Dutch Pronunciation Guide
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A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g,
H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p,
Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v,
W w, X x, Y y, IJ ij, Z z
Dutch is a West Germanic language spoken by more than 20 million people.
The letter b is pronounced p at the end of a word (b elsewhere).
The letter d is pronounced t at the end of a word (d elsewhere).
The letter e is probounced eh in unaccented syllables.
The letter g is pronounced x at the start of a word.
The letter h after t is silent.
The letter n at the end of a word is softened or even silent.
The letter i after a vowel is pronounced as the y in away.
The letter r is usually silent before g (r elsewhere).
The letter ij was once written y (now used only in foreign words).
There is also the addition of a diacritical mark called the "trema" (ä, ë, ï, ü), indicating that the vowel is pronounced separately from the preceding vowel.
Letters not listed below are pronounced approximately as in English.
--Dick Oakes
A, a - a as in above; a as in father E, e - a as in hat; e as in wet; a as in face I, i - i as in pin; also i as in machine O, o - also o as in gone; o as in note U, u - a as in about; ew as in dew Y, y - i as in pin; also i as in machine C, c - k as in king; s as in sing G, g - ch as in loch R, r - slightly rolled; when used as a vowel as er in pert IJ, ij - e as in eye W, w - v as in vine DIPTHONGS: Ai, ai - ai as in jai alai Au, au - ou as in proud Ea, ea - letters are pronounced separately Ei, ei - e as in eye Eu, eu - eu as in fleur Eeuw, eeuw - ch as in loch Ia, ia - letters are pronounced separately Ie, ie - i as in machine Ieuw, ieuw - ew as in new Io, io - letters are pronounced separately Oe, oe - oo as in boot Ou, ou - ou as in loud Ui, ui - ir as in bird Uw, uw - ew as in new OTHER SOUNDS: Ch, ch - ch as in loch dt - at the end of a word is pronounced as a t in bat ig - at the end of a word is pronounced as a in bubba isch - at the end of a word is pronounced i as in line with the ch silent Kn, kn - k(e)n as in broken lijk - at the end of a word is pronounced as a in above Ng, ng - ng as in sing Sch, sch - ch as in church Tj, tj - ch as in church
Copyright © 2007 by Dick Oakes
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