C1 Collocation Formal

een warm onthaal

a warm welcome

Meaning

A very friendly and hospitable reception.

🌍

Cultural Background

Hospitality is often expressed through 'koffie en gebak'. A warm onthaal is incomplete without offering something to eat or drink immediately. In Flanders, 'onthaal' can also refer to the reception desk in a hospital or public building. However, the phrase 'warm onthaal' remains purely metaphorical for kindness. Surinamese hospitality is famously exuberant. A 'warm onthaal' here might involve a full meal rather than just a cookie. Modern companies use 'onboarding' programs to ensure a 'warm onthaal' for new employees, often including a 'buddy' system.

💡

Use with 'krijgen'

The most natural way to use this is with the verb 'krijgen' (to receive).

⚠️

Check the gender

Remember: 'het onthaal'. This affects your adjectives!

Meaning

A very friendly and hospitable reception.

💡

Use with 'krijgen'

The most natural way to use this is with the verb 'krijgen' (to receive).

⚠️

Check the gender

Remember: 'het onthaal'. This affects your adjectives!

🎯

C1 Nuance

Use this phrase in formal emails to thank someone for their hospitality; it sounds very professional and polite.

💬

Gezelligheid

A warm onthaal is the first step to a gezellige experience.

Test Yourself

Vul het juiste woord in.

De nieuwe buren kregen een ______ onthaal in de straat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: warm

Because 'onthaal' is a neuter noun and follows 'een', the adjective 'warm' does not get an -e.

Welke zin is het meest natuurlijk?

Hoe reageerde het publiek op de zanger?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a

'Een warm onthaal' is the standard way to describe a positive public reception.

Maak de dialoog af.

A: Hoe was je eerste dag bij je nieuwe stage? B: Geweldig! Ik kreeg zo'n ______.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: warm onthaal

The phrase is 'een warm onthaal'.

Match de situatie met de beste beschrijving.

Je bezoekt je oma en ze heeft je favoriete koekjes gebakken en de kachel aangezet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a

This is a classic example of a warm, hospitable reception.

🎉 Score: /4

Visual Learning Aids

Warm vs. Koel Onthaal

Warm Onthaal
Enthousiast Enthusiastic
Open armen Open arms
Koel Onthaal
Afstandelijk Distant
Kortaf Brusque

Practice Bank

4 exercises
Vul het juiste woord in. Fill Blank B1

De nieuwe buren kregen een ______ onthaal in de straat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: warm

Because 'onthaal' is a neuter noun and follows 'een', the adjective 'warm' does not get an -e.

Welke zin is het meest natuurlijk? Choose A2

Hoe reageerde het publiek op de zanger?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a

'Een warm onthaal' is the standard way to describe a positive public reception.

Maak de dialoog af. dialogue_completion B2

A: Hoe was je eerste dag bij je nieuwe stage? B: Geweldig! Ik kreeg zo'n ______.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: warm onthaal

The phrase is 'een warm onthaal'.

Match de situatie met de beste beschrijving. situation_matching A1

Je bezoekt je oma en ze heeft je favoriete koekjes gebakken en de kachel aangezet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a

This is a classic example of a warm, hospitable reception.

🎉 Score: /4

Frequently Asked Questions

12 questions

It is neutral to formal. You can use it with friends, but it's also very common in professional settings.

Yes, that is the opposite. It means you were received in an unfriendly or indifferent way.

'Welkom' is the greeting itself, while 'onthaal' is the entire process of being received and looked after.

Because 'onthaal' is a neuter noun (het-woord) and it is preceded by 'een'.

Usually, we use 'ontvangst' for products (e.g., 'De nieuwe iPhone kreeg een goede ontvangst'). 'Onthaal' is for people.

Yes, it is very common in both the Netherlands and Belgium.

Yes, that is a perfect synonym.

Not necessarily, but in Dutch culture, a 'warm onthaal' often includes a drink or a snack.

Bedankt voor het warme onthaal.

Yes, 'iemand onthalen'. For example: 'Zij onthaalden ons met open armen.'

No, 'heet' sounds strange here. Stick to 'warm' or 'zeer warm'.

Yes, it's in the top 500 most useful collocations for advanced learners.

Related Phrases

🔄

hartelijke ontvangst

synonym

A heartfelt reception

🔗

warm welkom

similar

A warm welcome

🔗

koel onthaal

contrast

A cool reception

🔗

gastvrijheid

builds on

Hospitality

🔗

iemand onthalen op

specialized form

To treat someone to...

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!