Nederlands · Dutch
Learn Dutch vocabulary
A Germanic language that shares many familiar words with English and German.
Dutch is a Germanic language spoken in the Netherlands and in the Flemish part of Belgium. If you know English or German you will recognize many words.
Nouns take the article de or het, which is often not predictable, so learn each noun with its article. Some sounds, such as "g" and "ui", can feel unfamiliar, so listening matters.
What to know
- Nouns take de or het.
- Shares words with English and German.
- Some sounds are tricky; learn by listening.
Study tips
- Study every noun with its article.
- Check the meaning of words that look like English.
- Keep audio on.
Where is it spoken?
Dutch is official in the Netherlands, the Flemish region of Belgium and Suriname.
Pronunciation and spelling notes
"g" and "ch" are throaty fricatives, and "ui", "eu" and "ij/ei" are special diphthongs. Final consonants harden ("hond" ends like a "t").
Which languages help?
It shares Germanic roots with German and English; basic words often look familiar, but spelling and pronunciation differ.
A roadmap for your first week
In week one, start with greetings, numbers and everyday words, and learn each noun with "de" or "het". Sounds like "g" and "ui" feel unfamiliar; get used to them by listening and repeating aloud.
Common mistakes
- Trying to guess "de" versus "het" by rule; it is often unpredictable, so learn it with the word.
- Trusting words that look like English or German without checking: "eventueel" means "possibly", not "eventually".
- Reading "g" and "ui" from the spelling.
A small sample word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| hallo | hello |
| dank je | thank you |
| alstublieft | please |
| het water | water |
| het huis | house |
| de vriend | friend |
| ja | yes |
| nee | no |
| goed | good |
| vandaag | today |
This list is our own; it is not an official list and only gives a feel for the first steps in this language.
Studying Dutch in Frigya
When you add Dutch in Frigya, you choose a separate level (A1–C2) and daily word goal for it. In Discover you meet new words and in Learn you reinforce them with spaced repetition; you can listen to words and example sentences. You can start without an account.
Frequently asked questions
Are Dutch and Flemish the same language?
Does German help with Dutch?
In Frigya you choose a separate level (A1–C2) and daily word goal for this language. For details see the levels guide.
Learn this language in Frigya
Try it without an account. If you like it, link your progress to one.
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