Helaas
Example: Helaas kan ik vandaag niet naar het feest gaan.
Definition
"Helaas" is an adverb used to express regret or disappointment about a situation, often equivalent to saying 'unfortunately' or 'sadly' in English. For example, in the phrase 'Helaas kan ik vandaag niet naar het feest gaan,' it conveys the speaker's regret about not being able to attend the party.
Etymology
The Dutch word "helaas" combines 'heel' (meaning 'whole' or 'very') and 'alas' (an exclamation of sorrow or regret). It evolved to express a heartfelt sense of disappointment or misfortune. Did you know that 'alas' is also used in English with a similar meaning, showing a shared linguistic heritage?
Learn to use this word actively
"Helaas" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - (A2) - set 1", containing 125 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select Dutch as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
