I am trying to learn Dutch because I really like the language. I'm using a dictionary, audio tapes, listen to dutch radio and watch internet tv and listening to dutch songs however Although I understand various word I do not feel i am making enough progress in understanding native speakers. I only catch a few words here and there.
Can anyone help me?
Also i tried to translate the following song from clouseau using google translate but the translation given by it doesn't seem to make sense in some places. can anyone give me the correct translation? Thanks.
The lyrics:
't Is niet zo lang geleden.
't Lijkt een ver verleden.
Ze heette Domino,
of ze noemde zich zo.
Zij had in haar ogen
het blauw van regenbogen.
Ze hield niet van Clouseau,
wel van Mozart en zo.
En bij het ochtendgloren
was ik al lang verloren.
Het was echt goed raak.
Ik heb een vreemde smaak.
Ze is niet zo lang gebleven,
heeft geen adres gegeven.
Ze heette Domino,
Domino of zo.
Ze hield van verre landen,
van godverlaten stranden,
van "Wachten op Godot."
Zij had cultuur en zo.
Er was iets in haar haren,
't was moeilijk te verklaren.
Het leek wel maneschijn,
't moet mijn verbeelding zijn.
Dan zei ze: 'Ik vergeet je.'
Ze lachte zelfs een beetje.
'Je komt er wel doorheen,
Jij redt het wel alleen.'
't Was hard om te verduren,
maar 'k ging door heter vuren.
Ze heette Domino,
Domino of zo.
En zij had in haar ogen
het blauw van regenbogen.
Ze hield niet van Clouseau,
wel van Mozart en zo.
Er was iets in haar haren,
't was moeilijk te verklaren.
Het leek wel maneschijn,
't moet mijn verbeelding zijn.
Ze zeggen dat ik taai ben,
dat ik een echte haai ben.
Het lijkt alleen maar zo,
vraag maar aan Domino.
Ik heb in heel m'n leven
om niemand veel gegeven,
maar wel om Domino,
Domino of zo.
Ik heb in heel m'n leven
om niemand veel gegeven,
maar wel om Domino,
Domino of zo.
't Is niet zo lang geleden. It wasn't that long ago
't Lijkt een ver verleden. But it seems that way (litt.: it seems like a far past)
Ze heette Domino, Her name was Domino
of ze noemde zich zo. or she called herself that way
Zij had in haar ogen She had (something) in her eyes
het blauw van regenbogen. the blue colour of the rainbow
Ze hield niet van Clouseau, She didn't like Clouseau
wel van Mozart en zo. but she liked Mozart and so on
En bij het ochtendgloren And by the break of dawn
was ik al lang verloren. I was already lost
Het was echt goed raak. This is difficult to translate but he means that she really had him, he fell inlove -It's like when you play darts and you hit it in the middle (or something like that, I'm no specialist ) so he means, he was instantly head over heels in love with this person..
Ik heb een vreemde smaak. I've got a weird taste
Ze is niet zo lang gebleven, She didn't stay that long
heeft geen adres gegeven. didn't gave (me) any address
Ze heette Domino, Her name was Domino
Domino of zo. Domino or something like that
Ze hield van verre landen, She loved countries which were far away
van godverlaten stranden, (she loved) Godforsaken beaches
van "Wachten op Godot." (she loved)Waiting for Godot
Zij had cultuur en zo. She had culture and so on
Er was iets in haar haren, There was something in her hair(s)
't was moeilijk te verklaren. it was difficult to describe (it)
Het leek wel maneschijn, It seemed like a moonlight
't moet mijn verbeelding zijn. It had to be my imagination
Dan zei ze: 'Ik vergeet je.' Then she said: 'I'm forgetting you'
Ze lachte zelfs een beetje. She even smiled a bit
'Je komt er wel doorheen, You'll pull through
Jij redt het wel alleen.' You'll make it on your own
't Was hard om te verduren, It was difficult to endure
maar 'k ging door heter vuren. but I went through hot fires
Ze heette Domino, Her name was Domino
Domino of zo. Domino or something like that
En zij had in haar ogen And she had (something) in her eyes
het blauw van regenbogen. the blue colour of the rainbow
Ze hield niet van Clouseau, She didn't like Clouseau
wel van Mozart en zo. but she liked Mozart and so on
Er was iets in haar haren, There was something in her hair(s)
't was moeilijk te verklaren. it was difficult to describe (it)
Het leek wel maneschijn, It seemed like a moonlight
't moet mijn verbeelding zijn. It had to be my imagination
Ze zeggen dat ik taai ben, They say I'm tough
dat ik een echte haai ben. That I'm a real shark
Het lijkt alleen maar zo, It only seems that way
vraag maar aan Domino. you can ask Domino
Ik heb in heel m'n leven In all of my life
om niemand veel gegeven, I've never cared so much (about anyone)
maar wel om Domino, but I cared for Domino
Domino of zo. Domino or something like that
You're welcome and if you have any questions, I'm here .
I don't like Dutch music, I'm allergic to it but I have to say that I'm a bit surprised that you want to learn this language, is there any specific reason ?
well...dutch can be difficult, but it depends on your native language, if it is german, english, or swedish, it makes it easier, but if you speak something else, it makes it a bit harder :P
Dutch is a difficult language to learn, a lot of Dutch people can't even understand the grammar, so I kinda feel proud that you are willing to go through hell to learn our language :P
Good luck You're ways to study the language is very good, lots of music, tv, radio, that will do. Try reading Dutch books and articles as well, it helps too
Hahaha, I never imagined that there are s many Dutchies (en Flemish people?) on ATL.
@ LearningDutch: perhaps this might help you, perhaps not, but there is some difference between the Dutch spoken in the Netherlands, and the Dutch spoken en Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium). Clouseau is a Flemish duo, Bløf is a Dutch group. Most of the times you can hear where they are from by listening to how one pronounces the 'g'.