je bent mooi
The English phrase "you're pretty" can be translated into Dutch as je bent mooi.
This phrase is a compliment used to tell someone that they are physically attractive. In Dutch, mooi is the standard word used to express that someone is pretty or beautiful. If you want to express that someone is specifically "cute," you would use a different word, schattig.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase je bent mooi is composed of je (you), bent (are) and mooi (beautiful/pretty).
Which one should you use?
While je bent mooi is the standard way to say "you're pretty," you can increase the intensity of the compliment by using je bent prachtig to say "you are gorgeous."
How does it change in a sentence?
To shift from an informal to a formal tone, replace the informal pronoun and verb combination je bent with the formal u bent.
Did you know?
- The word mooi might share an ancient ancestor with the concept of being 'clean' or 'washed'. It stems from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to wet' or 'to wash', suggesting that 'beautiful' originally implied a sense of being neat and clean.
- The word mooi is often used in the expression mooi zo, which means 'that is fine' or 'that will do' and has nothing to do with beauty.
- While mooi is a general compliment, using it to describe a man can sometimes feel more poetic or soft than using knap, which is the more common word for 'handsome'.
Examples in context
- Je bent mooi.You're pretty.This sentence is useful for practicing the compliment je bent mooi.Tatoeba #7900585 by MarijnKp, translation #1079506 by keira_n
- Ja, ik ben naar de kapper geweest. Wat ben jij knap vandaag!Yes, I went to the hairdresser. You look attractive today!
- Echt waar, je bent mooi.Really, you are pretty.
Example conversation
Noah and Lisa are having a romantic dinner.
- NoahLisa, je bent mooi vanavond.Lisa, you are pretty tonight.
- LisaDank je wel, Noah. Dat is lief van je.Thank you, Noah. That is sweet of you.
- NoahIk meen het.I mean it.
- LisaJe maakt me echt blij.You really make me happy.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bent, mooi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
