Pronunciation Guide

Pronunciation Tips

Listen to this “guide” and try to imitate the

sounds and words as often as you can.

Listen to the course dialogues often and

repeat them aloud until your pronunciation
comes as close as possible.
Pronunciation Tips

Record your own voice and then check that it

sounds similar. If you know a native speaker,
ask them to correct your pronunciation.

Listen to native Dutch speakers, the Dutch

radio and television and even Dutch songs.
Pronunciation Tips

Don’t worry too much about the stress in words

since this generally falls on the first syllable.

Keep going, with practice you will develop a

reasonable accent.
Pronunciation

Pronunciation of Consonants
Pronunciation of Vowel sounds
I. Short Vowel sounds
II. Long Vowel sounds
III. Combinations of Vowels
Pronunciation of
Consonants
“ Consonants

As a speaker of English, you won’t

find Dutch consonants much of a
problem. The consonants are
generally pronounced the same as
in English.
CH

ch Iicht light

As in Scottish loch. You should feel it at the

back of your mouth. Sounds softer the further
south you go.
G

g gek mad

The same guttural sound as ch.

Never pronounced as English g.
J

j ja yes

As in English y in yes.
K, P, T

k, p, t kat cat
pop doll
tas bag
The same as in English but without exhaling as
much air. (hold your hand in front of your mouth
almost no air should come out with the Dutch words).
R

r rood red

Can be made by trilling your tongue against the

back of your upper teeth or by making friction
at the back of the mouth (like a French r).
SCH

sch school school

A combination of s and ch
V

v vis fish

Like English v in “give”, but sometimes closer

to English f especially at the beginning of
words.
W

w wit white

Between English v and w. Hold your upper teeth

against your lower lip.