Dutch phrases and common sentences
Dutch is spoken by 25 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium, but also in South America and the Caribbean. As a West Germanic language, Dutch is closely related to English, sharing many similarities in vocabulary and grammar. Dutch sounds like a difficult language to learn, but it really isn’t. Maybe it’s because of the oft-quoted expression "double Dutch", used when things are confusing. Dutch has many similarities to English, and many words and phrases already look familiar, which is just one aspect that makes Dutch relatively easy to learn.
Understand basic Dutch sentences
What you need to know about Dutch phrases and common sentences? Dutch can be tricky to pronounce when you're new to the language as an English speaker, with many sounds that don't exist in English. That's why practice and feedback on pronunciation is key to successfully using basic Dutch sentences in real-world conversations. Getting a feel for Dutch grammar is also important for taking your skills to the next level.
Which Dutch phrases are most useful for beginners?
zijn - ""to be""
hebben - ""have""
gaan - ""go""
komen - ""come""
zitten - ""sit""
take - ""take""
can - ""can""
moeten - ""must""
maken - ""make""
zeggen - ""say""
Master Dutch pronunciation
The guttural G can be difficult for some people to pronounce. Vowels, such as the aa in haar (hair), eu in neurotisch (neurotic), ui in uil (owl) and uu in uur (hour) can also pose challenges for English speakers.
Immerse yourself in Dutch grammar
Dutch spelling is fairly straightforward, but word order in Dutch sentences isn't always intuitive and needs to be studied closely. Regular verbs in Dutch phrases are easy to conjugate, and once you become familiar with them it will be much easier to know how to use any verb. Irregular verbs are more difficult to remember and generally need to be learnt by heart. Dutch adjectives and nouns are either neuter or common gender, and in most Dutch phrases you'll come across the definite articles de and het and the indefinite article een.
Basic Dutch sentences
Dutch | English |
Kan u me de weg wijzen naar het station, alstublieft? | Can you show me the way to the station, please? |
Hoeveel kost dit? | How much does this cost? |
Verkoopt u postzegels? | Do you sell postage stamps? |
Hoe heet u? | What is your name? |
Goede morgen | Good morning. |
Goede avond | Good afternoon. |
Goede nacht | Good night. |
Verstaat u Engels? | Do you understand English? |
Learning Dutch with Babbel
With Babbel, Dutch learners can study on the go. Cutting-edge voice recognition allows for immediate feedback on pronunciation. This is a huge confidence boost and will encourage you to keep learning. And with fun, flexible and real-world content that helps you to navigate everyday situations in Dutch, learning is never a chore. The personalised dashboard shows you exactly where you are with your learning and dynamic review sessions test your progress and flag any focus areas. There's also a wealth of interactive media to explore and a community packed with other learners like you to enrich the experience. Try it out for yourself – the first lesson is free!