Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fiets | /fits/ | masculine |
| velo | Belgium, masculine, slang |
The standard term for a bicycle is fiets. If you are referring specifically to a motorized bicycle or moped, use Bromfiets. To describe the action of riding a bike, use the verb fietsen or alternatively wielrijden. If you mean to travel by bike, you can use toeren.
Which one should you use?
While fiets is the most common and widely recognized noun for the object, fietsen is the common verb used to describe the action of riding a bike.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word fiets is the standard term. For a more formal tone, you can use Rijwiel, though this can also be used humorously in informal settings to sound old-fashioned. The term velo is an informal or colloquial way to refer to a bicycle.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium, the word velo is used instead of the standard Dutch fiets.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/fits/
Did you know?
- A quirky etymological hypothesis claims fiets could stem from the German 'Vize', meaning 'surrogate' in the term 'Vizepferd' or 'substitute horse'.
- The term Bromfiets combines the words for 'hum' or 'buzz' and 'bike' to describe a moped.
- The word velo is used colloquially in Dutch-speaking areas, but it is a direct borrowing from the French word for bicycle.
Examples in context
- Is dit uw fiets?Is this your bike?This sentence is useful for asking if a bike belongs to someone using fiets.Tatoeba #8443282 by MarijnKp, translation #55938 by CK
- Heb je je fiets?You got your bike?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has their fiets.Tatoeba #10746013 by megamanenm, translation #9518033 by sundown
- Ik heb een fiets.I've got a bike.This sentence is useful for stating that one has a fiets.Tatoeba #6622997 by Raizin, translation #3091025 by CK
- Ik heb een nieuwe fiets gekochtI bought a new bike
- Een fiets biedt een milieuvriendelijke manier van transport in Nederland.A bike provides an environmentally friendly mode of transport in the Netherlands.
- Een fiets is niet alleen een vervoersmiddel, maar ook een lifestyle in Nederland.A bike is not only a means of transportation but also a lifestyle in the Netherlands.
- 141 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sophie and Daan are in a garage.
- SophieDaan, is dit jouw fiets?Daan, is this your bike?
- DaanNee, de fiets van Sophie staat daar.No, Sophie's bike is over there.
- SophieOh, ik zie de fiets nu.Oh, I see the bike now.
- DaanJa, hij is erg schoon.Yes, it is very clean.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bike” translations and entries fiets, velo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fiets, velo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
