grasparkiet
The English phrase "budgie" is translated into Dutch as grasparkiet.
The term grasparkiet refers to the small, colorful parrot commonly kept as a pet. While grasparkiet is the specific term for the common budgerigar, the word parkiet is more general and can be used to describe budgerigars as well as various other species of parakeet.
What does it mean word for word?
The word grasparkiet is a compound of gras, meaning grass and parkiet, meaning parakeet.
Which one should you use?
grasparkiet is the specific name for the common budgerigar, whereas parkiet can be used more broadly to refer to the bird or the general category of parakeets. Additionally, valkparkiet is a term used to describe the common budgerigar specifically.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the southern part of the Netherlands, some dialects use the colloquial variation kiet instead of parkiet. In the Flemish dialects of northern Belgium, you may encounter parkie or keet used instead of parkiet.
Did you know?
- The word grasparkiet describes a bird whose native habitat in Australia is the grasslands, which is why the word gras meaning 'grass' is included in its Dutch name.
- While 'budgie' is a diminutive in English, the Dutch grasparkiet is a compound that focuses on the bird's natural habitat rather than its size.
- The word grasparkiet follows the Dutch rule of compound nouns, where the modifying word gras is fused directly to the noun parkiet without a space or hyphen.
Examples in context
- Ik heb een mooie parkiet in mijn volière.I have a beautiful budgie in my aviary.
- Kijk eens naar dat schattige valkparkietje in de kooi!Look at that cute little budgie in the cage!
- De grasparkiet is erg kleurrijk.The budgie is very colorful.
- Mijn grasparkiet eet graag zaadjes.My budgie likes eating seeds.
- Ik wil een nieuwe grasparkiet kopen.I want to buy a new budgie.
Example conversation
Noah and Emma are looking at a pet shop window.
- NoahKijk, die grasparkiet is zo schattig!Look, that budgie is so cute!
- EmmaJa, hij heeft een mooie blauwe kleur.Yes, he has a beautiful blue color.
- NoahZal ik die grasparkiet voor je kopen?Shall I buy that budgie for you?
- EmmaWat lief van je, dank je wel!How sweet of you, thank you!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry grasparkiet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
