Meaning
Pointing out a mistake.
Cultural Background
Dutch people value 'directheid'. Correcting someone with 'Dat klopt niet' is not considered rude; it is considered helpful and efficient. While the phrase is the same, Flemish culture is often slightly more indirect than Dutch culture. You might hear 'Ik denk dat dat niet helemaal klopt' to soften the blow. Accuracy in numbers is paramount. If a contract or invoice has a small error, it is expected that you point it out immediately using this phrase. On platforms like Twitter (X) or Instagram, 'Dat klopt niet' is frequently used in comments to fact-check news or influencers.
Use 'Helemaal'
If you want to be very clear that something is totally wrong, say 'Dat klopt helemaal niet.'
Not for Opinions
Don't use this to disagree with someone's taste in music. Use 'Ik vind dat niet' instead.
Meaning
Pointing out a mistake.
Use 'Helemaal'
If you want to be very clear that something is totally wrong, say 'Dat klopt helemaal niet.'
Not for Opinions
Don't use this to disagree with someone's taste in music. Use 'Ik vind dat niet' instead.
Be Direct
Don't worry about being rude. In the Netherlands, people prefer you to be clear when something is wrong.
The Question Form
Use 'Klopt dat?' as a universal way to ask 'Is that right?' or 'Is that true?'
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to say 'That is not right.'
Dat ______ niet.
The verb 'kloppen' is the standard way to express factual correctness in Dutch.
Which sentence is the most natural way to correct a wrong bill?
You are in a cafe and the bill is 20 euros too high. What do you say?
'Dat klopt niet' is the standard phrase for errors in calculations.
Match the Dutch phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
Understanding the variations in tense and emphasis is key.
Complete the dialogue.
A: De trein vertrekt om 12:00. B: Nee, ______. De trein vertrekt om 12:30.
B is correcting A's factual error about the time.
In which situation would you say 'Er klopt iets niet'?
Select the best situation:
'Er klopt iets niet' is used when a situation feels suspicious or 'off'.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Kloppen vs. Waar
Practice Bank
5 exercisesDat ______ niet.
The verb 'kloppen' is the standard way to express factual correctness in Dutch.
You are in a cafe and the bill is 20 euros too high. What do you say?
'Dat klopt niet' is the standard phrase for errors in calculations.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Understanding the variations in tense and emphasis is key.
A: De trein vertrekt om 12:00. B: Nee, ______. De trein vertrekt om 12:30.
B is correcting A's factual error about the time.
Select the best situation:
'Er klopt iets niet' is used when a situation feels suspicious or 'off'.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
14 questionsYes, both are correct. 'Dat' is slightly more specific (pointing to a specific fact), while 'Het' is more general.
No, in Dutch culture it is a neutral, factual statement. However, your tone of voice still matters!
'Dat klopt niet' is for errors or inconsistencies. 'Dat is niet waar' is for lies or false claims.
You can say 'Dat klopt precies' or the idiom 'Dat klopt als een bus'.
No, you don't say 'Jij klopt niet' to mean 'You are wrong.' You say 'Jij hebt geen gelijk.'
Yes, though 'Dat is onjuist' is slightly more formal for academic papers.
It means 'Something isn't right,' usually implying suspicion or a gut feeling that something is wrong.
Only if you mean the information about the direction is wrong. Don't use it to mean 'the right side'.
It is a weak verb. The past tense is 'klopte' and the past participle is 'geklopt'.
Pronounce both letters clearly and quickly, like the end of the English word 'stopped'.
Yes, 'Daar klopt geen hout van' is a common informal way to say something is complete nonsense.
No, for a broken machine you would say 'Hij doet het niet' or 'Hij is kapot'.
Yes, that is the literal meaning. 'Kloppen op de deur' means 'to knock on the door'.
It's a linguistic accident! It combined 'sluiten als een bus' (fits perfectly) with 'kloppen'.
Related Phrases
Dat is niet waar
similarThat is not true
Dat is onjuist
synonymThat is incorrect
Dat klopt als een bus
builds onThat is perfectly correct
Iets klopt niet
specialized formSomething isn't right
Het geeft niet
contrastIt doesn't matter
