The exact spelling appears at position 11,914 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 voorman is pronounced
IPA: /ˈvoːr.mɑn/ · Syllables: voor·man
Say the article and noun together—de voorman—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 voorman means
supervisor, foreman, ganger
Dictionary label: masculine
leader, frontman
Dictionary label: masculine
boss, head of a company
Dictionary label: masculine
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 voorman | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de voormannen | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
| Diminutive | voormannetje | A smaller, familiar or context-specific form; use only when the meaning fits. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn de voorman as a single unit, then contrast it with de voormannen. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with voorman
De voorman gaf instructies aan het team over hoe ze de klus moesten klaren.
The supervisor gave instructions to the team on how to get the job done.
De bouwplaats wordt geleid door een ervaren voorman die het werk coördineert.
The construction site is led by an experienced foreman who coordinates the work.
De voorman houdt toezicht op de productieprocessen om ervoor te zorgen dat alles soepel verloopt.
The supervisor oversees the production processes to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Hij was de voorman van de protestbeweging en leidde de demonstraties.
He was the leader of the protest movement and led the demonstrations.
De band heeft een charismatische voorman die het publiek betovert met zijn optredens.
The band has a charismatic frontman who captivates the audience with his performances.
Als voorman van het team is hij verantwoordelijk voor het nemen van belangrijke beslissingen.
As the leader of the team, he is responsible for making important decisions.
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 voorman 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 voormannen. 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 voorman 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 voorman
What does voorman mean?
supervisor, foreman, ganger; leader, frontman; boss, head of a company.
Is it de voorman or het voorman?
The cited entry uses de voorman. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of voorman?
The cited plural is voormannen. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use voorman in a recorded response
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