Breakdown of Haar filosofieën prikkelen de fantasie.
haar
her
de filosofie
the philosophy
prikkelen
to stimulate
de fantasie
the fantasy / the imagination
Questions & Answers about Haar filosofieën prikkelen de fantasie.
Why is the plural of filosofie spelled with -ieën instead of just -iën?
Nouns ending in -ie form their plural based on where the word stress falls. Because the stress in filosofie falls on the final syllable (-fie), you add the full suffix -ën, resulting in filosofieën. If the stress fell on an earlier syllable (like in porie), you would just add an -n and put a trema on the existing e to get poriën.
If fantasie were pluralized in this sentence, would it follow the same spelling rule as filosofieën?
Yes. Just like filosofie, the noun fantasie has the stress on its final syllable. Its plural therefore also takes the -ën suffix, becoming fantasieën.
What does prikkelen literally mean, and how does it fit here?
Prikkelen literally means to prick, to sting, or to tickle. In a figurative sense, as used in this sentence, it means to stimulate, spark, or excite the mind, senses, or imagination.
Could I use stimuleren instead of prikkelen in this sentence?
Yes, stimuleren is a perfectly valid and common synonym here. However, prikkelen adds a slightly more vivid, sensory nuance of sparking or tickling the imagination, whereas stimuleren sounds a bit more neutral and analytical.
Learn Haar filosofieën prikkelen de fantasie and more in Dutch
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free