The exact spelling appears at position 21,986 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 nachtwaker is pronounced
IPA: /ˈnɑxtˌʋaː.kər/ · Syllables: nacht·wa·ker
Say the article and noun together—de nachtwaker—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 nachtwaker means
a nightguard (person), a night watchman (usually male)
Dictionary label: 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 nachtwaker | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de nachtwakers | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn de nachtwaker as a single unit, then contrast it with de nachtwakers. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with nachtwaker
De nachtwaker patrouilleerde door het gebouw om te zorgen dat alles veilig was.
The nightguard patrolled the building to ensure everything was safe.
De nachtwaker hoorde een vreemd geluid vanuit de kelder.
The night watchman heard a strange noise coming from the basement.
Elke avond om 22.00 uur begint de nachtwaker met zijn ronde.
Every evening at 10:00 pm, the nightguard starts his round.
1517, Cornelius Aurelius, Die cronycke van Hollandt, Zeelandt ende Vrieslant, met die cronike der biscoppen van Uutrecht, Aarnoud de Hamer (ed.), 2011 critical edition, page 280 recto. Die nachtwakers, siende den groten brant, sloegen die clocke, verwreckende die poorters omme den brant te lesschen, want daer meer huysen van den brande ontstaken.
The night watchmen, seeing the large fire, sounded the bell, alarming the burghers to extinguish the fire, because more houses were being ignited by the fire.
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 nachtwaker 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 nachtwakers. 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 nachtwaker 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 nachtwaker
What does nachtwaker mean?
a nightguard (person), a night watchman (usually male).
Is it de nachtwaker or het nachtwaker?
The cited entry uses de nachtwaker. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of nachtwaker?
The cited plural is nachtwakers. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use nachtwaker in a recorded response
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