vies
/vis/
The Dutch word for gross is vies.
vies is used to describe something that causes disgust. You can also use vies as an exclamation to express disgust, similar to saying "Gross!" or "Yuck!" in English.
Meaning: causing disgust (adj)
Which one should you use?
While vies means disgusting or gross, it is also the standard Dutch word for "dirty" in the sense of being unclean. If you want to describe something specifically as filthy or foul, you might use smerig.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using vies as an attributive adjective before a noun, it typically takes the inflectional ending -e, such as in vieze handen (dirty hands).
How do you pronounce it?
/vis/
Did you know?
- The word vies is a cognate of the German word 'fies', which is often used to describe something unpleasant or even 'nasty' in a social sense.
- While an English speaker might say 'That's a dirty trick', a Dutch person is more likely to describe such a deceptive act as a vieze truc, using the same word for physical grime and moral dishonesty.
- If you are at a dinner table and find the food revolting, simply saying vies! is a common reaction for children, but it can sound quite blunt to adults in formal settings.
Examples in context
- Hij vindt het vies.He finds it gross.This example shows how to use vies to express that someone finds something gross.Tatoeba #8228637 by meshbags, translation #11140463 by SunnyMoon
- Vies!Gross!This example shows how to use vies as a standalone exclamation of disgust.Tatoeba #7335813 by Micsmithel, translation #6967342 by guyze
- Het spijt me, maar het eten is heel vies.I'm sorry, but the food is totally gross.This example shows how to use vies to describe food that is gross.Tatoeba #12776430 by kiryopi, translation #12776450 by kiryopi
- Dat gerecht ziet er onsmakelijk uit. Ik denk niet dat ik het durf te proeven.That dish looks unappetizing. I don't think I dare to taste it.
- Wat een vies toilet zeg. Ik ga hier niet naar binnen!What a gross toilet. I'm not going in there!
- Bah, wat een smerige gewoonte! Daar kan ik echt niet tegen.Yuck, what a filthy habit! I can't stand it.
Example conversation
Lisa and Levi are looking at a messy kitchen counter.
- LisaKijk naar die aanrecht, dat is echt vies!Look at that counter, that is really gross!
- LeviJe hebt gelijk, we moeten het nu schoonmaken.You are right, we have to clean it now.
- LisaIk vind het te vies om aan te raken.I find it too gross to touch.
- LeviIk doe het wel met handschoenen aan, Lisa.I will do it wearing gloves, Lisa.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vies, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vies, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
