rivier
/riˈviːr/masculine
The Dutch word for river is rivier. Wiktionary also lists stroom.
Meaning: large stream which drains a landmass (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rivier | /riˈviːr/ | masculine |
| stroom | /stroːm/ | masculine |
The term refers to a large stream which drains a landmass.
Which one should you use?
While rivier refers to the geographical feature, stroom is often used to refer to the flow or current of the water itself.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the West Flemish dialect, the term Beke is used instead of rivier.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of rivier is rivieren.
How do you pronounce it?
/riˈviːr/
Did you know?
- The word stroom has a common double meaning and is the standard Dutch word for 'electric current'.
- The Dutch word rivier is a direct linguistic import from Old French, rather than being a native Germanic word.
- In the Netherlands, the term rivier is used for natural waterways, but the Dutch often distinguish them from kanalen, which are man-made canals.
Examples in context
- De rivier is diep.The river is deep.This sentence is useful for describing the depth of a rivier.Tatoeba #9390416 by MarijnKp, translation #8907943 by LeeSooHa
- De rivier is breed.The river is wide.This sentence is useful for describing the width of a rivier.Tatoeba #7898064 by MarijnKp, translation #45748 by CK
- De rivier droogt op.The river is running dry.This sentence is useful for describing a rivier that is running dry.Tatoeba #852960 by martinod, translation #273167 by CK
- De Rijn is een belangrijke rivier in Europa.The Rhine is an important river in Europe.
- 194 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noah and Julia are standing on a bridge looking down.
- NoahKijk, die rivier is erg groot.Look, that river is very large.
- JuliaJa, de rivier stroomt heel snel.Yes, the river flows very fast.
- NoahKunnen we met een boot over de rivier varen?Can we sail across the river with a boat?
- JuliaDat is een goed idee, Noah.That is a good idea, Noah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “river” translations and entries rivier, stroom, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rivier, stroom, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
