kit

I am writing something, and need to know if "zoeken" is indeed the proper verb for "search" in Dutch. Google Translate says so, but I'd rather have a real person say so. The person I interviewed for the story told me the word was "zuka" but it is entirely possible he would not know the proper spelling, as we were speaking of commands for military dogs that he likely learned in an audible -- not written -- way. Thank you!

gwan

I don't speak Dutch, so shouldn't really reply... But that looks like an infinitive to me. Can you clarify if you're wanting to use a command, "Search!", or some other form, and maybe an actual Dutch speaker can sort you out

Underhill

Try posting this in the Netherlands forum on tripadvisor.com, where you're most likely to find Dutch speakers.

kit

Yes, it would be a command to a police dog -- "Search!"

PatrickLondon

Yes, it is; the final "n" in such words in Dutch is commonly not voiced when spoken, so your interviewee was right in that respect, if not in the spelling.

Cowboy1968

I would bet a pilsje that the command (imperative form) should be: Zoek!
Zoe- will be roughly pronounced as in English zoo, and zoek as if it was zook in English.

capxxx

I don't speak Dutch, but I know enough German to fake it ...

Zoeken is the infinitive form ``to seek'' or ``to search''

en.wiktionary.org/wiki/zoeken says the imperative singular is zoek! and the imperative plural (archaic) is zoekt!

PatrickLondon

Oh, and BTW, it's not unusual in other European languages to use the infinitive as a general imperative, as on public notices - it happens in French and German as well (anyone else remember "Ne pas se pencher au dehors" and "Nicht hinauslehnen"?)

Cowboy1968

Have found a list of typical dog commands on the web:
http://users.telenet.be/hondenclub.t...hebevelen.html
It is indeed : Zoek!

capxxx

But wow, you can find anything on the Internet!

The site, Most Used Dog Training Commands in Dutch, austringer.tripod.com/AEGIS/DutchCmd.html,

says Zoek or Zoeken can be used.

Cowboy1968

Patrick, I am afraid that I don't know my own language enough to explain it LOL
It is used in impersonal conversation, usually when there is no other person speaking but as in your example a sign is "talking" to you.. If you were talking to another person you would probably be a bit more polite and say " Lehnen Sie sich bitte nicht hinaus!". The imperative that looks like the infinitive would only be approbriate in situations of clear and present danger when no time is to be wasted with niceties.

kit

Wow is right. Thank you, all. So many reasons to love Fodors. (And so much interesting stuff to learn about police dogs! It was a great story to write