gratie
/ˈɣraː.(t)si/feminine
The English word 'grace' can be translated into Dutch as gratie or elegantie.
Meaning: elegant movement, poise or balance (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gratie | /ˈɣraː.(t)si/ | feminine |
| elegantie | /ˌeːləˈɣɑn.si/ | feminine |
gratie is used to describe the specific quality of movement, poise or balance.
Which one should you use?
gratie refers specifically to the quality of movement or poise, whereas elegantie is a broader term used for elegance in style, appearance or manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone does something 'with grace', use the preposition met followed by gratie. Both gratie and elegantie are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/ˈɣraː.(t)si/', 'syllables': 2, 'stressed_syllable': '1 of 2'}
Did you know?
- While gratie describes poise, it is also the legal term for a royal or presidential pardon. A criminal might be released from prison through the granting of gratie.
- In Dutch, if you want to talk about 'divine grace' or 'mercy', you would use the word genade instead of gratie.
- In Dutch, the word gracieus is often used ironically to describe someone who has just tripped or clumsily dropped something.
Examples in context
- Ze beweegt zich vol gratie.She moves with grace.This sentence demonstrates how to use gratie to describe the way someone moves.Tatoeba #10892325 by megamanenm, translation #10892327 by megamanenm
- Heer, zegen deze spijs voor onsLord, bless this food for us
- Hemelse Vader, wij danken U voor dit voedselHeavenly Father, we thank You for this food
- De danseres danste met grote gratie.The dancer danced with great grace.
- Hij beweegt met een natuurlijke gratie.He moves with a natural grace.
Example conversation
Daan and Emma are watching a ballet rehearsal.
- DaanKijk hoe zij beweegt, met zoveel gratie!Look how she moves, with so much grace!
- EmmaJe hebt gelijk, ze is heel elegant.You are right, she is very elegant.
- DaanHet is prachtig om naar haar te kijken.It is beautiful to watch her.
- EmmaDat is zeker waar.That is certainly true.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grace” translations and entries gratie, elegantie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
