Dutch for travelers
25 easy-to-pronounce words
Dutch Language
learning difficulty
For most English-speaking travelers, the Dutch language can be difficult to pronounce. One key reason is some letters shared by the Dutch and English languages are pronounced differently.
Quick and easy
I've created a list of 25 Dutch words that are useful to travelers. They express a lot and have easy phonetics. And it's quicker for a traveler to learn single words to express thoughts than to memorize a slew of phrases.
Give the words and phonetics a try on your next trip to Holland (The Netherlands). Your pronunciations won't be perfect, but close enough for Dutch listeners to appreciate your efforts. They are famously tolerant, especially to travelers. Remember, it's better to slightly mispronounce a word than never use it to communicate with the Dutch you meet.
List and phonetics ©2013 HQP /hillmanwonders.com
Greetings
Hello
Hallo
hal-low - or Hoi (rhymes with toy)
Goodbye
Dag
dahg ("g" is soft)
Bye
Doei
doh-ee (sounds like "doughy")
Yes/no
Being polite
Thank you
Bedankt
buh-dahnkt
Questions
Numbers
One
Een
Say "ain't"
Other useful words
Here
Hier
Like English, but with an
emphatic "h"
List and phonetics ©2013 HQP /hillmanwonders.com
How to pronounce
oft-mispronounced
Dutch letters
I = "i" in "hit"
J = Like letter "Y"
O = "aw" in "saw"
R = Slightly rolled it
U = "u" in "hurt"
V = Like letter "F"
W = Like letter "V"
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World's Top 1000 Wonders
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