blauw
/blɑu̯/
The English word blue is blauw in Dutch.
blauw is an adjective used to describe something that is blue-coloured. It can also function as a noun to refer to blue clothing or the blue pigment itself.
Meaning: blue-coloured (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, the form changes depending on the noun it precedes. Use the inflected form blauwe when the adjective precedes a noun with a definite article, such as de blauwe lucht (the blue sky). Use the base form blauw when the adjective precedes a noun with an indefinite article, such as een blauw boek (a blue book).
How do you pronounce it?
/blɑu̯/
Did you know?
- In Dutch slang, blauw is often used as a shorthand to refer to the police, because of the color of their uniforms.
- Dutch has a specific term blauwsel, which refers to a traditional blue rinse or laundry whitener used to make white linens look brighter.
- The word blauw is actually related to the Old Dutch word blāo, which shares a history with words for leaves and plants in some Germanic branches.
Examples in context
- De zee is blauw.The sea is blue.This sentence shows how to use blauw to describe the colour of the sea.Tatoeba #7489099 by MarijnKp, translation #2396999 by Hayabusa
- De auto is blauw.The car is blue.This sentence shows how to use blauw to describe the colour of a car.Tatoeba #7814610 by MarijnKp, translation #1394266 by Spamster
- De vlag is blauw.The flag is blue.This sentence shows how to use blauw to describe the colour of a flag.Tatoeba #8934646 by Micsmithel, translation #10192789 by ddnktr
- De lucht is blauw.The sky is blue.
- De jurk heeft een mooie blauwe kleur.The dress has a beautiful blue color.
- Ik hou van blauwe kleding.I love blue clothing.
- Hij heeft een blauwtje gelopen.He has been rejected.
- 257 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Levi and Emma are looking at a new sofa in a store.
- LeviIs deze bank blauw?Is this sofa blue?
- EmmaNee, deze is donkergrijs.No, this one is dark grey.
- LeviIk zoek echt iets blauws.I am really looking for something blue.
- EmmaKijk, die andere is wel blauw!Look, that other one is blue!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blue” translations and entries blauw, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
