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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes<\/em><\/p>\n False friends are words that look or sound the same in two languages but mean something different. Dutch and German share a surprising number of them, and precisely because the languages are so similar, people fall for them more easily. In this article: five false friends that cause confusion in business conversations, and what to say instead.<\/strong><\/p>\n Do you regularly work with both Dutch and German colleagues or business partners? Then this may sound familiar. The collaboration usually runs smoothly, but sometimes it suddenly goes awkwardly quiet on the other end of the line or during a meeting. Did someone say something wrong? It could well be that an innocent Dutch word caused complete confusion in German.<\/p>\n False friends (in German: falsche Freunde, in Dutch: valse vrienden) are words that strongly resemble each other in two languages but carry a different meaning. Although Dutch and German look very much alike at first glance, these subtle differences can lead to surprising or even awkward situations. Below are five examples to be aware of.<\/p>\n For Dutch speakers, bellen simply means to phone someone. In German, however, bellen literally means to bark. Imagine asking your German colleague “even te bellen” and getting a puzzled look in return. Why would we bark? The solution: use the German word anrufen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n “Klaar is klaar,” a Dutch speaker says with conviction, meaning something is finished. In German, klar means something else entirely: clear. A glass of water can be klar, but that does not mean a project is completed. A subtle difference, but in business conversations it makes a world of difference. If something is done, say fertig<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In Dutch, complimenting a colleague on how slim (smart) they handled something feels positive. In German this works differently: schlimm means bad or even disastrous. That well-intended compliment may not land the way it was meant. Better to go for intelligent<\/strong> or clever<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Dutch speakers go to a winkel to shop. Germans, however, think of a Winkel as an angle, like a right angle of 90 degrees. Use the word casually and you may find yourself in a conversation about geometry. So remember: a shop is called a Gesch\u00e4ft<\/strong> in German.<\/p>\n A Dutch verzoek is a polite request, as in “may I request you to do something?” The German versuchen has a completely different meaning: to try. So rather than telling your German colleague you want to versuchen them, kindly ask (bitten<\/strong>) them instead.<\/p>\n Mix-ups between Dutch and German words can produce both funny and awkward moments. Usually they are harmless, but in business conversations the stakes are different. A misunderstood “klaar” can mean your German partner thinks something is clear, while your Dutch colleague means it is finished. With deadlines, quotes and agreements, that difference is no longer a language joke.<\/p>\n Germany is also the Netherlands’ largest trading partner. Those who speak business German, and know the pitfalls, build trust faster than those who fall back on English. Being aware of these subtle differences not only makes your communication clearer, it also strengthens the trust and collaboration with German colleagues and business relations.<\/p>\n Doing business with German partners regularly?<\/strong><\/p>\n With a Business German course, your team learns not only the language but also the pitfalls and etiquette that make the difference in German business relations. Tailored to your sector, in-company or online.<\/p>\nWhat are false friends?<\/h2>\n
5 false friends between Dutch and German<\/h2>\n
1. Bellen<\/h3>\n
2. Klaar<\/h3>\n
3. Slim<\/h3>\n
4. Winkel<\/h3>\n
5. Verzoeken<\/h3>\n
Why false friends are extra risky in business conversations<\/h2>\n