Skip to main content

Dutch pronunciation French speakers

Exercise 1: spelling 'h'

This sound is used in words like hallo (hello), haar (her) and behalve (except).

Exercise 2: spelling 'l', at the end of a (part of) word

This sound is used in words like bal (ball) and kaal (bald).

Exercise 3: spelling 'aa' or 'a'

This sound is used in words like waar (where), laat (late) and garen (thread/yarn).

Exercise 4: spelling 'ee' or 'e'

This sound is used in words like een (one), thee (tea) and lezen (read).

Exercise 5: spelling 'ee' or 'e' (when followed by an 'r', 'l' or 'uw')

This sound is used in words like veer (feather), veel (much/many/a lot) and leren (learn).

Exercise 6: spelling 'e' (sometimes 'ee'), unstressed

This sound is used in words like we (we), de (the) and maken (make).

Exercise 7: spelling 'ei' or 'ij'

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

Exercise 8: spelling 'eu'

This sound is used in words like neus (nose) and keuken (kitchen).

Exercise 9: spelling 'eu' (when followed by an ‘r’ or 'l')

This sound is used in words like deur (door), geul (trench) and kleuren (colours).

Exercise 10: spelling 'ui'

This sound is used in words like buiten (outside), thuis (at home) and suiker (sugar).