Het Nederlandse alfabet en uitspraak
Dutch uses the same 26 letters as English, but many letters are pronounced differently.
| Dutch | Sound | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| a (short) | like "a" in "father" but shorter | kat | cat |
| aa / a (long) | like "a" in "father" | maat | measure |
| e (short) | like "e" in "bet" | bed | bed |
| ee / e (long) | like "ay" in "say" | been | |
| i (short) | like "i" in "sit" | dit | this |
| ie | like "ee" in "see" | niet | not |
| o (short) | like "o" in "pot" | bos | forest |
| oo / o (long) | like "o" in "go" | boot | boat |
| u (short) | like "u" in "put" (rounded) | bus | bus |
| uu | like French "u" (no English equivalent) | uur | hour |
| oe | like "oo" in "moon" | boek | book |
| eu | like French "eu" (rounded lips) | neus | nose |
| Dutch | Sound | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ei / ij | like "ay" in "my" (identical sound) | trein / vrij | train / free |
| ui | unique Dutch sound (rounded "ow") | huis | house |
| ou / au | like "ow" in "how" | oud / blauw | old / blue |
| aai | "ah" + "ee" | draai | turn |
| oei | "oo" + "ee" | growth | |
| ooi | "oh" + "ee" | mooi | beautiful |
| Dutch | Sound | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| g | guttural, back of throat (like clearing throat) | goed | good |
| ch | same as Dutch "g" | nacht | night |
| sch | "s" + "ch" (guttural) | school | school |
| r | rolled or guttural (varies by region) | rood | red |
| v | softer than English "v", almost "f" | van | from |
| w | between English "v" and "w" | wat | what |
| j | like English "y" in "yes" | ja | yes |
The Dutch "g" and "ch" are the most distinctive sounds for learners.
Goedemorgen
Good morning
Notice the "g" sound at the start
Schiphol
Amsterdam airport
Common word - practice the "sch" sound
Ik spreek een beetje Nederlands
I speak a little Dutch
Hoe gaat het?
How are you?