rundvlees
/ˈrʏntfleːs/neuter
The English word 'beef' is translated into Dutch as rundvlees. Wiktionary also lists bief.
Meaning: meat (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rundvlees | /ˈrʏntfleːs/ | neuter |
| bief |
The term is used to refer to beef as a type of meat or a general substance.
What does it mean word for word?
The word rundvlees is a compound consisting of rund, meaning cattle or bovine and vlees, meaning meat.
Which one should you use?
rundvlees refers to beef as a general meat type, whereas bief (often used in the context of biefstuk) refers specifically to a steak or a particular cut of beef.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium, rundvlees is commonly used for both formal and informal situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
rundvlees is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈrʏntfleːs/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the English word 'beef' in Dutch, as it is not a standard word for meat. Use rundvlees instead.
Did you know?
- In the Netherlands, you will often find biefstuk served with frites and a dollop of mayonnaise, a combination rarely seen in English-speaking countries.
- In Dutch culinary terms, bief is a loanword from the French 'boeuf', which explains why it refers to a specific cut rather than the animal itself.
- The Dutch word vlees is a cognate of the English word 'flesh', though in English 'flesh' is rarely used to describe food.
Examples in context
- Ik wil ook rundvlees.I want beef, too.This sentence shows how to express a desire for rundvlees.Tatoeba #8537971 by simonbr, translation #73525 by CK
- Ik houd van rundvlees.I love beef.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for rundvlees.Tatoeba #4811070 by Mikedebie, translation #4805128 by Raringo
- Dit is goed rundvlees.This beef is good.This sentence is useful for describing the quality of rundvlees.Tatoeba #12343656 by megamanenm, translation #3824349 by CK
- Mag ik een portie rundvlees alstublieft?May I have a portion of beef, please?
- Ik heb rundvlees nodig voor het avondeten.I need beef for dinner.
- Laten we vanavond een lekkere biefstuk op de grill bereiden.Let's cook a delicious steak on the grill tonight.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Lisa are at the supermarket.
- LucasHebben we nog rundvlees nodig?Do we need more beef?
- LisaNee, we hebben nog genoeg rundvlees.No, we still have enough beef.
- LucasZal ik dan ook kip kopen?Shall I buy chicken too then?
- LisaJa, dat is een goed idee.Yes, that is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beef” translations and entries rundvlees, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
