Jupiter

Afrikaans: Jupiter

→ Papiamentu: Yüpitèr

From Middle Dutch jupiter, from Latin Iūpiter.


Zeus

From Middle Dutch zeus, from Ancient Greek Ζεύς (Zeús).

(Greek mythology) Zeus (Supreme ruler of all Greek gods, husband to Hera)


surprise

nl-noun

surprise f (plural surprises, diminutive surprisetje n)

surprises (plural)
surprisetje (diminutive neuter)

(Netherlands) a gift wrapped in an ingenious or creative manner; often given anonymously during Sinterklaas celebrations in a similar way to secret Santa


Europa

From Middle Dutch europa, from Latin Eurōpa, from Ancient Greek Εὐρώπᾱ (Eurṓpā), Doric form of Εὐρώπη (Eurṓpē).

(Greek mythology) a Phoenician princess abducted to Crete by Zeus


satyr

satyr m (plural satyrs, diminutive satyrtje n)

satyrs (plural)
satyrtje (diminutive neuter)

Ultimately from Latin satyrus, from Ancient Greek σάτυρος (sáturos).

(Greek mythology, Roman mythology) satyr, faun


spook

spook n (plural spoken, diminutive spookje n)

desctree

Afrikaans: spook
→ Northern Ndebele: isipoko
→ Xhosa: isiporho
→ Zulu: isipoki

Negerhollands: spook

→ English: spook

→ Papiamentu: spoki, spooki

From Middle Dutch spoke, spooc, from spoke, spoocke, spoicke (“wizardry, witchcraft”), from Proto-Germanic *spōk. Further etymology unclear. Cognate with Middle Low German spôk, Low German spôk, Middle High German Spuch, and German Spuk.

het spook van de oorlog

an imaginary horror, conceptual nightmare


Andromeda

Borrowed from Latin Andromeda, from Ancient Greek Ἀνδρομέδα (Androméda).


Narcissus

Borrowed from Latin Narcissus, from Ancient Greek Νάρκισσος (Nárkissos).


Iris

Borrowed from Latin Iris or Ancient Greek Ἶρις (Îris).

(Greek mythology) Iris (divine messenger, goddess of rainbows)


Atlas

Borrowed from Latin Atlas, from Ancient Greek Ἄτλας (Átlas).

(Greek mythology) Atlas (mythological giant)


Sint

nl-noun

Sint m (plural Sinten, diminutive Sintje n)

Sinten (plural)
Sintje (diminutive neuter)


nectar

Coordinate term: ambrozijn

(Greek mythology, Roman mythology) nectar, beverage drunk by the Olympians


hel

hel f (plural hellen, diminutive helletje n)

hellen (plural)
helletje (diminutive neuter)

Negerhollands: hel, hei

From Middle Dutch helle, from Old Dutch hella, from Proto-West Germanic *hallju, from Proto-Germanic *haljō, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover, hide, conceal”).

der

Ik hoop dat je zal branden in de hel.

(religion, mythology) hell, an infernal afterlife


Cepheus

Borrowed from Latin Cēpheus, from Ancient Greek Κηφεύς (Kēpheús).


dwerg

nl-noun

dwerg m (plural dwergen, diminutive dwergje n, feminine dwergin)

dwergen (plural)
dwergje (diminutive neuter)
dwergin (feminine)

Afrikaans: dwerg

From Middle Dutch dwerch, from Old Dutch *dwerg, from Proto-West Germanic *dwerg, from Proto-Germanic *dwergaz.
Compare West Frisian dwerch, German Zwerg, English dwarf, Danish dværg.

(fiction, folklore, fantasy, mythology) dwarf (small folkloristic humanoid)


Eridanus

(Greek mythology) Eridanus (mythical river)


zeepaard

zeepaard n (plural zeepaarden, diminutive zeepaardje n)

zeepaarden (plural)
zeepaardje (diminutive neuter)

Afrikaans: seeperd

From Middle Dutch seepaert. Equivalent to zee + paard.


feniks

feniks m (plural feniksen, diminutive feniksje n)

feniksen (plural)
feniksje (diminutive neuter)


sirene

sirene f (plural sirenen or sirenes, diminutive sirenetje n)

sirenen (plural)
sirenes (plural)
sirenetje (diminutive neuter)

From Middle Dutch sirena, serene, from Old French sereine, from Late Latin sirēna, Latin Sīrēn, from Ancient Greek Σειρήν (Seirḗn). The sense “warning device” derives from French sirène.

(Greek mythology) a siren, a dangerous nymph of Greek mythology, luring passers-by using an irresistible song


marsepein

marsepein m (plural marsepeinen, diminutive marsepeintje n)

marsepeinen (plural)
marsepeintje (diminutive neuter)

→ Indonesian: marsepein, marsêpen

marzipan (sweet confection made of almond paste, sugar and egg white); a portion of it


Pandora

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Πανδώρα (Pandṓra).


Athene

Ultimately from Ancient Greek Ἀθήνη (Athḗnē) and Ἀθῆναι (Athênai).

Athena (ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, craft and war)


draak

draak m (plural draken, diminutive draakje n)

draken (plural)
draakje (diminutive neuter)

From Middle Dutch andrake, from Old Dutch *anadrako, from Proto-West Germanic *anadrekō (“duck leader”).


kraak

nl-noun

kraak m (plural kraken, diminutive kraakje n)

kraken (plural)
kraakje (diminutive neuter)

From kraken (“to crack; to squat; to break and enter”). Cognate with English crack.

breaking and entering
breaking and entering


trol

trol m (plural trollen, diminutive trolletje n)

trollen (plural)
trolletje (diminutive neuter)

Borrowed from Norwegian troll or Swedish troll. Doublet of drol (“mythological giant”) and etymology 2.

(folklore) troll (mythological creature)


halfgod

halfgod m (plural halfgoden, diminutive halfgodje n)

halfgoden (plural)
halfgodje (diminutive neuter)

(Greek mythology) hero of semi-divine extraction

demigod, half-god
hero of semi-divine extraction


eenhoorn

eenhoorn m (plural eenhoorns, diminutive eenhoorntje n)

eenhoorns (plural)
eenhoorntje (diminutive neuter)

From Middle Dutch eenhoorn, a calque of Latin ūnicornis. Equivalent to een (“one”) + hoorn (“horn”).


Sinterklaas

→ English: Santa Claus

→? Saterland Frisian: Sunderkloas


Sint-Nicolaas

Saint Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of Amsterdam and of children


Zwarte Piet

1984, Het Goede Doel (Henk Westbroek and Henk Temming), Sinterklaas (song)

I make a kind of joke about Black Pete’s sack, but the Saint is apparently too busy then, because I don't get an answer.

Ik maak een soort van grapje over de zak van Zwarte Piet, maar Sint heeft het dan blijkbaar druk want antwoord krijg ik niet.

Black Peter, the companion of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas)


paardmens

paardmens m (plural paardmensen, diminutive paardmensje n)

paardmensen (plural)
paardmensje (diminutive neuter)

(Greek mythology, fantasy) centaur or (less commonly) another fictional human-horse hybrid


sinterklaasavond

sinterklaasavond m (plural sinterklaasavonden, diminutive sinterklaasavondje n)

sinterklaasavonden (plural)
sinterklaasavondje (diminutive neuter)

the evening with presents, which is on the day of Sinterklaas, 6 December (in Belgium) or the day before (in the Netherlands)


hulpsinterklaas

hulpsinterklaas m (plural hulpsinterklazen, diminutive hulpsinterklaasje n)

hulpsinterklazen (plural)
hulpsinterklaasje (diminutive neuter)

a helper Sinterklaas, named to explain the fact that Sinterklaas can be at more than one place at the same time


sinterklaaslied

sinterklaaslied n (plural sinterklaasliederen, diminutive sinterklaasliedje n)

sinterklaasliederen (plural)
sinterklaasliedje (diminutive neuter)


taaitaai

taaitaai m (plural taaitaaien, diminutive taaitaaitje n)

taaitaaien (plural)
taaitaaitje (diminutive neuter)

From taai + taai, meaning "tough-tough" because of the difficulty of biting through them.

taaitaai, a kind of soft and tough dough biscuit eaten during Sinterklaas celebrations


strooigoed

a mixture of confectionery that is often strewn around rooms during Sinterklaas celebrations, for children to pick up. The main ingredient is typically kruidnoten


chocoladeletter

chocoladeletter f (plural chocoladeletters, diminutive chocoladelettertje n)

chocoladeletters (plural)
chocoladelettertje (diminutive neuter)

a letter of the alphabet, made of chocolate. Commonly eaten during Sinterklaas celebrations


kruidnoot

kruidnoot f (plural kruidnoten, diminutive kruidnootje n)

kruidnoten (plural)
kruidnootje (diminutive neuter)


speculaas

speculaas m or n (plural speculazen, diminutive speculaasje n)

speculazen (plural)
speculaasje (diminutive neuter)

From earlier speculatie, via the intermediate form speculasie, which was interpreted as a diminutive and the modern form was back-formed from it.


pepernoot

pepernoot f (plural pepernoten, diminutive pepernootje n)

pepernoten (plural)
pepernootje (diminutive neuter)

From peper + noot. Compare German Pfeffernuss, whence English pfeffernusse.


pakjesavond

pakjesavond m (plural pakjesavonden, diminutive pakjesavondje n)

pakjesavonden (plural)
pakjesavondje (diminutive neuter)

(Netherlands) the evening before 5 December, when Sinterklaas brings presents to children (in Belgium the gift-giving is the morning after)


goedheiligman

goedheiligman m (plural goedheiligmannen, diminutive goedheiligmannetje n)

goedheiligmannen (plural)
goedheiligmannetje (diminutive neuter)

From goed (“good”) + heilig (“holy”) + man (“man”). Compare Central Franconian Hellije Mann.


schoen zetten

(intransitive) to put out one's shoe, traditionally at the fireplace, so that Sinterklaas can leave treats in it


Cocytus

Borrowed from Latin Cōcȳtus, from Ancient Greek Κωκυτός (Kōkutós).

(Greek mythology) Cocytus (river in Hades)


nikker

nl-noun

nikker m (plural nikkers, diminutive nikkertje n)

nikkers (plural)
nikkertje (diminutive neuter)

From Middle Dutch nicker (“nix, nixie; demon”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *nikwus, *nikwis (“nix, water-sprite”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *neygʷ- (“to wash”).

inh

Het volk in de nabijheid der hooge bergmeren gelooft nog aan allerlei kobolden, elfen, nikkers, water- en berggeesten.

1873, R. R. Rijkens, De reiziger. Aardrijkskundige beschrijvingen en schilderingen. Leesboek voor de hoogste klasse der lagereschool, 3rd revised edition, J. B. Wolters, page 94:

The people in the vicinity of the high mountain lakes still believe in all kinds of kobolds, elves, necks, water sprites and mountain spirits.

1924, Lodewijk Opdebeek, "Peters Kind" (part 6, "Muziek"), De Vlaamsche Gids, page 289.
Hij vermaande hem zoetjes, sprak van Nikker en Bloedkaros, maar Fikske liet zich niet afbangen, 't kon hem allemaal niet schelen: het manneke, daar diep beneden, trok hem te veel aan.

He gently reprimanded him, talked about the nixie and the child-butchering carriage, but Fikske wouldn't let himself get scared of it, he couldn't care less about it all: the little man, down below there, attracted him far too much for that.

(mythology, dated, now likely to be confused with the ethnic slur) a water spirit, especially one who lures (young) people to drown; a neck, nix, nixie


Icarus

Borrowed from Latin Īcarus, from Ancient Greek Ἴκαρος (Íkaros).

Icarus (Greek mythological figure whose wings disintegrated, drowned in the Aegean)


nimf

nl-noun

nimf f (plural nimfen, diminutive nimfje n)

nimfen (plural)
nimfje (diminutive neuter)

From Middle Dutch nymphe. Borrowed from Old or Middle French, from Latin nympha, borrowed from Ancient Greek νύμφη (númphē), of uncertain origin.

(Greek mythology, Roman mythology) nymph, female lesser divinity of nature


bergnimf

bergnimf f (plural bergnimfen, diminutive bergnimfje n)

bergnimfen (plural)
bergnimfje (diminutive neuter)

Compound of berg (“mountain”) + nimf (“nymph”).


ambrozijn

Ultimately from Latin ambrosia, borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀμβροσία (ambrosía).

(Greek mythology, Roman mythology) ambrosia (divine sustenance)


hemelbestormer

hemelbestormer m (plural hemelbestormers, diminutive hemelbestormertje n)

hemelbestormers (plural)
hemelbestormertje (diminutive neuter)

Compound of hemel (“heaven”) + bestormer (“stormer, one who charges/attacks”). Possibly a calque of German Himmelstürmer, which already appears in the 16th century.

compound

1614, Daniël Heinsius, "Lof-sanck van Bacchvs", in L. Ph. Rank, J. D. P. Warners & F. L. Zwaan (eds.), Bacchus en Christus. Twee lofzangen van Daniel Heinsius, Tjeenk Willink (1965, 1st ed.), page 152, footnote to line 418.
5. Mimas] Een vande hemelbestormers oft reusen, by Horatius ende andere gemelt.

5. Mimas: One of the Titans or giants, mentioned in Horace and others.


oervloed

(mythology, cosmogony, creation stories) primordial waters, primordial deep

cosmogony; creation stories; cosmogony; creation stories


aardslang

nl-noun

aardslang f (plural aardslangen, diminutive aardslangetje n)

aardslangen (plural)
aardslangetje (diminutive neuter)

(historical, mythology) a snake that represents earth, as opposed to other parts or elements of the cosmos


menspaard

From mens (“human, person”) + paard (“horse”).


gorgoon

nl-noun

gorgoon f (plural gorgonen, diminutive gorgoontje n)

gorgonen (plural)
gorgoontje (diminutive neuter)

From Middle Dutch gorgone, from Latin Gorgon, from Ancient Greek Γοργώ (Gorgṓ).

(Greek mythology) gorgon (female monster with snakes on her head)


harpij

Afrikaans: harpy

From Middle Dutch harpie, arpie, from Old French harpie, from Latin harpyia, from Ancient Greek ἅρπυια (hárpuia).

(Greek mythology) harpy (hybrid of a woman and a bird of prey)


rijpreus

Compound of rijp (“hoarfrost”) + reus (“giant”), likely modelled on Old Norse hrímþurs.


ijsreus

Compound of ijs (“ice”) + reus (“giant”).

(mythology) ice giant, frost giant (mythological creature)


rijmreus

Compound of rijm (“rime, hoarfrost”) + reus (“giant”), likely modelled on Old Norse hrímþurs.

compound

(mythology, rare, chiefly in the plural) ice giant, frost giant


vorstreus

Compound of vorst (“frost”) + reus (“giant”).


chtonisch

chtonisch (adverbial positive predicative)
chtonische (feminine indefinite masculine positive singular)
chtonisch (indefinite neuter positive singular)
chtonische (indefinite plural positive)
chtonische (definite positive)
chtonisch (partitive positive)

Ultimately from Ancient Greek χθών (khthṓn).


cycloop

nl-noun

cycloop m (plural cyclopen, diminutive cycloopje n)

cyclopen (plural)
cycloopje (diminutive neuter)

From Middle Dutch ciclope, from Old French cyclope, from Latin cyclōps, from Ancient Greek Κύκλωψ (Kúklōps).

(Greek mythology) cyclops (one-eyed giant)


minotaurus

minotaurus m (plural minotaurussen or minotauri)

minotaurussen (plural)
minotauri (plural)

Inherited from Middle Dutch minotaurus, from Latin minōtaurus, from Ancient Greek Μινώταυρος (Minṓtauros). Equivalent to common-noun use of Minotaurus.


Gouden Eeuw

In reference to the mythological Golden Age of classical antiquity.

(historical, mythology) the mythological Golden Age of classical antiquity, under the rule of Saturn as chief deity


godenberg

(religion, mythology) a mountain where gods reside


godenwereld

(religion, mythology) a pantheon, a group of gods who are associated with each other

(religion, mythology) an abode of the gods, a realm of the gods


zeedraak

zeedraak m (plural zeedraken, diminutive zeedraakje n)

zeedraken (plural)
zeedraakje (diminutive neuter)

(mythology, fantasy) a sea dragon, a marine dragon


hoorn des overvloeds

(Greek mythology) cornucopia (a goat's horn endlessly overflowing with fruit, flowers and grain; or full of whatever its owner wanted)


Atreïde

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀτρείδης (Atreídēs).