Dutch: Why on Earth

[Setwale_Charm]

Can somebody tell me a Dutch equivalent for this intensifier? Like in the sentences: why on earth..., how on earth..., what on earth....

Also it would be lovely to have a link to some good online dictionary which would provide phrases, idioms and basic expressions in addition to just one-word translations.

 

[ALOV]

Hello,

the only equivalent I can imagine is 'in godsnaam' or 'in hemelsnaam' (in God's name, in Heaven's name).

p.ex. How on earth is this possible? > Hoe is dit in godsnaam mogelijk?

To me these expressions sound a bit weird/old, in spoken language it's more commun to use a swear word in that case...

 

[cyanista]

German normally uses "nur", "bloß" oder "auf in aller Welt". Are there similar expressions in Dutch?

 

[ALOV]

You can also say:

'Hoe is dit toch mogelijk?!'
'Hoe is dat nu mogelijk?!'

in order to stress you're surprised something happened that way.

 

[Setwale_Charm]

Heel veel dank, ALOV.