Dutch Word · Intermediate
afkalven
to cave in or calve off, to crumble off, to erode
Pronunciation: /ˈɑfkɑlvə(n)/
Meaning
to cave in or calve off, to crumble off, to erode
Example
Een ijsplateau wordt gevoed door stromend gletsjerijs en verliest massa door het afkalven van ijsbergen.
An ice shelf is fed through flowing glacier ice and loses mass through the calving off of icebergs.
Practice tips
- Practice afkalven out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this Dutch word is for intermediate-level learners.