mest
/mɛst/
The Dutch word for manure is mest.
mest is a noun meaning fertiliser. While it is the standard term, you may encounter the word stront in informal settings. Note that stront is quite direct and can be considered slightly impolite.
Meaning: fertiliser (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/mɛst/
Did you know?
- The word stront is not just a synonym for mest but is frequently used in the idiomatic expression stront aan de knikker, meaning that a situation has become critical or chaotic.
- Dutch agricultural policy is so strict regarding mest that there are specific national 'mest' quotas and laws to prevent groundwater pollution.
- The word mest is thought to have originated from a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'to urinate', linking the concept of fertiliser directly to the act of excretion.
Examples in context
- „Wat doe je met die mest?” „Die is voor op de aardbeien.” „Jakkes! Wij doen er room op!”"What are you doing with that manure?" "I'm putting it on the strawberries." "Disgusting! We eat them with cream!"This sentence shows a conversation about using mest for strawberries.Tatoeba #5673580 by PaulP, translation #12299259 by Miktsoanit
- Wat doe je met die mest?What are you doing with the manure?This sentence is a simple way to ask what someone is doing with the mest.Tatoeba #10068762 by tatoebashrek, translation #10068760 by tatoebashrek
- De boer gebruikt mest om zijn gewassen te bemesten.The farmer uses manure to fertilize his crops.
- Ik wist niet dat er zo veel stront in de stal lag!I didn't know there was so much manure in the stable!
- We hebben een hoop koemest nodig voor deze akker.We need a lot of cow manure for this field.
- De boer verspreidt de mest over het land.The farmer spreads the manure over the land.
Example conversation
Levi and Sophie are talking in a garden.
- LeviHeb je die mest al gekocht?Have you bought that manure already?
- SophieJa, het ligt al in de schuur.Yes, it is already in the shed.
- LeviGoed zo, Sophie. Wanneer gaan we het gebruiken?Good job, Sophie. When are we going to use it?
- SophieIk denk dat we het morgen kunnen doen.I think we can do it tomorrow.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mest, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mest, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
