poot
/poːt/masculine
The English phrase "paw" is poot in Dutch.
poot is a masculine noun referring to the soft foot of an animal. It is also the general term used for the legs of many animals, such as dogs or cats. Related to this, the verb schrapen means to feel or scrape with a paw or hoof.
Meaning: soft foot of an animal (noun)
Which one should you use?
In Dutch, poot refers to the paw, but it is also the word used for the legs of animals like cats or dogs. This differs from been, which is reserved for humans or larger mammals like horses.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The diminutive form pootje means "little paw" and is frequently used when training pets or speaking affectionately about them, such as in the command pootje geven (give paw).
How do you pronounce it?
/poːt/
When do people say it?
The phrase pootje geven is the standard idiom for the trick where a dog offers its paw to a human.
Did you know?
- The word poot can be used as a slang term for a person who is considered a 'clod' or unrefined, derived from the phrase ruigpoot.
- The word poot is used for the legs of furniture such as tables and chairs in addition to animal paws.
- While poot describes an animal's leg, the word for a human leg is been, and using poot for a person is usually an insult implying they are animalistic or clumsy.
Examples in context
- De kat raakte de muis met haar poot aan.The cat was touching the mouse with its paw.This sentence uses poot to describe a cat touching a mouse.Tatoeba #11388269 by PaulP, translation #11387164 by carlosalberto
- Mijn hond schudt zijn pootje telkens af na een wandeling.My dog shakes its paw after every walk.
- Kijk eens naar dat hondje met zijn schattige pootje.Look at that little dog with its cute paw.
- De grote beer heeft een zware poot.The large bear has a heavy paw.
- 1 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noah and Emma are looking at a puppy.
- NoahKijk eens naar die kleine poot!Look at that little paw!
- EmmaWat is hij schattig.How cute he is.
- NoahHij probeert mijn hand vast te pakken met zijn poot.He is trying to grab my hand with his paw.
- EmmaDat is echt heel lief.That is really very sweet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “paw” translations and entries poot, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries poot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
