Dutch flashcards
for vocabulary learning

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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 sok, pronounced /sɔk/ (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/)
• /n/ - as in nieuw, pronounced /niw/ (like n in no, rather than the ny sequence in canyon)
• /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: Vowels can differ in both length and quality, changing word meaning. Compare man (man) /mɑn/ with maan (moon) /maːn/.
• 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).
• Velar Fricatives: /x/ and /ɣ/ are fricatives made with the back of the tongue near the soft palate; the exact place of articulation varies by region. /x/ is comparable to the ch in Scottish loch or Polish chata /ˈxata/. /ɣ/ is its voiced counterpart, unlike the stop g in Polish garderoba /ɡardɛˈrɔba/; the French r in rouge is a different sound.

Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands and one of Belgium's official languages. It is spoken in Flanders, where its regional varieties are often called Flemish. "Netherlandic" is another English name for Dutch; it does not refer to a broader language than "Dutch". Holland is a region within the Netherlands, rather than the name of the whole Dutch-speaking area.