The exact spelling appears at position 14,111 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 schrijfster is pronounced
No IPA value is reproduced for this entry. Check a current native-speaker recording before copying the pronunciation.
Say the article and noun together—de schrijfster—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 schrijfster means
writer (female)
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 schrijfster | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de schrijfsters | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
| Diminutive | schrijfstertje | A smaller, familiar or context-specific form; use only when the meaning fits. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn de schrijfster as a single unit, then contrast it with de schrijfsters. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with schrijfster
want naar de brieven te oordeelen was de Schrijfster eene autrice van den eersten rang, en toch kende hij geen enkel werk uit vrouwelijke pen verdienstelijk genoeg om aan haar te worden toegeschreven.
for to judge from the letters the writer was a first-rate author, and yet he knew of no work of female pen deserving enough to be attributed to her.
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 schrijfster 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 schrijfsters. 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 schrijfster 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 schrijfster
What does schrijfster mean?
writer (female).
Is it de schrijfster or het schrijfster?
The cited entry uses de schrijfster. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of schrijfster?
The cited plural is schrijfsters. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use schrijfster in a recorded response
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