drinken
/ˈdrɪŋkə(n)/
The English verb 'drink' is translated into Dutch as drinken.
The verb drinken means to consume liquid through the mouth. For specific related terms, you might use slokje to mean a sip or drankje to refer to an informal drink.
Meaning: consume liquid through the mouth (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Flemish region of Belgium, speakers informally use the word pintje to specifically refer to a glass of beer.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of drinken is dronk, and the past participle is gedronken.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdrɪŋkə(n)/
Did you know?
- In the Netherlands, the custom of borrelen describes the specific cultural practice of having drinks and snacks in a social setting after work.
- The word drinken shares a common ancestor with the English 'drink', descending from the Proto-Germanic word *drinkaną.
- The term drankje uses a diminutive suffix, which is a common Dutch habit to make an invitation sound more casual and less demanding.
Examples in context
- Wat ga je drinken?What are you going to drink?This sentence is useful for asking what someone is going to drink using drinken.Tatoeba #9178696 by Nylez, translation #2259864 by _undertoad
- Wil je wat drinken?Would you like something to drink?This sentence is useful for offering something to drink using drinken.Tatoeba #390014 by Dorenda, translation #1504 by CK
- Wat wil je drinken?What do you want to drink?This sentence is useful for asking what someone wants to drink using drinken.Tatoeba #6813163 by Micsmithel, translation #400184 by sysko
- Mag ik een drankje bestellen?May I order a drink?
- Bekijk onze consumptiesCheck out our drinks
- Wil je nog een drankje?Do you want another drink?
- Ik trakteer op een pintje!I'll treat you to a beer!
- 227 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Julia are at a cafe.
- DaanIk ga nu iets drinken.I am going to drink something now.
- JuliaGa je koffie drinken?Are you going to drink coffee?
- DaanNee, ik wil water drinken.No, I want to drink water.
- JuliaDat is een gezond idee.That is a healthy idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drink” translations and entries drinken, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries drinken, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
