Zuh

a suffix after a regular verb, to encourage the person to perform the action to their absolute best


Okay, the above definition is a little messy. I think it may be useful to give the most common example.
When I first began working for a temping agency in Holland, I got my first assignment. The cute girl at the counter (with whom I shared a birthday with) was extremely friendly and helpful, and I thanked her for the job which I badly needed. As I began walking away, she called out "Werk Ze!".

I was confused. Did she just call out to me "work it!", like horny females call out at strip clubs on ladies' night? I turned around, slightly confused but complimented. But she just said "werk ze" again, leaving me leaving confused.

Over the next few weeks of work, I kept hearing the phrase "werk ze", and it became obvious that it wasn't some kind of wolf whistle. I mean, I know I don't warrant that much femular attention, and it became a little unnerving when old ladies, and men called it out.

It turns out this is a phrase that means "Do your best" or "Keep up the good work" or "Work hard" (or more accurately, in a freer transaltion: "Don't work too hard"). It is such a simple, efficient phrase, and what I love about it the most is that strangers often say this to each other. I especially heard this when I was working the late shift, and the customer felt sympathy for the crappy work I was doing. It is a simple and nice gesture, one that actually helps make you feel better despite the crappy work. I think the English language could use such a friendly phrase, because it sounds demeaning telling a stranger to "work hard".

Although work-zuh is really the only common use for zuh, I learnt that it is possible to say it with other verbs. The main other occasion that I am aware of is when serving food to customers. "Eat-zuh" can be said instead of the regular "eet smakelijk", although I found it is less polite and wouldn't say it to old people. Maybe I am ageist. Perhaps the nuance is when someone is about to get stuck into a large portion, and they would need to eat to their utmost ability to finish it.

After the revelation of the suffix "zuh", I began to use this in my everyday English conversations to ridiculous effect.

• Instead of 'goodnight' I would say 'sleep-zuh'
• Instead of 'study hard' it would be 'study-zuh'
• When someone was going to the supermarket, I'd tell them 'shop-zuh'
• If someone was about to go out to a party, it'd be 'drink-zuh'

I am sure you could come up with some much more inappropriate ones like I have. Basically, it is a way to tell someone to succeed at, and enjoy whatever they might be doing. And this can never be a bad thing.

Example Sentences
Let's make a quick quiz to see if you can make your own "zuh" words from these pictures. Choose from the multi-choice options. (Note: there are probably no wrong answers.)

A) Act-zuh
B) Botox-zuh
C) Adopt-zuh

A) Drill-zuh
B) Spill-zuh
C) Clean-zuh
A) Swing-zuh
B) Drill zuh
C) Spill-zuh
D) Apologise-zuh