braaf meisje
The English phrase "good girl" can be translated into Dutch as braaf meisje.
braaf meisje is used to praise a girl or a female pet for behaving well and being obedient. While it can be used for a human child, it is very commonly used when praising female pets for their obedience.
Which one should you use?
The word braaf specifically refers to being well-behaved or obedient. In modern Dutch, if you want to describe someone as "brave" in the sense of showing courage, the more common word is dapper.
Did you know?
- While an English speaker might use 'good girl' to praise a woman's character, using braaf meisje to a grown woman in Dutch would sound patronizing or even insulting.
- The phrase braaf meisje shares a linguistic ancestor with the Italian word bravo, which can mean 'skilled' or 'good' depending on the context.
- If a Dutch person describes a child as te braaf, they might actually be suggesting the child is boring or lacks spirit.
Examples in context
- Wees een braaf meisje.Be a good girl.This example shows how to use braaf meisje as an imperative command.Tatoeba #10044001 by Micsmithel, translation #1649020 by Spamster
- Ik zal een braaf meisje zijn.I'll be a good girl.This example shows how to express an intention to be a braaf meisje.Tatoeba #1111000 by megamanenm, translation #1110488 by Scott
- Wat een braaf meisje ben je!What a good girl you are!
Example conversation
Lucas is praising Lisa's dog for sitting still.
- LisaKijk, ze zit heel stil.Look, she is sitting very still.
- LucasBraaf meisje, Luna!Good girl, Luna!
- LisaZe leert het echt heel snel.She is really learning it very quickly.
- LucasJa, ze is erg gehoorzaam.Yes, she is very obedient.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries braaf, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
