vliegtuig
/ˈvlix.tœy̯x/neuter
The English word 'airplane' is translated into Dutch as vliegtuig.
The term vliegtuig is the standard Dutch word for both 'airplane' and 'plane'.
Meaning: powered aircraft (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word vliegtuig is a compound formed from vliegen (to fly) and the suffix uig, which is derived from tuig, meaning gear, equipment or tool.
How does it change in a sentence?
vliegtuig is a neuter noun, which means it uses the definite article het instead of de (e.g., het vliegtuig). To form the plural, add -en to create vliegtuigen.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables with the stress on the first syllable. In IPA, it is pronounced /ˈvlix.tœy̯x/.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'plane' as a shorthand for 'airplane', a Dutch speaker would rarely shorten vliegtuig to just vlieg, as that word actually means 'a fly' (the insect).
- Though not used to describe a vliegtuig, the root word tuig can be used as a harsh insult to call a person 'riffraff' or 'scoundrel'.
- The component tuig in vliegtuig originally referred to the rigging and ropes of a sailing ship. This means the Dutch word for 'airplane' literally describes it as 'flying ship's gear'.
Examples in context
- Ik zag een vliegtuig.I saw an airplane.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of vliegtuig in a simple observation.Tatoeba #1501761 by Citrine, translation #1399570 by MrShoval
- Het is warm in het vliegtuig.It is hot on the airplane.This sentence shows how to use vliegtuig when describing a condition inside the craft.Tatoeba #6951146 by Micsmithel, translation #6942651 by Eccles17
- Het vliegtuig vertrok op tijd.The airplane took off on time.This sentence demonstrates using vliegtuig to describe a departure time.Tatoeba #7910624 by Elsofie, translation #318093 by CM
- Ik reis altijd met het vliegtuig naar mijn vakantiebestemming.I always travel by airplane to my vacation destination.
- De piloot landde het vliegtuig veilig op de luchthaven.The pilot safely landed the airplane at the airport.
- Ik heb nog nooit in zo'n oude vliegmachine gezeten.I've never been in such an old flying machine.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Julia are looking at the sky together.
- DaanKijk, daar vliegt een vliegtuig!Look, there flies an airplane!
- JuliaWaar gaat dat vliegtuig naartoe?Where is that airplane going?
- DaanIk weet het niet, Julia.I don't know, Julia.
- JuliaHet is een heel groot vliegtuig.It is a very big airplane.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “airplane” translations and entries vliegtuig, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vliegtuig, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
