Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
False friends are words that look alike in two languages but mean something different, and between Dutch and German they are everywhere. In part 1 of this series we covered five of them. In this second part: five more false friends to watch out for when working with Dutch and German colleagues, from termijn to popelen.
The German language can be treacherous at times. Words that look similar in both languages but carry a completely different meaning can easily lead to misunderstandings. Being aware of these pitfalls prevents confusion and makes collaboration more effective.
5 more false friends between Dutch and German
1. Termijn
In Dutch, termijn refers to an agreed period, such as a payment term. In German, however, a Termin is an appointment, for example a business meeting or a doctor’s visit. Imagine asking for a Termin for an invoice, that can be quite confusing. A payment term in German is a Zahlungsfrist. So be specific to avoid double bookings.
2. Mist
In Dutch, mist is fog, the thick kind that makes you lose sight of everything. But did you know that Mist in German means manure? Or, more informally, simply rubbish? Say there is “mist” hanging over your project and you might get a smile, or a misunderstanding. The German word for fog is Nebel. Useful to keep in mind during serious conversations.
3. Net
In Dutch, net can mean that something just happened, or that something is neat. In German, however, Netz means a network, such as an internet network, or a physical net, like a fishing net. Especially in technical or IT discussions this can cause confusion. Make your context clear: just happened is gerade, neat is ordentlich.
4. Mag
A Dutch speaker uses mag to indicate that something is allowed. In German, however, ich mag means that someone likes something. If you want to say that something is permitted, use ich darf. This difference is a real pitfall in conversations about rules versus preferences.
5. Popelen
In Dutch, popelen means you can hardly wait for something, you are excited. But beware: in German, popeln means something else entirely, namely picking your nose. Want to tell a German colleague you are looking forward to something? Say you es kaum erwarten kannst, and avoid some very puzzled looks.
Why these false friends matter in business
False friends like these are usually harmless, but they can easily lead to awkward moments or misunderstandings. Especially the difference between termijn and Termin directly touches appointments, deadlines and invoices, exactly the places where you want zero noise in a business relationship. Handling these differences consciously not only makes your communication clearer, it also strengthens the trust and collaboration with your German colleagues.
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Curious about more false friends? Read part 1 of this series, in which we cover five other words that lead to misunderstandings, from bellen to verzoeken.
Frequently asked questions about German false friends
What does “Termin” mean in German?
A Termin is an appointment in German, for example a business meeting or a doctor’s visit. It is not a term or deadline in the Dutch sense. A payment term in German is a Zahlungsfrist.
What does “Mist” mean in German?
In German, Mist means manure, or informally, rubbish. The weather phenomenon fog, mist in Dutch, is called Nebel in German.
What is the difference between “mögen” and “dürfen”?
Ich mag means you like something. Ich darf means something is allowed. If you want to say in German that something is permitted, use dürfen, not mögen.
How many false friends are there between Dutch and German?
Dozens. Precisely because the languages are closely related, many words look alike while their meaning differs. In part 1 and part 2 of this series we cover the ten that most often cause misunderstandings in business situations.
