The exact lemma appears at position 6,999 in the cited OpenSubtitles-derived Dutch 50k token list. That is a corpus signal, not search volume or a claim that every sense is equally common. Forms, glosses, pronunciation and cited examples are adapted from English Wiktionary via Kaikki under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources and modifications.
How balen is pronounced
IPA: /ˈbaːlə(n)/ · Syllables: ba·len
Pronunciation can vary by region and speaking context. Treat the transcription as a compact reference, then compare it with current native audio and practise the verb inside a phrase rather than as an isolated sound.
What balen means
to be annoyed, frustrated or fed up
to be bored; to be mildly annoyed through having nothing to do
Usage label: Suriname
The English gloss identifies a sense, not a one-word substitution that works in every sentence. Check the object, preposition, reflexive pronoun or separable element in the Dutch example before transferring the verb to a new situation.
Balen conjugation table
| Tense | Subject | Dutch form |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ik | baal |
| Present | jij (subject first) | baalt |
| Present | hij/zij/het | baalt |
| Present | wij/jullie/zij | balen |
| Simple past | singular | baalde |
| Simple past | plural | baalden |
| Past participle | — | gebaald |
The table shows the standard subject-first jij anchor. Inversion after jij and formal u can require a different surface form. For separable verbs, the cited forms may already show the element in its natural main-clause position. In perfect constructions, choose the auxiliary required by the actual meaning and construction; do not attach hebben or zijn mechanically.
Translated balen examples
Niemand vond het erg dat de kelner de verkeerde aanspreektitel gebruikte, maar hij baalt wel van de vergissing.
Nobody minded that the waiter used the incorrect titel of address, but he certainly does resent his own mistake.
Dat de brug nu al weken kapot is, is balen.
It is so annoying that the bridge has been out of order for weeks.
Eerst kom je te laat en nu heb jij het cadeau vergeten? Ja, daar baal ik wel van!
First you showed up too late and now you forgot to bring the present? Yes, you bet I am fed up with that!
Hij baalde thuis dus hij ging buiten de stad om te gaan zwemmen.
He was bored at home, so he went out of town to go swimming.
These examples are citation-backed language data. Use them to notice the verb's partners and sentence position. Then change only one detail at a time—subject, time, place or object—so that your next sentence stays grammatical and remains connected to a real communicative purpose.
Turn the reference into speaking practice
- Read the first example once and identify the finite verb, subject and any required particle or preposition.
- Build a new present-tense message with baal or baalt and add a concrete time or place.
- Move the same event into the past with baalde; keep the meaning stable while changing the timeline.
- Use gebaald in a complete result message after checking the correct auxiliary for that construction.
Record all four messages without restarting. Listen once for meaning and sentence order, then once for the target form. Correct only the first error that changes meaning or blocks the listener, and repeat the sentence with one new detail. This creates retrieval practice rather than table recitation.
Self-check
- The chosen sense matches the situation.
- The finite form agrees with the subject.
- The time marker and verb tense tell the same timeline.
- Any separable element, reflexive pronoun, object or fixed preposition is present.
- The sentence contains enough detail for another person to respond.
Questions about balen
What does balen mean?
to be annoyed, frustrated or fed up; to be bored; to be mildly annoyed through having nothing to do.
What is the past tense of balen?
The cited standard singular anchor is baalde and the plural anchor is baalden.
What is the past participle of balen?
The cited past participle is gebaald. Verify the auxiliary in the sentence you actually want to say.
Use balen in a recorded answer
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