This page in your language
فارسی العربية Deutsch Español Français 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
A1 noun 12 min read

been

Examples been in 30 Seconds
Explanation been in your Level:
At the A1 level, you should focus on 'been' as a basic part of the body. You learn it alongside 'arm', 'hand', and 'voet'. The most important thing to remember is the article 'het' (het been) and the plural 'de benen'. You will use it in simple sentences like 'Mijn been is lang' or 'Ik heb pijn in mijn been'. You should also be able to distinguish between 'been' (human leg) and 'poot' (animal/table leg). This level is about identification and expressing basic physical states. You might use it when talking to a doctor or describing a person's appearance in a very simple way. Don't worry about the 'bone' meaning yet; focus entirely on the limb. Practice saying 'twee benen' to get used to the plural form which adds an '-en'.
At A2, you start using 'been' in more descriptive contexts and simple compounds. You might talk about 'beenruimte' (legroom) when traveling or 'beenwarmers' if you are interested in fashion. You will also encounter the first few idioms, such as 'op de benen zijn' (to be up and about). You should be comfortable with possessive pronouns: 'zijn benen', 'haar benen'. You also learn to use adjectives with the word, remembering that 'het lange been' has an -e, but 'een lang been' does not. This level also introduces the distinction between 'benen' (legs) and 'beenderen' (bones), though you will mostly use 'botten' for bones. You can now describe a simple accident: 'Ik ben gevallen en mijn been doet pijn.'
Sign up free to read full explanation
By B1, you are expected to use 'been' in a variety of idiomatic expressions. You should know 'de benen nemen' (to flee) and 'iemand op het verkeerde been zetten' (to mislead). You will hear 'been' frequently in sports contexts, especially cycling, where 'goede benen hebben' is a standard phrase. You should also be able to use the word in more complex sentence structures, such as passive voice: 'Zijn been werd gespalkt door de arts.' Your vocabulary expands to include anatomical parts of the leg like 'dijbeen' and 'onderbeen'. You can participate in discussions about comfort, health, and physical activity using this word fluently. You also start to recognize 'been' as a material in historical contexts.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At B2, you understand the nuance between 'benen', 'beenderen', and 'botten' perfectly. you can read medical or technical texts where 'been' refers to bone tissue. You use the word in abstract ways, such as 'op eigen benen staan' to mean being independent in a professional or financial sense. You are familiar with more obscure idioms and can use them in conversation to sound more like a native speaker. For example, 'het been stijf houden' (to stand one's ground). You understand the social connotations of using 'poot' instead of 'been' and can use this for stylistic effect or humor. Your use of compounds is natural, and you don't struggle with the connecting sounds in words like 'broekspijp'.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C1 level, 'been' is a tool for precise and colorful expression. You understand its role in literature and high-level journalism. You might encounter the word in legal texts (e.g., 'lichamelijk letsel aan de onderste ledematen') or historical analyses of ivory and bone carving. You can discuss the etymological roots of the word and its cognates in other Germanic languages. You use the word effortlessly in complex metaphors and can switch registers from the clinical 'het femur' to the colloquial 'die lange stelten'. You are also aware of regional variations and how 'been' might be used differently in Flanders versus the Netherlands, particularly in certain fixed expressions.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At C2, you have a near-native grasp of 'been'. You can appreciate wordplay and puns involving the word's dual meaning (leg vs. bone). You can write sophisticated prose where 'been' is used to evoke specific imagery or cultural archetypes (like the 'tall Dutchman'). You are comfortable with archaic forms like 'beendergestel' (skeleton) and can use them in the appropriate literary context. You understand the most subtle connotations of idioms and can even invent new metaphorical uses that feel natural to a native ear. Your mastery includes the rhythm and intonation of phrases like 'de benen uit het lijf lopen' (to run extremely hard). You are essentially indistinguishable from a native speaker in your use of this core vocabulary item.
Sign up free to read full explanation
Examples

been in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'leg' (human limb) or 'bone' (material).
  • Neuter noun: 'het been', plural 'de benen' (legs) or 'de beenderen' (bones).
  • Used in many idioms like 'de benen nemen' (to run away).
  • Distinguish from 'poot', which is for animals or furniture.
The Dutch word been is a fundamental noun that every learner must master early in their journey. At its most basic level, been refers to the leg—the entire lower limb of a human being from the hip down to the ankle. However, the Dutch language adds a layer of complexity that is fascinating for English speakers: been also means 'bone'. This dual meaning is rooted in the Germanic history of the word, where the structural support of the body (the bone) and the limb itself shared a conceptual space. In modern daily Dutch, if you say "Mijn been doet zeer," you are almost certainly talking about your leg hurting. If you are discussing anatomy or looking at an X-ray, you might be referring to the bone.
Anatomical Scope
The word covers the thigh (bovenbeen), the knee (knie), and the shin (scheenbeen). Unlike English, which clearly separates 'leg' and 'bone' into two different words, Dutch speakers rely on context and pluralization to distinguish them. When referring to legs, the plural is benen. When referring to bones in a skeletal or material sense, the plural is beenderen.

Ik heb mijn been gebroken tijdens het voetballen.

(I broke my leg while playing football.)
In social contexts, been is used to describe physical appearance, mobility, and even social standing. A person with 'long legs' is said to have lange benen. If someone is fast, you might say they have goede benen (good legs), a phrase very common in cycling culture, which is massive in the Netherlands. You will hear this word at the doctor's office, in the gym, when buying trousers, and in countless metaphors. The versatility of the word means it appears in professional medical settings as well as casual street slang. For example, in a medical setting, a surgeon might talk about the dijbeen (femur), while a teenager might complain about moeie benen (tired legs) after a long night of dancing. Understanding that been is the foundation of movement helps you grasp its central role in Dutch thought. It is not just a body part; it is the vehicle of progress.
Material Usage
When 'been' refers to bone as a material (like ivory or wood), it is often used in compound words. An example is ivoorbeen or simply describing an object as being made of been. However, this is more common in historical or artistic contexts than in daily speech.

Zij staat stevig op haar benen.

(She stands firmly on her legs / She is independent and stable.)
Idiomatic Strength
The word is a powerhouse for idioms. To 'take the legs' (de benen nemen) means to run away. To 'put someone on the wrong leg' (iemand op het verkeerde been zetten) means to mislead or trick them. These phrases are used daily in newspapers and television news.

De dief nam snel de benen toen de politie kwam.

(The thief quickly took to his heels / ran away when the police arrived.)
Using been correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical gender and its two distinct plural forms. As a neuter noun, it always takes the definite article het and the indefinite article een. When you modify it with an adjective, the adjective usually gets an -e ending if it follows 'het', but not if it follows 'een' (e.g., het lange been vs. een lang been). This is a standard A1-A2 grammar rule that applies here perfectly.
The Plural Distinction
This is where Dutch gets tricky. If you are talking about the two limbs you use for walking, you must use benen. If you are talking about the bones in a skeleton or the remains of an animal, you use beenderen. For example: "De hond kauwt op een been" (The dog chews on a bone) uses the singular, but if there are many, you'd say "De hond kauwt op beenderen." Conversely, "Mijn benen zijn moe" refers to your legs being tired.

Na de marathon kon hij niet meer op zijn benen staan.

(After the marathon, he could no longer stand on his legs.)
In possessive constructions, been follows the standard rules. Mijn been, jouw been, zijn been, haar been, ons been, jullie been, hun been. Because 'been' is neuter, 'ons' remains 'ons' (not 'onze') in the singular: ons been. However, in the plural, it becomes onze benen. This subtle shift is a marker of a proficient speaker.
Compound Words
Dutch loves compounds. You will find been attached to many other words. Broekspijp (trouser leg), beenwarmers (leg warmers), beenmerg (bone marrow), and beenbreuk (leg fracture). Notice how the meaning shifts between 'leg' and 'bone' seamlessly in these compounds.

Zij heeft een been van staal.

(She has a leg of steel — used literally for a prosthetic or metaphorically for strength.)
When using 'been' in the context of movement verbs like lopen (walk), rennen (run), or stappen (step), it often appears in prepositional phrases. "Op de benen zijn" means to be up and about, often after an illness. "Met de benen over elkaar" means with legs crossed. Paying attention to these prepositions (op, met, over) is key to sounding natural.
Formal vs Informal
In formal writing, such as a medical report, you might see extremiteit (extremity) or ledemaat (limb), but been remains perfectly acceptable. Informally, you might hear poot (paw/leg of an animal) used for a human leg, but be careful: this can be derogatory or very casual, implying the person is like an animal or clumsy.

Houd je benen bij elkaar!

(Keep your legs together! - often said to children or in sports.)
In the Netherlands, you will hear been in a variety of everyday settings. One of the most common places is on public transport. Because the Dutch are among the tallest people in the world, the concept of beenruimte (legroom) is a constant topic of conversation and a major selling point for airlines and train operators. You might hear a passenger complain, "Ik heb hier echt geen beenruimte," meaning they can't fit their legs comfortably.
Sports and Cycling
The Netherlands is a cycling nation. On television broadcasts of the Tour de France or local races, commentators frequently talk about the benen of the riders. "Hij heeft vandaag goede benen" (He has good legs today) means the rider is in top form and feeling strong. Conversely, "De benen willen niet meer" (The legs don't want to anymore) is a common way to say an athlete is exhausted.

Na honderd kilometer fietsen voelde ik mijn benen niet meer.

(After cycling a hundred kilometers, I couldn't feel my legs anymore.)
Shopping and Fashion
In clothing stores, specifically when buying 'broeken' (trousers) or 'panty's' (tights), been is used to describe the fit. A 'strak been' refers to a slim-fit leg. Shop assistants might ask if the 'pijpen' (the tubes of the trousers) are long enough for your benen. You will also see 'beenmode' (leg fashion) as a category in department stores like HEMA or Bijenkorf, covering socks, stockings, and leggings.

Deze broek is te kort voor mijn benen.

(These trousers are too short for my legs.)
In the workplace, you might hear idioms involving legs. If a project is finally moving, someone might say it is "op de been" (on its legs/up and running). If a colleague is being tricked or given the wrong impression, another might whisper, "Hij wordt op het verkeerde been gezet." This metaphorical usage is extremely common in Dutch corporate culture, where directness is valued, but idiomatic color is still appreciated. You'll also hear it in news reports about protests, where journalists describe the number of people "op de been" (present/on their feet) to indicate the size of a crowd.
Children's Language
Parents often say to their children, "Loop niet voor mijn benen!" which means 'Don't walk under my feet' or 'Don't get in my way'. It's a classic phrase heard in Dutch kitchens and living rooms everywhere.

De baby staat eindelijk op zijn eigen beentjes.

(The baby is finally standing on his own little legs.)
For English speakers learning Dutch, the word been presents several pitfalls. The most frequent error is confusing the two plural forms: benen and beenderen. While English uses 'bones' for both the structural material and the plural of the limb's core, Dutch makes a hard distinction. If you say "Ik heb twee beenderen," a Dutch person will look at you strangely, wondering why you are carrying two loose bones around rather than talking about your legs. Always use benen for the limbs you walk on.
Gender and Articles
Another common mistake is using the wrong article. Many beginners assume body parts are masculine or feminine and use 'de'. However, been is a 'het-woord'. Misgendering the word affects the adjectives as well. You must say "het linkerbeen" (the left leg) and not "de linkerbeen". Interestingly, in the plural, all words take 'de', so it becomes "de benen". This switch from 'het' to 'de' is a classic stumbling block.

Fout: De been is lang.
Goed: Het been is lang.

Confusion with 'Zijn' (to be)
Because 'been' is also the English past participle of 'to be', beginners sometimes try to use it as a verb in Dutch. This is a false friend. The Dutch past participle of zijn (to be) is geweest. Never say "Ik heb daar been"; it makes no sense. Always remember that in Dutch, been is a noun, not a verb form.

Fout: Ik ben in Amsterdam been.
Goed: Ik ben in Amsterdam geweest.

Prepositional Errors
English speakers say they are 'on their feet'. Dutch speakers say they are 'op de benen'. Using voeten (feet) here isn't necessarily wrong, but benen is the more common idiomatic choice for being active or recovered. Conversely, don't use been when you specifically mean the foot (voet). The ankle is the dividing line!

Hij staat weer op zijn benen na de griep.

(He is back on his legs/feet after the flu.)
Finally, watch out for the diminutive beentje. While 'little leg' sounds cute in English, in Dutch it is used very frequently, not just for babies but also in idioms like "beentje lichten" (to trip someone up). Don't over-rely on the diminutive unless you are being specifically endearing or using a set phrase.
To truly master Dutch, you need to know when been is the right choice and when another word might be more appropriate. The Dutch language has several terms that overlap with the concept of a 'leg' or 'bone', each with its own register and nuance.
Been vs. Poot
This is the most crucial distinction. Been is for humans. Poot is for animals and inanimate objects like furniture. If you say "De hond heeft een gebroken been," it sounds like the dog has a human leg. You should say "De hond heeft een gebroken poot." Similarly, a table has tafelpoten, never tafelbenen. Using 'poot' for a human is usually rude, though it can be used jokingly among very close friends.

De tafel heeft vier poten, maar de mens heeft twee benen.

Knook and Bot
When referring specifically to the 'bone' aspect of been, you have alternatives. Bot (plural: botten) is the most common word for a bone in everyday language. While been (material) and beenderen (skeleton) exist, a child will usually say "Ik voel mijn botten" rather than "Ik voel mijn beenderen." Knook is a more archaic or dialect-heavy word for a large bone, often used to describe someone with a very bony frame.

Het menselijk lichaam heeft meer dan tweehonderd botten.

(The human body has more than two hundred bones.)
Anatomical Specifics
If you want to be more specific than just 'leg', use dij (thigh), kuit (calf), or scheen (shin). These are all parts of the been. In sports like football, players wear scheenbeschermers (shin guards) to protect their benen. Knowing these sub-terms will make your Dutch sound much more advanced.

Hij heeft kramp in zijn kuit.

(He has a cramp in his calf.)
Finally, consider the word stelt (stilt). While literally meaning a stilt, it is often used metaphorically for very long, thin legs: "Wat een lange stelten!". This is a common way to comment on someone's height in a lighthearted manner.
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Ik heb twee benen.

I have two legs.

Plural of 'been' is 'benen'.

2

Mijn been is lang.

My leg is long.

Singular 'been' with possessive 'mijn'.

3

Het been doet pijn.

The leg hurts.

Uses the neuter article 'het'.

4

Een been en een voet.

A leg and a foot.

Indefinite article 'een'.

5

Zijn been is blauw.

His leg is blue (bruised).

Adjective 'blauw' describes the noun.

6

Zij wast haar been.

She washes her leg.

Subject-verb-object structure.

7

Dit is een been.

This is a leg.

Demonstrative 'dit'.

8

Het linkerbeen is kort.

The left leg is short.

Adjective 'linker' combined with 'been'.

1

Ik heb meer beenruimte nodig.

I need more legroom.

Compound word: been + ruimte.

2

Zij draagt warme beenwarmers.

She is wearing warm leg warmers.

Compound word: been + warmers.

3

De hond heeft een bot, geen been.

The dog has a bone, not a leg.

Distinguishing between 'bot' and 'been'.

4

Hij staat alweer op de benen.

He is already back on his feet.

Idiomatic use of 'op de benen'.

5

Mijn benen zijn moe van het wandelen.

My legs are tired from walking.

Plural 'benen' with plural verb 'zijn'.

6

Het been zit in het gips.

The leg is in a cast.

Prepositional phrase 'in het gips'.

7

Zij heeft haar benen geschoren.

She has shaved her legs.

Present perfect tense.

8

Welk been is gebroken?

Which leg is broken?

Interrogative 'welk' for neuter nouns.

1

De dief nam de benen toen hij de politie zag.

The thief ran away when he saw the police.

Idiom: 'de benen nemen'.

2

De journalist zette de politicus op het verkeerde been.

The journalist misled the politician.

Idiom: 'op het verkeerde been zetten'.

3

Na de operatie moet hij zijn been ontlasten.

After the operation, he must keep weight off his leg.

Formal verb 'ontlasten'.

4

Wielrenners hebben vaak zeer gespierde benen.

Cyclists often have very muscular legs.

Adjective 'gespierde' describing 'benen'.

5

Het beenmerg is belangrijk voor de bloedproductie.

Bone marrow is important for blood production.

Technical compound: 'beenmerg'.

6

Zij kan niet goed op haar benen staan van de zenuwen.

She can't stand steadily on her legs because of nerves.

Phrase 'op de benen staan'.

7

De broekspijp van zijn rechterbeen is gescheurd.

The trouser leg of his right leg is torn.

Compound 'broekspijp'.

8

Er waren duizenden mensen op de been voor het protest.

There were thousands of people out for the protest.

Idiom 'op de been' meaning present/active.

1

Het is tijd om op eigen benen te gaan staan.

It is time to stand on one's own two feet.

Metaphorical use for independence.

2

De archeologen vonden oude beenderen in de grot.

The archaeologists found old bones in the cave.

Plural 'beenderen' used for skeletal remains.

3

Hij hield zijn been stijf tijdens de onderhandelingen.

He stood his ground during the negotiations.

Idiom 'het been stijf houden'.

4

De patiënt klaagt over fantoompijn in het geamputeerde been.

The patient complains of phantom pain in the amputated leg.

Medical terminology.

5

Dit object is vervaardigd uit been en ivoor.

This object is crafted from bone and ivory.

'Been' as a material noun.

6

Zij liep de benen uit haar lijf om de trein te halen.

She ran her legs off to catch the train.

Idiom 'de benen uit het lijf lopen'.

7

Het beenvlies was ernstig ontstoken.

The periosteum (bone membrane) was seriously inflamed.

Anatomical compound 'beenvlies'.

8

Hij werd door de verdediger beentje gelicht.

He was tripped up by the defender.

Diminutive idiom 'beentje lichten'.

1

De sociaal-economische status van de regio staat weer op de benen.

The socio-economic status of the region is back on its feet.

Highly abstract metaphorical usage.

2

Het beendergestel van de walvis werd in het museum tentoongesteld.

The whale's skeleton was exhibited in the museum.

Formal term 'beendergestel'.

3

Zij trachtte de discussie op een ander been te zetten.

She tried to shift the focus of the discussion.

Nuanced variation of 'op het verkeerde been zetten'.

4

De broosheid van het been nam toe met de jaren.

The brittleness of the bone increased with the years.

'Been' as a biological substance.

5

Hij is een man van been en vlees, met al zijn gebreken.

He is a man of flesh and bone, with all his flaws.

Literary expression 'van been en vlees'.

6

De overheid probeert de zorgsector weer op de benen te helpen.

The government is trying to help the healthcare sector get back on its feet.

Metaphorical 'op de benen helpen'.

7

Zijn betoog had noch kop noch staart, laat staan benen om op te staan.

His argument had no beginning or end, let alone legs to stand on.

Combined metaphors for a weak argument.

8

De verstening van het been was duidelijk zichtbaar op de scan.

The ossification of the bone was clearly visible on the scan.

Scientific context.

1

De auteur fileert de menselijke conditie tot op het botte been.

The author dissects the human condition to the bare bone.

Evocative literary imagery.

2

In de nevelen der tijd zijn de beenderen van de koningen vergaan.

In the mists of time, the bones of the kings have decayed.

Archaic and poetic register.

3

Zijn politieke carrière werd beentje gelicht door een onvoorzien schandaal.

His political career was tripped up by an unforeseen scandal.

Sophisticated use of a diminutive idiom.

4

Het been van de discussie verschoof naar de ethische implicaties.

The core (leg) of the discussion shifted to the ethical implications.

Rare, abstract metaphorical use.

5

Men kan de geschiedenis niet enkel op de benen van economische data verklaren.

One cannot explain history solely on the basis (legs) of economic data.

Using 'benen' as a foundational metaphor.

6

De loutering van zijn ziel ging gepaard met de verzwakking van zijn benen.

The purification of his soul was accompanied by the weakening of his legs.

Philosophical parallel structure.

7

De architecturale integriteit van het gebouw steunt op de 'benen' van de constructie.

The architectural integrity of the building rests on the 'legs' of the construction.

Technical personification.

8

Zij hield haar been onverzettelijk stijf, wars van elke vorm van compromis.

She kept her leg unyieldingly stiff, averse to any form of compromise.

Intensified version of a common idiom.

Common Collocations

lange benen
linker been
rechter been
gebroken been
moeie benen
op de benen
benen kruisen
slanke benen
beenderen van het skelet
beenruimte tekort

Common Phrases

Op eigen benen staan

— To be independent and self-sufficient.

Hij is achttien en wil op eigen benen staan.

De benen nemen

— To run away or flee from a situation.

Toen de politie kwam, namen de krakers de benen.

Met het verkeerde been uit bed stappen

— To wake up in a bad mood / start the day poorly.

Sign up free to see all examples

Related Content

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

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