mooi
/moːi̯/
The Dutch word for beautiful is mooi. Wiktionary also lists schoon.
Meaning: attractive (adj)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| mooi | /moːi̯/ |
| schoon | /sxoːn/ |
mooi is used broadly in many contexts to mean nice, fine or lovely.
Which one should you use?
In modern everyday Dutch, schoon primarily means clean. While it can still be used to mean beautiful in a formal or poetic sense, mooi is the standard choice for attractiveness.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using mooi before a noun that has a definite article such as de or het, you should use the inflected form mooie.
How do you pronounce it?
/moːi̯/
Did you know?
- In Dutch, mooie can be used sarcastally in the phrase Mooie jongens!, which translates to 'Beautiful boys!' but is used to scold people for doing something wrong.
- In the Flemish dialect of Belgium, schoon is still commonly used to mean 'beautiful' in everyday speech, whereas in the Netherlands it almost exclusively means 'clean'.
- While mooi describes beauty, the word knap is used specifically for physically attractive people and can also mean 'clever'.
Examples in context
- Dat is zo mooi.That's so beautiful.This example shows how to use mooi to describe a situation or object.Tatoeba #8563095 by MarijnKp, translation #2045756 by CK
- Wat ben je mooi!How beautiful you are!This example demonstrates an exclamation of beauty using mooi.Tatoeba #519894 by Dorenda, translation #2446 by al_ex_an_der
- De hond is mooi.The dog is beautiful.This example shows mooi being used to describe an animal.Tatoeba #7484283 by MarijnKp, translation #1097957 by cntrational
- 383 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sophie and Noah are walking through a park.
- SophieKijk, die zonsondergang is echt mooi.Look, that sunset is really beautiful.
- NoahJa, het is een prachtig plaatje.Yes, it is a lovely sight.
- SophieNoah, vind jij de natuur ook zo mooi?Noah, do you also find nature so beautiful?
- NoahAbsoluut, het is hier heel rustgevend.Absolutely, it is very calming here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beautiful” translations and entries mooi, schoon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
