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De asielhond is angstig maar waaks.

De asielhond is angstig maar waaks.
The shelter dog is anxious but watchful.
From Lesson 82:Adopting a dog from a shelter·Hardcore Dutch

Breakdown of De asielhond is angstig maar waaks.

zijn
to be
maar
but
de asielhond
the shelter dog
angstig
anxious
waaks
watchful

Questions & Answers about De asielhond is angstig maar waaks.

Why is asielhond written as one word?
Dutch usually writes compound nouns as a single word. Here, asielhond is made from asiel + hond, and the whole thing means a kind of dog. Writing asiel hond would not be standard Dutch.
Why is it de asielhond and not het asielhond?
In Dutch compounds, the article is determined by the last part of the compound. The head word here is hond, and hond is a de-word: de hond. So the compound is also de asielhond.
What exactly does asielhond mean?
It refers to a dog from an animal shelter. In English, shelter dog is the most direct translation, though rescue dog may also fit depending on context. In this word, asiel refers to an animal shelter, not asylum in the political sense.
Why are angstig and waaks not ending in -e?

Because they come after the verb is. After linking verbs such as zijn, Dutch adjectives are normally used in their basic form. So you say De hond is angstig and De hond is waaks.

If the adjective comes before a noun, you usually do get -e:

  • de angstige hond
  • de waakse hond
What does waaks mean?

Waaks means watchful, alert, or on guard. It is especially used for dogs. A waakse hond is a dog that notices things quickly and is inclined to keep watch.

It does not necessarily mean aggressive. It is more about being attentive and ready to react.

Could I use waakzaam instead of waaks?

Yes, but there is a nuance difference. Waakzaam is more general and a bit more formal. It can describe people, animals, or even situations. Waaks is especially natural when talking about a dog's character or behavior.

So in this sentence, waaks sounds very idiomatic.

Is angstig the same as bang?

They are similar, but not identical. Bang is the everyday word for afraid. Angstig often sounds a bit more descriptive, closer to fearful or anxious.

In a sentence about a shelter dog's temperament, angstig suggests the dog has an anxious or fearful nature, not just a brief moment of fear.

Why is maar used here, and why is is not repeated?

Maar means but. It connects two qualities that seem to contrast: the dog is fearful, but also watchful.

Dutch does not need to repeat is here, because both adjectives belong to the same subject and the same verb. So De asielhond is angstig maar waaks is completely natural.

Do I need a comma before maar?

Not in this sentence. In short Dutch sentences like this, a comma before maar is usually left out. A comma is more likely when two longer clauses are joined and the writer wants to make the structure clearer.

So De asielhond is angstig maar waaks is correctly written without a comma.

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