Breakdown of De afhandeling van de bestelling duurt lang.
de afhandeling
the handling / the processing
de bestelling
the order
Questions & Answers about De afhandeling van de bestelling duurt lang.
Why do we use duurt here instead of a literal translation of 'takes'?
In English, you often say that a process 'takes' a long time. In Dutch, when talking about the duration of an event or action, you must use the verb duren (to last). You cannot literally translate 'takes time' with the verb nemen (to take).
Could I use behandeling instead of afhandeling to mean 'handling' in this sentence?
Not naturally in this context. Afhandeling comes from the separable verb afhandelen and specifically means finalizing or processing administrative tasks, orders, or paperwork. Behandeling usually translates to 'treatment' and is used for medical treatment, dealing with a topic, or how you treat people.
Why is 'order' translated as bestelling and not bevel?
English uses 'order' for both commercial purchases and authoritative commands. In Dutch, a commercial order (like buying goods online or in a restaurant) is always a bestelling (from the verb bestellen). An authoritative command from a boss or the military is a bevel.
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