Injuries and pains
Verwondingen en pijnen
- Talk about body pains and common injuries.
Learn essential Dutch vocabulary about injuries and pains, including words like 'de pijn' (pain), 'de wond' (wound), and 'de blessure' (injury), to communicate health issues effectively at a B1 level.
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Coming soon...
Don't see progress when learning on your own? Study this material with a certified teacher!
Do you want to practice Dutch today? That is possible! Just contact one of our teachers today.
Understanding Injuries and Pains in Dutch (B1 Level)
This lesson focuses on vocabulary and expressions related to injuries and pains, helping you describe health issues and physical discomfort in Dutch. At a B1 level, you'll learn how to communicate about common ailments, explain symptoms, and discuss treatment or care in everyday situations.
Key Vocabulary
- de verwonding - the injury
- de pijn - the pain
- de breuk - the fracture
- de verstuiking - the sprain
- hoofdpijn - headache
- de spierpijn - muscle pain
- ik heb pijn aan mijn arm - I have pain in my arm
- ik voel me duizelig - I feel dizzy
Common Expressions
- Ik heb mijn been gebroken. (I have broken my leg.)
- Mijn rug doet pijn. (My back hurts.)
- Waar doet het pijn? (Where does it hurt?)
- Ik ben gevallen en heb mijn pols verstuikt. (I fell and sprained my wrist.)
- Is er zwelling of blauwe plekken? (Is there swelling or bruising?)
Important Grammar and Usage Notes
Learn how to use the verb doen (to do) when describing pain: Het doet pijn means "it hurts". Dutch often expresses sensations with this construction, different from English where the subject is usually the person feeling pain.
Differences Between English and Dutch
In English, you say "I have a headache," whereas in Dutch you often use the format ik heb hoofdpijn, literally "I have headache." Also, pain locations often use the preposition aan (on/to), e.g. pijn aan mijn arm (pain in my arm), which differs from English usage.
Being aware of these subtle differences helps make your descriptions more natural and accurate in Dutch.
These lessons would not be possible without our amazing partners🙏
