Idea and list from @funwithlanguages (list: 300 words)
Low Saxon (Platt, Plattdüütsch, Nedderdüütsch, Neddersass’sch) is a language spoken in Northern Germany, the Netherlands and Southern Denmark. It is officially protected by the European Charta of Regional and Minority Language in Germany and the Netherlands. It has 2.5 to 5 million speakers. The Russian Mennonites speak the Low Saxon dialect Plautdietsch, whose 500,000 speakers live all around the globe, especially North and South America. In the Brazilian municipal Santa Maria de Jetibá it also an official language. This guide covers the Northern Low Saxon varieties on German soil.
You can already express a lot with only the 300 most basic words. In everyday situations, these 300 words make up 65% of the vocabulary you would use. For starting a language, these words are crucial and can boost your learning experience. So, if you chose to learn Low Saxon, this’ll give you a big head start.
Du kannst al teemlich veel uutdrücken mit bloots 300 vun de eenfachsten Wöör. In Alldagssituatschonen maakt düsse 300 Wöör 65% vun’n Woordschatt uut, den du bruken wörrst. Üm een Spraak antofangen sünd düsse Wöör vun grote Bedüden un köönt dien Leerbeleevnis in Swung bringen. Wenn du also Plattdüütsch leren wullt, warrt di dit hier to een groten Vöörsprung verhölpen.
(all plural persons conjugate the same; pp. means ‘past participle’)
(Regular endings on given orthographic stem: ik -/, du -st, s/he -t, wi/ji/se -t)
be - ween (ik bün, du büst, se/he is, wi/ji/se sünd, pp. ween)
have - hebben (ik heff, du hest, s/he hett, wi/ji/se hebbt, pp. hatt)
do - doon (ik do, du deist, s/he deit, wi/ji/se doot, pp. daan)
go - gaan (ik ga, du geist, s/he geit, wi/ji/se gaat, pp. gaan)
want - wüllen (ik will, du wullt, s/he will, wi/ji/se wüllt, pp. wullt)
can - könen (ik kann, du kannst, s/he kann, wi/ji/se köönt, pp. kunnt)
need - bruken (regular, orthographic conjugation stem: bruuk-)
think - dinken (regular stem: dink-, pp. dacht)
know - weten (regular stem: weet-, pp. weten)
say - seggen (regular stem: segg-, pp. seggt)
like - mögen (ik mag, du magst, s/he mag, wi/ji/se möögt, pp. mücht)
speak - snacken (regular stem: snack-, pp. snackt)
learn - leren (regular stem: leer-, pp. leert)
understand - verstaan (ik versta, du versteist, s/he versteit, wi/ji/se verstaat, pp. verstaan)
that (as in “I think that…”) - , dat ...
so (meaning “therefore”; e.g. “I wanted it, so I bought it”) - daarso, vundaar
like (meaning “similar to”) - as
before (also as a conjunction) - vöör, vöördat (conj.)
after (also as a conjunction) - na, daarna, nadat (conj.)
during - wiel, wielst, wieldes, bides
(Many question forms have synonymous short, half-long and long forms.)
where - woneem, ‘neem, wo
how - woans, wo, wodennig, wosück
how much - wo veel (depending on noun also wo vele, wo velen)
which - welk (depending on noun also welke, welken)
too (as in “too tall”) - to
so (as in “so tall”) - so
more - meer (more than - meer as)
less - weniger (less than - weniger as)
as … as … - so ... as ...
most - meerst (depending on noun also meerste, meersten)
least - wenigst (depending on noun also wenigste, wenigsten)
better - beter (depending on noun also betere, beteren)
best - best (depending on noun also beste, besten)
worse - leger (depending on noun also legere, legeren)
worst - leegst (depending on noun also leegste, leegsten)
always - jümmers, altieds
(Adjectives are declined according to the gender and case of the noun. In case of doubt, leave it undeclined, some dialects have invariant adjectives.)
the; a - dat (neuter), de (male/female/plural), den (male, object case); een (same for all)
this - dit (neuter), düsse (male/female), düssen (male, object case)
that - dat (neuter), de (male/female/plural, with long vowel), den (male, object case)
bad - slecht, slechte, slechten
all - all (normally undeclined)
some - welk, welke, welken (mank, manke, manken)
no - keen (normally undeclined)
few - wenig, wenige, wenigen
most - meerst, meerste, meersten
other - anner (normally undeclined)
same - datsülvige (neuter), desülvige (male/female/plural), densülvigen (male, object case)
different - ünnerscheedlich, ~liche, ~lichen; verschillen, ~e, ~en
a few - een beten, een paar
first - eerst, eerste, eersten
next - neegst, neegste, neegsten
last (meaning “past”, e.g. “last Friday”) - verleden ...
last (meaning “final”) - lesd, lesde, lesden
easy - eenfach, eenfache, eenfachen
hard - hard, harde, harden
early - frö, frö’e, frö’en
important - wichtig, wichtige, wichtigen
interesting - intressant, intressante, intressanten
fun - famoos, famose, famosen
boring - langwielig, ~lige, ~ligen
beautiful - smuck, smucke, smucken; schöön, schöne, schönen
big - groot, grote, groten
small - lütt, lütte, lütten
happy - frölich, ~liche, ~lichen
sad - trurig, trurige, trurigen
busy - drock, drocke, drocken
excited - hibbelig, hibbelige, hibbeligen
tired - mööd, möde, möden
ready - fardig, fardige, fardigen; klaar, klare, klaren; redig, redige, redigen
favorite - Leevsten- (forms a composite noun)
right (meaning “correct”) - richtig, richtige, richtigen
wrong - verkeert, verkeerte, verkeerten
(Low Saxon has two cases: 1. the subject case (nominative) & 2. object case; 3. possessives don’t decline.)
you (plural) - ji, jo, joon
they - se, jem, eer (jemeer)
Low Saxon has three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. The indefinite article is always the same for all: een. The definite article for neuter nouns is dat and is invariable, the article for female, masculine and all plural nouns is de and there is only one instance where masculine and female articles differ, which is when a singular masculine noun with a definite article stands in the object case, only then the article changes to den, female de never changes. Noun declension only comprises the plural, which is added when it exists.
something - jichtenswat / wat
everyone - jeedeen / elkeen
someone - jichtenseen / een
Low Saxon - Platt, Plattdüütsch; formal Nedderdüütsch, Neddersass’sch; in NL Nedersaksies, by the Russian Mennonites Plautdietsch
English - Engelsch; engelsch, ~e, ~en
person - de Persoon (f), Personen
place - de Plats (m), Pläts
time (as in “a long time”) - de Tied (f), ~en
time (as in “I did it 3 times”) - dat Maal, Malen
friend - de Fründ (m), de Frünnin (f); de Frünn (m.pl.), de Frünninnen (f.pl.)
woman - de Fro, Froon / Froonslüüd
man - de Mann, Männer / Mannslüüd
country - dat Land, Länner
Germany - dat Düütschland
‘Low Germany’ - dat Plattdüütschland (the area where Low Saxon is spoken)
language - de Spraak, Spraken
office - dat Kuntoor, Kuntoren
company - de Bedriev, ~en; dat Ünnernemen, ~s
manager - de Bedrievsleider (m), ~sche (f); ~s (m.pl.), ~n (f.pl.); de Baas (m), ~sche (f); ~s (m.pl.), ~n (f.pl.)
coworker - de Mitarbeider (m), ~sche (f); ~s (m.pl.), ~n (f.pl.)
job - de Beroop (m), Berööp
work (as in “I have a lot of work to do”) - de Arbeid (f), ~en
problem - dat Probleem, Problemen
question - de Fraag (f), Fragen
idea - de Idee (f), Ideen
year - dat Jaar, Jaren / Jarenden
week - de Week (f), Weken
month - de Maand (m), ~en
mother, father, parent - de Moder (f), de Vader (m), de Öllern (pl.)
daughter, son, child - de Dochter (f), de Söön (m), dat Kind
wife, husband - de Fro (f), de Mann (m) (used with possessives)
girlfriend, boyfriend - de Frünnin (f), de Fründ (m) (used with possessives)
Verbs can change according to person, number and tense in Low Saxon.
The endings for the simple present are: ik -/, du -st, se/he/dat -t, wi/ji/se -t.
The endings for the simple past are: ik -/, du -st, se/he/dat -/, wi/ji/se -en.
Four verb forms are important to build all other forms:
1. the infinitive
2. third person singular simple present
3. third person singular simple past
4. past participle
Many verbs have a different vowel (and/or consonant) in the simple present for the second and third person singular, thus the second verb form that indicates this change; irregular verbs change their vowel (and/or consonant) in the past tense, hence the third verb form; and many of these irregular verbs have a different vowel for the past participle, which is used for the perfect tense with either ween (to be) or hebben (to have) as auxiliary verbs (see conj. above)
work (as in a person working) - arbeiden, s/he arbeidt, s/he arbeid, arbeidt (hebben)
work (meaning “to function”) - funkschoneren, s/he ~neert, s/he ~neer, ~neert (hebben)
see - seen, s/he süüt, s/he seeg, seen (hebben)
use - bruken, s/he bruukt, s/he bruuk, bruukt (hebben)
should - schölen, s/he schall, s/he schull, schullt (hebben)
believe - glöven, s/he glöövt, s/he glööv, glöövt (hebben)
practice - öven, s/he öövt, s/he ööv, öövt (hebben)
seem - schienen, s/he schient, s/he scheen, schenen (hebben); impersonal it seems - dat lett (present), dat leet (past)
come - kamen, s/he kümmt, s/he keem, kamen (ween)
leave - verlaten, s/he verlett, s/he verleet, verlaten (hebben)
return - wedderkamen, s/he kümmt wedder, s/he keem wedder, wedderkamen (ween)
give - geven, s/he gifft, s/he geev, geven (hebben)
take - nemen, s/he nimmt, s/he neem, namen (hebben)
bring - bringen, s/he bringt, s/he bröch, bröcht (hebben)
look for - söken, s/he söcht, s/he söch, söcht (hebben)
find - finnen, s/he finnt, s/he funn, funnen (hebben)
get (meaning “obtain”) - kriegen, s/he kriggt, s/he kreeg, kregen (hebben)
receive - kriegen, s/he kriggt, s/he kreeg, kregen (hebben)
buy - kopen/köpen, s/he köfft, s/he köff, köfft (hebben)
try - versöken, s/he versöcht, s/he versöch, versöcht (hebben)
start - anfangen, s/he fangt an, s/he füng an, anfungen (hebben)
stop (doing something) - ophören, s/he höört op, s/he höör op, ophöört (hebben)
finish - fardigmaken, s/he maakt fardig, s/he maak/möök fardig, fardigmaakt (hebben); also beennen (regular) /be’ennen/
continue - wiedermaken, s/he maakt wieder, s/he maak/möök wieder, wiedermaakt (hebben)
wake up - opwaken, s/he waakt op, s/he waak op, opwaakt (ween)
get up - opstaan, s/he steit op, s/he stünn op, opstaan (ween)
eat - eten, s/he itt, s/he eet, eten (hebben)
eat breakfast - fröstücken, s/he fröstückt, s/he fröstück, fröstückt (hebben)
eat lunch - Middag eten (see eten)
eat dinner - Avendbrood eten (see eten)
happen - passeren, dat passeert, dat passeer, passeert (ween)
feel - fölen, s/he föölt, s/he fööl, föölt (hebben)
create (aka “make”) - schapen, s/he schaapt, s/he schaap, schapen (hebben)
cause (aka “make”) - uutlösen, s/he lööst uut, s/he löös uut, uutlööst (hebben); bewarken, s/he bewarkt, s/he bewark, bewarkt (hebben); veroorsaken, s/he veroorsaakt, s/he veroorsaak, veroorsaakt (hebben)
meet (meeting someone for the first time) - drapen, s/he dröppt, s/he dreep, drapen (hebben)
meet (meaning “to bump into”) - sik bemöten, s/he bemött sik, s/he bemött sik, sik bemött (hebben)
meet (an arranged meeting) - in de Mööt kamen (see kamen)
ask (a question) - fragen, s/he fraagt, s/he fraag/fröög, fraagt (hebben)
ask for (aka “request”) - beden, s/he büddt, s/he beed, beden (hebben)
wonder - sik wunnern, s/he wunnert sik, s/he wunner sik, sik wunnert (hebben)
reply - antern, s/he antert, s/he anter, antert (hebben)
mean (having a meaning) - bedüden, dat bedüüdt, dat bedüüd, bedüüdt (hebben)
mean (having an opinion) - menen, s/he meent, s/he meen, meent (hebben)
read - lesen, s/he leest, s/he lees, leest (hebben)
write - schrieven, s/he schrifft, s/he schreev, schreven (hebben)
listen - (to)lüüstern, s/he lüüstert (to), s/he lüüster (to), (to)lüüstert (hebben)
hear - hören, s/he höört, s/he höör, höört (hebben)
remember - sik besinnen, s/he besinnt sik, s/he besunn sik, sik besunnen (hebben)
forget - vergeten, s/he vergitt, s/he vergeet, vergeten (hebben)
choose - (uut)wälen, s/he wäält (uut), s/he wääl (uut), (uut)wäält (hebben); (uut)kesen, s/he küsst (uut), s/he koos (uut), (uut)kasen (hebben)
decide - besluten/beslüten, s/he beslutt/beslütt, s/he besloot/beslööt, beslaten (hebben)
be born - boren ween (see ween)
die - doodblieven, s/he blifft dood, s/he bleev dood, doodbleven (ween); starven, s/he starvt, s/he storv/störv, starven (ween)
kill - doodmaken (see maken)
live - leven, s/he leevt, s/he leev, leevt (hebben)
stay - blieven, s/he blifft, s/he bleev, bleven (ween)
change - ännern, s/he ännert, s/he änner, ännert (hebben)
help - hülpen, s/he hülpt, s/he holp/hölp, holpen (hebben)
send - (to)stüren, s/he stüürt to, s/he stüür (to), tosüürt (hebben)
study (to learn) - leren, s/he leert, s/he leer, leert (hebben)
study (at a university) - studeren, s/he studeert, s/he studeer, studeert (hebben)
improve - verbetern, s/he verbetert, s/he verbeter, verbetert (hebben)
hope - hapen, s/he haapt, s/he haap/hööp, haapt (hebben)
care - sik plegen, s/he pleegt sik, s/he pleeg sik, sik pleegt (hebben)
thank you - Velen Dank, Dank di, Dank ook, Bedankt
you’re welcome - Daar nich för
excuse me (to get someone’s attention) - Deit mi leed, ...
it’s fine (response to an apology) - (Dat) maakt nix.
please - Ik beed di, (Büdde)
okay - Okay, Allens klaar
My name is - Mien Naam is ..., Ik heet ...
What’s your name? - Wat is dien Naam? Wat heetst du?
Nice to meet you. - Schöön, di kennen to leren.
How are you? - Wo geit di dat?
I’m doing well, how about you? - Mi geit dat good, un di?
Sorry? / What? (if you didn’t hear something) - Hä? Wat? Deit mi leed, wat?
How do you say ______? - Wo(ans) seggst du _______?
What does ______ mean? - Wat heet/bedüüdt _________ ?
I don’t understand. - Ik versta dat nich.
Could you repeat that? - Kannst du dat nochmaal seggen?
Could you speak more slowly, please? - Kannst du büdde langsamer snacken?
Well (as in “well, I think…”) - Na, also, nau, naja, nu, tja
I guess that - Ik dink, dat ...
It’s hot. (talking about the weather) - Dat is hitt.
It’s cold. (talking about the weather) - Dat is koold.
