Maar and nou as particles (Kom maar binnen. Kom nou!)

Little words like maar, nou, hoor and even are particles (partikels). They don't change the facts, only how a sentence sounds. Compare:

Dutch · English

• Kom binnen. · Come in. (neutral and direct)
• Kom maar binnen. · Come on in. (friendly: go ahead, you're welcome)
• Kom nou binnen! · Come in, will you! (impatient: I've already asked you)

This Tip is about maar and nou. For hoor, read the Tip Hoor.

In a command (the imperatief), maar sounds friendly. It gives permission or encourages: go ahead, feel free.

Dutch · English

• Ga maar zitten. · Have a seat.
• Zeg het maar. · Go ahead, tell me. (In a shop: Zegt u het maar. = What can I get you?)
• – Zal ik je helpen? – Nee, laat maar. · – Shall I help you? – No, don't bother.
• Wacht maar tot papa thuiskomt! · Just wait till Dad gets home! (a mild threat, often half joking)

The famous saying Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg (Just act normal, that's crazy enough) uses it too.

Maar also shows that you give in because there's no better option (just, then, I might as well), often together with dan.

Dutch · English

• Niemand helpt me. Dan doe ik het maar zelf. · Nobody's helping me. Then I'll just do it myself.
• De laatste trein is weg. Dan nemen we maar een taxi. · The last train has gone, so we'll just take a taxi.

You already know a third use from wishes: Was ik maar rijk! (If only I were rich!)

Maar has more than one job, and its place tells you which:

• At the start of a clause, it means but: Ik wil wel, maar ik heb geen tijd. · I'd like to, but I don't have time.
• Before an amount, it means only: Het kost maar vijf euro. · It only costs five euros.
• In the middle, after the verb, it's the particle: Kom maar binnen.

The particle follows the conjugated verbum, short words like het, me and je, and usually a specific object (je jas). It comes before the rest: a place, an object with een, the separable part or the infinitive at the end.

Dutch · English

• Leg je jas maar op de stoel. · Just put your coat on the chair.
• Neem maar een stuk taart. · Go ahead, have a piece of cake.

Maar even is a very common pair: Ga maar even zitten. (Have a seat for a moment.)

At the start, nou buys you time and shows doubt. A short, strong Nou! on its own means the opposite (and how!), and so does Nou en of! (absolutely!).

Dutch · English

• – Ga je mee naar het feest? – Nou, ik weet het niet. · – Are you coming to the party? – Well, I don't know.
• – Was het druk? – Nou! · – Was it busy? – And how!
• – Heb je zin in de vakantie? – Nou en of! · – Are you looking forward to the holiday? – Absolutely!

In a command, nou sounds impatient or pleading: come on, will you.

• Kom nou! We gaan! · Come on! We're leaving!
• Schiet nou op! · Hurry up, will you!
• Mag ik mee? Toe nou! · Can I come? Oh, please!

Nou is also the spoken form of nu (now). In a question it rarely means at this moment: it adds surprise or irritation.

Dutch · English

• Wat doe je nou? · What on earth are you doing?
• Waar is mijn telefoon nou? · Where's my phone got to?

Nou also turns up in many short reactions:

• – Je bent te laat. – Nou en? · – You're late. – So what? (it doesn't matter; can sound cheeky)
• Wat nou, te laat? Het is pas acht uur! · What do you mean, late? It's only eight o'clock!
• – Ik ben geslaagd! – Nou, nou! · – I passed! – Well, well!
• – Ik word vijftig. – Kom nou! · – I'm turning fifty. – Come off it! (disbelief)
• Nou ja, het is niet anders. · Oh well, it can't be helped.

In a longer sentence, maar and nou aren't stressed (Kom maar BINnen. Schiet nou OP!). Your tone of voice does the rest.

Both are typical of spoken Dutch and chat messages; maar also works with u (Gaat u maar zitten.). In formal writing, such as a letter to the gemeente, leave nou out (write nu or rephrase) and use gerust instead of encouraging maar: Neem gerust contact met ons op. (Feel free to contact us.)

Wrong · Right · Why

• ✗ Maar kom binnen. · ✓ Kom maar binnen. · At the start, maar means but.
• ✗ Zeg maar het. · ✓ Zeg het maar. · Het comes before maar.
• ✗ – Vond je het leuk? – Nou en? · ✓ – Nou en of! · Nou en? = So what? Nou en of! = Absolutely!

• maar in a command = friendly go ahead: Kom maar binnen. (Wacht maar! = Just you wait!)
• maar when you give in = just, then: Dan doe ik het maar zelf.
• The particle maar goes after the verb (and after het, me, je), before the rest. At the start of a clause, maar = but.
• nou at the start = well…; in a command = impatient: Schiet nou op!
• nou in a question = surprise or irritation: Wat doe je nou?
• Spoken Dutch. In formal writing: no nou, and gerust instead of maar.