Learn Dutch vocabulary by typing words and phrases from flashcards. The flashcard summary allows you to check your progress and select flashcards to learn.
People
Appearance
Home
Shopping
Food
Eating out
Education and study
Work
Environment
Flashcards settings
The flashcards have their specific settings. You can make the following changes to customize your vocabulary learning experience:Choosing the number of flashcards per exercise
You can choose how many flashcards you want to practice during a typing session. The default number is ten. Selecting a smaller amount of vocabulary may be a good idea if you are a beginner.
Choosing a variant of the English language
You can choose which variant of English the flashcards will use: British or American English. Since there are differences between the two, you can select the variant you prefer.
Changing non-supported keyboard characters
If your keyboard layout does not support certain special characters or diacritics of the language you practice with flashcards, the system can ignore some of these characters. Special characters will be accepted as their closest Latin alphabet equivalents when possible. For example, if the word to type is único and you type unico because your layout doesn't support accents, it won't be considered an error.
Phonetic Symbols in Dutch Pronunciation
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) provides a standardized set of symbols to represent the sounds of spoken language. Below are the IPA symbols for Dutch pronunciation, with examples and descriptions, including the pronunciation of these sounds in English.
Dutch Vowels
- /aː/ - as in maan, pronounced /maːn/ (like "a" in father /ˈfɑːðər/)
- /ɑ/ - as in man, pronounced /mɑn/ (like "a" in pat /pat/)
- /eː/ - as in meen, pronounced /meːn/ (like "a" in late /leɪt/)
- /ɛ/ - as in pet, pronounced /pɛt/ (like "e" in bed /bɛd/)
- /i/ - as in fiets, pronounced /fits/ (like "ee" in see /siː/)
- /oː/ - as in boot, pronounced /boːt/ (like "o" in boat /boʊt/)
- /ɔ/ - as in bos, pronounced /bɔs/ (like "o" in not /nɒt/)
- /u/ - as in boek, pronounced /buk/ (like "oo" in boot /buːt/)
- /y/ - as in buur, pronounced /byːr/ (similar to the French "u" in lune /lyn/, in Polish there is no exact equivalent, but it is closest to "u" in pół /puw/)
- /øː/ - as in neus, pronounced /nøːs/ (like "e" in English her /hɜːr/, in Polish there is no exact equivalent, but it can be compared to "e" in energia /ɛnɛrɡʲa/ with more rounded lips)
- /ə/ - as in de, pronounced /də/ (like the "a" in sofa /ˈsoʊfə/)
Dutch Diphthongs
- /ɛi/ - as in mijn, pronounced /mɛin/ (like "i" in mine /maɪn/)
- /œy/ - as in huis, pronounced /ɦœys/ (like "ou" in out /aʊt/ but with a rounded first part, in Polish there is no exact equivalent, closest to "eu" in euforia /ɛu̯fɔrʲja/)
- /ɔu/ - as in koud, pronounced /kɔut/ (like "ou" in loud /laʊd/, in Polish there is no exact equivalent, closest to "oł" in sołtys /soʊ̯tɨs/)
Dutch Consonants
- /p/ - as in pen, pronounced /pɛn/ (like "p" in pen /pɛn/)
- /b/ - as in bed, pronounced /bɛt/ (like "b" in bat /bæt/)
- /t/ - as in tak, pronounced /tɑk/ (like "t" in top /tɒp/)
- /d/ - as in doen, pronounced /dun/ (like "d" in dog /dɒɡ/)
- /k/ - as in kat, pronounced /kɑt/ (like "k" in cat /kæt/)
- /ɡ/ - occurs only in borrowed words, like in goal, pronounced /ɡoːl/ (like "g" in go /ɡoʊ/, in Polish there is no exact equivalent)
- /f/ - as in fiets, pronounced /fits/ (like "f" in fun /fʌn/)
- /v/ - as in vuur, pronounced /vyːr/ (like "v" in voice /vɔɪs/)
- /s/ - as in sat, pronounced /sɑt/ (like "s" in see /siː/)
- /z/ - as in zijn, pronounced /zɛin/ (like "z" in zebra /ˈziːbrə/)
- /ʃ/ - as in show, pronounced /ʃoʊ/ (like "sh" in shoe /ʃuː/)
- /ʒ/ - as in genre, pronounced /ˈʒɑnrə/ (like "s" in measure /ˈmɛʒər/)
- /x/ - as in acht, pronounced /ɑxt/ (a guttural sound like the "ch" in loch /lɒx/, similar to "ch" in Polish chata /ˈxata/)
- /ɣ/ - as in gaan, pronounced /ɣaːn/ (like the French "r" in rouge /ʁuʒ/, in Polish there is no exact equivalent)
- /h/ - as in huis, pronounced /ɦœys/ (like "h" in hat /hæt/)
- /m/ - as in maan, pronounced /maːn/ (like "m" in man /mæn/)
- /n/ - as in net, pronounced /nɛt/ (like "n" in net /nɛt/)
- /ɲ/ - as in nieuw, pronounced /ɲyːw/ (like "ny" in canyon /ˈkænjən/, similar to "ń" in Polish koń /kɔɲ/)
- /ŋ/ - as in ring, pronounced /rɪŋ/ (like "ng" in sing /sɪŋ/)
- /l/ - as in lam, pronounced /lɑm/ (like "l" in leaf /liːf/)
- /r/ - as in rood, pronounced /roːt/ (can be a rolled "r" like in Spanish perro /ˈpero/)
Unique Features of Dutch Pronunciation
While Dutch pronunciation shares similarities with other Germanic languages, it also has unique features that are important for learners to understand.
- Voicing Distinction: Dutch makes a clear distinction between voiced and voiceless consonants. For example, bed (bed) /bɛt/ vs. pet (cap) /pɛt/.
- Final Devoicing: Dutch devoices obstruents at the end of words. For instance, hond (dog) is pronounced /hɔnt/ with a final voiceless /t/ instead of a voiced /d/.
- Vowel Length: Vowel length can change the meaning of a word. For example, hat (hole) /hɑt/ vs. haat (hate) /haːt/.
- Diphthongs: Dutch uses several diphthongs that can be challenging for non-native speakers, such as ij in mijn /mɛin/ and ui in huis /ɦœys/.
- Schwa: The schwa /ə/ is common in unstressed syllables, as in de /də/ (the).
- Guttural Sounds: The sounds /x/ and /ɣ/ are produced in the back of the throat, similar to the Scottish "loch" /lɒx/ or the French "rouge" /ʁuʒ/, in Polish there are no exact equivalents, closest to "ch" in chata /ˈxata/ and "g" in garderoba /ɡardɛrɔba/ with a more guttural sound.
Dutch or Netherlandic?
The Dutch language, also known as Netherlandic, is the official language of the Netherlands and Belgium (where it is referred to as Flemish). The term "Netherlandic" is more formal and encompasses all dialects spoken in both the Netherlands and Belgium. On the other hand, "Dutch" primarily refers to the dialects spoken in the Netherlands. In practice, both terms are often used interchangeably, though "Netherlandic" is preferred in formal and academic contexts.