C2 · Lesson 278 · Mastery (C2)

Near-synonyms

Choose precisely between words that look interchangeable but aren't.

Grammar

Same meaning? Not quite.

blij is a reaction to something (blij met a present, blij dat you came); vrolijk is a visible, cheerful mood or character, also of things (een vrolijk liedje, vrolijke kleuren); opgewekt is upbeat and energetic, slightly more formal (Hij klonk opgewekt.).
kijken is the action (kijken naar), zien the perception or result: Ik keek, maar ik zag niets. staren = look fixedly for a long time, gluren = peep secretly, turen = peer into the distance or at something hard to see.
zeggen is neutral; beweren = claim (the writer keeps their distance or doubts it); verklaren = declare officially, or explain (Hoe verklaar je dat?); stellen = state or argue a position (De auteur stelt dat…).
bang is everyday (bang voor honden); angstig describes a fearful state or look and is more written (een angstige blik); benauwd is first of all stuffy or short of breath (benauwd weer), and informally also scared (Ik was even benauwd dat…).
slim = clever (sometimes cunning), intelligent = intellectually able (neutral, formal), sluw = sly (negative), schrander = bright (somewhat old-fashioned). lopen = walk, wandelen = walk for pleasure, slenteren = amble without a goal.

neutral	nuance 1	nuance 2	nuance 3
blij (glad)	vrolijk (cheerful)	opgewekt (upbeat)
kijken (look)	staren (stare)	gluren (peep)	turen (peer)
zeggen (say)	beweren (claim)	verklaren (declare)	stellen (state, argue)
bang (afraid)	angstig (fearful)	benauwd (stuffy; scared)
slim (clever)	intelligent	sluw (sly)	schrander (bright)
lopen (walk)	wandelen (stroll, hike)	slenteren (amble)

Vocabulary