Exercise 6: spelling 'ei' or 'ij'

This sound is used in words like reizen (travel), mijn (my) and rijk (rich).

Pronunciation:

There is no equivalent sound in American English. This sound is a diphthong (explanation: see exercise 3). To be able to make this sound correctly, start saying the American English sound ‘a’ as in ‘fast’. Drop your jaw even further. Your mouth should really be open and should feel ‘firm’. This is the starting position of the sound (picture 1). Then, gradually, close your mouth (and continue making a sound), and move your tongue upwards in order to almost end in the sound ie (see exercise 2). Your cheeks should be far apart now, as if you grin (picture 2).
So it is a rather complex sound which involves a movement of the mouth in a broad range of positions.

Now you should be able to pronounce the sound ei.

! Please note that words ending in lijk are pronounced as the sound in exercise 5.

Practice the following words:

1. blij
2. zijn
3. kijken
4. beide

Practice the following sentences:

1. De wijn heeft niet veel smaak.
2. Ze fietst naar het hele kleine meer.

Pronounce: ei (start)

Pronounce: ei (end)