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The (very brief) dictionary of Corona slang

6th May 2020Expat Life, Language, The every day4

I love language and words. when I was young, I genuinely used to read the dictionary. Not in any sort of order, mind; rather, I’d flick to random pages and find words I’d never seen before, in a poor attempt to be top of the class with my wide vocabulary. It never worked. I remained, and still remain, rather average. Still, nowadays, you see new words being added to the dictionary left, right, and centre. ‘Peng'(?!). ‘Bumfuzzle’. ‘Whatevs’. ‘Simples’. Even ‘LOL’ has made it into the Oxford English dictionary. Obviously, with the onslaught of Covid-19, and the worldwide panic it’s caused, a few words have stuck, and are bound to make it into the dictionary.

Here you’ll find a brief, yet hopefully humourous display of my favourite English and Dutch words that have come into existance since January 2020. Will any of them be added to the dictionary? Only time will tell. Let’s go.

Quick Find

  • English words
    • Quarantini
    • Quarny
    • Covidiot
    • Coronials
    • Zumping
    • Coronacation
    • Quarantine and Chill
  • Dutch Words
    • Hamsteren
    • Huidhonger
    • Hoestschaamte
    • Coronahufter

English words

Quarantini

I’m not sure whether it was a blown out of proportion joke, but I believe that day drinking is on the rise in the midst of the Corona Crisis. Each to their own I say. If you fancy cracking the bubbly open at 2pm on a Wednesday because you’ve got nothing better to do, or you’re simply mourning your freedom, I salute you. Just maybe grab a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you sink.

Making oneself a ‘quarantini’ is a quaint way of telling everyone you’re getting smashed before 5pm. It doesn’t always involve a Martini but damn it blows away those cobwebs.

Quarny

It’s called being home alone and horny.

I’ve heard that dating apps are BOOMING since the beginning of the epidemic. Now I’m no prude, but I’m not sure it’s the best idea to invite someone you’ve never met over during a pandemic just to quell those urges. What if you catch something MORE ghastly than gonorrhea (I’m talking about the Rona itself, although I’ve had neither so technically who am I to judge which is worse?).

Good news Tinder users though, because apparently you’ll soon be able to video call your new paramour from the safety of your own home to check on any suspicious coughing or sneezing fits before you invite them over.

Covidiot

Plain and simple really. Just someone who doesn’t follow lockdown rules and runs amock without a care in the world.

Coronials

I guess this one should be added to Quarny. It’s the suspected name given to the new generation of Corona-conceived babies. Lord help us, and them.

Zumping

Stuck in a relationship that’s going nowhere (thanks Corona!). Apparently there’s a new trend of dumping your boyfriend or girlfriend over Zoom call.

Less heartless than a simple ‘U R DUMPD. SRY’ text that us 90’s kids had to endure through the early 2000s, I actually reckon you’ve got to have balls of steel to invite your other half into a face-to-face phone call on a platform that was originally created for the sole purpose of holding business meetings from afar and having to look them in the eye and tell them its over.

Ouch.

Coronacation

Where ya off to on yer ‘ols this year Karen? Gardinia?

A coronacation is the simple act of spending your holiday (or ‘vacation’) time very much not on holiday, and rather, trapped in the confines of your own home or garden. We’re all mourning the loss of one destination or another, so why not laugh until we cry? It beats simply crying.

Quarantine and Chill

Forget the age old Netflix and chill, now there’s no strings attached, unless it’s string cheese that is, because Quarantine and Chill is the act of… chilling in Quarantine.

With Netflix party being created for this very pandemic, feel free to still take part in a half-arsed Netflix and Chill gathering (it’s half-arsed because there’s no touching), grab yourself a Quarantini, and feel free to do absolutely nothing for the remainder of the day. What else is there even to do anymore?

Dutch Words

Hamsteren

Literally ‘hamstering’, the Dutch coined this phrase for the outburst of toilet paper hoarders. It’s also applicable to anyone hoarding too much of anything. Just like a cheeky little hamster with their chubby cheeks full of everything ‘hamsteren’ ain’t a compliment.

Huidhonger

Literally translated to ‘skin hunger’, no, this actually is not in fact the zombie apocolypse we were all kinda hoping for, but the dire need to have skin on skin contact with another human being, caused by 1.5 metre afstand, and quarantine measurements.

Hoestschaamte

It’s simple really. Literally translated to ‘cough shame’, hoestschaamte is that incredible shame one feels when they swallow a crumb or their own saliva wrong. I know you’ve all felt it and tried to hold in a completely innocent cough for fear of being shanked in the local supermarket, and the Dutch, as per usual, tell it as it is.

Coronahufter

The Dutch version of a Covidiot. It means something like ‘Corona Jerk’, or a variant of, and you’ll probably be called this when you’re deep in hoestschaamte.

You’ve got to understand that the Dutch are using words like Covidiot too, so whilst their side of the slang may be lacking (for now), just know that they have plenty of ways of calling anyone who dares leave the safety of their own home out.

There’s my short and simple list of Corona slang to help you get through the global pandemic. Have I missed any words out? Do you have any of your own? Let me know down below.

Until next time, stay safe, and don’t be a Covidiot.

Doei! xxx

4

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@nether_netherland

Californian donuts in Deventer? Apparently? The li Californian donuts in Deventer? Apparently? The list of donut flavours at @dailydonutdeventer was wild:
🍩 vanilla glazed
🍩 chocolate 
🍩 strawberry rainbow
🍩 blueberry
🍩 lemon merangue
🍩 marshmallow
🍩 mango coconut 
🍩 maple bacon
🍩 oreo
🍩 white chocolate caramel
🍩 lemon cheesecake 
🍩 smarties 
🍩 cinammon 
🍩 boston cream
🍩 cafe au lait
And of course 
🍩 tompouce...

We went for tompouce and maple bacon, and they were *chef's kiss*, although I couldn't finish the tompouce one by myself (not something i say very often you know 😛). Looking back on that list though, there are a few I wouldn't have minded trying out... what's your choice??

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I 💛 Deventer #postcardgram #deventercity #deve I 💛 Deventer

#postcardgram #deventercity #deventerstad #deventercentrum #deventer #passionpassports #hiermoetjezijn #visitholland #besteurope #heyhoneyguide #europestyle_ #prettycities #dutch_best #dutchreview #dutcharchitecture #dutch_connextion #netherlandsofficial #netherlandsdaily #netherlandsvibes
This giant piece of architectural beauty is De Waa This giant piece of architectural beauty is De Waag - the old weighing house from 1531, and it sits slap bang in the centre of the town square.

Coo-ee can you see me heh heh. My tiny head was trying to pose with the stone lion on the banister but yeah, the whole building just engulfs me so it's hard to see my cheesy grin. Probably for the best eh. 

At the weekend, the market stalls are set out in front of the building (swipe left? Or right? I literally don't know... left... ???? Crikey I'd be bad at Tinder). I don't know about you but I'd love to have my mini florist stall outside De Waag 🤩🌷

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De Walstraat is Deventer's oldest street lined wit De Walstraat is Deventer's oldest street lined with shops of every description. Antiques, sjokolaa (can you guess what that one sells?), EVEN AN ENGLISH TEA ROOM. I know. They sold crumpets. But they weren't open...

The white line is supposedly meant to keep people walking on the 'correct side of the road' but as you can see, not everyone got the memo 😂

#deventer #deventercity #deventerstad #hiermoetjezijn #postcardplaces #thenetherlands🇳🇱 #dutchcity #citiesoftheworld #citiesofeurope #netherlandsexplorer #netherlandsofficial #netherlandsdaily #dutch_connextion #dutch_best #dutchreview #hollandinbeeld #holland_photolovers
Hello, does anyone fancy wandering the ultra cute Hello, does anyone fancy wandering the ultra cute streets of Deventer with me over the next few days?!

We did 24 hours in #deventer this weekend and it's become my new favourite smaller city in NL. Guys, it's well cute.

Obviously Covid restrictions meant we couldn't enter shops or cafes, but that's cool. Who doesn't love wandering the streets with a Chai Latte warming up your fingers and a puntzakje full of your favourite joppie covered friet?!

Anyway, hope you guys had a lovely easter. We're celebrating today with brunch and it's just started snowing. April really will do what it wants eh ❄

#deventercity #deventercentrum #deventerstad #netherlandsofficial #netherlandsdaily #cutedutchcities #bestofnetherlands #heelnederland_fotografeert #hollandinbeeld #super_holland #nederland #netherlands #ig_discover_netherlands #ig_discover_holland #dutch_connextion
I can't quite tell you what I'm searching for, but I can't quite tell you what I'm searching for, but my pal here, het vrouwtje van Stavoren, or in English, the lady of Stavoren is looking for her wealth 💰 (ok, guess we're both looking for the same thing)...

#stavoren #lovefryslan #visitfriesland #ig_friesland #friesland #elfsteden #bestineurope #fryslân #besuchtfriesland #frieslandstyle #hiermoetjezijn #elevencities #elfsteden #elfstedentocht #stavorenharbour #hetvrouwtjevanstavoren
Looking out over the Ijsselmeer from Stavoren Have Looking out over the Ijsselmeer from Stavoren Haven. You can't tell because of how calm and sunny everything is in this pic, but it was super windy and my fingers were blue from the cold. The Netherlands really is a 4 seasons in one day kinda place ⛵🌬☀️

#lovefryslan #visitfriesland #ig_friesland #friesland #elfsteden #bestineurope #fryslân #besuchtfriesland #frieslandstyle #hiermoetjezijn #stavoren #fryslân #findingfriesland #finding_friesland
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