct object.
De prijzen van de appels.
The prices of the apples.
Noun phrase with 'van'.
Hoge prijzen zijn niet fijn.
High prices are not nice.
Adjective 'hoge' matches plural 'prijzen'.
Zijn de prijzen inclusief?
Are the prices inclusive?
Inversion for question.
De prijzen in de winkel.
The prices in the shop.
Prepositional phrase.
Ik hou van lage prijzen.
I love low prices.
Verb 'houden van' + object.
De prijzen van de huizen stijgen.
The prices of the houses are rising.
Present tense plural.
Wij vergelijken de prijzen online.
We are comparing the prices online.
Subject-verb-object.
De prijzen op de markt zijn goedkoop.
The prices at the market are cheap.
Adjective used as a predicate.
Heeft u een lijst met prijzen?
Do you have a list with prices?
Noun + prepositional phrase.
De prijzen variëren per dag.
The prices vary per day.
Verb 'variëren'.
Deze prijzen zijn alleen voor vandaag.
These prices are only for today.
Demonstrative pronoun 'deze'.
Kunt u de prijzen verlagen?
Can you lower the prices?
Modal verb 'kunnen' + infinitive.
De prijzen in Amsterdam zijn hoog.
The prices in Amsterdam are high.
Location phrase.
De prijzen van energie zijn verdubbeld.
The energy prices have doubled.
Present perfect tense.
Consumenten letten steeds meer op de prijzen.
Consumers are paying more and more attention to prices.
Verb 'letten op'.
De prijzen worden bepaald door de markt.
The prices are determined by the market.
Passive voice.
Er zijn grote verschillen tussen de prijzen.
There are big differences between the prices.
Existential 'er zijn'.
De prijzen van tickets zijn inclusief belasting.
The prices of tickets include tax.
Adjective phrase.
Zij bieden zeer concurrerende prijzen aan.
They offer very competitive prices.
Separable verb 'aanbieden'.
De prijzen voor reparaties zijn gestegen.
The prices for repairs have risen.
Noun + preposition + noun.
We moeten de prijzen opnieuw berekenen.
We must recalculate the prices.
Modal verb + infinitive.
De inflatie drijft de prijzen omhoog.
Inflation is driving prices up.
Transitive verb usage.
De prijzen van grondstoffen zijn volatiel.
The prices of raw materials are volatile.
Adjective 'volatiel'.
Ondanks de crisis bleven de prijzen stabiel.
Despite the crisis, the prices remained stable.
Preposition 'ondanks'.
De prijzen weerspiegelen de kwaliteit van het product.
The prices reflect the quality of the product.
Verb 'weerspiegelen'.
Er is een limiet aan de prijzen die we kunnen vragen.
There is a limit to the prices we can ask.
Relative clause.
De prijzen zijn exclusief verzendkosten.
The prices exclude shipping costs.
Adjective 'exclusief'.
De prijzen op de wereldmarkt dalen langzaam.
The prices on the world market are falling slowly.
Adverb 'langzaam'.
De prijzen worden wekelijks bijgewerkt.
The prices are updated weekly.
Passive voice + adverb.
De prijzen zijn onderhevig aan sterke schommelingen.
The prices are subject to strong fluctuations.
Fixed expression 'onderhevig aan'.
De prijzen van vastgoed zijn onbetaalbaar geworden.
Real estate prices have become unaffordable.
Adjective 'onbetaalbaar'.
De prijzen worden kunstmatig laag gehouden.
The prices are being kept artificially low.
Adverb 'kunstmatig'.
Er is kritiek op de prijzen van medicijnen.
There is criticism of the prices of medicines.
Noun + preposition 'op'.
De prijzen in de horeca zijn fors toegenomen.
Prices in the hospitality sector have increased significantly.
Adverb 'fors'.
De prijzen worden gespecificeerd in de bijlage.
The prices are specified in the appendix.
Formal verb 'specificeren'.
De prijzen van aandelen kelderden na het nieuws.
Stock prices plummeted after the news.
Verb 'kelderen'.
De prijzen zijn een indicatie van de schaarste.
The prices are an indication of the scarcity.
Noun as an indicator.
De prijzen fungeren als een signaalmechanisme.
The prices function as a signaling mechanism.
Formal verb 'fungeren als'.
De prijzen zijn verankerd in de economische realiteit.
The prices are anchored in economic reality.
Metaphorical usage.
De prijzen weerspiegelen de intrinsieke waarde niet.
The prices do not reflect the intrinsic value.
Negative construction.
De prijzen worden gedicteerd door geopolitieke spanningen.
The prices are dictated by geopolitical tensions.
Passive voice with agent.
De prijzen zijn een reflectie van maatschappelijke prioriteiten.
The prices are a reflection of societal priorities.
Abstract noun usage.
De prijzen van zeldzame metalen zijn geëxplodeerd.
The prices of rare metals have exploded.
Intransitive verb 'exploderen'.
De prijzen zijn onderhevig aan arbitraire besluitvorming.
The prices are subject to arbitrary decision-making.
Complex adjective 'arbitrair'.
De prijzen van arbeid en kapitaal zijn uit balans.
The prices of labor and capital are out of balance.
Idiomatic 'uit balans'.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— Prices are rising very rapidly.
Sinds de oorlog schieten de prijzen van gas omhoog.
— To sell something cheaper than others.
Zij proberen altijd onder de prijzen van de concurrentie te zitten.
— To ask for price information.
Ik ga eerst wat prijzen opvragen bij verschillende leveranciers.
— To change the prices.
We moeten de prijzen aanpassen aan de nieuwe belastingregels.
— At any cost (singular usage common).
Hij wilde de wedstrijd tegen elke prijs winnen.
— To pay the highest possible price.
In het centrum betaal je altijd de hoofdprijs voor een kop koffie.
Expressions idiomatiques
— To suffer the consequences of an action.
Hij heeft de prijs betaald voor zijn ongezonde levensstijl.
figurative— Not for anything in the world.
Ik zou dat huis voor geen prijs willen kopen.
informal— To make a great sacrifice.
De soldaten betaalden een hoge prijs voor de vrijheid.
formal— To value or appreciate something.
Wij stellen uw aanwezigheid op prijs.
neutral— To be very lucky or get the best result.
Met deze nieuwe baan heb ik de hoofdprijs gewonnen.
informal— To become more expensive.
Goud is de afgelopen maanden flink in prijs gestegen.
neutral— To offer a reward for someone's capture.
De politie zette een prijs op het hoofd van de crimineel.
formal— The current standard price.
We verkopen onze producten tegen de huidige marktprijs.
business— For a very low, friendly price.
Ik kreeg de fiets van mijn buurman voor een zacht prijsje.
informal— The downsides of being famous.
Het gebrek aan privacy is de prijs van de roem.
literaryFamille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Adjectifs
Apparenté
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Prizes' in English. In Dutch, 'prijzen' are the 'prices' you pay to get the 'prizes' you want.
Association visuelle
Imagine a supermarket shelf where every item has a bright yellow tag with 'PRIJS' written on it. Now imagine the whole store full of them: 'prijzen'.
Word Web
Défi
Go to a Dutch website like AH.nl and write down five 'prijzen' of items you usually buy.
Origine du mot
Derived from Middle Dutch 'pris', which came from Old French 'pris' (modern French 'prix'). This ultimately traces back to the Latin word 'pretium', meaning worth, value, or reward.
Sens originel : The word originally referred to the value or worth of an object, as well as the reward given for a service.
Indo-European > Italic > Romance (via French) > Germanic (Dutch).Contexte culturel
Be careful when discussing 'prijzen' with friends; while the Dutch are direct, constant complaining about prices can be seen as 'gierig' (stingy).
Unlike in some English-speaking countries where talking about money is taboo, the Dutch are often very direct about what things cost.
Summary
The word 'prijzen' refers to multiple price points or the general concept of market costs. Example: 'De prijzen in de supermarkt stijgen door de inflatie.' (The prices in the supermarket are rising due to inflation.)
- Prijzen is the plural of 'de prijs', meaning the monetary value assigned to goods or services.
- It is used in daily life for shopping, bills, and discussing the general cost of living.
- Common adjectives used with prijzen include 'hoog', 'laag', 'scherp', and 'redelijk'.
- Be careful not to confuse it with the verb 'prijzen', which means 'to praise'.
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