The exact spelling appears at position 17,776 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 laatstejaars is pronounced
IPA: /ˌlaːt.stəˈjaːrs/ · Syllables: laat·ste·jaars
Say the article and noun together—de laatstejaars—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 laatstejaars means
a student or pupil in one's last year, in particular at a university or academic or vocational college
Dictionary label: feminine, 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 laatstejaars | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de laatstejaars | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn de laatstejaars as a single unit, then contrast it with de laatstejaars. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with laatstejaars
De laatstejaars zijn druk bezig met het afronden van hun afstudeerprojecten.
The final-year students are busy finishing their graduation projects.
De laatstejaars zijn klaar om de volgende fase van hun leven in te gaan.
The senior students are ready to enter the next phase of their lives.
Tijdens de afstudeerceremonie worden de prestaties van de laatstejaars gevierd.
The graduation ceremony celebrates the achievements of the final-year students.
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 laatstejaars 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 laatstejaars. 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 laatstejaars 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 laatstejaars
What does laatstejaars mean?
a student or pupil in one's last year, in particular at a university or academic or vocational college.
Is it de laatstejaars or het laatstejaars?
The cited entry uses de laatstejaars. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of laatstejaars?
The cited plural is laatstejaars. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use laatstejaars in a recorded response
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