Yoïn van Spijk
@yvanspijk.bsky.social
/'dʑowɪn/
• taalkundige | linguist
• schrijver van 'Die goeie ouwe taal' | author
• all graphics and videos: http://tumblr.com/yvanspijk
• Patreon: patreon.com/yvanspijk
• links: linktr.ee/yvanspijk
• photo by Dirk-Jan van Dijk
• taalkundige | linguist
• schrijver van 'Die goeie ouwe taal' | author
• all graphics and videos: http://tumblr.com/yvanspijk
• Patreon: patreon.com/yvanspijk
• links: linktr.ee/yvanspijk
• photo by Dirk-Jan van Dijk
Hee, dank je wel voor het doorsturen! Heel interessant. Welke implicaties het heeft voor de etymologie van de katwoorden, durf ik zo nog niet te zeggen. We vermoedden namelijk al dat de woorden uit het zuidoosten waren gekomen, maar de bron blijft onbekend.
November 28, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Hee, dank je wel voor het doorsturen! Heel interessant. Welke implicaties het heeft voor de etymologie van de katwoorden, durf ik zo nog niet te zeggen. We vermoedden namelijk al dat de woorden uit het zuidoosten waren gekomen, maar de bron blijft onbekend.
Wil je met Sinterklaas een taalliefhebber verrassen - of juist een taalliefhebber van iemand máken?
Dan hebben Onze Taal en ik het ideale cadeau voor in de schoen: mijn nieuwe boek 'Woord voor woord: de verleden tijd van taal'.
Te koop in de winkel en online:
onzetaalwebwinkel.nl/woord-voor-w...
Dan hebben Onze Taal en ik het ideale cadeau voor in de schoen: mijn nieuwe boek 'Woord voor woord: de verleden tijd van taal'.
Te koop in de winkel en online:
onzetaalwebwinkel.nl/woord-voor-w...
November 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Wil je met Sinterklaas een taalliefhebber verrassen - of juist een taalliefhebber van iemand máken?
Dan hebben Onze Taal en ik het ideale cadeau voor in de schoen: mijn nieuwe boek 'Woord voor woord: de verleden tijd van taal'.
Te koop in de winkel en online:
onzetaalwebwinkel.nl/woord-voor-w...
Dan hebben Onze Taal en ik het ideale cadeau voor in de schoen: mijn nieuwe boek 'Woord voor woord: de verleden tijd van taal'.
Te koop in de winkel en online:
onzetaalwebwinkel.nl/woord-voor-w...
The English word ‘blue’ is a horse of a different colour.
While ‘blue’ is related to the words in its Germanic sister languages, such as German ‘blau’ and Swedish ‘blå’, it took a different route.
Its Germanic ancestor was loaned to French, where it became ‘bleu’, and then borrowed into English:
While ‘blue’ is related to the words in its Germanic sister languages, such as German ‘blau’ and Swedish ‘blå’, it took a different route.
Its Germanic ancestor was loaned to French, where it became ‘bleu’, and then borrowed into English:
November 23, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The English word ‘blue’ is a horse of a different colour.
While ‘blue’ is related to the words in its Germanic sister languages, such as German ‘blau’ and Swedish ‘blå’, it took a different route.
Its Germanic ancestor was loaned to French, where it became ‘bleu’, and then borrowed into English:
While ‘blue’ is related to the words in its Germanic sister languages, such as German ‘blau’ and Swedish ‘blå’, it took a different route.
Its Germanic ancestor was loaned to French, where it became ‘bleu’, and then borrowed into English:
‘Yellow’ is related to Dutch ‘geel’ and German ‘gelb’, but their ends are quite different. Why?
Their common Germanic ancestor had different stems for different case forms.
‘Yellow’ and ‘gelb’ come from the stem that was used in most cases, while ‘geel’ continues the nominative case.
Here’s more:
Their common Germanic ancestor had different stems for different case forms.
‘Yellow’ and ‘gelb’ come from the stem that was used in most cases, while ‘geel’ continues the nominative case.
Here’s more:
November 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
‘Yellow’ is related to Dutch ‘geel’ and German ‘gelb’, but their ends are quite different. Why?
Their common Germanic ancestor had different stems for different case forms.
‘Yellow’ and ‘gelb’ come from the stem that was used in most cases, while ‘geel’ continues the nominative case.
Here’s more:
Their common Germanic ancestor had different stems for different case forms.
‘Yellow’ and ‘gelb’ come from the stem that was used in most cases, while ‘geel’ continues the nominative case.
Here’s more:
Wat mij betreft maken we het gebruik van de tab-toets onderdeel van het nationale onderwijscurriculum en gaan schrijvende boomers op nascholing. Arme spatietoets.
November 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Wat mij betreft maken we het gebruik van de tab-toets onderdeel van het nationale onderwijscurriculum en gaan schrijvende boomers op nascholing. Arme spatietoets.
The English word ‘brief’ means “short”, while German ‘Brief’ and Dutch ‘brief’ mean “letter” – and yet they have the same origin.
These words all stem from Latin ‘brevis’, meaning “short”.
Zoom in on my new infographic to learn how it came to mean “letter” in many Germanic languages:
These words all stem from Latin ‘brevis’, meaning “short”.
Zoom in on my new infographic to learn how it came to mean “letter” in many Germanic languages:
November 11, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The English word ‘brief’ means “short”, while German ‘Brief’ and Dutch ‘brief’ mean “letter” – and yet they have the same origin.
These words all stem from Latin ‘brevis’, meaning “short”.
Zoom in on my new infographic to learn how it came to mean “letter” in many Germanic languages:
These words all stem from Latin ‘brevis’, meaning “short”.
Zoom in on my new infographic to learn how it came to mean “letter” in many Germanic languages:
2/
Dit stukje uit Onze Taal kreeg ik zojuist doorgestuurd van Onze Taal:
Dit stukje uit Onze Taal kreeg ik zojuist doorgestuurd van Onze Taal:
November 6, 2025 at 11:57 AM
2/
Dit stukje uit Onze Taal kreeg ik zojuist doorgestuurd van Onze Taal:
Dit stukje uit Onze Taal kreeg ik zojuist doorgestuurd van Onze Taal:
The German word ‘Pferd’ and its Dutch cognate ‘paard’ are horses of mixed breed parentage.
Their common ancestor came from Latin ‘paraverēdus’ (substitute post-horse), a word composed of an Ancient Greek element and a Gaulish one.
Zoom in on my new infographic to learn everything about it:
Their common ancestor came from Latin ‘paraverēdus’ (substitute post-horse), a word composed of an Ancient Greek element and a Gaulish one.
Zoom in on my new infographic to learn everything about it:
November 4, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The German word ‘Pferd’ and its Dutch cognate ‘paard’ are horses of mixed breed parentage.
Their common ancestor came from Latin ‘paraverēdus’ (substitute post-horse), a word composed of an Ancient Greek element and a Gaulish one.
Zoom in on my new infographic to learn everything about it:
Their common ancestor came from Latin ‘paraverēdus’ (substitute post-horse), a word composed of an Ancient Greek element and a Gaulish one.
Zoom in on my new infographic to learn everything about it:
Ik ben uitgegaan van Van Dale. Uiteraard gaat het in deze context over de prostitutiebetekenis.
November 4, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Ik ben uitgegaan van Van Dale. Uiteraard gaat het in deze context over de prostitutiebetekenis.
5/
By the way, they have their own Instagram page:
www.instagram.com/stoffertjebl...
Hope to see you there!
By the way, they have their own Instagram page:
www.instagram.com/stoffertjebl...
Hope to see you there!
November 1, 2025 at 11:07 AM
5/
By the way, they have their own Instagram page:
www.instagram.com/stoffertjebl...
Hope to see you there!
By the way, they have their own Instagram page:
www.instagram.com/stoffertjebl...
Hope to see you there!
Sometimes, a family company splits in two, each part getting its own specialisation.
That’s what happened to ‘owe’ and ‘ought’, once the present and past tense of one and the same verb. Its original meaning was “to possess”.
They’re also related to ‘own’.
Zoom in on my graphic to learn more:
That’s what happened to ‘owe’ and ‘ought’, once the present and past tense of one and the same verb. Its original meaning was “to possess”.
They’re also related to ‘own’.
Zoom in on my graphic to learn more:
October 31, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Sometimes, a family company splits in two, each part getting its own specialisation.
That’s what happened to ‘owe’ and ‘ought’, once the present and past tense of one and the same verb. Its original meaning was “to possess”.
They’re also related to ‘own’.
Zoom in on my graphic to learn more:
That’s what happened to ‘owe’ and ‘ought’, once the present and past tense of one and the same verb. Its original meaning was “to possess”.
They’re also related to ‘own’.
Zoom in on my graphic to learn more:
4/
In Blik's defense, he knows the click sound of the button of the laser light and starts looking for the red light around him when he hears it. (This light always leads to a treat.)
While they're not obsessed with food, they both know the sound of a sachet containing wet food or a liquid treat.
In Blik's defense, he knows the click sound of the button of the laser light and starts looking for the red light around him when he hears it. (This light always leads to a treat.)
While they're not obsessed with food, they both know the sound of a sachet containing wet food or a liquid treat.
October 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM
4/
In Blik's defense, he knows the click sound of the button of the laser light and starts looking for the red light around him when he hears it. (This light always leads to a treat.)
While they're not obsessed with food, they both know the sound of a sachet containing wet food or a liquid treat.
In Blik's defense, he knows the click sound of the button of the laser light and starts looking for the red light around him when he hears it. (This light always leads to a treat.)
While they're not obsessed with food, they both know the sound of a sachet containing wet food or a liquid treat.
3/
Now let's turn to Blik, her brother.
Results:
zero.
3/
Now let's turn to Blik, her brother.
Results:
zero.
3/
October 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM
3/
Now let's turn to Blik, her brother.
Results:
zero.
3/
Now let's turn to Blik, her brother.
Results:
zero.
3/
3/
- 'Slapertjes maken?' (Make sleepies?): starts whipping her tail and runs from us when we approach because this is what we say before bedtime.
- 'Stoffertje!' (a diminutive of her name): looks at us, which she doesn't do when we use a different word with the same intonation.
3/
- 'Slapertjes maken?' (Make sleepies?): starts whipping her tail and runs from us when we approach because this is what we say before bedtime.
- 'Stoffertje!' (a diminutive of her name): looks at us, which she doesn't do when we use a different word with the same intonation.
3/
October 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM
3/
- 'Slapertjes maken?' (Make sleepies?): starts whipping her tail and runs from us when we approach because this is what we say before bedtime.
- 'Stoffertje!' (a diminutive of her name): looks at us, which she doesn't do when we use a different word with the same intonation.
3/
- 'Slapertjes maken?' (Make sleepies?): starts whipping her tail and runs from us when we approach because this is what we say before bedtime.
- 'Stoffertje!' (a diminutive of her name): looks at us, which she doesn't do when we use a different word with the same intonation.
3/
2/
She responds to these words:
- 'Nee!' (No!): immediately stops doing what she's doing and meows annoyedly: [æ̃ːw̃].
- 'Kom!' (Come!): proceeds me in exiting the room.
- 'Hoi!' (Hi!): utters a short meow or chirrup when said after her entering the room.
2/
She responds to these words:
- 'Nee!' (No!): immediately stops doing what she's doing and meows annoyedly: [æ̃ːw̃].
- 'Kom!' (Come!): proceeds me in exiting the room.
- 'Hoi!' (Hi!): utters a short meow or chirrup when said after her entering the room.
2/
October 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM
2/
She responds to these words:
- 'Nee!' (No!): immediately stops doing what she's doing and meows annoyedly: [æ̃ːw̃].
- 'Kom!' (Come!): proceeds me in exiting the room.
- 'Hoi!' (Hi!): utters a short meow or chirrup when said after her entering the room.
2/
She responds to these words:
- 'Nee!' (No!): immediately stops doing what she's doing and meows annoyedly: [æ̃ːw̃].
- 'Kom!' (Come!): proceeds me in exiting the room.
- 'Hoi!' (Hi!): utters a short meow or chirrup when said after her entering the room.
2/
Our cats Stoffer and Blik have lived with us for almost three years now.
I've tried to teach these crossings of a ragdoll and a British shorthair a few words by consistently using word X with intonation X in situation X.
Let's first look at the results of Stoffer, the grey female sibling:
1/
I've tried to teach these crossings of a ragdoll and a British shorthair a few words by consistently using word X with intonation X in situation X.
Let's first look at the results of Stoffer, the grey female sibling:
1/
October 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Our cats Stoffer and Blik have lived with us for almost three years now.
I've tried to teach these crossings of a ragdoll and a British shorthair a few words by consistently using word X with intonation X in situation X.
Let's first look at the results of Stoffer, the grey female sibling:
1/
I've tried to teach these crossings of a ragdoll and a British shorthair a few words by consistently using word X with intonation X in situation X.
Let's first look at the results of Stoffer, the grey female sibling:
1/
Interessant: in het Engelstalige Wiktionary-lemma van 'jullie' staat de uitspraak 'julie' /ˈjyli/ zelfs al enkele jaren vermeld, voor zover ik kan nagaan in de geschiedenis van de pagina.
October 29, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Interessant: in het Engelstalige Wiktionary-lemma van 'jullie' staat de uitspraak 'julie' /ˈjyli/ zelfs al enkele jaren vermeld, voor zover ik kan nagaan in de geschiedenis van de pagina.
In Alphen (NB) staat alles klaar om de 140 mensen te ontvangen die Guus Meeuwsen en ik een mooie dialectavond hopen te gaan geven. Als het net zo'n gezellige avond wordt als toen we hier in 2023 optraden, komt dè himmel goed!
October 28, 2025 at 6:16 PM
In Alphen (NB) staat alles klaar om de 140 mensen te ontvangen die Guus Meeuwsen en ik een mooie dialectavond hopen te gaan geven. Als het net zo'n gezellige avond wordt als toen we hier in 2023 optraden, komt dè himmel goed!
De eerste recensie van 'Woord voor woord' is binnen - en daar ben ik heel gelukkig mee!
José Vandekerckhove, auteur, taalkundige en lector aan de KU Leuven, noemt het een aantrekkelijk boek voor een breed publiek, met 'mooie en inzichtelijke infographics':
www.netdidned.be/publicaties/...
José Vandekerckhove, auteur, taalkundige en lector aan de KU Leuven, noemt het een aantrekkelijk boek voor een breed publiek, met 'mooie en inzichtelijke infographics':
www.netdidned.be/publicaties/...
October 27, 2025 at 6:25 PM
De eerste recensie van 'Woord voor woord' is binnen - en daar ben ik heel gelukkig mee!
José Vandekerckhove, auteur, taalkundige en lector aan de KU Leuven, noemt het een aantrekkelijk boek voor een breed publiek, met 'mooie en inzichtelijke infographics':
www.netdidned.be/publicaties/...
José Vandekerckhove, auteur, taalkundige en lector aan de KU Leuven, noemt het een aantrekkelijk boek voor een breed publiek, met 'mooie en inzichtelijke infographics':
www.netdidned.be/publicaties/...
The word ‘head’ is etymologically related to ‘chef’, the head of a kitchen. And to ‘chief’, the head of a group.
These are also related to ‘cape’, a headland, and ‘per capita’, literally “by heads” – and yes, to Spanish ‘cabeza’ too.
Zoom in on my new graphic to learn all about this word family:
These are also related to ‘cape’, a headland, and ‘per capita’, literally “by heads” – and yes, to Spanish ‘cabeza’ too.
Zoom in on my new graphic to learn all about this word family:
October 26, 2025 at 5:54 PM
The word ‘head’ is etymologically related to ‘chef’, the head of a kitchen. And to ‘chief’, the head of a group.
These are also related to ‘cape’, a headland, and ‘per capita’, literally “by heads” – and yes, to Spanish ‘cabeza’ too.
Zoom in on my new graphic to learn all about this word family:
These are also related to ‘cape’, a headland, and ‘per capita’, literally “by heads” – and yes, to Spanish ‘cabeza’ too.
Zoom in on my new graphic to learn all about this word family:
Ik heb een grafhekel aan de AI-functies die Big Tech ons in de maag splitst, maar ik dacht: laat ik Google AI nu 's één keer inzetten voor een tijdbesparend klusje:
'Geef me tien Engelse leenwoorden in het Nederlands die een ie hebben.'
Het resultaat? Geen één van de tien antwoorden klopt. Ziehier:
'Geef me tien Engelse leenwoorden in het Nederlands die een ie hebben.'
Het resultaat? Geen één van de tien antwoorden klopt. Ziehier:
October 25, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Ik heb een grafhekel aan de AI-functies die Big Tech ons in de maag splitst, maar ik dacht: laat ik Google AI nu 's één keer inzetten voor een tijdbesparend klusje:
'Geef me tien Engelse leenwoorden in het Nederlands die een ie hebben.'
Het resultaat? Geen één van de tien antwoorden klopt. Ziehier:
'Geef me tien Engelse leenwoorden in het Nederlands die een ie hebben.'
Het resultaat? Geen één van de tien antwoorden klopt. Ziehier:
2/
For those who don't read Dutch, the article builds on an infographic I posted a few weeks ago. After the Dutch version of the graphic, you can listen to the words evolving from Latin into Modern French.
For those who don't read Dutch, the article builds on an infographic I posted a few weeks ago. After the Dutch version of the graphic, you can listen to the words evolving from Latin into Modern French.
October 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
2/
For those who don't read Dutch, the article builds on an infographic I posted a few weeks ago. After the Dutch version of the graphic, you can listen to the words evolving from Latin into Modern French.
For those who don't read Dutch, the article builds on an infographic I posted a few weeks ago. After the Dutch version of the graphic, you can listen to the words evolving from Latin into Modern French.
On Sunday, I made a post showing how ‘to hear’ is etymologically related to ‘acoustic’.
Many people asked if French ‘écouter’ (to listen) is related to them as well.
It isn’t!
However, the ancestor of ‘écouter’ did contain a root that can also be found in the word ‘audio’.
Zoom in to learn more:
Many people asked if French ‘écouter’ (to listen) is related to them as well.
It isn’t!
However, the ancestor of ‘écouter’ did contain a root that can also be found in the word ‘audio’.
Zoom in to learn more:
October 21, 2025 at 1:08 PM
On Sunday, I made a post showing how ‘to hear’ is etymologically related to ‘acoustic’.
Many people asked if French ‘écouter’ (to listen) is related to them as well.
It isn’t!
However, the ancestor of ‘écouter’ did contain a root that can also be found in the word ‘audio’.
Zoom in to learn more:
Many people asked if French ‘écouter’ (to listen) is related to them as well.
It isn’t!
However, the ancestor of ‘écouter’ did contain a root that can also be found in the word ‘audio’.
Zoom in to learn more:
Philippa et al. (2003-2009) call it outdated (in Dutch), but they don't give any arguments:
etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/ho...
And this is what Kroonen (2013) says:
etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/ho...
And this is what Kroonen (2013) says:
October 20, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Philippa et al. (2003-2009) call it outdated (in Dutch), but they don't give any arguments:
etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/ho...
And this is what Kroonen (2013) says:
etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/ho...
And this is what Kroonen (2013) says:
The word ‘to hear’ stems from the same root as ‘acoustic’.
They’re completely different, so how can that be?
‘To hear’ was inherited from Proto-Germanic, while ‘acoustic’ comes from Ancient Greek.
These languages have a common ancestor, but they developed very differently.
Zoom in to learn more:
They’re completely different, so how can that be?
‘To hear’ was inherited from Proto-Germanic, while ‘acoustic’ comes from Ancient Greek.
These languages have a common ancestor, but they developed very differently.
Zoom in to learn more:
October 19, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The word ‘to hear’ stems from the same root as ‘acoustic’.
They’re completely different, so how can that be?
‘To hear’ was inherited from Proto-Germanic, while ‘acoustic’ comes from Ancient Greek.
These languages have a common ancestor, but they developed very differently.
Zoom in to learn more:
They’re completely different, so how can that be?
‘To hear’ was inherited from Proto-Germanic, while ‘acoustic’ comes from Ancient Greek.
These languages have a common ancestor, but they developed very differently.
Zoom in to learn more: