kind
/kɪnt/neuter
The Dutch word for child is kind.
kind is the most common and neutral term used to refer to a son, a daughter or someone's offspring.
Meaning: son or daughter, someone's child (noun)
Which one should you use?
While kind is the neutral term for a child, the word jongen is used specifically when referring to a boy, often in an informal context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of kind is kinderen. You can also create the diminutive kindje by adding the suffix -je, which refers to a little child or a sweet child.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɪnt/
Did you know?
- Despite the similarity in spelling, kind in Dutch is unrelated to the English adjective 'kind' meaning 'nice' or 'caring'.
- In Dutch, the phrase kinderspel literally means 'children's play' but is used idiomatically to describe a task that is incredibly easy or trivial.
- In Dutch, the word kind is also the root for the word kindergarten, which literally translates to 'children' garden'.
Examples in context
- Ik ben een kind.I'm a child.This sentence shows how to use kind to state your identity.Tatoeba #6813147 by Micsmithel, translation #3313490 by CM
- Heb je een kind?Do you have a child?This sentence uses kind to ask a question about someone's offspring.Tatoeba #7910695 by MarijnKp, translation #852857 by piksea
- Ik heb één kind.I have one child.This sentence demonstrates using kind when specifying a quantity.Tatoeba #10789391 by megamanenm, translation #4500152 by CK
- Het kind speelt in de tuin.The child is playing in the garden.
- Hé kiddo, hoe was je dag?Hey kiddo, how was your day?
- 254 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noah and Sophie are talking about their families.
- NoahHeb jij ook een kind, Sophie?Do you also have a child, Sophie?
- SophieJa, ik heb een klein kind.Yes, I have a small child.
- NoahIs het kind een jongen of meisje?Is the child a boy or a girl?
- SophieHet is een meisje.It is a girl.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “child” translations and entries kind, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
