nerd
/nøːrt/masculine
The Dutch word for nerd is nerd.
As a loanword from English, nerd is used in Dutch to describe an intellectual or highly skillful person who is generally introverted and possesses intense interests in niche subjects.
Meaning: intellectual, skillful person, generally introverted (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
nerd is an informal term commonly used and understood by Dutch speakers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form nerd is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/nøːrt/
Did you know?
- In the Netherlands, the concept of being a nerd is closely linked to the cultural value of nuchterheid, or being down-to-earth, which can make extreme nerdiness seem quirky rather than alienating.
- While 'nerd' is used in the Netherlands, a person in Belgium might use the word nerd less frequently in favour of more traditional Flemish expressions to describe a bookworm or an eccentric-minded person.
- In Dutch social contexts, calling someone a nerd can sometimes be used as a term of endearment among friends, similar to how 'geek' is used in English.
Examples in context
- Hij is een nerd.He's a nerd.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a nerd.Tatoeba #4271092 by PaulP, translation #1950147 by Spamster
- Ik ben geen nerd!I'm not a nerd!This sentence is useful for denying that one is a nerd.Tatoeba #3835745 by PaulP, translation #1950145 by Spamster
- Wat ben je een nerd!You nerd!This sentence is useful for calling someone a nerd.Tatoeba #9971920 by Micsmithel, translation #9767287 by shekitten
- Mijn broer is een computernerd. Hij kan de hele dag bezig zijn met programmeren.My brother is a computer nerd. He can spend the entire day coding.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Lisa are talking about a classmate at university.
- DaanIs hij een nerd?Is he a nerd?
- LisaNee, hij is gewoon heel slim.No, he is just very smart.
- DaanIk dacht dat hij een nerd was.I thought he was a nerd.
- LisaNee, hij is een echte expert.No, he is a real expert.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nerd” translations and entries nerd, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
