vegetariër
masculine
The English word 'vegetarian' is translated into Dutch as vegetariër.
The term is used to describe a person who does not eat any animal flesh. When communicating dietary needs, you can use the phrase Geen vlees, vis, of gevogelte to specify that you eat no meat, fish or poultry.
Meaning: person who does not eat any animal flesh (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use the noun vegetariër when referring to the person themselves. Use the adjective vegetarisch when describing things such as a lifestyle or food, for example, a vegetarian meal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word vegetariër is a masculine noun. To refer to more than one person, use the plural form vegetariërs.
When do people say it?
When dining out, you can use the phrase Heeft u vegetarische gerechten? to ask if a restaurant has vegetarian dishes or Zijn er vegetarische mogelijkheden? to inquire if there are any vegetarian options available.
Did you know?
- The spelling of vegetariër requires a diaeresis (the two dots) over the 'e' to ensure the reader pronounces both vowels separately rather than as a single sound.
- The term vegetariër was borrowed from German, meaning it shares a closer linguistic ancestor with the German 'Vegetarier' than with its English counterpart.
- While vegetariër covers the general concept, Dutch speakers frequently use the term plantaardig (plant-based) to describe food, regardless of whether the person eating it is a strict vegetarian.
Examples in context
- Tom is een vegetariër.Tom is a vegetarian.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is a vegetariër.Tatoeba #3959259 by lonepawn, translation #2272886 by CK
- Ik was een vegetariër.I used to be a vegetarian.This sentence is useful for describing a past state of being a vegetariër.Tatoeba #8437966 by MarijnKp, translation #5189351 by CK
- Ik ben geen vegetariër.I'm not a vegetarian.This sentence is useful for stating that you are not a vegetariër.Tatoeba #3959261 by lonepawn, translation #3374664 by CK
- Ik eet geen vlees of vis, omdat ik om dierenwelzijn geef. Wat is jouw reden om vegetarisch te eten?I don't eat meat or fish because I care about animal welfare. What is your reason for being vegetarian?
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Emma are deciding what to order for dinner.
- DaanWat wil je eten, Emma?What do you want to eat, Emma?
- EmmaIets zonder vlees, want ik ben een vegetariër.Something without meat, because I am a vegetarian.
- DaanDan bestellen we een vegetarisch menu.Then we will order a vegetarian menu.
- EmmaDat is een goed idee, Daan!That is a good idea, Daan!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vegetarian” translations and entries vegetariër, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vegetariër, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
