Breakdown of We riskeren elkaars geld als we roekeloos gokken.
het geld
the money
we
we (unstressed form of wij)
als
if / when (condition)
elkaars
each other's
riskeren
to risk
roekeloos
reckless
gokken
to gamble
Questions & Answers about We riskeren elkaars geld als we roekeloos gokken.
How is the possessive formed in elkaars geld?
Just like in English, you can add an -s to the reciprocal pronoun elkaar (each other) to make it possessive: elkaars (each other's). It is placed directly before the noun. You could also say het geld van elkaar, but elkaars geld is much more common and concise.
Since this lesson is about the passive voice, how would we make the clause We riskeren elkaars geld passive?
Because elkaars geld is a direct object, it can easily become the subject of a standard passive sentence: Elkaars geld wordt (door ons) geriskeerd. It doesn't face the strict subject restrictions that indirect objects (dative passives) do, which often cannot become the subject without adding er or using a different verb.
Is roekeloos related to the English word "reckless"?
Yes, they are exact cognates! The Dutch suffix -loos means "-less". The stem roeke- comes from an old word meaning "care" or "attention" (related to the old English verb "to reck"). So just like "reckless", roekeloos literally means "careless", but it is specifically used to mean "reckless" or "rash".
Could we use the verb wagen instead of riskeren here?
You could, but riskeren is a much better fit for this context. Riskeren strongly emphasizes the danger of losing something or facing a negative consequence. Wagen is closer to "taking a chance" and is often used when hoping for a positive outcome, like in the standard expression een poging wagen (to give it a try / take a chance on an attempt).
Learn We riskeren elkaars geld als we roekeloos gokken 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