zoet
/zut/
The English word sweet is translated into Dutch as zoet.
The adjective zoet is used specifically to describe something that has a pleasant taste. If you wish to refer to a sugary confection or candy, you might use the related nouns snoep or snoepje.
Meaning: having a pleasant taste (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use zoet when referring to a sugary taste. To describe a sweet or kind personality, use lief instead. For expressions of cuteness regarding babies, small animals or objects, Dutch speakers use snoezig or schattig.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When the adjective zoet is used before a masculine or feminine noun, it often takes the inflected form zoete.
How do you pronounce it?
/zut/
Did you know?
- Dutch parents often tell their children to be zoet, which in this specific context means to be well-behaved or quiet rather than sugary.
- The Dutch word zoet shares a common ancestor with the English word 'sweet', both stemming from the Proto-Indo-European root *sweh₂dus.
- The Dutch word for candy, snoep, comes from the verb snoepen, which means to eat small amounts of sweets frequently.
Examples in context
- Dat is heel zoet.That's very sweet.This sentence shows how to use zoet to describe an intense flavor.Tatoeba #9112727 by martinod, translation #2251324 by CK
- De vrucht is zoet.The fruit tastes sweet.This sentence demonstrates the use of zoet to describe the taste of fruit.Tatoeba #803505 by martinod, translation #682130 by Source_VOA
- De koek is te zoet.The cookie is too sweet.This sentence shows how to use zoet when a flavor is excessive.Tatoeba #737778 by martinod, translation #10221552 by megamanenm
- Deze cake is erg zoet.This cake is very sweet.
- Wat heb je een zoet karakter.You have such a sweet personality.
- Je bent een lief persoon.You are a kind person.
- Ik vind je heel lief.I think you're very sweet.
- Wat een lekker taartje!What a tasty little cake!
- Wat een snoezig baby'tje!Such an adorable little baby!
- Die puppy is echt snoezig.That puppy is really sweet.
- Je nieuwe jurk is super schattig!Your new dress is so cute!
- Wat een schattig konijntje!What a sweet little bunny!
- Hallo lieve schat, hoe was je dag?Hello dear, how was your day?
- Kom eens hier, lieve schat.Come here, sweetie.
- 61 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Levi are sharing a dessert at a cafe.
- EmmaVind je dit dessert zoet?Do you find this dessert sweet?
- LeviJa, het is erg zoet.Yes, it is very sweet.
- EmmaIk vind het heerlijk.I think it is delicious.
- LeviVoor mij is het te zoet.For me, it is too sweet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sweet” translations and entries zoet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries zoet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
