The exact spelling appears at position 3,902 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 kern is pronounced
IPA: /kɛrn/ · Syllables: kern
Say the article and noun together—de kern—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 kern means
nucleus, physical core
Dictionary label: feminine
nucleus (of an atom)
Dictionary label: feminine
nuclear -
Dictionary label: feminine, in-compounds
core (of the Earth, or any other celestial body)
Dictionary label: feminine
the essence, core, crux of something
Dictionary label: feminine
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 kern | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de kernen | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
| Diminutive | kerntje | A smaller, familiar or context-specific form; use only when the meaning fits. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn de kern as a single unit, then contrast it with de kernen. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with kern
1976, "Het eindexamen wiskunde II 1976", in Euclides. Maandblad voor de didactiek van de wiskunde. Orgaan van de Nederlandse Vereniging van Wiskundeleraren, vol. 52, issue 7, Wolters-Noordhoff, 274.
To be demonstrated: a k exists for which the image space and kernel of Aₖ coincide.
2005, Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica, Vakantiecursus 2005. De schijf van vijf, 55. Hij kijkt dus of het ontvangen woord in de kern van de matrix zit.
Therefore he checks whether the received word is contained in the matrix's kernel.
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 kern 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 kernen. 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 kern 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 kern
What does kern mean?
nucleus, physical core; nucleus (of an atom); nuclear -; core (of the Earth, or any other celestial body); the essence, core, crux of something.
Is it de kern or het kern?
The cited entry uses de kern. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of kern?
The cited plural is kernen. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use kern in a recorded response
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