The exact spelling appears at position 6,929 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 schaap is pronounced
IPA: /sxaːp/ · Syllables: schaap
Say the article and noun together—het schaap—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 schaap means
sheep (a woolly ruminant animal of the genus Ovis)
Dictionary label: neuter
sheep (unthinking follower)
Dictionary label: neuter
a member of a priest's or minister's congregation
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 schaap | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de schapen | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
| Diminutive | schaapje | A smaller, familiar or context-specific form; use only when the meaning fits. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn het schaap as a single unit, then contrast it with de schapen. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with schaap
Slaap, kindje, slaap, / daar buiten loopt een schaap. (nursery rhyme)
Sleep, baby, sleep, / a sheep walks outside.
Schaapje, schaapje, heb je witte wol? (nursery rhyme)
Little sheep, little sheep, do you have white wool?
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 schaap 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 schapen. 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 schaap 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 schaap
What does schaap mean?
sheep (a woolly ruminant animal of the genus Ovis); sheep (unthinking follower); a member of a priest's or minister's congregation.
Is it de schaap or het schaap?
The cited entry uses het schaap. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of schaap?
The cited plural is schapen. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use schaap in a recorded response
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