Dutch Grammar
Dutch is easier to read once you learn a few fixed sound patterns. Focus first on ui, ij/ei, ou/au, and the Dutch throat sound g/ch. You do not need a perfect accent now, but you should aim for consistent, clear pronunciation.
| Pattern | How it sounds (simple) | Example | Practice tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| ui | rounded ow (no exact English match) | luisteren to listen | Round lips forward and keep the sound short. |
| ij / ei | like eye in English | blijven to stay | Keep one smooth vowel, not two separate syllables. |
| ou / au | like ow in "house" | houden to keep | Start open, then close quickly to finish the diphthong. |
| g / ch | throat/friction sound (soft in some regions) | goed good graag gladly nacht night | Use airflow in throat; avoid a hard English "g". |
| sch | usually "s" + Dutch ch | school school schoenen shoes | Split it mentally first: s + ch. |
These words appear in many lessons. Repeat each 2-3 times with the audio and keep a steady rhythm.
| Word | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| jij | you (informal) | |
| u | you (formal) | |
| wij | we | |
| jullie | you (plural) | |
| zij | she / they |
Listen to model pronunciation, record yourself, then compare.
| Sound | Word | Meaning | Model | Your Voice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ui | luisteren | to listen |
Not recorded yet.
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| ui | huis | house |
Not recorded yet.
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| ui | tuin | garden |
Not recorded yet.
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| ui | fruit | fruit |
Not recorded yet.
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| ij/ei | blijven | to stay |
Not recorded yet.
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| ij/ei | kijken | to look |
Not recorded yet.
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| ij/ei | reizen | to travel |
Not recorded yet.
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| ij/ei | tijd | time |
Not recorded yet.
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| ou/au | houden | to keep |
Not recorded yet.
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| ou/au | koud | cold |
Not recorded yet.
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| ou/au | vrouw | woman |
Not recorded yet.
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| ou/au | blauw | blue |
Not recorded yet.
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| g/ch | goed | good |
Not recorded yet.
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| g/ch | graag | gladly |
Not recorded yet.
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| g/ch | nacht | night |
Not recorded yet.
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| sch | school | school |
Not recorded yet.
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| sch | schoenen | shoes |
Not recorded yet.
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