Breakdown of De grot was pikdonker en de stilte was doodeng.
zijn
to be
en
and
de grot
the cave
de stilte
the silence
pikdonker
pitch-dark
doodeng
terrifying
Questions & Answers about De grot was pikdonker en de stilte was doodeng.
What exactly does pik mean in the compound pikdonker?
pik literally means "pitch" (the dark, sticky tar-like substance). Just like in the English "pitch-dark" or "pitch-black" (pikzwart), Dutch uses it as an elative (an intensifying prefix) to mean extremely dark.
How does dood- work as an intensifier in doodeng? Can I attach it to any adjective?
dood literally means "dead." As an intensifier, it's used to express an extreme degree, usually with negative adjectives or feelings. You cannot attach it to just any adjective, but there are many common fixed combinations like doodmoe (dead tired), doodziek (deathly ill), and doodeng (terrifying or "dead scary").
If I want to say "the pitch-dark cave", does pikdonker get an -e ending?
Yes. In this sentence, pikdonker and doodeng are used predicatively (after the verb was), so they do not get an -e. But if you put them directly in front of a noun, they follow normal adjective rules. Because grot and stilte are both de words, you would say de pikdonkere grot and de doodenge stilte.
Is eng the only word I can combine with dood- to talk about being scared?
No, you can also use the adjective bang (afraid). While doodeng describes a thing or situation that is terrifying, if you are the person who is extremely afraid, you would say you are doodbang (terrified).
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