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Breakdown of Hoe lekker is dit nagerecht!
zijn
to be
dit
this
hoe
how
het nagerecht
the dessert
lekker
delicious
Questions & Answers about Hoe lekker is dit nagerecht!
Is this a real question or an exclamation?
It looks like a question structurally (verb in second position after hoe), but with an exclamation mark it’s used as an exclamation: How delicious this dessert is! With a question mark, it becomes a genuine question asking for degree: Hoe lekker is dit nagerecht?
Why hoe here, and could I use wat instead?
Both are possible for exclamations:
- Hoe + adjective + verb + subject: Hoe lekker is dit nagerecht!
- Wat + verb + subject + adjective: Wat is dit nagerecht lekker! The wat version is very common and slightly more colloquial. The hoe version sounds a touch more formal or emphatic about degree, but both mean the same in practice.
Why dit and not deze?
Because nagerecht is a neuter singular noun (het nagerecht). Use dit for singular neuter nouns. Use deze for de-words and for all plurals.
- dit nagerecht (het-woord, singular)
- deze taart (de-woord, singular)
- deze nagerechten (plural)
Why is there no article before nagerecht?
Demonstratives (dit/deze) replace the article. You say dit nagerecht, not het nagerecht in this structure. You would use the article without the demonstrative: het nagerecht.
Why lekker and not lekkere?
Because the adjective is predicative (after the verb is), and predicative adjectives don’t take the -e ending.
- Predicative: Dit nagerecht is lekker.
- Attributive (definite): Dit lekkere nagerecht.
- Attributive (indefinite het-word): Een lekker nagerecht.
Can I say Hoe lekker dit nagerecht is! as a standalone exclamation?
It’s possible but feels literary/old-fashioned as a standalone exclamation. More natural are:
- Hoe lekker is dit nagerecht!
- Wat is dit nagerecht lekker! However, the version with verb-final order is standard when embedded: Ik wist niet hoe lekker dit nagerecht is.
Can I drop is and just say Hoe lekker dit nagerecht!?
No. This hoe + adjective pattern needs a verb. If you want a verbless exclamation, use alternatives like:
- Wat een lekker nagerecht!
- Heerlijk!
Does hoe have to come right before the adjective?
Yes. In this pattern, hoe modifies the adjective and must directly precede it. Hoe is dit nagerecht lekker! is ungrammatical.
How would I say this in the plural?
Hoe lekker zijn deze nagerechten! Changes:
- is → zijn
- dit → deze (all plurals take deze)
- nagerecht → nagerechten
What’s the difference between nagerecht, toetje, and dessert?
- nagerecht: neutral/standard term (used in menus, recipes, general speech).
- toetje: informal, everyday word (kid-friendly).
- dessert: slightly fancier/restaurant-style loanword. All are neuter (het nagerecht / het toetje / het dessert).
How strong or formal is lekker? Any alternatives?
Lekker is very common and informal-to-neutral. Stronger or more formal alternatives:
- heerlijk (stronger praise)
- smakelijk (more formal/culinary; common in Eet smakelijk!) Intensifiers work too: erg lekker, heel lekker, ontzettend lekker, superlekker (casual). Note: hoe heel lekker is… sounds odd; prefer hoe ontzettend lekker is…
Can this pattern be used with other adjectives or adverbs?
Yes. It’s productive:
- Hoe mooi is deze stad!
- Hoe snel rijdt die trein!
- Hoe duur is dat hotel!
- Hoe goed smaakt dit ijs!
Can lekker describe things other than food?
Yes. It’s versatile:
- lekker weer (nice weather)
- lekker slapen (sleep well)
- dat zit lekker (that sits/feels comfortable) Context determines the specific meaning.
Any pronunciation tips for tricky sounds?
- hoe: [hu] (like the oo in hoot).
- lekker: [ˈlɛkər] (short e as in bed; clear k-k; r may be tapped/trilled).
- nagerecht: [ˈnaːɣəˌrɛxt]. The g/ch are the Dutch guttural sounds; in much of the Netherlands both often sound like a throaty kh.
- dit: [dɪt] (short i).
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