Signification
The beginning of something positive.
Contexte culturel
The Dutch are famous for their 'agenda' culture. If it's not in the calendar, it's not happening. 'Een goed begin' often refers to this strict scheduling. In Flanders, you might hear 'Goed begonnen is half gewonnen.' It's slightly more rhythmic and used just as frequently as in the Netherlands. In Surinamese Dutch, proverbs are often used with a bit more flair and storytelling, but the core meaning of preparation remains highly valued. Afrikaans has the cognate 'Goeie begin is die halwe werk,' showing the deep linguistic ties between the two languages.
Shorten it!
To sound like a native, just say 'Een goed begin!' when you see someone doing something organized. You don't always need the full proverb.
Adjective Ending
Never say 'Een goede begin'. It's a common mistake that immediately marks you as a beginner.
Signification
The beginning of something positive.
Shorten it!
To sound like a native, just say 'Een goed begin!' when you see someone doing something organized. You don't always need the full proverb.
Adjective Ending
Never say 'Een goede begin'. It's a common mistake that immediately marks you as a beginner.
The Coffee Rule
In the Netherlands, a 'goed begin' of a meeting almost always involves offering everyone coffee or tea first.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing words to complete the proverb.
Een goed ______ is het ______ werk.
The standard proverb is 'Een goed begin is het halve werk'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the right option:
'Begin' is a het-word, so after 'een', the adjective 'goed' does not get an -e.
Match the situation to the response.
Someone just bought all their textbooks for a new course.
Buying materials is a great way to start a project or course.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ik heb mijn bureau opgeruimd voordat ik ga studeren. B: ______
Cleaning your desk is a positive preparation step.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesEen goed ______ is het ______ werk.
The standard proverb is 'Een goed begin is het halve werk'.
Choose the right option:
'Begin' is a het-word, so after 'een', the adjective 'goed' does not get an -e.
Someone just bought all their textbooks for a new course.
Buying materials is a great way to start a project or course.
A: Ik heb mijn bureau opgeruimd voordat ik ga studeren. B: ______
Cleaning your desk is a positive preparation step.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Only sarcastically, but be careful as it can sound rude.
Because 'begin' is a neuter noun (het-word) and it follows the indefinite article 'een'.
'Begin' is more traditional and used in the proverb; 'start' is more modern and often used in sports or tech.
'Een valse start' (a false start) or 'Een slecht begin'.
Yes, especially when giving advice or emphasizing the importance of preparation.
No, it is strictly for the beginning of a task.
Yes, though they often prefer 'Goed begonnen is half gewonnen'.
No, that would mean a good start is the *entire* work, which isn't true!
It's a soft, scratchy sound in the back of your throat, like you're clearing it gently.
Expressions liées
Een vliegende start
similarA flying start
De eerste stap zetten
builds onTo take the first step
Een valse start
contrastA false start
Bezint eer gij begint
similarThink before you start
