Significado
Expressing frustration about a messy situation.
Contexto cultural
Complaining about 'gedoe' is a national pastime. It's a way to bond with strangers in lines or on trains. If you want to sound Dutch, complain about the NS (railways) using this phrase. Flemish people use 'gedoe' similarly, but they might also use 'gekonkel' if the hassle involves secret plans or 'gefoefel' if it involves cheating or messy work. In Surinamese Dutch, 'gedoe' is used but often accompanied by more expressive body language. The word 'tories' (stories/stuff) might be used in similar informal contexts. In offices, 'gedoe' is often used to describe interpersonal conflicts or 'drama' that people want to avoid. A manager might say they want 'geen gedoe' on their team.
The 'Sigh' Factor
When you say 'Wat een gedoe!', add a small sigh before or after. It makes you sound 100% more native.
Not for Tragedy
Don't use it for serious things like illness or death. It's for annoyances, not heartbreaks.
Significado
Expressing frustration about a messy situation.
The 'Sigh' Factor
When you say 'Wat een gedoe!', add a small sigh before or after. It makes you sound 100% more native.
Not for Tragedy
Don't use it for serious things like illness or death. It's for annoyances, not heartbreaks.
Use with 'Heel'
Saying 'Het is een heel gedoe' (It's quite a hassle) is a great way to describe a long task you just finished.
Bonding through complaining
Use this phrase to start a conversation with a Dutch person who is also waiting in a long line.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the best reaction to this situation: You are at the airport and the security line is 2 hours long.
De rij voor de beveiliging is heel lang.
A long line is a classic 'hassle' (gedoe). 'Wat een geluk' means 'What luck', which doesn't fit here.
Fill in the missing word.
Ik moet mijn wachtwoord veranderen, maar de website werkt niet. Wat een ___!
The noun form used in this exclamation is 'gedoe'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You have to fill out 10 pages of paperwork for a simple library card.
Excessive paperwork is a perfect example of 'gedoe'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: De trein heeft 30 minuten vertraging. B: Oh nee, ___!
Train delays are a very common reason to use this phrase in the Netherlands.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Common Sources of Gedoe
Bureaucracy
- • Belastingen
- • Visum
- • Formulieren
Technology
- • Wachtwoorden
- • Updates
- • Wifi
Logistics
- • Vertraging
- • Koffers
- • Verhuizen
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosDe rij voor de beveiliging is heel lang.
A long line is a classic 'hassle' (gedoe). 'Wat een geluk' means 'What luck', which doesn't fit here.
Ik moet mijn wachtwoord veranderen, maar de website werkt niet. Wat een ___!
The noun form used in this exclamation is 'gedoe'.
Situation: You have to fill out 10 pages of paperwork for a simple library card.
Excessive paperwork is a perfect example of 'gedoe'.
A: De trein heeft 30 minuten vertraging. B: Oh nee, ___!
Train delays are a very common reason to use this phrase in the Netherlands.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, it's not a swear word. It's informal and safe to use in most casual and semi-formal settings.
Yes, especially when talking about technical issues or paperwork. Just avoid using it to describe your boss's instructions!
'Rompslomp' is specifically for bureaucratic or administrative hassle. 'Gedoe' is more general and can be used for anything.
It is 'het gedoe'. However, in the phrase 'Wat een gedoe!', you don't need to worry about the 'het'.
Yes, if you are both experiencing the same hassle (like a train delay), it's a very natural thing to say.
It can mean a physical mess, but it usually means the *trouble* caused by the mess.
It's the Dutch 'hard G', a scraping sound in the back of your throat. If that's too hard, a soft 'h' sound is often understood.
No, 'gedoe' is uncountable. You can't have 'twee gedoes'.
Not directly. You wouldn't say 'Jij bent een gedoe'. You would say 'Dat gedoe met jou' (That fuss with you).
There isn't one direct word, but 'simpel' (simple) or 'gemakkelijk' (easy) are the opposite concepts.
Frases relacionadas
Wat een toestand!
similarWhat a situation!
Wat een heisa!
similarWhat a fuss!
Rompslomp
specialized formRed tape / bureaucracy
Gezeur
similarWhining / nagging
Zonder gedoe
builds onWithout hassle / hassle-free
