How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Dutch words on “Society and politics”. The full topic holds 178 in the KoKo app: 71 at the easy level, 62 at the medium level and 45 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Dutch vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Dutch vocabulary: politics and society

Government, elections, rights, debates: the Dutch words for talking about society and politics.

Here are 100 Dutch words on “Society and politics”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 40 words

Dutch	English
leger	army
aanval	attack
veldslag	battle
grens	border
verkiezingscampagne	campaign
kandidaat	candidate
kerk	church
overheidsdienst	civil service
maatschappelijk middenveld	civil society
raad	council
land	countryAn inhabited territory, in the geographical sense
nederlaag	defeat
democratie	democracy
Europese Unie	European Union
vrijheid van meningsuiting	freedom of speech
regering	government
mensenrechten	human rights
verkiezingsprogramma	manifesto
burgemeester	mayor
militaire dienst	military service
ministerie	ministry
gemeente	municipality
oppositie	opposition
parlement	parliament
vrede	peace
politiek	politics
president	president
premier	prime minister
hervorming	reform
religie	religion
republiek	republic
verzet	resistance
sociale rechtvaardigheid	social justice
toespraak	speech
staat	stateThe political institution that holds sovereign power
ambtstermijn	term of office
verdrag	treaty
stem	vote
stemrecht	voting right
wapen	weapon

Level 2: medium 35 words

Dutch	English
bondgenootschap	alliance
geloof	belief
kapitalisme	capitalism
burger	citizen
kolonisatie	colonisation
kieskring	constituency
corruptie	corruption
onderdrukking	crackdown
betoging	demonstration
dictatuur	dictatorship
ontbinding	dissolution
ambassade	embassy
uitsluiting	exclusion
genocide	genocide
groene politiek	green politics
gijzelaar	hostage
immigratie	immigration
instelling	institution
internationale sanctie	international sanction
invasie	invasion
rechterlijke macht	judicial power
monarchie	monarchy
bezetting	occupation
vredesverdrag	peace treaty
petitie	petition
gebed	prayer
prefect	prefect
schandaal	scandal
senaat	senate
senator	senator
sociale mobiliteit	social mobility
soldaat	soldier
soevereiniteit	sovereignty
aanslag	terrorist attack
opkomst	turnout

Level 3: hard 25 words

Dutch	English
onthouding	abstention
activisme	activism
stembus	ballot box
staakt-het-vuren	ceasefire
burgerlijke ongehoorzaamheid	civil disobedience
communisme	communism
dekolonisatie	decolonisation
diplomatie	diplomacy
extremisme	extremism
pariteit	gender parity
wetgevende macht	legislative power
lobby	lobby
multiculturalisme	multiculturalism
motie van wantrouwen	no confidence motion
nominatie	nomination
stemhokje	polling booth
zelfbeschikking	self determination
debatteren	to debate
opeisen	to demand as a right
regeren	to govern
lid worden	to join a party
ratificeren	to ratify
hervormen	to reform
algemeen kiesrecht	universal suffrage
oorlogsvluchteling	war refugee

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Dutch words on “Society and politics”. The full topic holds 178 in the KoKo app: 71 at the easy level, 62 at the medium level and 45 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Dutch vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

How KoKo makes words stick

These lists come from KoKo, the app to learn Dutch vocabulary on iPhone.