maat(je)
masculine, neuter
The Dutch word for mate is maat(je). If unsure, use maat(je). Wiktionary also lists kameraad and makker.
Meaning: friend (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| maat(je) | masculine, neuter | |
| kameraad | masculine | |
| makker | masculine | |
| gabber | /ˈxɑ.bər/ | masculine |
In Dutch, there are several ways to express the concept of a mate or friend. The terms are maat(je), makker, kameraad and gabber.
Which one should you use?
maat(je) is frequently used in informal situations and is often translated to 'buddy' or 'pal' in English. kameraad translates to 'comrade' or 'companion'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of maatje is maatjes.
Did you know?
- While gabber means 'mate' in certain dialects, it is also the name of a specific, high-energy style of electronic dance music popular in the Netherlands.
- The word gabber was adopted from the Yiddish word khaver, which originates from the Hebrew word for 'friend'.
- While maatje is a friendly term, the word maat is also the standard Dutch term for a 'measurement' or 'size'.
Examples in context
- Dank je wel, makker!Thanks, mate!This sentence is useful for seeing how to use makker when thanking a friend.Tatoeba #7786628 by Micsmithel, translation #6310957 by sundown
- Dank je wel, vriend!Thank you very much, mate!
- Je bent een geweldige kameraad, maat!You're a great buddy, mate!
- Hey maat! Alles goed?Hey mate! Everything alright?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mate” translations and entries kameraad, makker, gabber, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gabber, kameraad, makker, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
