Patterns & Rules
Dutch has surprisingly consistent patterns once you learn the rules. This page collects the most useful generalizations — apply them broadly and you’ll be right most of the time.
Spelling Rules
Double vs. Single Vowels
The core Dutch spelling rule: a single vowel in a closed syllable is short; a double vowel or a vowel in an open syllable is long.
| Pattern | Example | IPA | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVC (closed, short) | man | /mɑn/ | Short a — closed syllable |
| CVVC (double, long) | maan | /maːn/ | Long aa — double vowel makes it long |
| CV-CV (open, long) | ma-nen | /ˈmaː.nən/ | Long a — open syllable, no doubling needed |
This means when you add suffixes, spelling changes:
| Singular | IPA | Plural | IPA | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| maan | /maːn/ | manen | /ˈmaː.nən/ | Open syllable keeps the long a, drop one a |
| man | /mɑn/ | mannen | /ˈmɑ.nən/ | Double the n to keep the syllable closed (short a) |
| boot | /boːt/ | boten | /ˈboː.tən/ | Open syllable keeps the long o, drop one o |
| bot | /bɔt/ | botten | /ˈbɔ.tən/ | Double the t to keep the syllable closed (short o) |
The DT Rule
The most notorious Dutch spelling rule. For verbs with stems ending in -d:
| Person | Verb (worden) | IPA | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| ik | word | /ʋɔrt/ | Stem only |
| jij | wordt | /ʋɔrt/ | Stem + t |
| hij/zij | wordt | /ʋɔrt/ | Stem + t |
| wij | worden | /ˈʋɔr.dən/ | Infinitive |
The rule: Jij/hij always gets -t even if the stem already ends in -d. So wordt, not word. In inversion (word jij), the -t drops because jij follows the verb.
Word Formation
Common Prefixes
Dutch loves prefixes. These work across hundreds of verbs and adjectives:
| Dutch | English | Example | IPA | Example Sentence | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| on- | un- / not | onmogelijk (impossible) | /ɔnˈmoː.ɣə.lək/ | Dat is onmogelijk! (That’s impossible!) | /dɑt ɪs ɔnˈmoː.ɣə.lək/ |
| ver- | change / away | verhuizen (to move house) | /vərˈhœy̯.zən/ | Wij verhuizen naar Amsterdam. (We’re moving to Amsterdam.) | /ʋɛi̯ vərˈhœy̯.zən naːr ˌɑm.stərˈdɑm/ |
| be- | makes transitive | bespreken (to discuss) | /bəˈspreː.kən/ | We bespreken het plan. (We discuss the plan.) | /ʋə bəˈspreː.kən hɛt plɑn/ |
| ge- | past participle | gemaakt (made) | /ɣəˈmaːkt/ | Ik heb het gemaakt. (I made it.) | /ɪk hɛp hɛt ɣəˈmaːkt/ |
| ont- | un-/de- | ontdekken (to discover) | /ɔntˈdɛ.kən/ | Hij heeft Amerika ontdekt. (He discovered America.) | /hɛi̯ heːft aːˈmeː.riː.kaː ɔntˈdɛkt/ |
| her- | re- | herhalen (to repeat) | /hɛrˈhaː.lən/ | Kun je dat herhalen? (Can you repeat that?) | /kʏn jə dɑt hɛrˈhaː.lən/ |
| voor- | pre-/for- | voorkomen (to prevent) | /ˈvoːr.koː.mən/ | We moeten dat voorkomen. (We must prevent that.) | /ʋə ˈmu.tən dɑt ˈvoːr.koː.mən/ |
| aan- | on/to | aankomen (to arrive) | /ˈaːn.koː.mən/ | De trein komt aan. (The train arrives.) | /də trɛi̯n kɔmt aːn/ |
| uit- | out/off | uitleggen (to explain) | /ˈœy̯t.lɛ.ɣən/ | Kun je het uitleggen? (Can you explain it?) | /kʏn jə hɛt ˈœy̯t.lɛ.ɣən/ |
| op- | up/open | opbellen (to call) | /ˈɔp.bɛ.lən/ | Ik bel je op. (I’ll call you.) | /ɪk bɛl jə ɔp/ |
| af- | off/down | afspreken (to arrange) | /ˈɑf.spreː.kən/ | We spreken om drie uur af. (We arrange to meet at three.) | /ʋə ˈspreː.kən ɔm dri yːr ɑf/ |
| mee- | along/with | meenemen (to take along) | /ˈmeː.neː.mən/ | Neem je paraplu mee! (Take your umbrella along!) | /neːm jə ˌpaː.raːˈply meː/ |
| terug- | back | terugkomen (to come back) | /təˈrʏx.koː.mən/ | Ik kom morgen terug. (I’m coming back tomorrow.) | /ɪk kɔm ˈmɔr.ɣən təˈrʏx/ |
Common Suffixes
| Dutch | Function | Example | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -heid | noun (state) | vrijheid | /ˈvrɛi̯.hɛi̯t/ | freedom |
| -lijk | adjective | vriendelijk | /ˈvrin.də.lək/ | friendly |
| -ig | adjective | rustig | /ˈrʏs.təx/ | calm |
| -baar | adjective (-able) | betaalbaar | /bəˈtaːl.baːr/ | affordable |
| -loos | adjective (-less) | dakloos | /ˈdɑk.loːs/ | homeless |
| -schap | noun (state) | vriendschap | /ˈvrint.sxɑp/ | friendship |
| -ster | female agent | schrijfster | /ˈsxrɛi̯f.stər/ | female writer |
| -er | male agent / comparative | bakker, groter | /ˈbɑ.kər/, /ˈɣroː.tər/ | baker, bigger |
| -je / -tje | diminutive | huisje | /ˈhœy̯.sjə/ | little house |
| -en | plural / infinitive | huizen, werken | /ˈhœy̯.zən/, /ˈʋɛr.kən/ | houses, to work |
| -ing | noun (action) | vergadering | /vərˈɣaː.də.rɪŋ/ | meeting |
| -tie / -sie | noun (from Latin) | informatie | /ˌɪn.fɔrˈmaː.tsi/ | information |
Compound Words
Dutch builds long words by combining shorter ones. The last word determines the gender and meaning:
| Dutch | IPA | Components | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ziekenhuis | /ˈzi.kən.hœy̯s/ | ziek + en + huis | hospital (sick + house) |
| huisarts | /ˈhœy̯s.ɑrts/ | huis + arts | family doctor (house + doctor) |
| handschoen | /ˈhɑnt.sxun/ | hand + schoen | glove (hand + shoe) |
| koelkast | /ˈkul.kɑst/ | koel + kast | fridge (cool + cupboard) |
| stofzuiger | /ˈstɔf.zœy̯.ɣər/ | stof + zuiger | vacuum cleaner (dust + sucker) |
| brandblusser | /ˈbrɑnt.blʏ.sər/ | brand + blusser | fire extinguisher (fire + extinguisher) |
| verjaardagstaart | /vərˈjaːr.dɑxs.taːrt/ | verjaardag + s + taart | birthday cake |
| zonnebloem | /ˈzɔ.nə.blum/ | zon + ne + bloem | sunflower (sun + flower) |
Linking letters (-s-, -e-, -en-) often appear between components: verjaardagsstaart, zonnebloem, ziekenhuis.
Gender Patterns (de / het)
No perfect rule exists, but these patterns are right most of the time:
Almost always het
| Pattern | Example | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diminutives (-je) | het huisje | /ˈhœy̯.sjə/ | the little house |
| Languages | het Nederlands | /nɛ.dər.ˈlɑnts/ | Dutch |
| Sports & games | het voetbal | /ˈvut.bɑl/ | football |
| Metals | het goud | /ɣɑu̯t/ | gold |
| Compass directions | het noorden | /ˈnoːr.dən/ | the north |
| Words starting with ge-, be-, ver- (many) | het gebouw | /ɣəˈbɑu̯/ | the building |
| Two-syllable -el, -em, -en (many) | het meisje, het water | /ˈmɛi̯.sjə/, /ˈʋaː.tər/ | the girl, the water |
Almost always de
| Pattern | Example | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (male/female) | de man, de vrouw | /mɑn/, /vrɑu̯/ | the man, the woman |
| Plural nouns (all!) | de huizen | /ˈhœy̯.zən/ | the houses |
| -heid | de vrijheid | /ˈvrɛi̯.hɛi̯t/ | freedom |
| -ing | de vergadering | /vərˈɣaː.də.rɪŋ/ | the meeting |
| -ie / -tie | de politie | /poːˈli.tsi/ | the police |
| -schap | de vriendschap | /ˈvrint.sxɑp/ | friendship |
| -teit | de universiteit | /ˌy.ni.vɛr.siˈtɛi̯t/ | the university |
| -ij | de bakkerij | /bɑ.kəˈrɛi̯/ | the bakery |
| -eur | de computer | /kɔm.ˈpjuː.tər/ | the computer |
| Trees, fruits, plants | de appel, de eik | /ˈɑ.pəl/, /ɛi̯k/ | the apple, the oak |
| Rivers, mountains | de Rijn, de Alpen | /rɛi̯n/, /ˈɑl.pən/ | the Rhine, the Alps |
Plural Rules
Dutch has two main plural endings: -en and -s.
Use -en (most words)
| Singular | IPA | Plural | IPA | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| huis | /hœy̯s/ | huizen | /ˈhœy̯.zən/ | Default: add -en (z before vowel) |
| boot | /boːt/ | boten | /ˈboː.tən/ | Long vowel: drop double letter in open syllable |
| man | /mɑn/ | mannen | /ˈmɑ.nən/ | Short vowel: double consonant to keep it short |
| dag | /dɑx/ | dagen | /ˈdaː.ɣən/ | Default: add -en |
Use -s (words ending in unstressed syllable)
| Singular | IPA | Plural | IPA | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tafel | /ˈtaː.fəl/ | tafels | /ˈtaː.fəls/ | Ends in -el |
| jongen | /ˈjɔŋ.ən/ | jongens | /ˈjɔŋ.əns/ | Ends in -en |
| meisje | /ˈmɛi̯.sjə/ | meisjes | /ˈmɛi̯.sjəs/ | Diminutives always -s |
| auto | /ˈɑu̯.toː/ | auto’s | /ˈɑu̯.toːs/ | Foreign words / vowel ending: use apostrophe-s |
| café | /kaːˈfeː/ | cafés | /kaːˈfeːs/ | Foreign loanwords |
Irregular
| Singular | IPA | Plural | IPA | Dutch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kind | /kɪnt/ | kinderen | /ˈkɪn.də.rən/ | child → children |
| ei | /ɛi̯/ | eieren | /ˈɛi̯.ə.rən/ | egg → eggs |
| stad | /stɑt/ | steden | /ˈsteː.dən/ | city → cities |
Verb Patterns
Past Participle (ge- + stem + -d/-t)
The 't kofschip rule determines the ending: if the stem ends in one of t, k, f, s, ch, p, the past participle ends in -t. Otherwise -d.
| Infinitive | IPA | Stem | ’t kofschip? | Past Participle | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| werken | /ˈʋɛr.kən/ | werk | k → yes | gewerkt | worked |
| fietsen | /ˈfit.sən/ | fiets | s → yes | gefietst | cycled |
| maken | /ˈmaː.kən/ | maak | k → yes | gemaakt | made |
| leven | /ˈleː.vən/ | leef | f → yes | geleefd | lived |
| wonen | /ˈʋoː.nən/ | woon | no | gewoond | lived |
| spelen | /ˈspeː.lən/ | speel | no | gespeeld | played |
Mnemonic: ‘t ko**fschip — if the stem ends in any letter from this word, use -t.
Separable Verbs
Verbs with stressed prefixes split in main clauses:
| Infinitive | Sentence | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| opbellen | Ik bel je op. | /ɪk bɛl jə ɔp/ | I call you. |
| meenemen | Neem je jas mee! | /neːm jə jɑs meː/ | Take your coat along! |
| terugkomen | Hij komt morgen terug. | /hɛi̯ kɔmt ˈmɔr.ɣən təˈrʏx/ | He comes back tomorrow. |
In subordinate clauses, they stay together: …dat ik je opbel. (that I call you)
Common Strong Verb Patterns
| Pattern | Infinitive | IPA | Past | Past Participle | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ij → ee → e | schrijven | /ˈsxrɛi̯.vən/ | schreef | geschreven | to write |
| ie → oo → o | schieten | /ˈsxi.tən/ | schoot | geschoten | to shoot |
| i → a → o | drinken | /ˈdrɪŋ.kən/ | dronk | gedronken | to drink |
| e → a → o | spreken | /ˈspreː.kən/ | sprak | gesproken | to speak |
Pronunciation Patterns
Final Devoicing
Voiced consonants become voiceless at the end of a word:
| Written | Pronounced | Example | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| -d | /t/ | hond | /hɔnt/ |
| -b | /p/ | heb | /hɛp/ |
| -g | /x/ | dag | /dɑx/ |
| -v | /f/ | leef (from leven) | /leːf/ |
| -z | /s/ | huis | /hœy̯s/ |
Cognate Spelling Shifts (English → Dutch)
If you know English, these patterns help you guess Dutch spellings:
| English | Dutch | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -tion | -tie | information → informatie |
| -ly | -lijk | friendly → vriendelijk |
| -ty | -teit | university → universiteit |
| -ous | -eus | famous → fameus |
| c- | k- | cat → kat |
| th- | d- | three → drie |
| sh- | sch- | ship → schip |
| oo | oe | school → school, cool → koel |
Sentence Structure Patterns
Main Clause: Verb Second (V2)
The conjugated verb is always in position 2 in main clauses:
| Position 1 | Verb | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Ik | werk | vandaag. |
| Vandaag | werk | ik thuis. |
| Morgen | gaan | wij naar Amsterdam. |
Subordinate Clause: Verb Last
After conjunctions like dat, omdat, als, wanneer, toen, the verb goes to the end:
| Example | English |
|---|---|
| Ik weet dat hij morgen komt. | I know that he comes tomorrow. |
| Omdat het regent, blijf ik thuis. | Because it’s raining, I stay home. |
Time-Manner-Place
Dutch follows time → manner → place order (like German):
| Example | English |
|---|---|
| Ik ga morgen met de trein naar Amsterdam. | I go tomorrow by train to Amsterdam. |
Tip: These patterns won’t cover every exception, but they’ll help you make educated guesses. When in doubt, the patterns on this page will be right roughly 80-90% of the time. The exceptions are worth learning individually as you encounter them.