Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| naar beneden | /naːr bəˈneː.də(n)/ (word by word) |
| neer | /neːr/ |
The phrase is used to describe moving from a high to a low position. Naar beneden describes the direction of movement, such as moving downwards. Neer is frequently used as a particle in separable verbs to indicate the completion of a downward motion, such as the act of sitting or placing an object down.
Which one should you use?
Naar beneden is typically used to describe the direction of movement (downwards), whereas neer is often used to describe the act of placing something down.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word neer often functions as a particle in separable verbs. If you are describing a movement from one end to another, you might also use the preposition af or naar beneden.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of naar beneden is /naːr bəˈneː.də(n)/. It consists of 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word naar also exists as a separate word meaning 'narrow' or 'tight' in certain contexts, making it a homonym.
- The particle neer is actually a shortened, contracted version of the word neder.
Examples in context
- Zet de doos neer.Put the box down.This sentence demonstrates the use of neer for putting an object down.Tatoeba #10787876 by megamanenm, translation #3155619 by CK
- Zet je neer, Kate.Sit down, Kate.This sentence shows the use of neer when telling someone to sit down.Tatoeba #8615153 by Micsmithel, translation #243636 by mamat
- Leg het hier neer.Put it down here.This sentence illustrates using neer to place something down in a specific location.Tatoeba #11762286 by Slam4, translation #8976730 by CK
- Loop naar benedenWalk down
- Ga naar benedenGo down
- 95 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Sophie are walking in a park.
- LucasKijk, de bal rolt naar beneden.Look, the ball is rolling down.
- SophieOh, hij gaat heel snel naar beneden.Oh, it is going down very fast.
- LucasZal ik hem voor je pakken?Shall I get it for you?
- SophieJa, dank je wel, Lucas.Yes, thank you, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “down” translations and entries naar beneden, neer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (naar, beneden) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beneden, naar, neer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
