# Unknown words: guess first, look up last

URL: https://www.inburgeringklaar.nl/learn/lezen/unknown-words-guess-from-context
Course: Lezen: the reading exam, step by step (https://www.inburgeringklaar.nl/learn/lezen)
Level: A2 and B1
Publisher: Inburgeringklaar

> Work out what a new word means from the sentence and its parts, and decide when the dictionary is worth the time.

## Goals
- Guess word meaning from the sentence around it
- Split Dutch compound words into known parts
- Use common prefixes and suffixes as clues
- Decide quickly whether a word needs the dictionary

## You will always meet unknown words

Even good B1 readers meet words they don't know in every exam text. That is normal and planned. The question is not "Do I know every word?" but "Do I know enough to answer *this* question?"

Use this order: **ignore → guess → split → look up.**

## Step 1: Do you need the word at all?

Most unknown words are not in the part of the text you need. If the word is not in the sentence that answers the question, skip it. Really. This one habit saves many minutes.

## Step 2: Guess from the context

The words around an unknown word often tell you a lot.

*Door de storm is de boom omgewaaid. De weg was twee uur lang versperd.*

You may not know *versperd*. But a tree fell because of the storm, and something lasted two hours on the road. The road was **blocked**. You don't need a dictionary.

Ask yourself:
- Is it a **thing, an action or a description**? (*de/het* before it = thing; at the end of a sentence or after *te* = often an action.)
- Is it **positive or negative**? Words like *helaas, maar, probleem* around it suggest negative.
- Is there an **example or explanation** nearby? Look for *zoals* (such as), *bijvoorbeeld*, *dat wil zeggen*, *dus*, or a part between brackets.

*Neem uw legitimatiebewijs mee, zoals een paspoort of rijbewijs.* If you don't know *legitimatiebewijs*, the examples tell you: an ID document.

## Step 3: Split compound words (samenstellingen)

Dutch glues words together. Long words are often just two or three short words you already know.

| Long word | Parts | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| *huisartsenpraktijk* | huis + arts + praktijk | GP practice |
| *ziektekostenverzekering* | ziekte + kosten + verzekering | health insurance |
| *fietsenstalling* | fiets + stalling | bicycle parking |
| *afvalkalender* | afval + kalender | waste collection calendar |
| *ouderavond* | ouder + avond | parents' evening |
| *wachtlijst* | wacht + lijst | waiting list |

Rule: **the last part is the main word.** A *fietsenstalling* is a kind of *stalling* (storage). A *kinderfiets* is a *fiets*. The parts before it describe it. Small linking letters like *-s-* or *-en-* sometimes appear in the middle (*arbeid**s**contract*, *pann**en**koek*). Just skip them when you split.

## Step 4: Use prefixes and suffixes

A few word parts come back again and again.

| Part | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| *on-* | not | *onmogelijk* (impossible), *onbekend* (unknown) |
| *her-* | again | *herhalen* (repeat), *herinschrijven* (re-register) |
| *ver-* | often a change | *verhuizen* (move house), *verlengen* (extend) |
| *mee-* | along, with | *meenemen* (bring), *meedoen* (take part) |
| *-baar* | can be done | *bereikbaar* (reachable), *betaalbaar* (affordable) |
| *-loos* | without | *werkloos* (unemployed), *kosteloos* (free of charge) |
| *-ing* | makes a noun | *betaling* (payment), *opleiding* (training) |

So *onbetaalbaar* = on + betaal + baar = **not affordable**. You knew *betalen*; the rest is pattern.

## Step 5: When to use the dictionary

Use your paper dictionary only if all three are true:

1. The word is in the sentence you need for the answer.
2. Context and word parts don't give you a clear meaning.
3. The choice between two options depends on this word.

When you look up, look up the **main part** of a compound or the **infinitive** of a verb (*verlengd* → *verlengen*). Compounds are often not in the dictionary, but their parts are.

## Watch out for false friends

Some Dutch words look like English words but mean something else:

- *eventueel* = possibly, if needed (not "eventually")
- *actueel* = current, up to date (not "actual")
- *slim* = clever (not thin)
- *brutaal* = cheeky, rude (not brutal)

These words love to appear in answer options.

## Useful Dutch
- **de samenstelling**: the compound word
- **bijvoorbeeld**: for example
- **zoals**: such as
- **dat wil zeggen (d.w.z.)**: that is to say (i.e.)
- **onmogelijk**: impossible
- **verlengen**: to extend
- **bereikbaar**: reachable
- **kosteloos**: free of charge
- **eventueel**: possibly, if needed
- **het legitimatiebewijs**: ID document
- **opzoeken**: to look up

## Worked example: A word in the answer sentence

Bericht van de school:
Volgende week woensdag is er geen gymles. De gymzaal wordt dan schoongemaakt. De kinderen hoeven die dag dus geen gymkleding mee te nemen.

Vraag: Waarom is er volgende week woensdag geen gymles?
A De gymleraar is ziek.
B De gymzaal wordt schoongemaakt.
C De kinderen hebben vrij.

Unknown words might be gymzaal and schoongemaakt. Split them: gym + zaal (hall) = gym hall. Schoon (clean) + gemaakt (made) = cleaned. The word 'dus' in the next sentence shows the consequence: no gym clothes needed. So the reason is B. There is nothing about a sick teacher (A), and the children still go to school (C); only gym is cancelled. No dictionary needed.

## Common mistakes
- Looking up words that are not in the sentence that answers the question.
- Giving up on a long word instead of splitting it into parts you know.
- Looking up a full compound word that is not in the dictionary instead of its last part.
- Trusting a word that looks like English, such as 'eventueel' or 'actueel'.

## Check yourself
1. What is a 'kinderopvang'? (opvang = care, taking in)
   A) A type of child
   B) A place that looks after children
   C) A school subject
   Answer: B. The last part is the main word: it is a kind of 'opvang' (care), for kinderen. It means childcare.
2. What does 'onbereikbaar' mean?
   A) Very easy to reach
   B) Reached again
   C) Cannot be reached
   Answer: C. on- = not, bereik = reach, -baar = can be done. So: not reachable.
3. 'Neem eventueel een lunchpakket mee.' What does this mean?
   A) Bring a packed lunch if you want or need one
   B) You will eventually get lunch
   C) Lunch is not allowed
   Answer: A. 'Eventueel' is a false friend: it means 'if needed, possibly', not 'eventually'.