The exact spelling appears at position 3,493 in the cited OpenSubtitles-derived Dutch 50k token list. That is a corpus signal, not search volume, CEFR level or proof that the noun sense is equally frequent. Article, forms, glosses, pronunciation and examples are adapted from English Wiktionary via Kaikki under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources and modifications.
How college is pronounced
IPA: /ˌkɔˈleː.ʒə/ · Syllables: col·le·ge
Say the article and noun together—het college—before practising the word in a sentence. This keeps grammatical gender attached to the item you retrieve. Regional speech and sentence rhythm can change the surface sound, so use the transcription as a compact reference rather than as a substitute for listening.
What college means
a collegial board, either advisory (committee) or as an authority
Dictionary label: neuter
a secondary school, a high school, (now Belgium) especially in Roman Catholic education
Dictionary label: neuter
an academic lecture, class
Dictionary label: neuter
An English gloss identifies a sense, not a one-word substitution that works in every context. Look at the surrounding verb, preposition, number and situation in the Dutch example. When several meanings are listed, practise one meaning at a time and state a concrete context before changing to another sense.
Article, plural and diminutive
| Form | Dutch | Speaking use |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | het college | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de colleges | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
| Diminutive | collegetje | A smaller, familiar or context-specific form; use only when the meaning fits. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn het college as a single unit, then contrast it with de colleges. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with college
Het college van burgemeester en wethouders neemt belangrijke beslissingen voor de gemeente.
The collegial board of mayor and aldermen makes important decisions for the municipality.
Het college van advies bestaat uit deskundigen op het gebied van duurzaamheid.
The advisory committee consists of experts in the field of sustainability.
Na de basisschool ging hij naar het college om verder te studeren.
After elementary school, he went to the high school to continue his studies.
In Vlaanderen wordt een middelbare school vaak een college genoemd.
In Flanders, a high school is often called a college.
Het college begint om 9 uur en duurt twee uur.
The lecture starts at 9 o'clock and lasts two hours.
De docent gaf een boeiend college over de geschiedenis van de kunst.
The lecturer gave an engaging lecture on the history of art.
These examples are citation-backed language data. First identify what the noun refers to and which words determine or describe it. Then change only one element—person, quantity, time, place or description—while keeping the article and number consistent. That small variation turns a reference example into active speaking practice without inventing a rule from one sentence.
Four-step speaking drill
- Say het college three times, then add one adjective or location that fits the first meaning.
- Build a present-tense sentence with a named person, a concrete place and the singular noun.
- Change the message to de colleges. Update the number, determiner and finite verb instead of replacing only the noun ending.
- Ask a follow-up question containing the noun, record the answer, and repeat once with a different detail.
Listen first for meaning and article choice, then for sentence order and pronunciation. Correct the first error that changes the message or blocks the listener. Avoid restarting for every small hesitation: complete the message, note one target, and make the second recording more precise.
Self-check before you continue
- I retrieve het college as one chunk.
- The singular or plural matches the determiner, quantity and verb.
- The selected meaning fits the situation.
- The sentence includes enough detail for another person to understand the reference.
- I can ask and answer one question with the noun without reading the page.
Questions about college
What does college mean?
a collegial board, either advisory (committee) or as an authority; a secondary school, a high school, (now Belgium) especially in Roman Catholic education; an academic lecture, class.
Is it de college or het college?
The cited entry uses het college. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of college?
The cited plural is colleges. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use college in a recorded response
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