ontdooien
/ˌɔntˈdoːi̯.ə(n)/
To defrost in Dutch is ontdooien.
ontdooien is a verb used to describe the process of thawing or melting ice or frozen substances.
Meaning: to thaw (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is composed of the prefix ont-, meaning to undo or remove and dooi, which comes from the word for thaw or melt.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present tense form is ontdooit. The past participle, used to say something has been defrosted, is ontdooid.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌɔntˈdoːi̯.ə(n)/. The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- A Dutch speaker may use ontdooien to describe someone who is becoming more friendly or less formal after a cold initial interaction.
- In Dutch, the word dooi does not just describe a process but refers to the specific seasonal period in spring when the frost breaks and ice melts.
- In Middle Dutch, the ancestor of our modern word, it was spelled as ontdoyen, showing how the vowel sounds have shifted over centuries.
Examples in context
- Laten we de koelkast ontdooien.Let's defrost the refrigerator.This sentence shows how to use ontdooien in the context of a refrigerator.Tatoeba #12947143 by MarijnKp, translation #11918747 by CK
- Ik moet mijn koelkast ontdooien.I need to defrost my refrigerator.This sentence uses ontdooien to express a personal necessity regarding a refrigerator.Tatoeba #10365317 by doemaar14, translation #10365304 by CK
- We moeten onze koelkast ontdooien.We need to defrost our refrigerator.This sentence uses ontdooien to express a collective necessity regarding a refrigerator.Tatoeba #12947144 by MarijnKp, translation #8375128 by CK
- Ik moet het vlees ontdooien voordat ik het kan bereiden.I need to defrost the meat before I can cook it.
- Kun je me vertellen hoe ik deze bevroren leidingen moet ontdooien?Can you tell me how to defrost these frozen pipes?
- Ik ga de bevroren groenten even laten ontdooien.I'm going to let the frozen vegetables defrost for a while.
- Zet de magnetron in de ontdooistand om het brood te laten ontdooien.Put the microwave on the defrost mode to thaw the bread.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Sophie are in the kitchen preparing lunch.
- LucasMoet ik het vlees ontdooien?Do I need to defrost the meat?
- SophieJa, dat zou goed zijn.Yes, that would be good.
- LucasKan het in de magnetron?Can it go in the microwave?
- SophieNee, leg het maar in de koelkast.No, just put it in the fridge.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ontdooien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ontdooien, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
