Foreign Language Fun » Dutch

How to Say Cat in Nine Foreign Languages

Diane — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:19:45 +0000

Today’s post is a completely self-indulgent excuse to show you my other two children–the furry ones. I used to take pictures of my cats all the time BK (Before Kids,) but the kitties have been photographically neglected for years. Tonight, I was surprised to discover several cat videos on my Flip camera. My son’s been busy! He took this picture of the feline matriarch of the family, Gina. She’s a spry 17 year-old who loves, loves, loves people. My Madeline isn’t pictured, but she looks exactly the same. She’s Gina’s ornery 16 year-old daughter. Can’t blame old age, she’s always been a grump. (Love her anyway!) Madeline is named after my favorite children’s book character . . . the girl who lived in that old house in Paris, covered in vines . . .

They say a cat has nine lives, so today let’s learn nine ways to say “cat” in foreign languages:

1. French: le chat

2. Spanish: el gato

3. German: die Katze

4. Portuguese: o gato

5. Italian: il gatto

6. Norwegian: katten

7. Polish: kot

8. Dutch: de kat

9. Hungarian: a macska

Want to add on to the cat list? Feel free to comment with your favorite world language.

Speaking of Siamese cats, I’d like to recommend the children’s book Minou, by Mindy Bingham. (Minou means Kitty in French.)

I’ve read this book (in English) to my French students for years and years. It’s an empowering story of a cat’s independence on the streets of Paris. I use the gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Itoko Maeno as a culture lesson. It’s great for identifying monuments, and I personally love looking at that gorgeous Minou who looks so much like my babies!

Dinosaur in Foreign Languages: Spanish, French, German and More

Diane — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:43:21 +0000

If my own two boys are any indication, kids looooooove dinosaurs! Use these fascinating creatures to teach children about languages. Sir Richard Owen, an English biologist, used Greek terms to give dinosaurs their name back in 1841: deinos means terrible or fearfully great, and saurus means lizard. The Latin term for dinosaur is Dinosauria. Most species of dinosaurs are named using Greek and Latin terms. Want to talk about dinosaurs around the world? Here’s how:

Spanish: el dinosaurio

French: le dinosaure

Italian: il dinosauro

Portuguese: o dinossaurio

Dutch: de dinosaurus

German: der Dinosaurier

Know some more? Leave a comment and keep this dinosaur list from going extinct!

Image Credit: by scol22 at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/865320

Best Mom in the World: How to Say Mother in a Dozen Languages

Diane — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:26:49 +0000

This Mother’s Day, let Mom know she’s the best in the world! Learn how to say Mother in these twelve world languages:

Moeder, Moer (Dutch)
Mère, Maman (French)
Mutter (German)
Màna (Greek)
Ma, Maji (Hindi)
Anya (Hungarian)
Madre, Mamma (Italian)
Okaasan, Haha (Japanese)
Matka, Mama (Polish)
Mat’ (Russian)
Madre, Mamá (Spanish)
Mati (Ukranian)

Please post to keep the list growing! Consider using these phrases to create a unique “Best Mom in the World” craft, card, or keepsake. Visit this article for ideas:

Want to make a French or Spanish Mother’s Day card? Homemade is best! Check out these downloads for vocabulary lists, French and Spanish quotes, and card templates:

French Mother’s Day Card

Spanish Mother’s Day Card

Happy Mother’s Day!

Image Credit: by Adrian Yee at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/698517

Amazing deal on an effective tool for language classes. Only $59.99: Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 30-Minutes (White)

How to Say Happy Easter in Foreign Languages

Diane — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:27:45 +0000

French - Joyeuses Pâques

Spanish – Felices Pascuas

German - Frohe Ostern

Italian – Buona Pasqua

Dutch – Vrolijk Pasen

Please add more languages to the list and have a blessed Easter!

Click here to take the Foreign Language Fun language choice survey

Photo Credit: by IreneIs at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1154703
Cross on a mountain in the Swiss Alps

How to Say Chocolate in Fourteen Languages for Valentine’s Day

Diane — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 02:55:38 +0000

In honor of Valentine’s Day–February 14–let’s learn fourteen ways to say that magical word: CHOCOLATE!

French: chocolat

Spanish: chocolate

Italian: cioccolato

German: Schokolade

Dutch: chocolade

Portuguese: chocolate

Esperanto: cokolado

Danish: chokolade

Polish: czekolada

Swedish: choklad

Indonesian: coklat

Maltese: cikkulata

Norwegian: sjokolad

Finnish: suklaa

Be sure to check out a unique download for Spanish Learners: The History of Chocolate for Spanish I Students: Spanish I students in grades 7 to 12 will love learning about chocolate’s fascinating history while they learn or practice preterite, past tense verbs. This unit fuses the ACTFL C’s of culture, connections, & communication. Included are a bililngual vocabulary & verb list, a short Spanish reading on chocolate’s origins, post-reading activities, student to student conversational activities, writing activities, and internet video and site recommendations.

Happy Chocolate Day!

Photo Credit: by Linnell Esler at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/452631

Happy New Year Around the World: Greetings in a Dozen Languages

Diane — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:31:21 +0000

It’s hard to believe that it is almost 2009! Time to bring out the party hats and noise makers to ring in the New Year. Since having kids, my New Year’s celebrations have taken on a whole new vibe. Instead of paying top dollar for a sitter and hitting the town, I like to stay home and let my little guys join in the fun. But since I will NOT allow them to stay up until midnight, we celebrate in a different time zone. Click here to read about my annual French New Year’s celebration. We wish everyone a Bonne Année when it’s midnight in France, but still early here in Eastern Standard Time. We feast on French food, as well as some original New Year’s cookies.

I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year in a dozen different languages. Feel free to comment with a New Year greeting in other languages, too. I’ll be taking a little blogging break until after the New Year. May your 2009 be filled with blessings and happiness

French: Bonne Année!

Spanish: Feliz año nuevo

German: Ein glückliches neues Jahr

Italian: Buon anno

Czech: Stastny Novy Rok

Finnish: Onnellista uutta vuotta

Portuguese: Feliz ano novo

Dutch: Gelukkig nieuwjaar

Hebrew: Shana Tova

Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku

Thai: Sawatdee Pi Mai

Hungarian: Boldog uj evet

Photo Credit: by xymonau at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1123224

Say Thank You in Many Languages This Thanksgiving

Diane — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:44:13 +0000

When I think of Thanksgiving, my mind goes to turkey and pumpkin pie, parades and football. Of course, the real reason is to give thanks to God for all that He has given us. On this special holiday, I’d like to say Thank You in as many ways and as many languages as I can. I’m sure to leave out many languages, so please comment with additional ones and continue the list of thanks!

Dankie (Afrikaans)

Shukran (Arabic)

Dekuji (Czech)

Tak (Danish)

Dank u wel (Dutch)

Dankon (Esperanto)

Kiitos (Finnish)

Merci (French)

Danke (German)

Mahalo (Hawaiian)

Toda (Hebrew)

Shukriya (Hindi)

Takk (Icelandic)

Grazie (Italian)

Arigato (Japanese)

Grazzi (Maltese)

Xie xie (Mandarin Chinese)

Dziekuje (Polish)

Multumesc (Romanian)

Spasibo (Russian)

Gracias (Spanish)

Ahsante (Swahili)

Tack (Swedish)

Photo Credit: by cidinha28 at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/772189

Veteran’s Day in Many Languages: Spanish, French, and More

Diane — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:59:38 +0000

Tuesday, November 12 is Veteran’s Day in the U.S. Learn how to say the word soldier in these foreign languages:

French – soldat
Spanish – soldado
Italian – soldato
German – Soldat
Dutch – militair

And now, learn how to say Thank You:

French – Merci
Spanish – Gracias
Italian – Grazie
German – Danke
Dutch – Dank u wel

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Fall Apples in Spanish, French, German, and More: Free Coloring Page Worksheet!

Diane — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:45:10 +0000

Autumn apples! It’s my favorite part of the fall season. Though I might lament being a Michigander in the middle of February, in October I pity those poor Hawaiian souls who miss out on crisp fall air, trees of orange and red, hayrides, and cider mills.

In celebration of the apple season, I’ve prepared a fun little worksheet and coloring page to test your kids’ knowledge of world languages. Just click and print: apples-around-the-world

Don’t worry if you don’t know the word for “apple” in Norwegian (I had to look it up, too!) There’s an answer key at the bottom.

Consider the apples worksheet a free gift from Foreign Language House at Lulu.com. We’re still working behind the scenes to create more downloadable language learning e-books. (Another fall tradition–Homecoming Week–has me a little behind on the work schedule!) Stop by and visit often to see what we’ve got cookin’!

Enjoy “Apples Around the World” and enjoy the fall season wherever you live

Photo Credit: by Preban Hansen http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1080786