Breakdown of Is dit toetje echt suikervrij?
zijn
to be
dit
this (neuter)
echt
real; really (genuinely)
het toetje
the dessert
Questions & Answers about Is dit toetje echt suikervrij?
How does the suffix -vrij work in suikervrij, and can I attach it to any noun?
Just like the English suffix "-free", -vrij is highly productive in Dutch. You can attach it directly to most nouns to indicate the complete absence of something. For example, suikervrij (sugar-free), alcoholvrij (alcohol-free), and zorgenvrij (carefree) are all standard everyday words.
If I wanted to ask if the dessert is "low-sugar" rather than completely sugar-free, how would I use the suffixes from this lesson?
You would use the suffix -arm (poor/low in). This indicates a low amount of something rather than its complete absence, making the word suikerarm. Conversely, if a dish were heavily packed with sugar, you could use -rijk (rich in) to make suikerrijk.
Why is the word for dessert a diminutive (toetje)? What does it come from?
Toetje literally means a "little something at the end." It comes from the adverb toe (as in iets toe, meaning "something in addition" or "to finish"). While the French loanword dessert is also used in Dutch (usually in formal dining), toetje is the standard, cozy word you will hear in most everyday situations.
Just to refresh my memory, why is it dit toetje and not deze toetje?