baby
/ˈbeːbi/masculine
The Dutch word for baby is baby. Wiktionary also lists zuigeling and geborene.
Meaning: very young human being (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| baby | /ˈbeːbi/ | masculine |
| zuigeling | /ˈzœy̯.ɣəˌlɪŋ/ | masculine |
| geborene | feminine, masculine | |
| boreling | /ˈboː.rəˌlɪŋ/ | masculine |
| wiegenkind | neuter |
In Dutch, the word baby refers to a very young human being.
Which one should you use?
While baby is the most common everyday word, zuigeling is used in professional settings like hospitals or by pediatricians.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
zuigeling is a more formal or medical term for a baby, often used in healthcare or official contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of 'baby' in Dutch is 'baby's', using an apostrophe before the 's' to avoid confusion with other words.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbeːbi/
Did you know?
- While 'baby' is common, you might see the archaic term wiegenkind in older literature, which literally translates to 'cradle child'.
- The suffix -ling found in zuigeling and boreling is used in Dutch to denote a person characterized by a specific quality or state.
- The term zuigeling is a linguistic mirror of the German word Säugling, meaning both languages developed a similar way to describe a nursing infant.
Examples in context
- De baby was naakt.The baby was naked.This sentence shows the use of baby to describe a physical state.Tatoeba #7897901 by MarijnKp, translation #657220 by CK
- De baby is gezond.The baby is healthy.This sentence uses baby to describe a state of health.Tatoeba #8624158 by MarijnKp, translation #8622452 by Amastan
- De baby slaapt nog.The baby is still sleeping.This sentence uses baby to describe an ongoing action.Tatoeba #8999336 by Nylez, translation #272323 by CK
- 117 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lisa and Noah are visiting a friend's house.
- LisaIs de baby al wakker?Is the baby awake yet?
- NoahNee, de baby slaapt nog.No, the baby is still sleeping.
- LisaWat een rustig kind is hij.What a quiet child he is.
- NoahJa, hij is een rustige baby.Yes, he is a quiet baby.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries baby, zuigeling, geborene, boreling, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baby, boreling, geborene, zuigeling, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
