‘Lekker’ is not just about food: how to use this Dutch word

The word lekker usually describes something enjoyable, pleasant or satisfying. It can refer to food that tastes good, but also to experiences, feelings and situations.

What makes lekker interesting is that it often adds a positive feeling to a sentence.

Compare these two sentences:

• Ik ga een wandeling maken. - I'm going for a walk.
• Ik ga lekker een wandeling maken. - I'm going to enjoy a nice walk.

Both describe the same activity. But in the second sentence, you can hear that the person is looking forward to it. The walk is not just something they are going to do. It is something they expect to enjoy.

That is one of the reasons why Dutch people use lekker so often.

One of the easiest ways to use lekker yourself is when talking about something you enjoy.

• Ik heb lekker geslapen. - I had a really good night's sleep.
• We hebben lekker gewandeld. - We had a lovely walk.
• Ik ga vanavond lekker op de bank zitten. - I'm looking forward to relaxing on the sofa tonight.
• Ik ga dit weekend lekker nietsdoen. - I'm going to enjoy doing absolutely nothing this weekend.

That last sentence might sound strange when translated literally. How can doing nothing be lekker? But to a Dutch speaker, it makes perfect sense. It means you are looking forward to having no plans or obligations.

Try it yourself: On Friday, tell a colleague about your weekend plans. For example: ‘Ik ga dit weekend lekker rustig aan doen.’ (I'm going to take it nice and easy this weekend.)

You will also hear lekker at work, especially when someone is doing well or making good progress. Imagine a colleague tells you they have already finished a presentation, even though the deadline is tomorrow. You could say:

‘Lekker bezig!’ (You're doing great!)

It is an informal way of giving someone a compliment or encouraging them.

Other examples include:

• We zijn lekker opgeschoten vandaag. - We've made really good progress today.
• Het loopt lekker. - Things are going smoothly.
• Ik zit er lekker in. - I'm on a roll.

There is one thing to keep in mind: tone matters. If you say ‘Lekker bezig!’ enthusiastically, it sounds encouraging. But if someone has just spilled coffee all over their keyboard, the exact same words could sound sarcastic.

The Dutch love talking about the weather, and lekker regularly comes up in these conversations.

On a sunny day, you might hear:
‘Wat een lekker weer vandaag!’ - What lovely weather today!

But even on a chilly autumn morning, someone might say:
‘Het is lekker fris buiten.’ - It's nice and fresh outside.

That may seem contradictory. How can cold weather be lekker?

The answer is simple: the speaker enjoys the fresh air. The word tells you not just what the weather is like, but how someone feels about it.

Here are a few more examples:

• Het is lekker warm in de zon. - It's lovely and warm in the sun.
• Het waait lekker door. - There's a nice breeze blowing through.
• Het is lekker koel binnen. - It's pleasantly cool indoors.

What one person finds refreshingly cool, another might find far too cold. Lekker is often a matter of personal experience.

There is one expression you should definitely know: ‘Ik voel me niet lekker.’ (I'm not feeling well).

You can use it when you feel unwell, perhaps because you have a headache, feel nauseous or think you might be getting sick.

For example:

‘Ik voel me niet lekker, dus ik ga vandaag wat eerder naar huis.’

(I'm not feeling well, so I'm going home a little earlier today.)

Interestingly, Dutch people are much less likely to say ‘Ik voel me lekker’ when they feel well. They would usually say ‘Ik voel me goed’ (I feel good).

This shows why it is important to learn Dutch expressions in context. You cannot always create the opposite meaning simply by removing niet (not).

So far, most of our examples have been positive. But lekker can also be used sarcastically.

Imagine you are in a hurry and the train leaves just as you reach the platform.
‘Nou, lekker dan!’ - Oh, great. Just what I needed!

Another common expression is:
‘Lekker belangrijk!’ – As if that matters!

For example:
Person 1: ‘Hij heeft een veel duurdere auto dan jij.’ - He has a much more expensive car than you.
Person 2: ‘Lekker belangrijk!’ - Who cares?

In both cases, the tone of voice is important. These expressions can be funny among friends, but they can also sound irritated or dismissive. It is best to use them only when you feel comfortable with the situation and the people involved.

Not quite. Although lekker is a remarkably versatile word, it does not fit naturally into every sentence.

For example, these sentences sound perfectly normal:

• Wat een lekkere koffie! - What delicious coffee!
• Ik heb lekker gewerkt. - I had a good, productive day at work.
• Het is lekker rustig hier. - It's nice and quiet here.

But these do not sound natural in standard Dutch:

• Lekker dat je er bent. Instead, say: ‘Fijn dat je er bent.’ (It's nice that you're here.)
• Ik heb een lekker gesprek gehad. Instead, say: ‘Ik heb een fijn gesprek gehad.’ (I had a lovely conversation.)
• Dat is een lekker idee. Instead, say: ‘Dat is een goed idee.’ (That's a good idea.)

Be careful when using lekker to describe people, too. The expression ‘een lekker ding’ refers to someone who is sexually attractive. It is very informal and can easily sound inappropriate.

A useful rule of thumb is to learn ‘lekker’ as part of common expressions, rather than as a word you can translate directly into English. That way, you will know not only what it means, but also when it sounds natural.