verstand

'Verstand' refers to the faculty of reasoning, intellect, or understanding. It's about mental capacity. 'Hersenen' literally means 'brains' and refers to the physical organ inside your head. You use your hersenen to have verstand.

You can say things like:

• 'Hij heeft veel verstand van auto's.' (He has a lot of knowledge/understanding about cars.)
• 'Gebruik je verstand!' (Use your common sense/intellect!)
• 'Zij is een vrouw met veel verstand.' (She is a woman with a lot of intellect/sense.)

Not strictly 'intelligence' in the IQ sense. It can also refer to good judgment, common sense, or understanding in a specific area. It's more about the ability to reason and comprehend.

No, 'verstand' is an uncountable noun in Dutch, similar to 'intelligence' or 'understanding' in English. You wouldn't say 'verstanden'.

Yes, a very common one is 'met je verstand van iets afblijven'. This means 'to leave something alone' or 'not to interfere with something', especially when you don't understand it or it's not your business.

The opposite would be having 'geen verstand' (no understanding/sense), or perhaps 'dom' (stupid) or 'onverstandig' (unwise/senseless). 'Onverstand' is also a word, meaning 'lack of sense' or 'folly'.

Yes, absolutely! 'Verstandig' is an adjective meaning 'wise', 'sensible', or 'prudent'. It describes someone or something that shows good verstand. For example: 'Dat was een verstandige beslissing.' (That was a sensible decision.)

That literally means 'He has lost his mind' or 'He's out of his mind'. It implies a loss of sanity or rational thinking.

'Verstand' is the *ability* to reason and understand. 'Kennis' refers to *knowledge* itself, the information you possess. You use your verstand to acquire and process kennis.

You could say 'Gebruik je gezonde verstand.' (Use your common sense.) or 'Denk er eens goed over na.' (Think about it carefully.) The direct 'Gebruik je verstand!' can sound a bit blunt, depending on the context and tone.