My Words for Today: Dutch, French, German, English

Since I am learning languages, it would be smart to learn also, aside from school,new words. One word a day, as an extra would not hurt. I learn a word of Dutch, French and German. I will add also English just for fun. Obviously, I am not also aware of all English words anyway.

*****Dutch*****

(Source: Dutch Word of the Day)

Spijt- regret - [noun] - [de spijt, ]

"Spijt" is the Dutch equivalent of "regret". It is often used in the construction "spijt hebben van iets", which literally translates to "to have regret over something", but which is commonly translated with "to regret something".

The related verb is "spijten": to regret. You may sometimes hear the somewhat formal phrase: "Het spijt me", which literally translates to "It regrets me", but which is best translated with "I'm sorry". However, the Dutch mostly use "sorry" to express their regret over small everyday issues :-)

Examples:
- "Ik heb geen spijt van mijn beslissing."
("I don't regret my decision.")

- "Zullen we nog een afzakkertje doen?" - "Het spijt me, ik ben blut..."
("Shall we have one for the road?" - "I'm sorry, I'm broke...")

- "Spijt...dat heb ik een paar keer gehad..."
("Regrets...I've had a few..." Lit.: "Regret...I've had that a couple of times...")

- "Het spijt me voor je."
("I feel sorry for you.")

- "Waarom heb je de afwas nog niet gedaan?" - "Sorry schat, er was voetbal op TV..."
("Why haven't you done the dishes yet?" - "Sorry honey, there was (a) soccer (match) on TV...")

Expressions:
- "Tot mijn/onze spijt": I/we regret to [+ verb]. Lit.: "To our regret".

Example:
- "Tot onze spijt moeten wij u mededelen dat de trein van half tien niet zal vertrekken vandaag."
("We regret to inform you that the 9.30h train will not depart today.")

- "Spijt betuigen": to express one's regrets.

Related words:
- Helaas: unfortunately [adverb].
- Jammer: too bad, (it's a) pity [adverb].
- Berouw: remorse [noun] [het berouw, ].

Example:
- "Zondaar! Toon berouw over uw zonden, en gij zult vergeven worden!"
("Sinner! Show remorse over your sins, and thou shallt be forgiven")

*****French***** (Source: www.french.about.com)

Une bourrique

Definition: (informal) - blockhead, pigheaded person
Quelle bourrique ! - What a pigheaded person!
(normal register) - donkey
Tu es têtu comme une bourrique - You're as stubborn as a donkey!

Pronunciation: [bu reek]

*****German***** (Source: www.german.about.com)

das Schaltjahr

Definition: leap year

das Schaltjahr (-e) leap year

Pronunciation: [SHAHLT-yahr]

Examples: Alle Jahre, die durch 100 ohne Rest teilbar sind, sind keine Schaltjahre, aber alle Jahre, die durch 400 ohne Rest teilbar sind, sind wiederum Schaltjahre.
All years which are evenly divisible by 100 are not leap years, but all years evenly divisible by 400 are, on the other hand, leap years.

Related: der Schalttag leap day

*****English***** (Source: www.merriam-webster.com)

earwig \EER-wig\ verb

Definition: to annoy or attempt to influence by private talk

Examples: Some of the students are not above earwigging the professor in an attempt to improve their grades.

“In Mississippi's casual sociality, lawyers see judges on hunting trips and at cocktail parties, and sometimes visit them privately in chambers. Occasionally, talk turns to the subject of a case pending before the court. Such ex-parte communication -- or 'earwigging,' as it's more commonly known -- is a technical violation of ethics standards, but it is hardly rare, and is usually harmless.” -- From an article by Peter J. Boyer in The New Yorker, May 19, 2008