The exact spelling appears at position 16,118 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 hoofdprijs is pronounced
IPA: /ˈɦoːftˌprɛi̯s/
Say the article and noun together—de hoofdprijs—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 hoofdprijs means
first prize, grand prize
Dictionary label: literally, masculine, no-diminutive
a high price, a prohibitive cost, a premium
Dictionary label: figuratively, masculine, no-diminutive
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 | de hoofdprijs | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de hoofdprijzen | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn de hoofdprijs as a single unit, then contrast it with de hoofdprijzen. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with hoofdprijs
Ze heeft haar auto voor de hoofdprijs bij een oplichter gekocht.
She bought her car at a premium from some scammer.
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 de hoofdprijs 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 hoofdprijzen. 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 de hoofdprijs 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 hoofdprijs
What does hoofdprijs mean?
first prize, grand prize; a high price, a prohibitive cost, a premium.
Is it de hoofdprijs or het hoofdprijs?
The cited entry uses de hoofdprijs. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of hoofdprijs?
The cited plural is hoofdprijzen. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use hoofdprijs in a recorded response
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