The enormous Dutch influence on America

Messy

Messy

Senior Member
Boss: baas
Cookie: koekie
Dollar: daalder, but that comes from the German Zsech thaler
Coleslaw: koolsla
Yacht: jacht
Sleigh: slee
Santa Claus: Sinterklaas
Bluff: bluffen
Berm: berm
Drugstore: drogisterij
Brooklyn: Breukelen
Harlem: Haarlem
Knapsack: knapzak
Dyke: dijk
Yankees: comes from 'Jan-Kees'. Dutch colonists who moved to the New Netherland (present-day New York) in the 17th century were often named Jan or Kees. Their British competitors therefore mockingly called them 'Jan-Kezen'. In translated form: 'Yankees'.
 
robin416 said:
It might be better to say Dutch influence on English since it is spoken as a first language in other countries.
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Oh yes you're right. We have even more influence than I thought. But the British keep saying biscuits lol.
 
We show other influences all over the country French in Louisiana, Hispanic in the south west,
Missouri the rivers and counties names are mostly Native American and had a large influx of German
settlers. It is fascinating to read up where they all migrated to once they got here.
 
GP44 said:
I remember when I was in elementary school hearing about some Dutch guy discovered New York!
His name was something Van something.
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Looked it up. It was an Italian guy and then an Englishman who worked for the Dutch.

The Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European to visit the port of New York in 1524. However, actual exploration and settlement did not begin until 1609 with the Englishman Henry Hudson, who explored the river named after him on behalf of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Important historical facts: Discovery (1524): Giovanni da Verrazzano named the area "Nouvelle-AngoulĆŖme". Exploration (1609): Henry Hudson mapped the area for the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Founding (1624-1625): The Dutch founded the colony of New Netherland and the settlement of New Amsterdam on the island of Manhattan.
 
Messy said:
Looked it up. It was an Italian guy and then an Englishman who worked for the Dutch.

The Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European to visit the port of New York in 1524. However, actual exploration and settlement did not begin until 1609 with the Englishman Henry Hudson, who explored the river named after him on behalf of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Important historical facts: Discovery (1524): Giovanni da Verrazzano named the area "Nouvelle-AngoulĆŖme". Exploration (1609): Henry Hudson mapped the area for the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Founding (1624-1625): The Dutch founded the colony of New Netherland and the settlement of New Amsterdam on the island of Manhattan.
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Wow! Where were you at when my fourth grade teacher was steering wrong!
I feel like I have been so misguided now! LOL!
Of course I might have remembered it all wrong because that was 73 years ago when I was in fourth grade. Did I figure that out right? 82-9?
 
Messy said:
Looked it up. It was an Italian guy and then an Englishman who worked for the Dutch.

The Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European to visit the port of New York in 1524. However, actual exploration and settlement did not begin until 1609 with the Englishman Henry Hudson, who explored the river named after him on behalf of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Important historical facts: Discovery (1524): Giovanni da Verrazzano named the area "Nouvelle-AngoulĆŖme". Exploration (1609): Henry Hudson mapped the area for the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Founding (1624-1625): The Dutch founded the colony of New Netherland and the settlement of New Amsterdam on the island of Manhattan.
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Glad you mentioned this.
I'm one of the individuals who didn't pay enough attention in Social Studies class, because this was probably addressed..
Wondering if you or anyone else here might know the answer:

As the one individual you mentioned was British, and name was HENRY Hudson, why is it various references and even a high school refer to him as HENDRICK Hudson, which led most people to figure he was Dutch?
 
Sunkist said:
Glad you mentioned this.
I'm one of the individuals who didn't pay enough attention in Social Studies class, because this was probably addressed..
Wondering if you or anyone else here might know the answer:

As the one individual you mentioned was British, and name was HENRY Hudson, why is it various references and even a high school refer to him as HENDRICK Hudson, which led most people to figure he was Dutch?
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Wow really? No way. They just wanted to take credit and made him sound Dutch.

Google AI: Henry Hudson was "Dutchified" by the Dutch to Hendrick Hudson because he entered the service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1609. Although he was an Englishman, his Dutch employers made his name more accessible to the Dutch language and administration during the Golden Age. Here are the main reasons: Service with the VOC: In 1609, Hudson sailed for the VOC aboard the ship Halve Maen in search of a northern route to the Indies. In Dutch documents from that time, his name was adapted, similar to how the French would call him Henri. Dutchification in writings: In Dutch archives and later historical accounts, the English 'y' was often replaced by 'i' or 'ick', which was common at the time to make foreign names fit into Dutch spelling.

Historical memory: By calling him "Hendrick", he became more a part of Dutch history, as he discovered the river (Hudson River) that formed the basis for the colony of New Netherland. The name "Hendrick Hudson" is often used in the Netherlands to emphasize his crucial role in the Dutch voyages of discovery, despite his English nationality.
 
Messy said:
Wow really? No way. They just wanted to take credit and made him sound Dutch.

Google AI: Henry Hudson was "Dutchified" by the Dutch to Hendrick Hudson because he entered the service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1609. Although he was an Englishman, his Dutch employers made his name more accessible to the Dutch language and administration during the Golden Age. Here are the main reasons: Service with the VOC: In 1609, Hudson sailed for the VOC aboard the ship Halve Maen in search of a northern route to the Indies. In Dutch documents from that time, his name was adapted, similar to how the French would call him Henri. Dutchification in writings: In Dutch archives and later historical accounts, the English 'y' was often replaced by 'i' or 'ick', which was common at the time to make foreign names fit into Dutch spelling.

Historical memory: By calling him "Hendrick", he became more a part of Dutch history, as he discovered the river (Hudson River) that formed the basis for the colony of New Netherland. The name "Hendrick Hudson" is often used in the Netherlands to emphasize his crucial role in the Dutch voyages of discovery, despite his English nationality.
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That's interesting! Thanks for the info!!
 
George1959 said:
The Germans brought you kindergarten, angst, octoberfest, bratwurst, schnitzel (or snitzel), sauerkraut, biergarten and doppelganger to mention only some of the words.
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Yes Kindergarten. Kindergarten cop. Or rĆ¼cksack and hamburger.
 
I think the word ā€œdrugstoreā€ is an American word only because itā€™s a compound word of drug and store. It was definitely around in the 1800ā€™s that was used in American Western shows and movies. I am only guessing, so itā€™s possible that the Dutch used it first.
 
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