file
/ˈfilə/feminine
The English phrase 'traffic jam' can be translated into Dutch as file or opstopping.
Meaning: situation in which all road traffic is stationary or very slow (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| file | /ˈfilə/ /fɑi̯l/ |
feminine |
| opstopping | feminine |
In Dutch, both file and opstopping are used to describe situations where road traffic is stationary or moving very slowly. To say that you are stuck in a traffic jam, use the phrase vaststaan in de file.
Which one should you use?
opstopping is a more general term for a blockage or congestion, which can refer to traffic but also to a physical obstruction or a buildup of something else.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both file and opstopping are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfilə/
Did you know?
- The Dutch word fileren meaning 'to fillet' a fish comes from the same Latin root as file meaning 'traffic jam'.
- In the Netherlands, the word file is so common that there is a dedicated national website and app specifically for tracking files in real time.
- In Dutch, the concept of a traffic jam is often discussed as a 'bottleneck' using the word flessenhals, which refers to the neck of a bottle.
Examples in context
- Er was een file.There was a traffic jam.This sentence is useful for stating that a traffic jam existed.Tatoeba #8227992 by meshbags, translation #5746107 by CM
- Ik zit vast in de file.I'm stuck in a traffic jam.This sentence is useful for saying you are stuck in a traffic jam.Tatoeba #4654862 by doemaar14, translation #1737340 by Spamster
- De file duurde een uur.The traffic jam lasted one hour.This sentence is useful for describing how long a traffic jam lasted.Tatoeba #12912697 by PaulP, translation #240351 by CK
- De ochtendspits zorgt altijd voor veel verkeersopstoppingen.The morning rush hour always causes a lot of traffic congestion.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noah calls Sophie because he is running late for their meeting.
- NoahSorry, ik sta in een grote file.Sorry, I am stuck in a big traffic jam.
- SophieDat is jammer, Noah. Kom je nog wel?That is a pity, Noah. Are you still coming?
- NoahJa, maar de file staat echt stil.Yes, but the traffic jam is really stationary.
- SophieGeen zorgen, Sophie wacht wel op je.No worries, Sophie will wait for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “traffic jam” translations and entries file, opstopping, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries file, opstopping, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
