Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| uit | /œy̯t/ |
| weg | /ʋɛx/ |
The term uit is used when something is moving from the inside of a container or space toward the outside. It is also used in phrasal verbs to indicate that a device or light has been turned off, such as het licht uit (the light off). Additionally, the verb uitgaan specifically refers to going out for recreation or entertainment purposes. The word weg is used to indicate movement or a state of being away from a location, rather than specifically describing the act of exiting a container.
Which one should you use?
uit describes the direction of exiting a space, whereas buiten is used to describe the state of being outdoors or in the open air. While uit focuses on moving from the inside to the outside, weg indicates being away from a location generally.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/œy̯t/
Did you know?
- Dutch uses uit to describe someone who comes 'from' a city, such as Ik kom uit Amsterdam. In this context, it functions as a preposition of origin rather than a movement 'out' of a space.
- To tell a dog to stop barking or be quiet, a Dutch speaker might simply say Uit! In this context, it does not mean 'go out' but acts as a command for the noise to stop.
- While uit and weg both translate to 'out', weg is often used as a synonym for 'gone' or 'missing'. If a cookie is weg, it is not just out of the jar, but completely consumed.
Examples in context
- Ga uit de weg!Get out of the way!This sentence shows how to use uit in an imperative command.Tatoeba #6218867 by megamanenm, translation #6218864 by megamanenm
- Ga uit de weg.Get out of the way.This sentence demonstrates a similar use of uit for an imperative command.Tatoeba #8191032 by Elsofie, translation #1294037 by CK
- De bal is uit.The ball is out of bounds.This sentence shows how uit can be used to describe a ball being out of bounds.Tatoeba #12217043 by megamanenm, translation #12218636 by Miktsoanit
- Hij is buitenSomeone is outside
- Ik ga uitI am going out
- Laten we vanavond uitgaanLet's go out tonight
- Ik ben wegI'm outta here or I'm leaving
- Ik ga uit etenI am going out to eat
- Hij is buiten in de tuinHe is outside in the garden
- Hij maakte zijn besluit bekendHe made his decision known
- 745 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Lisa are at home and it is a sunny day.
- DaanHet is mooi weer, gaan we uit?The weather is nice, shall we go out?
- LisaJa, ik wil graag naar buiten.Yes, I would like to go outside.
- DaanZullen we naar het park gaan?Shall we go to the park?
- LisaDat is een goed idee, Daan.That is a good idea, Daan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “out” translations and entries uit, weg, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
