The exact spelling appears at position 180 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 werk is pronounced
IPA: /ʋɛrk/ · Syllables: werk
Say the article and noun together—het werk—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 werk means
work, labor
Dictionary label: neuter
profession, job, employment, line of work
Dictionary label: neuter
workplace
Dictionary label: neuter
product, creation; production, output, result of work
Dictionary label: neuter
tow, oakum
Dictionary label: dialectal, 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 werk | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de werken | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
| Diminutive | werkje | A smaller, familiar or context-specific form; use only when the meaning fits. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn het werk as a single unit, then contrast it with de werken. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with werk
Dit gaat veel werk vereisen.
This will require much work.
De werken van Herakles zijn wereldberoemd.
The labors of Heracles are world-famous.
Hij is trots op zijn nieuwe werk als leraar.
He is proud of his new profession as a teacher.
Na jaren hetzelfde werk te hebben gedaan, besloot ze een carrièreswitch te maken.
After working in the same job for years, she decided to make a career switch.
Zij is op zoek naar werk in de IT-sector.
She is looking for employment in the IT sector.
Op mijn werk werkt de airco zelden.
The air conditioning seldom works at my workplace.
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 werk 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 werken. 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 werk 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 werk
What does werk mean?
work, labor; profession, job, employment, line of work; workplace; product, creation; production, output, result of work; tow, oakum.
Is it de werk or het werk?
The cited entry uses het werk. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of werk?
The cited plural is werken. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use werk in a recorded response
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