stomerij
The English phrase dry cleaner is translated into Dutch as stomerij.
stomerij is the most common and widely used term for a dry cleaning business in Dutch.
Meaning: business establishment that engages in dry cleaning (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from stomen, which means to steam and the suffix -erij, which denotes a place or business where a specific activity is performed.
Which one should you use?
Use stomerij when referring to the business establishment itself. If you are referring to the person who performs the dry cleaning service, use stomer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of stomerij is stomerijen.
Did you know?
- The suffix -erij in stomerij is used for businesses, but it also appears in words for 'nonsense' or 'foolishness', such as onzinnerij, creating a phonetic link between a professional shop and absurdity.
- While a stomerij might only use water in its modern cleaning processes, the name remains tethered to the historical method of using steam. This makes the word a linguistic fossil of the industrial era.
- The word stomen is also used in Dutch to describe the action of a steam engine, linking the business name to industrial steam technology.
Examples in context
- Kunt u mij alstublieft een goede stomer aanbevelen?Can you kindly recommend a good dry cleaner?
- Ik breng mijn pak naar de stomerij.I am taking my suit to the dry cleaner.
- Is er een stomerij in de buurt?Is there a dry cleaner nearby?
- De stomerij is vandaag helaas gesloten.Unfortunately, the dry cleaner is closed today.
Example conversation
Lisa and Noah are walking through the city center.
- LisaNoah, weet jij waar hier een stomerij is?Noah, do you know where there is a dry cleaner here?
- NoahJa, er is een kleine stomerij om de hoek.Yes, there is a small dry cleaner around the corner.
- LisaIs die stomerij ook op zaterdag open?Is that dry cleaner also open on Saturday?
- NoahJa, dat denk ik wel.Yes, I think so.
