Bedeutung
To be indifferent to something.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase perfectly captures 'nuchterheid' (sobriety/pragmatism). Dutch people often use it to avoid appearing 'overspannen' (overstressed). In Flanders, the phrase is also used, but you might more often hear 'er niet om geven' or 'het zich niet aantrekken'. 'Malen' sounds slightly more 'Northern Dutch' (from the Netherlands). In a Dutch office, saying you 'niet om malen' about a minor error shows you are focused on solutions rather than blame. While older generations use it more, young people still use it, though they might swap it for 'boeit me niet' in very casual settings.
Use with 'geen zier'
To sound like a native, use 'Ik maal er geen zier om' when you want to emphasize that you really don't care at all.
Don't forget the 'er'
Dutch requires the 'er' as a placeholder. 'Ik maal niet om' sounds incomplete to a native ear.
Bedeutung
To be indifferent to something.
Use with 'geen zier'
To sound like a native, use 'Ik maal er geen zier om' when you want to emphasize that you really don't care at all.
Don't forget the 'er'
Dutch requires the 'er' as a placeholder. 'Ik maal niet om' sounds incomplete to a native ear.
The 'Nuchter' Vibe
Use this phrase to show you have a thick skin. It's a very respected trait in Dutch culture.
Past Tense
Use 'maalde' for the past tense. 'Toen ik jong was, maalde ik niet om geld.'
Teste dich selbst
Vul de juiste woorden in (er / om).
Ik heb mijn trein gemist, maar ik maal ___ niet ___.
In this idiom, we use 'er' to refer to the situation and 'om' as the fixed preposition.
Wat betekent deze zin?
Zij maalt niet om de kritiek van haar baas.
'Niet om malen' means that something doesn't bother you or interest you.
Kies het beste antwoord voor Persoon B.
Persoon A: 'Oei, je nieuwe schoenen zijn helemaal vies geworden door de modder!' Persoon B: '________'
This shows the typical 'unbothered' attitude the phrase conveys.
In welke situatie gebruik je 'Ik maal er niet om'?
Situatie: Je krijgt te horen dat je favoriete restaurant vanavond volgeboekt is.
The phrase is about not letting a setback ruin your mood.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Levels of Indifference
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenIk heb mijn trein gemist, maar ik maal ___ niet ___.
In this idiom, we use 'er' to refer to the situation and 'om' as the fixed preposition.
Zij maalt niet om de kritiek van haar baas.
'Niet om malen' means that something doesn't bother you or interest you.
Persoon A: 'Oei, je nieuwe schoenen zijn helemaal vies geworden door de modder!' Persoon B: '________'
This shows the typical 'unbothered' attitude the phrase conveys.
Situatie: Je krijgt te horen dat je favoriete restaurant vanavond volgeboekt is.
The phrase is about not letting a setback ruin your mood.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNo, it's generally neutral. It's more about your own feelings than dismissing someone else, though context matters.
It's better to use 'niet geven om' (not care for) for people. 'Malen om' is usually for situations or concepts.
'Het kan me niet schelen' is more common and slightly more blunt. 'Malen om' sounds a bit more thoughtful or literary.
Yes, but less frequently than in the Netherlands. Flemings might prefer 'er niet om geven'.
Yes, it means you ARE worried or you DO care, but it's less common than the negative form.
In a mental context, yes. It implies a repetitive, often useless cycle of thinking.
Yes, for example: 'Ik maal niet om overuren als het werk af moet.' It shows dedication.
It means 'not a shred' or 'not a bit'. It's a common intensifier for this phrase.
It's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.
It's a fixed prepositional idiom. There's no logical reason; you just have to memorize it!
Only if you're talking about not caring about the quality or type of food. 'Ik maal niet om wat we eten.'
Yes, it often appears in B2 reading and listening exams to test understanding of Dutch idioms.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Het kan me niet schelen
synonymI don't care
Zich ergens druk om maken
contrastTo worry about something
Piekeren
similarTo worry/ruminate
Er geen zier om geven
specialized formNot to care a shred
Laten varen
builds onTo let go of (a thought/plan)
