lopen vs wandelen
Dutch word comparison
Listen to lopen
Listen to wandelen
| lopen | wandelen |
|---|---|
LOH-pen verb | /ˈʋɑndələn/ verb |
| to walk; to move on foot; also used to mean that something is running or progressing | to walk, especially for leisure or exercise; to stroll |
How they differ
Wandelen implies a leisurely or purposeful stroll (often for pleasure or exercise), while lopen is a more general verb for moving on foot and can be neutral or functional. Wandelen usually excludes fast walking or idiomatic non-physical uses of lopen (like machines running).
When to use each
When to use lopen: Prefer lopen when you mean 'to move on foot' in a neutral sense or in idiomatic uses (e.g., something 'running').
When to use wandelen: Prefer wandelen when you want to emphasize a leisurely, recreational, or health-oriented walk.
Side-by-side examples
- Ik loop elke ochtend een rondje in het park.
(I walk a lap in the park every morning.) - Ik wandel elke ochtend een rondje in het park.
(I take a walk in the park every morning.)
Register & nuance: Wandelen is standard Dutch and slightly more specific than lopen; it is neutral in formality and common in both spoken and written contexts.
- See the full Word of the Day entry for lopen
- See the Word of the Day entry for wandelen
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