The exact spelling appears at position 126 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 leven is pronounced
IPA: /ˈleːvə(n)/ · Syllables: le·ven
Say the article and noun together—het leven—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 leven means
life (act or duration of living)
Dictionary label: neuter
life, biography (particularly, but not necessarily a hagiography)
Dictionary label: neuter
a life (a chance to play)
Dictionary label: neuter
health (the amount of damage a character can withstand)
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 leven | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de levens | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
| Diminutive | leventje | A smaller, familiar or context-specific form; use only when the meaning fits. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn het leven as a single unit, then contrast it with de levens. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with leven
Het leven is vol verrassingen.
Life is full of surprises.
Hij wilde zijn leven wijden aan wetenschappelijk onderzoek.
He wanted to dedicate his life to scientific research.
In mijn vrije tijd geniet ik van het leven.
In my free time, I enjoy life.
In zijn jonge jaren schreef hij een leven van Petrarca, maar dat is nooit gepubliceerd.
In his youth he wrote a life of Petrarch, but that was never published.
Als je 1000 punten scoort, krijg je een extra leven.
If you score 1000 points, you get an extra life.
De vijanden in dit level hebben veel leven.
The enemies on this level have a lot of health.
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 leven 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 levens. 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 leven 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 leven
What does leven mean?
life (act or duration of living); life, biography (particularly, but not necessarily a hagiography); a life (a chance to play); health (the amount of damage a character can withstand).
Is it de leven or het leven?
The cited entry uses het leven. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of leven?
The cited plural is levens. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use leven in a recorded response
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