Bedeutung
Cleaning plates and kitchen tools.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'afwas' is often a social moment. In many families, one person washes and the other dries (afdrogen), leading to long conversations. In Dutch student houses, an 'afwaslijst' (dish list) or chore chart is common to prevent arguments about dirty kitchens. Dutch people are famous for their love of camping. The communal dishwashing area at a campsite is a key social hub. Many Dutch people use a 'teiltje' (a small plastic tub) inside the sink to save water and soap while doing the 'afwas'.
The Brush is King
In the Netherlands, use an 'afwasborstel' (brush) rather than a sponge to be truly authentic.
Don't say 'Make'
Never say 'de afwas maken'. It's always 'doen'.
Bedeutung
Cleaning plates and kitchen tools.
The Brush is King
In the Netherlands, use an 'afwasborstel' (brush) rather than a sponge to be truly authentic.
Don't say 'Make'
Never say 'de afwas maken'. It's always 'doen'.
The Polite Offer
Always offer to help with the 'afwas' at a dinner party; it's the ultimate Dutch sign of being a good guest.
Diminutives
Use 'een afwasje' to make the task sound less annoying to your roommates.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'doen'.
Ik heb gisteren de afwas ______.
The sentence is in the perfectum (have done), so you need the past participle 'gedaan'.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the right chore:
'De afwas doen' is for dishes (borden), 'de was doen' is for clothes (kleren).
Complete the dialogue.
A: Wie doet er vanavond de afwas? B: ______
This is a logical response to a question about whose turn it is.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a friend's house and want to be polite after dinner.
Offering to do the dishes is a standard polite gesture in Dutch culture.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Afwas vs. Was
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenIk heb gisteren de afwas ______.
The sentence is in the perfectum (have done), so you need the past participle 'gedaan'.
Choose the right chore:
'De afwas doen' is for dishes (borden), 'de was doen' is for clothes (kleren).
A: Wie doet er vanavond de afwas? B: ______
This is a logical response to a question about whose turn it is.
You are at a friend's house and want to be polite after dinner.
Offering to do the dishes is a standard polite gesture in Dutch culture.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenYes, it can refer to the general task of cleaning up, though 'de vaatwasser inruimen' is more specific.
'Afwas' focuses on the act of washing; 'vaat' focuses on the dishes themselves. They are mostly interchangeable.
No, it is neutral and used in all levels of society.
It is considered more hygienic and efficient for scrubbing than a sponge.
That is 'Ik doe de was'. Be careful not to add 'af'!
It is the kitchen sink or the plastic tub used for washing dishes.
No, you must say 'Ik was af' (separable verb) or 'Ik doe de afwas'.
It is always 'de afwas'.
It means 'to dry the dishes', the step that follows 'de afwas doen'.
Yes, though they might occasionally say 'de afwas maken'.
It is dish soap or dishwashing liquid.
No, it is a standard collocation.
Verwandte Redewendungen
de vaat doen
synonymTo do the dishes
afwassen
similarTo wash up
afdrogen
builds onTo dry the dishes
de vaatwasser inruimen
specialized formTo load the dishwasher
de tafel afruimen
similarTo clear the table
