Wat betekent dat?

What does that mean?

Breakdown of Wat betekent dat?

• dat: that
• wat: what
• betekenen: to mean

Questions & Answers about Wat betekent dat?

What does each word correspond to, and what’s the literal structure?

• Wat = what (question word).
• betekent = means/signifies (3rd-person singular present of betekenen, “to mean”).
• dat = that/it (demonstrative pronoun). Literal structure: “What means that?” In Dutch, that’s the normal question pattern.

Why is the verb in second position (after wat)?

Because of the V2 rule. In main clauses, the finite verb must be in the second slot. The wh-word Wat takes the first slot, so betekent comes second, followed by the subject dat.

Why isn’t there a helper like do (as in What does that mean?)?

Dutch doesn’t use do-support. Questions are formed by putting the finite verb in second place (after a wh-word) or first place (yes/no questions): Wat betekent dat?, Betekent dat …?

How do I pronounce the sentence?

IPA: /ʋɑt bəˈteː.kənt dɑt/

• w is [ʋ], not an English w.
• be- is a schwa [bə].
• ee is long [eː].
• Final t is clearly pronounced: betekent [bəˈteː.kənt], dat [dɑt]. Wh-questions usually have falling intonation.

Why dat and not dit?

• dit = this (near the speaker).
• dat = that (farther away or already discussed). Use Wat betekent dit? when pointing to something right here; Wat betekent dat? when it’s a bit more distant or just mentioned. In practice, dat is also common as a neutral pointer.

Can I say Wat betekent het? instead?

Yes, if “it” clearly refers to a previously mentioned neutral thing (often a word): Ik ken het woord compromis niet. Wat betekent het? With physical pointing, learners more often hear … dat/… dit.

When would I use die instead of dat?

• As a determiner: die for de-words (die auto), dat for het-words (dat boek).
• As a standalone pronoun, die can refer to a specific de-word you just mentioned: De zin … Wat betekent die? But when referring to an idea/clause or using a neutral pointer, dat is the default: Wat betekent dat?

Why does betekent end with -t?

It’s 3rd-person singular present. Dutch adds -t for hij/zij/het/dit/dat. The exception where you drop -t after the verb only applies to jij/je in inversion (e.g., Werk jij?), not to dat.

How would this look as an embedded clause?

Main question (V2): Wat betekent dat?
Embedded (verb-final): Ik weet niet wat dat betekent. The wh-word starts the clause, the subject comes next, and the finite verb goes to the end.

What’s the difference between betekenen and bedoelen?

• betekenen = to signify (dictionary meaning, symbols, signs, words). Wat betekent dat? asks for a definition.
• bedoelen = to mean/intend (what a person wants to say). To ask someone, use: Wat bedoel je? or Wat bedoelt u daarmee?

Are there synonymous ways to ask this?

• Wat wil dat zeggen? (very common idiom; neutral/informal)
• Wat houdt dat in? (what does that entail?)
• Wat is de betekenis van …? (more formal; add a noun: Wat is de betekenis van dat woord?)
• Kunt u uitleggen wat dat betekent? (polite, indirect)

Can the subject be the word itself instead of dat?

Yes. If you name the item, it becomes the subject:

• Wat betekent fiets?
• Wat betekent het woord vaccin? You can also keep dat and specify: Wat betekent dat woord?

Does stressing different words change the nuance?

Yes:

• Neutral information question: Wat beTEkent dat?
• Contrasting the item: Wat betekent DÁT? (as opposed to another thing)
• Clarifying the kind of “meaning”: WÁT betekent dat? (surprised/insistent tone)

Any spelling traps?

• Present tense here is betekent (with t).
• Past participle is betekend (spelled with d, but pronounced [t] at the end because of final devoicing).
• Start with capital W and end with a question mark: Wat betekent dat?