beek
/beːk/
The Dutch word for creek is beek.
The word beek is used to refer to a stream of water.
Meaning: stream of water (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/beːk/
Did you know?
- Dutch uses beek for a small natural stream, but uses gracht for a man-made canal, a distinction that is crucial for navigating Dutch cities.
- The phrase een beekje uses a diminutive suffix to describe a tiny, charming stream, which is a very common way for Dutch speakers to describe nature.
- The word beek is a cognate of the English word 'beck', a term for a mountain stream used primarily in Northern England and Cumbria.
Examples in context
- Hij durfde niet over de beek springen.He did not dare to jump over the creek.This sentence shows how to use beek when talking about jumping over a stream.Tatoeba #4450213 by martinod, translation #4450284 by Will
- De wolf en het lam gingen naar dezelfde beek.The wolf and the lamb go to the same creek.This sentence demonstrates using beek in a context involving animals and a stream.Tatoeba #4431026 by martinod, translation #12302014 by Miktsoanit
- De kinderen speelden aan het riviertje.The children played by the creek.
- We genoten van een wandeling langs de beek.We enjoyed a walk along the creek.
- We gingen pootje baden in het stroompje.We went wading in the creek.
- De kinderen zwommen in het grachtje achter het huis.The children swam in the creek behind the house.
- Er stroomt een kleine beek door het bos.A small creek flows through the forest.
Example conversation
Lucas and Lisa are walking in a nature reserve.
- LucasKijk, daar loopt een beek.Look, there is a creek running there.
- LisaWat een mooie, kleine beek is dat.What a beautiful, small creek that is.
- LucasZullen we bij de beek gaan zitten?Shall we sit down by the creek?
- LisaJa, dat lijkt me een goed plan.Yes, that sounds like a good plan.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry beek, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
