Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| echt | /ɛxt/ |
| werkelijk | /ˈʋɛr.kə.lək/ |
The word is used to mean 'actually' or to add emphasis. Beyond these standard forms, other variations exist: echt waar is an informal way to say 'really' in conversation and echt hoor is used informally to provide assurance or express agreement. To express emphasis that translates closer to 'very', one might use the informal heel erg. In more specialized settings, daadwerkelijk is used to stress the actual occurrence of an event, frequently in legal or bureaucratic contexts.
Which one should you use?
While both echt and werkelijk can mean 'really', echt is the much more common choice in everyday spoken Dutch. Werkelijk sounds more formal or literary and is often used to emphasize a profound sense of reality, such as when discussing an actual cause. Echt can also be used as an interjection (echt? or werkelijk?) to indicate surprise at new information or to request confirmation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Dutch, echt functions primarily as an adverb or an interjection. Unlike English, where 'really' can sometimes function as an adjective (as in 'a really good book'), you should not use echt in this way. To express 'real' as an adjective in Dutch, you would typically use echte, such as in een echte vriend (a real friend).
Did you know?
- The word werkelijk is built from the root werk, meaning 'work'. It literally suggests something that has been put into action or effort.
- In the Netherlands, echt is frequently used as a filler word to signal emotion rather than to state a literal fact.
- The formal word daadwerkelijk is a staple of Dutch police reports and legal documents to verify that an event actually occurred.
Examples in context
- Kun je dat echt?Can you really?This sentence shows how to use echt to ask if someone is truly able to do something.Tatoeba #7204051 by Micsmithel, translation #1126764 by AlanF_US
- Wil je het echt?Do you really want it?This sentence demonstrates using echt to ask about the sincerity of a desire.Tatoeba #9059375 by MarijnKp, translation #68936 by CK
- Tom is echt moe.Tom is really tired.This sentence shows how echt functions as an adverb to emphasize an adjective.Tatoeba #9738539 by MarijnKp, translation #8366966 by CK
- Dat is echt waar.That is really true.
- Ben je echt zeker?Are you really sure?
- Dit is werkelijk ongelofelijk.This is really unbelievable.
- Echt waar? Dat kan ik bijna niet geloven!Really? I can hardly believe it!
- Ik heb het echt hoor!I really have it, I assure you!
- Dat was heel erg leuk!That was really fun!
- 918 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are talking about a movie they saw.
- LucasWas de film echt goed?Was the movie really good?
- EmmaJa, het was echt spannend.Yes, it was really exciting.
- LucasEcht waar?Really?
- EmmaJa, echt.Yes, really.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “really” translations and entries echt, werkelijk, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries echt, werkelijk, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
