Kleine woorden, episode one. A slippery little word: 'nog'. Three letters, six meanings, and you can't escape it. Native speakers use it constantly. Context is everything.
Meaning one. Nog means 'more' when you want extra of something.
Wil je nog koffie? — Do you want more coffee?.
Meaning two. Nog means 'still' when something keeps happening.
Ben je er nog? — Are you still there?.
Meaning three. Nog means 'another' or 'X more' when you're counting.
Nog drie dagen. — Three more days.
Meaning four. Nog means 'for the rest of' - this is the one shopkeepers use.
Fijne dag nog! — Have a nice rest of the day.
Meaning five. Nog means 'yet' in negative sentences.
Ik ben er nog niet. — I am not there yet.
Meaning six. Nog can mean 'even' or 'after all', adding emphasis.
Hij is nog jong. — He is still young - after all, he's young.
Six meanings, one word, three letters. The trick: don't try to translate 'nog' as one English word. Translate the whole sentence. 'Nog' will mean whatever the context demands - more, still, another, for-the-rest-of, yet, or even. When in doubt, listen for what's being added or what's missing.
Today's Brueghel proverb.
Pannenkoeken op het dak.
Pannenkoeken op het dak. — Literally: pancakes on the roof.
Meaning: a sign of abundance - everything is going great, paradise on earth. Example:
Sinds hij die nieuwe baan heeft, zijn er pannenkoeken op het dak. — Since he got that new job, it's pancakes on the roof.
Fijne dag nog!
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