USA
plural
In Dutch, the abbreviation for the United States of America is USA. Wiktionary also lists VSA.
Meaning: abbreviation of the United States of America (name)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| USA | plural | |
| VSA | /veː.ɛsˈaː/ | plural, rare |
The term is an abbreviation for the name of the United States of America. In natural Dutch speech and writing, people more frequently use the abbreviation de VS (Verenigde Staten) rather than de USA.
Which one should you use?
USA is the standard abbreviation. An alternative is VSA (an abbreviation for the Dutch name), which is a much rarer alternative. For formal settings, Verenigde Staten van Amerika is the literal translation of the United States of America, whereas Amerika is commonly used in informal contexts to refer to the United States.
Did you know?
- When speaking about the US, Dutch people use the plural verb form because Staten is plural, whereas English uses a singular verb for the 'USA'.
- The Dutch word Verenigde in Verenigde Staten is a cognate of the English word 'united' and shares a common Germanic root with the word 'join'.
- Using 'de USA' can sometimes sound slightly more 'foreign' or 'Anglicized' to a native Dutch ear than using the Dutch 'de VS'.
Examples in context
- De relatie tussen Nederland en de Verenigde Staten van Amerika is jarenlang sterk geweest.The relationship between the Netherlands and the United States of America has been strong for many years.
- Ik wil graag naar Amerika reizen.I would love to travel to the USA.
- De V.S. heeft veel invloed op internationale politiek.The USA has a lot of influence in international politics.
- Mijn zus woont momenteel in de States.My sister is currently living in the USA.
- Wij hebben onlangs een reis naar de Verenigde Staten geboekt.We recently booked a trip to the USA.
- Ik ga deze zomer naar de USA.I am going to the USA this summer.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about travel plans in a cafe.
- LisaGa je nog naar de USA?Are you still going to the USA?
- NoahJa, ik vlieg volgende week naar de USA.Yes, I am flying to the USA next week.
- LisaWat een leuk vooruitzicht voor je, Noah!What an exciting prospect for you, Noah!
- NoahDank je, ik heb er veel zin in.Thank you, I am really looking forward to it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “usa” translations and entries VSA, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
