Learn Hardcore Dutch: De hoofdlamp flikkert even, maar dankzij de back-up hebben we nog licht. - The headlamp flickers for a moment, but thanks to the back-up we still have light.

In Dutch, even often means “for a moment” or “briefly.” Here, flikkert even translates as “flickers for a moment.” It softens the action, indicating it only lasts a short time. You could replace it with kort (briefly), but even is more colloquial and very common in speech.

Is the verb flikkeren related to any rude or offensive words, and how is it pronounced?

Flikkeren simply means “to flicker” or “to blink.” It is unrelated to the old slur flikker, which is now offensive. The pronunciation of flikkeren is roughly /ˈflɪkəˌreːrən/ (stress on the first syllable). You won’t confuse them in normal conversation.

Why is the clause dankzij de back-up hebben we nog licht inverted instead of dankzij de back-up we hebben nog licht?

Dutch main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be the second element. Starting with the prepositional phrase dankzij de back-up makes that phrase element one, so the verb hebben must come next, followed by the subject we. If you began with the subject, you’d say maar we hebben nog licht, but then you give up putting the cause first.

What part of speech is dankzij, and could we use door or omdat instead?

Dankzij is a preposition that expresses a positive cause (“thanks to”).

Door can also mean “because of,” but it’s more neutral or even negative sometimes.
Omdat is a conjunction meaning “because” and would require a subordinate clause with the finite verb at the end:
“Omdat we een back-up hebben, hebben we nog licht.”

Is the comma before maar necessary in flikkert even, maar dankzij de back-up hebben we nog licht?

In Dutch, a comma before coordinating conjunctions like maar is optional. Writers often include it when the second clause is longer or starts with a fronted element (here, dankzij de back-up) to improve readability, but it’s not strictly required.

Why is back-up written with a hyphen, and can it be inflected?

Back-up is a loanword from English, and the hyphen is the standard Dutch spelling. You can decline it like a regular noun:

Singular: de back-up
Plural: twee back-ups
Genitive: van de back-up
Some informal sources drop the hyphen (backup), but the hyphenated form is preferred.

What exactly does de hoofdlamp refer to in Dutch, and are there alternatives?

De hoofdlamp is a lamp worn on the head (for cycling, hiking, caving, etc.). In British English you’d say “head torch,” in American English “headlamp.” There really aren’t shorter Dutch synonyms—people sometimes say hoofdfakkel humorously, but hoofdlamp is the usual term.

What is the function of nog in hebben we nog licht, and could you say nog steeds licht instead?

Here nog means “still.” Nog licht hebben = “to still have light.” You could also say nog steeds licht hebben, with steeds adding emphasis on the ongoing nature (“we still continue to have light”). In everyday speech, nog licht hebben is perfectly natural and simpler.