A2.18 - Visit the countryside

Compound nouns

Samengestelde zelfstandige naamwoorden

Een samengesteld zelfstandig naamwoord bestaat uit twee of meer woorden.

(A compound noun consists of two or more words.)

What a Dutch compound noun is (samengesteld zelfstandig naamwoord)

Dutch often prefers one long noun instead of an “of/’s” phrase.

  • de deur van de boerderij → de boerderijdeur
  • de bel bij de deur → de deurbel

Key idea: the last word is the main noun (the “thing”). The first part only specifies it.

Step-by-step: how to build the compound

  1. Choose the main noun (usually the second word).
    deur, bel, plein, stal, hok, wei
  2. Put the “specifying” noun in front.
    boerderij + deur
  3. Write it as one word (no spaces).
    boerderij deur → boerderijdeur
  4. Decide if you need a linking sound: nothing, -s-, or -en-.

No space: the #1 spelling pitfall

In Dutch, compound nouns are one word.

  • Correct: de boerderijdeur
  • Wrong: de boerderij deur

If it feels “too long”, Dutch still keeps it together.

Choosing the linking part: nothing, -s-, or -en-

There is no single perfect rule, but these patterns help you choose quickly.

Pattern What you do Examples
No linking part Just combine the nouns.

boerderij + deur → boerderijdeur

deur + bel → deurbel
-s- (often after places/groups/“category” words) Add -s- between the parts.

dorp + plein → dorpsplein

varken + stal → varkensstal
-en- (often feels like a plural idea) Add -en- between the parts.

hond + hok → hondenhok

paard + wei → paardenwei

Self-study tip: if you’re unsure, look up the compound (e.g., woordenboek.org) and learn it as a fixed word.

Meaning check: what does the compound really say?

  • boerderijdeur = the door of a farm building (a specific type of door)
  • deurbel = the bell for the door (doorbell)
  • dorpsplein = the main square in/for a village
  • varkensstal = a stable for pigs (pig stable)

If you can paraphrase it as “a type of …”, a compound noun is usually the natural Dutch choice.

Quick self-check before you submit an answer

  1. Is it one word? (no spaces)
  2. Is the last part the main thing?
    …deur, …bel, …plein
  3. Does the linking part match what you learned?
    nothing / -s- / -en-
  4. Does it sound like a fixed noun? If not, quickly check a dictionary.

Common errors (and the correct forms)

  • Space error: de deur bel → de deurbel
  • Missing -s-: het dorpplein → het dorpsplein
  • Wrong linking part: het dorpenplein → het dorpsplein
  • Overusing -s-: de boerderijsdeur → de boerderijdeur
  1. A compound noun is a noun that consists of two or more parts.
  2. Sometimes an -s is placed in between, as in dorpsschool.
  3. Sometimes an -en is placed in between, as in woordenboek.
Samenstellingstype (Type of compound)Individuele woorden (Individual words)Nieuwe samenstelling (New compound)
Zonder tussenvoegsel (Without linking element)

de boerderij + de deur (the farm + the door)

de deur + de bel (the door + the bell)

de boerderijdeur (the farm door)

de deurbel (the doorbell)

-s tussen de delen (-s between the parts)

het dorp + het plein (the village + the square)

het varken + de stal (the pig + the stable)

het dorpsplein (the village square)

de varkensstal (the pigsty)

-en tussen de delen (-en between the parts)

de hond + het hok (the dog + the kennel)

het paard + de wei (the horse + the pasture)

het hondenhok (the dog kennel)

de paardenwei (the horse pasture)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. Bij de boerderij druk ik op de ________, maar niemand doet open.

At the farm I ring the ________, but nobody opens the door.

2. Op het ________ is vandaag een kleine markt met kaas en brood.

In the ________ today there is a small market with cheese and bread.

3. De boer zet elke avond het varken in de ________.

The farmer puts the pig in the ________ every evening.

4. Naast de schuur staat een nieuw ________ voor de hond van de boer.

Next to the barn there is a new ________ for the farmer's dog.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentence using one compound noun (1 word) instead of the noun phrase with 'van' or 'de/het'. Example: de stal van varkens → de varkensstal.

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Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. De deur van de boerderij is oud, maar hij sluit goed.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    De boerderijdeur is oud, maar hij sluit goed.
    (The farm door is old, but it closes well.)
  2. Ik hoor de bel bij de deur niet goed.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Ik hoor de deurbel niet goed.
    (I can't hear the doorbell very well.)
  3. We spreken af op het plein van het dorp om 10 uur.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    We spreken af op het dorpsplein om 10 uur.
    (We will meet at the village square at 10 o'clock.)
  4. De stal van varkens is schoon en groot.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    De varkensstal is schoon en groot.
    (The pigsty is clean and big.)

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KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 07/05/2026 12:09