Although many Dutch speakers are fluent in foreign languages (especially English, German and French), learning their mother tongue will give you access to the hearts, minds and culture of these Dutch speakers, both in the Netherlands itself and in the world.. Dutch is not an easy language to learn because it contains many sounds and forms that are not the same as English. However, this challenge makes those of you who want to master the Dutch language get many benefits and rewards. Start learning Dutch with step 1 below.
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Part 1 of 3: Learning Dutch
Step 1. Learn Dutch
Try sitting near wooden shoes, even in the Netherlands, it is considered an experience. Surrounding yourself with typical Dutch objects can help you get to know the culture. So, try installing a typical Dutch decoration in your room. Wear typical Dutch clothes to school, or try to talk like a pirate. Ignore people who annoy you. Let's just say they're jealous.
Step 2. Understand how the Dutch language developed
Dutch is classified as a West Germanic language related to other languages in this branch, including German, English, and West Frisian.
- Dutch originally developed from the Lower Franconian dialect of Low German. However, modern Dutch has separated from its German origin, so this Dutch language does not experience changes in High German consonants and does not use umlaut (colon above vowels) as grammatical markers.
- In addition, Dutch has more or less abandoned its original grammatical system and improved its word form.
- On the other hand, Dutch vocabulary mostly comes from German (but Dutch has more Romance loanwords) and uses the same word order in sentences (SPO in main clause and SOP in sub clause).
Step 3. Know where Dutch is spoken
Dutch is spoken as the primary language by approximately 20 million people, most of whom are in the Netherlands and Belgium. Dutch is used as a second language by approximately 5 million other people.
- In addition to Dutch and Belgian, Dutch is also spoken in northern France, Germany, Suriname and Indonesia, and is the official language on the Caribbean island of the Netherlands Antilles.
- The Dutch dialect spoken in Belgium is known as Flemish. Flemish differs from standard Dutch in several ways, including pronunciation, vocabulary and intonation.
- The African language – spoken in South Africa and Namibia by approximately 10 million people – is a sub-language of Dutch and the two languages sound the same.
Step 4. Start learning by learning the letters and their pronunciation
When you are starting to learn any language, learning the letters is a good place to start.
- A (Ah) B (bay) C (say) D (days) E (ay) F (efff) G (khay) H (hah) I (ee) J (yay) K (kah) L (ell) M (umm) N (enn) O (oh) P (pay) Q (kew) R (water) S (ess) T (tay) U (ew) V (fay) W (vay) X (eeks) Y (ee-grek) Z (zed).
- However, in actual pronunciation, Dutch has many pronunciations that are not used in English making it difficult to learn. The letters that are pronounced the same in Dutch and English are consonants s, f, h, b, d, z, l, m,, ng. Letter p, t, and k formed in the same way, but they are not pronounced with an 'h' sound (there is no blowing of air when pronouncing them).
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The best way to learn how to pronounce some unusual vowels and consonants is to listen to them over and over. The following overview is not exhaustive, but it might help you to get started:
- Vowel: a (reads like "ah" in "calm", but shorter), e (reads like "uh" in "bed"), i (reads like "ih" in "bit"), o (read like "aw" in "paw", but with rounded lips), o (reads like "oo" in "too" but shorter), u (read like "u" in "upset", or "ir" in "dirt") and y (reads like "i" in "pin" or "ee" in "deep", but shorter).
- Consonants: Some consonant sounds that are read very differently in Dutch are ch, sch and g all of which make a gurgling sound in the back of the throat (much like the "ch" in Scottish "loch"). r in Dutch it can be rolled up or pronounced in a raspy voice, while j pronounced like "y" in "yes".
Step 5. Understand the types of nouns (gender) in Dutch
The Dutch language classifies its nouns into one of two types – regular (word de) or neutral (kata het). Dutch is no more complicated than German, which has three types of nouns.
- It's hard to guess what gender the word belongs to just by its appearance. Thus, it is better to remember the gender of certain words when you learn them.
- Ordinary gender is actually a combined form of masculine and feminine that is no longer used. As a result, almost 2/3 of all nouns fall into the regular gender.
- As such, you'll need to learn all neutral nouns, so you can be confident that some of the nouns you haven't learned are common genders.
- You can identify neutral nouns by learning a number of rules. For example, all minor nouns (which end in je) and all infinitives used as nouns are usually neutral. This also applies to words ending in -um, -aat, -cell and -ism, and for most words starting with ge-, be- and ver-. The words for color, direction, and metal are always neutral.
Step 6. Learn some of the most common present tense verbs
When you are learning Dutch, you need to remember some of the commonly used present tense verbs because they are needed to start making sentences.
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Zijn:
Present tense of "to be", read "zayn".
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Ikben:
I (pronounced "ik ben")
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Jij/u bent:
You (pronounced "yay / ew bent")
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Hij/zij/het is:
He (male, female, thing) (pronounced hay/zay/ut is)
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Wijzijn:
We (pronounced "vay zayn")
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Jullie zijn:
You (pronounced "yew-lee zayn")
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zij zijn:
They (pronounced "zay zayn")
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Hebben:
The present tense of "to have" is read "heh-buhn".
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Ik heb:
I have (pronounced "ik hep")
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Jij/u great:
You have (pronounced "yay/ew hept")
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Hij/zij/heft heft:
He (male, female, thing) has (pronounced "hay/zay/ut hayft")
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Wij Hebben:
We have (pronounced vay heh-buhn )
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Julie Hebben:
You have (pronounced "yew-lee heh-buhn")
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Zij hebben:
They have (pronounced "zay heh-buhn")
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Part 2 of 3: Learning Basic Words and Phrases
Step 1. Learn how to count
Counting is an important skill to have in any language, so start learning the numbers one through twenty in Dutch.
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Een:
One (pronounced "ain")
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Tweets:
Two (pronounced "tway")
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Drie:
Three (pronounced "dree")
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Vier:
Four (pronounced "veer")
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Vijf:
Five (pronounced "vayf")
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Zes:
Six (pronounced "zehs")
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Zeven:
Seven (pronounced "zay-vuhn")
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Acht:
Eight (pronounced "ahgt")
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Negen:
Nine (pronounced "nay-guhn")
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Tien:
Ten (pronounced "teen")
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elves:
Eleven (pronounced "elf")
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Twaalf:
Twelve (pronounced "twahlf")
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Dertien:
Thirteen (pronounced "dehr-teen")
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Veertien:
Fourteen (pronounced "vayr-teen")
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Vijftien:
Fifteen (pronounced "vayf-teen")
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Zestien:
Sixteen (pronounced "zehs-teen")
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Zeventien:
Seventeen (pronounced "zay-vuhn-teen")
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Achttien:
Eighteen (pronounced "ahgt-teen")
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negentien:
Nineteen (pronounced "nay-guhn-teen")
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Twintig:
Twenty (pronounced "twin-tuhg")
Step 2. Learn the names of the days of the week and the months of the year
Some useful vocabulary to start with are the names of the days of the week and the months of the year.
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Name of day of week:
- Monday = Maandag (read "mahn-dahg")
- Tuesday = Dinsdag (read "dinss-dahg")
- Wednesday = Woensdag (read "woons-dahg")
- Thursday = Donderdag (read "don-duhr-dahg")
- Friday = Vrijdag (read "vray-dahg")
- Saturday = Zaterdag (pronounced "zah-tuhr-dahg")
- Sunday = Zondag (pronounced "zon-dahg")
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Name of month of year:
- January = January (pronounced "jahn-uu-ar-ree"),
- February = February (pronounced "fay-bruu-ah-ree"),
- March = Maart (pronounced "mahrt"),
- April = April (read "ah-pril"),
- May = May (pronounced "may"),
- June = June (pronounced "yuu-nee"),
- july = July (pronounced "yuu-lee"),
- August = Augustus (pronounced "ow-ghus-tus"),
- September = September (pronounced "sep-tem-buhr"),
- October = October (pronounced "ock-tow-buhr"),
- November = November (pronounced "no-vem-buhr"),
- December = December (pronounced "day-sem-buhr").
Step 3. Learn the names of the colors
Learning Dutch words for different colors is a great way to increase your descriptive vocabulary.
- red = rood (pronounced "rowt")
- Orange = orange (read "oh-rahn-yuh")
- Yellow = gel (pronounced "ghayl")
- Green = groen (pronounced "ghroon")
- Blue = blauw (pronounced "blaw")
- Purple = pars (pronounced "pahrs") or purper (pronounced "puhr-puhr")
- pink = roze (pronounced "row-zah")
- White = wit (read "whit")
- Black = zwart (pronounced "zwahrt")
- Chocolate = bruin (pronounced "bruyn")
- Ash = grijs (pronounced "grays")
- Silver = zilver (pronounced "zil-fer")
- Gold = goud (pronounced "howt")
Step 4. Learn some useful words
Adding some keywords to your vocabulary is very useful for improving your Dutch speaking skills.
- hello = Hello (read "hah-low")
- Goodbye = tot ziens (read "toht seens")
- Please = Alstulief (pronounced "ahl-stuu-bleeft")
- Thank you = Dank u well (formal, pronounced "dahnk-ew-vehl") or dank je wel (informal, read "dahnk-yuh-vehl")
- Yes = Ja (read "yeah")
- No = Nee (read "nay")
- Help = Help (read "hehlp")
- Now = Nu (read "nuu")
- Then = Later (read "lah-tuhr")
- Today = Vandaag (pronounced "vahn-dahg")
- Tomorrow = Morgen (pronounced "more-ghun")
- Left = Links (read "links")
- Right = Rechts (read "reghts")
- Straight ahead = Rechtdoor (pronounced "regh-dore")
Step 5. Learn some useful phrases
Now, it's time for you to continue learning everyday phrases that can help you perform basic social interactions.
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How are you? = Hoe maakt u het?
(formal, pronounced "hoo mahkt uu hut") or Hey gaat het?
(informal, read "hoo gaht hut?")
- Ok, thanks = Goed, dank u (formal, read "goot dahnk uu") or Goed, dank je (read "goot dahnk yuh")
- Nice to meet you = Aangenaam kennis te maken (read "ahn-guh-nahm keh-nis tuh mah-kun")
- I can't speak Dutch very well = Ik spreek niet goed Nederlands (read "ick sprayk neet goot nay-dur-lahnts)
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Do you speak English? = Spreekt u Engels?
(read "spraykt uu eng-uls")
- I don't understand = Ik begrijp het niet (read "ick buh-grayp hut neet")
- you're welcome = Graag gedaan (read "grahg guh-dahn")
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How much it costs? = Hoeveel boarding dit?
(read "hoo-vale kost dit")
Part 3 of 3: Streamlining Your Dutch
Step 1. Find Dutch learning materials
Go to your local library, bookstore or online store to find out what books are available there. Language printing companies such as Assimil, Berlitz, Teach Yourself, Hugo, Pimsluer, Michael Thomas, Rosetta Stone, and Lonely Planet usually have books, audio materials, and computer programs in English and Dutch.
- You can also look for good bilingual campuses – one of the best Dutch dictionaries is published by Van Dale and is available in a combination of languages: Dutch – English, Dutch – Pranics, Dutch – Spanish, etc.
- As your Dutch skills develop, you should look for a Dutch language library filled with children's books (to begin with), word puzzle books, non-fiction books, novels, magazines, etc. Reading is the best way to develop your language skills, it also makes your Dutch language skills very natural. Once you've reached this point, you should also look for a Dutch – Dutch language dictionary or encyclopedia.
Step 2. Listen to Dutch as often as possible
This can be quite challenging if you don't know Dutch or live in a Dutch-speaking country, but you can start by going to Youtube and other audio materials, and trying to listen to Dutch conversations. It is important that you understand the language – listen to how the words are spoken, how to understand what is being said, and how to pronounce the words.
Step 3. Enter Dutch lessons or find a Dutch teacher
If the place you live has a Dutch and Belgian cultural center, and/or has a Dutch speaking community, ask where you can get language lessons or get a private tutor.
Good lessons with native speakers can develop your language skills, as well as teach you elements of culture that books can't
Step 4. Speak Dutch with Dutch speakers
Practice makes your skills better. Don't be afraid if you make mistakes, because that's how you should learn.
- If a Dutch speaker answers you in English, continue speaking Dutch. Start with a few words, then say them little by little.
- To apply your Dutch skills, start by trying to change your computer and social media settings (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) to Dutch. You have to get used to being around the language so that you are always thinking about it.
Step 5. Go to a Dutch-speaking country and “immerse” yourself
Dutch is not as widely spoken or studied as German, Japanese, or Spanish, so you may struggle to hone your language skills without going directly to a Dutch-speaking country. Both the Netherlands and Flanders provide cultural exchange programs and intensive Dutch language programs for foreigners at universities, schools and private institutions.
Step 6. Keep your mind open
The best way to absorb another language and culture is to open up all your feelings to it.
- To speak Dutch fluently, you have to think like a Dutch and be Dutch. Also, don't let the clichés you learn about Dutch speakers rule your hopes, impressions and thoughts when you go to a Dutch-speaking country.
- It's not just tulips, marijuana, clogs, cheese, bicycles, Van Gogh, and liberalism.
Suggestion
- The Dutch and Flemish have diasporic communities in many Countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, America, France, Caribbean, Chile, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Turkey and Japan – lots of people you can practice with!
- Dutch has given many words to English, such as geek, skeleton, tulip, cookie, cake, brandy, ahoy, buoy, skipper, keelhauling, yacht, drill, sloop, cruiser, keel, pump, dock, and deck. Many of these words are related to marine activities and relics left behind from the Netherlands which has a history of naval warfare.
- If your English skills improve, you can watch the famous television show Tien voor Taal where the Dutch team plays the Flemish in Dutch games ranging from spelling quizzes to secret writing.
- Flemish (Vlaams) is the Belgian language of Dutch speakers called Flanders, but is not a separate language from Dutch. Both Dutch and Flemings read, speak and write the same language, but there are minor differences in vocabulary, accent, grammar, pronunciation, the same as American English vs Canadian English.
- One of the most famous Dutch speakers was an actress named Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993). He grew up in the Netherlands during the Second World War, and his first film appeared in 1948 entitled Nederlands in Zeven Lessen (Dutch in Seven Lessons).
- Dutch is a West Germanic language that is closely related to Afrikaans and Low German, and closely related to Frisian, English, High German, and Yiddish.
- Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriame, Aruba, Curaçao and Saint Maarten, three international companies including the European Union, Benelux, and the Union of South American Nations, and is a regional minority language in northern France (French Flanders).
Attention
- Keep in mind that you should use the polite form of greeting in Flanders rather than the Netherlands, where it is usually used to address an older person. However, if you're still learning, it's best if you stick to the polite form, and don't offend others.
- Don't be offended if a first-time Dutch speaker answers you in English when you try to speak Dutch to them. The speaker may want to make sure you understand them without any communication difficulties. Don't forget that they really appreciate you because you want to learn their language.
