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Now is The Time Program 3 |
Pronunciation
Listening Hear Names |
Words | Phrases | Grammar |
my site |
Adjectives in most
positions get an -E ending
‑>>
Several words appear twice on the page. I do not have an
infinite number of recordings, and some combinations of letters are
rarely or never found in Dutch.
'Long' and 'short' are traditional terms. The difference is actually
more of tone than length
More about spelling and pronunciation -
another version
Learn the Rules by Studying and Listening to Examples
Major Exceptions to the Phonetic Spelling of Dutch:
- Page 1:
een
-IG
-ISCH
-LIJK
- Page 2:
-B
-D
SCHR
-TIE
UW
WR
Hear the Dutch Letters in Hundreds of Words:
AU/OU
CH
E
EI/IJ
EU
F
G
H
L
OE
SCH
U
UI
W
X
Y
'Master Lists' of Dutch words: Dutch to English - English to Dutch
Intro 1: Just Listen to a few G's | |
---|
The Dutch G | |
G and CH | |
---|
Intro 2: Single Examples of the Combinations | |
---|
Hear The Many Examples | |
French G's | |
---|
Geen groter genoegen no greater pleasure, the greatest enjoyment Graag gedaan! ['a pleasure to have done'] - you're welcome, 'my pleasure' De gong ging 2 3 4 5 The gong [went] sounded - the program will start soon
English | Dutch infinitive |
simple present singular |
simple present plural |
simple past singular |
simple past plural |
perfect tense |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
English example: | to come | I come | we come | I came | we came | I have come | ||
to give | geven | ik geef | wij geven | ik gaf | wij gaven | ik heb gegeven | 2 - ‑>> | |
to start, begin | beginnen | ik begin | wij beginnen | ik begon | wij begonnen | ik ben begonnen | 2 3 ‑>> | |
to get | krijgen | ik krijg | wij krijgen | ik kreeg | wij kregen | ik heb gekregen | 2 - ‑>> | |
to lie down | liggen | ik lig | wij liggen | ik lag | wij lagen | ik heb gelegen | - ‑>> | |
to lay down | leggen | ik leg | wij leggen | ik legde | wij legden | ik heb gelegd | 2 - ‑>> | |
to lie, say what's not | liegen | ik lieg | wij liegen | ik loog | wij logen | ik heb gelogen | ||
to understand (ideas) | begrijpen | ik begrijp | wij begrijpen | ik begreep | wij begrepen | ik heb begrepen | - ‑>> |
This page is about how the G is pronounced in the
Northern part of the Netherlands
(Nederland
2
- 'Holland'
‑>>)
- boven de grote rivieren
2
3
([above] 'North of the big rivers.')
In the Southern part of
the country and in Dutch-speaking Belgium the G (and CH) are
pronounced differently. It's called the
Zachte G
2
3
('soft G.') Hear a few of my attempts to imitate the
Zachte G
2
3
on my Regional G page - see
also below
larger map |
Hear for yourself:
- lachen
2
('to laugh')
‑>>
- vlaggen
2
('flags')
- vlaggen / lachen / licht / ligt
2
- [(het)] licht
('light' // 'light')
- je ligt
2
3
4
5
('you're lying down')
- je licht
2
3
4
5
('your (bike) light')
- [(de)] echt
2
3
('real, really' // 'marriage')
- je legt
2
3
4
('you are laying down')
- wij loochenen
2
('we deny the truth of, we disclaim')
- wij logen
2
3
('we lied')
- (de) lach
('laugh')
- ik lach
2
('I'm laughing')
- ik lag
2
3
4
5
6
('I was lying down')
- zich
('yourself, oneself')
‑>>
- (de) big
('young pig')
- walgelijk
2
3
('disgusting')
- Walcheren
2
(former island in the province of Zeeland
2
['Sea-land']
The difference between CH and G may be more pronounced in
the Limburg dialect - when I try to imitate that the CH and G seem to be more
clearly different:
Standard (Northern) Dutch: zich geven
2
My attemtpts at Limburg dialect: zich geven
2
'Zich geven' - 'giving yourself' means something like
'to dedicate yourself to a noble goal'
See also: the SCH page
Single Examples of Letters Combined with G
- gammel
2
3
('unwell, rickety')
- ga!
2
('go!')
- gauw
2
('quick, soon')
- (de) hoogbouw
2
3
4
('high-rise buildings')
- (het) wegdek
2
3
('road surface, American pavement')
- gekke
2
('crazy, insane')
- geel
2
3
4
('yellow')
- gevaar
('danger')
- gezellig
2
3
(untranslatable ‑>>) 'pleasant, nice, enjoyable,
gregarious, cosy')
- (de) geit
2
('goat')
- (de) geur
2
3
4
('smell, odor')
- (de) ligfiets
2
3
('recumbent bicycle')
- hooghartig
2
('haughty, arrogant')
- (de) gil
2
('shriek')
- (de) gierst
2
('millet')
- gij
2
(Flemish 'you')
- (het) pleegkind
('foster child')
- (het) glas
2
('glass' // 'a glass')
- (het) fragment
('fragment, small piece of ...')
- (de) magneet
2
('magnet')
- magnifiek (from French)
("magnificent")
- golven
2
('waves')
- (de) goot
2
('gutter')
- goed
2
3
('good, well, correct etc.)
- (het) goud
2
('gold')
- (het) bergpad
('mountain') path, trail
- groot
2
3
4
5
('large, tall, big, great')
- (de) oogst
('harvest')
- (de) leegte
2
3
4
5
6
7
('emptiness' - usually figuratively)
- gul
/ gul/gulle
('generous, cordial')
- guur
2
3
('inclement,' 'very bad, very unpleasant, harsh' - weather)
(de) guit
('rascal')
- (de) dag 2 ('day') - (de) dagen 2 ('days') - (de) augurk 2 ('pickle') - ik heb gegeten ('I have eaten') - (het) aardgas 2 ('natural gas') - (de) heg ('hedge') - (het) deeg ('dough') - (het) begin ('start, beginning') - (het) eigeel ([egg-yellow] 'egg yolk') - (de) jeugd 2 ('youth') - gifgroen 2 3 4 5 ('"poison" green' - very bright) - romig 2 3 4 ('creamy') - (de) big ('young pig') - (de) spiegel 2 ('mirror') - krijgen ('to get, receive' - without effort ‑>> - (de) buikgriep 2 ('stomach flu, food poioning') - (het) gevolg ('result, effect, consequence') - (de) omgeving ('environment') - (de) ringvinger ('ring finger') - ongeluk 2 ('accident') - de oorlog ('the war') - (het) oog 2 ('eye') - genoeg ('enough') - opgelet! 2 3 4 ('pay attention!') - erg ('very' // 'bad') - (het) knoopsgat ('buttonhole') - (de) uitgang 2 ('exit') - (de) rug ('back' - body part) - spugen 2 ('to spit,' // 'to vomit, throw up') - (de) getuige ('witness') - (de) hygiëne 2 3 ('hygiene')
Two types of French G:
- (de) energie
2 ('energy')
- (de) guerilla
2 ('guerilla')
- G first series: GA-GZ - G second series: AG-YG
the: de
2 /
het
2
3
- 't
->>
Plurals always take 'de'
a: (een) - 'n
/ one: één
2
3
Repeat the words after me, try saying them like I do, and record yourself or ask a friend to compare how you say them with how I say them.Try to bring your pronunciation of the words closer and closer to how I say them. Use as few or as many examples as you like.
GA | - (de) gabber ('friend, comrade' - slang) - gaf ('gave' singular simple past of 'geven') - (het) gajes ('bad people' - slang) - (de) gal 2 ('gall') - (de) galg 2 3 4 ('gallows') - (het) gambiet ('gambit' - chess etc.) - gammel 2 3 ('unwell, rickety') - (de) gang ('corridor // movement') - gangbaar 2 3 ('valid, current, accepted') - (de) gans ('goose') - (de) garage (2nd G French - 'car housing // car repair workshop') - (de) garantie ('warranty') - (de) garde ('whisk' // 'guard') - (de) garnaal ('shrimp, lobster') - (het) gas 2 ('gas' - not a solid, not a liquid) - (de) gast 2 ('guest') - (het) gat ('hole') - (de) gazelle 2 ('gazelle' - also a Dutch bicycle brand) |
GAA | - ga!
2
('go!')
- gaaf
2
3
/ gaaf/gave
2
3
4
('undamaged, unblemished, perfect, flawless')
- [(de)] gave
2
('undamaged' etc. // 'gift, talent')
- gaan
('to go')
‑>>
- ga jij?
2
('are you going?' - to an event etc.)
- gaar
/ gare
2
('ready' - cooked)
- (het) garen
('thread')
- (het) gaas
('wire netting')
- (het) gaatje
('small hole, cavity')
- gaten
2
3
('holes')
- Gabriël 2 (a boys' name) |
GAU |
- gauw
2
('quick, soon')
- Tot gauw!
('See you soon!')
- Kom gauw!
2
3
('Come quick!')
- in de gauwigheid
('in the rush of things, because I had to act quickly')
also hear GOU - below |
GB |
- (het) ligbad
2
3
([lying-down bath] - 'bathtub')
- (het) dagboek
2
('diary')
- (de) slagboom
2
3
('barrier, gate' - at borders and railroad crossings)
- (de) dreigbrief
2
3
('threatening letter')
- (de) hoogbouw
2
3
4
('high-rise buildings')
- terugbrengen
2
(to bring back - 'to return')
- Egbert (a boys' name) - Egberts (a family name) - Wigbold (a boys' name) - Wigbout (a boys' name) |
GD |
- afgevaardigden
2
('representatives')
- afgezaagd
2
3
4
5
('sawed off, cut off' - past participle - but often
figuratively: 'boring, not original, heard too often already')
- jaagde
2
(simple past tense singular of jagen 'to hunt'
// 'to hurry' - vehicular)
- geslaagd
2
/ geslaagde
('succesfull' // past participle of slagen
'to pass an exam' // 'to succeed,
have success'
‑>>
- (het) wegdek
2
3
('road surface, American pavement')
- "Ik heb gezegd"
2
('I have spoken' - I'm done speaking // 'I have said')
- (het) gezegde
('saying'
‑>>
// 'the predicate' - grammar)
- (de) jeugd
2
('youth')
- (de) voogd
2
('guardian' of a child)
- (het) zoogdier
('mammal')
- Magda 2 (a girls' name) |
GE |
- [(de)] gek
('crazy, insane' // 'crazy person')
- gekke
2
/ gek/gekke
2
('crazy, insane')
- (de) gekkigheid
2
3
('silliness, craziness')
- (het) geld
('money')
- gelden
2
('to count as, weigh // - to be applicable')
- geldig
2
('valid')
- (de) gember
('ginger')
- (het) gen
('gene')
- Germaans
2
3
('Germanic')
‑>>
- (de) gerst
2
('barley')
- Ger (a boys' name) - Gerben (a boys' name) - Gert (a boys' name) - Zottegem (a town in Belgium) |
GEE |
- geel
2
3
4
- gele
2
('yellow')
- geen
('no,' - not any, zero quantity)
‑>>
- (de) geest
('spirit, ghost')
- (de) geeuw
('yawn')
- genen
('genes')
- (de) generaal
2
('general')
- (de) geoloog
('geologist')
- geven
2
('to give')
- Gé (a boys' name) - Geert (a boys' name) - Gerard (a boys' name) - Geesje (a girls' name) - Geeske 2 (a girls' name) |
GE (uh) | - ge ('Flemish 'you'') - geavanceerd 2 ('advanced') - (het) gebak ('pastry') - (het) gebakje ('piece of pastry') - (het) gebaar ('gesture') - (het) gebed 2 3 ('prayer') - gebeden 2 ('prayers') - (het) gebit 2 3 ('teeth') - (het) gebied 2 ('area') - (het) gebod 2 ('commandment') - geboden 2 3 ('commandments') - (het) gebouw 2 ('building') - (het) gebrek 2 ('lack, shortage') - gecompliceerd 2 3 ('complicated') - (het) gedrag 2 3 ('behavior') - geëerd 2 ('honored, respected') - gefeliciteerd! 2 ('congratulations!') - (het) gegeven 2 ('given, fact, information') - gegevens 2 ('data') - gegleden ('slid' - past participle of - glijden 2 - 'to slide') - (het) gehakt ('ground beef or pork') - gehaast 2 3 ('hurried') - [(het)] geheel ('entirely, completely' // 'entirety') - [(het)] geheim 2 ('secret') - (het) geheugen 2 3 ('memory' - the brain faculty) - (het) gehoor ('hearing,' the sense of hearing // 'audience') - geïnteresseerd ('interested') - gekneusd 2 3 ('bruised') - gekookt 2 ('boiled, cooked') - gelaten 2 ('resigned' // past participle of laten - 'to allow, let') ‑>> - (het) geluid ('sound') - gelukkig 2 / gelukkige 2 ('lucky, luckily' // 'happy' - old-fashioned) - (de) gemeenschap 2 ('community, society') - (de) genade 2 ('mercy') - geopend ('opened, open') - gepast geld 2 ([fitting money] 'exact change') - geregeld 2 3 ('regular, regularly' // past participle of regelen 2 'to arrange') - (het) gerucht 2 ('rumor') - (het) geschenk 2 ('gift, present') - gescheurd ('ripped, torn') - (de) geschiedenis ('hostory') - geschokt 2 ('shocked') - geslaagd 2 ('passed an exam' // 'successfull, met expectations') - [(het]) geslacht ('gender, sex' // 'butchered') - (het) getal 2 ('number') - (het) getij 2 3 ('tide') - (de) getuige 2 ('witness') - geuit (ge-uit) 2 ('expressed, voiced') - (het) gevecht 2 3 ('fight' - physical) - (het) gevolg ('result, consequence') - (het) gewicht ('weight') - gewichtig ('self-important') - (het) gewricht 2 ('joint' - bones connection point) - (het) gezag 2 3 ('authority') - (het) gezegde ('saying' ‑>> // 'the predicate,' - what is said in a sentence about the subject) - gezellig 2 3 (untranslatable ‑>>) 'pleasant, nice, enjoyable, gregarious, cosy') - (het) gezelschap 2 ('company') - (het) gezicht 2 ('face' // 'view') |
GEI | also hear GIJ below - (de) gein ('fun' - slang) - (het) geintje ('practical joke, something funny') - geinig 2 ('funny, entertaining') - (de) geit 2 ('goat') |
GEU |
- (de) geul
2
3
4
('channel, groove, trench')
- (de) geur
2
3
4
('smell, odor')
- geurig
2
('having a noticeable nice smell')
- (het) geurtje
2
3
([little] 'smell, scent,' usually perfume, cologne)
- (de) Geus
('Dutch 16th Century rebel against Spanish rule)
- Geuzen
2
(Dutch 'minutemen, revolutionaries')
- Geurt (a boys' name) |
GF | - (de) ligfiets 2 3 ('recumbent bicycle') - Agfa 2 (former? German photography brand) - ragfijn 2 3 ([fine like a spider's web] - 'very subtle') |
GH |
- (de) waaghals
2
('daredevil')
- gezaghebbend
('authoritative, carrying authority')
- leeghalen
2
3
('to empty')
- (de) gekkigheid
2
3
('silliness, craziness')
- (de) narigheid
2
3
('unpleasantness, trouble')
- (het) kleinigheidje
2
3
('little thing' - usually a small gift)
- hooghartig
2
('haughty, arrogant')
- terughoudend
2
3
([holding back] - 'reserved, aloof, detached')
- Hooghoudt 2 3 4 (a family name) - Willighagen 2 (a family name) |
GI | - (de) gids ('guide') - (het) vergif 2 ('poison') - (het) gifgas 2 ('poison gas') - gifgroen 2 3 4 5 ('"poison" green' - very bright) - (de) gil 2 ('shriek') - gillen 2 3 ('to shriek, ~yell') - ginnegappen ('to giggle, snigger') - gissen 2 ('to guess') - gisteren ('yesterday') |
GIE |
- giechelen
2
('to giggle')
- gigantisch
2
('gigantic')
- (de) giek
2
('boom' - sailboat part)
- (de) gier
2
3
4
('vulture' - a bird)
- (de) gierst
2
('millet')
- (de) gitaar
('guitar')
- gieten
2
('to pour')
- (de) gieter
('watering can')
- De Straat van Gibraltar 2 ('The Straits of Gibraltar') |
GIJ | also hear GEI above - gij 2 (Flemish 'you') - Gijs 2 (a boys' name) |
GK | - (het) pleegkind ('foster child') - (de) verpleegkundige ('nurse' - formal) - (de) brugklas ('bridging grade' - first year of secondary school) - terugkomen 2 ('to return, come back') - enig kind ('only child') |
GL | - glad / gladde ('slippery') - (de) gladiool/gladiolen ('gladiolus/gladioli' - a flower) - (het) glas 2 ('glass' // 'a glass') - glazen ('glasses' - for drinking // 'made of glass') - glas / glazen ('glass' / 'glasses') - (het) glaasje ('small glass') - glibberig 2 3 4 ('slippery') - (het) ooglid 2 3 ('eyelid') - (de) glimlach 2 3 ('smile') - (de) glijbaan ('slide') - glijden 2 ('to slide') - gloednieuw 2 3 ([glowing-] 'brand-new') - gluren 2 ('to leer,' watch secretly) |
GM |
- (het) magma
2
3
('hot, liquid rock')
- (het) fragment
('fragment, small piece of ...')
- leegmaken
2
('to empty')
- (het) dogma
2
('dogma')
- dogmatisch
('dogmatic')
- graag mogen
2
3
('to like' - people, 'get on well with'
‑>>
- weg met ...!
2
3
4
('down with ...! do away with
...! kick out ...!')
‑>>
- Egmond 2 (a town // Dutch revolutionary, executed by the Spanish) - (het) Wogmeer 2 ('an old polder') - Brugman 2 (16th Century motivational speaker') |
GN |
- (de) gnoe
2
('gnu,' "wildebeest")
- (de) magneet
2
('magnet')
- (het) magnesium
('magnesium, Mg' - a metal)
- (de) magnetron
('microwave oven')
- (de) magnolia
2
('magnolia' - a tree)
- (de) zuignap
('suction cup')
- nog niet
2
3
('not yet')
- nog nooit
2
('never yet, still not')
- vraag niet waarom
2
('do not ask why')
- onderweg naar
2
3
('on the way to')
- op weg naar
2
3
('on the way to')
- Agnes (a girls' name) - Digna (a girls' name) French GN In a few words from French GN is pronounced as N-Consonant-Y, Dutch NJ like in (de) franje 2 3 ('ornamental fringe' - also figuratively) ('Franje' is one of the very few words ending in -JE that is not a 'het'-word. It's not a diminutive.) - signaal 2 ('a signal') - signaleren 2 ('to notice') - magnifiek ("magnificent") - vignet 2 ("certificate") - appelbeignet ('a type of apple cake') The pronunciation of the word for the common mushrooms that you buy in a store was simplified (like in French) champignons ('button mushrooms') With some difficulty I can say champiGNons (exaggerated!) |
GO |
- (de) god
('god')
‑>>
- gokken
('to gamble')
- (gold
2)
- 't gold
2
3
('it was valid, it counted, it counted as')
- (de) golf
2
('wave')
- golven
2
('waves')
- (het) gordijn
2
3
('curtain')
- gorgelen
2
3
('to gargle')
- Godfried (a boys' name) - Gonnie (a girls' name) - Hillegom 2 (a town) |
GOO |
- goden
2
3
('gods')
- (de) godin
('goddess')
- (de) goochelaar
2
('magician' - entertainer)
- goochem
('smart' - slang)
- gooien
('to throw')
- (de) goot
2
('gutter')
- (de) gootsteen
('kitchen sink')
- (het) ego
2
3
('ego')
- Govert (a boys' name) |
GOE |
- goed
2
3
/ goede
/ goedgoede
('good, well, correct etc.)
‑>>
- goedkoop
2
3
/ goedkope
2
3
('cheap, not expensive')
‑>>
- goede gaven
([good] 'kind, welcome gifts')
- goed genoeg
2
3
('good enough')
- 'n goede gelegenheid
2
3
('a good opportunity')
- Bargoens
2
('~slang')
- Goes (a town) |
GOU |
also hear AU above
- (het) goud
2
('gold')
‑>>
2
- gouden
('golden')
- (de) goudmijn
2
('goldmine')
- (de) pleegouders
('foster parents')
- Gouke (a boys' name) - Gouda 2 ('a city') - Goudse kaas ('Gouda cheese') - De Gouw 2 (a family name) - Henegouwen (Belgian province) |
GP | - (het) bergpad ('mountain') path, trail - (de) opslagplaats 2 3 ('storage area') - Dag Peter 2 ('Goodbye/Hello Peter') - Zalig Pasen! 2 3 ('Blessed Easter!') |
GR |
- graag
2
("~I'd like that")
- ja graag!
2
('yes, please!')
- grachten
2
3
('city canals')
- (het) grapje
2
3
('joke')
- (het) gras
2
('grass')
- (de) graad
2
3
4
('degree')
/ graden
('degrees')
- (de) graat
2
('fish bone')
/ graten
2
3
('fish bones')
- (de) grafiek
2
3
('graph' - math)
- graven
2
3
('to dig' // 'graves')
- grazen
2
('to graze,' - cows, sheep eating grass)
- (de) grens
('border')
- (de) grensrechter
2
('side ref' - soccer)
- (de) greep
2
3
('grip, hold, grasp, grab')
- gretig
2
3
('eager')
- Greuze
(tulip name - in the name
of the French painter the G is different)
- grillig
('whimsical, unpredictable' // of irregular shape)
- grimmig
2
('grisly, grim')
- (het) grind
('gravel, pebbles')
- Griekenland
('Greece')
- (de) griep
2
('the flu, influenza')
- griezelig
2
3
4
('scary, frightening, spine-chilling')
- grijnzen
2
('to grin')
- grijpen
('to grab, catch, get hold of')
‑>>
- grijs
2
/ grijze
2
('grey, gray')
- (de) grond
2
3
('soil, ground, earth' // 'floor, bottom')
- (de) groei
2
('growth')
- groeien
2
3
('to grow')
- groen
2
3
/ groene
2
3
4
('green')
- (de) groente
('vegetables') ‑>>
- grommen
2
('to growl' // 'to grumble')
- (de) grot
('cave')
- grotten
('caves')
- grof
('coarse+')
/ grove
2
3
4
('coarse+')
- groot
2
3
4
5
/ grote
2
/ groot/grote
2)
('large, tall, big, great')
‑>>
- (de) grootgrutter
2
(large grocery chain store - jocular)
- grote grutten!
2
3
('good grief!')
- (de) slagroom
2
3
4
5
6
('whipping cream, whipped cream')
- (het) grut
('small children' - jocular)
- (de) grutter
2
('grocer, grocery store' - jocular)
- gruwelen
('horrors // to be horrified')
- gruwelijk
('gruesome, horrible')
- gruzelementen
('smithereens')
- (de) visgraat 2 3 4 ('fish bone') - muisgrijs 2 3 ('mouse-grey') - grijs en grauw ('colorless, not bright') - grillen en grollen (a person's "peculiarities," odd behavior) - Greetje (a girls' name) - Grietje (a girls' name) |
GS |
- 's middags
('in the afternoon')
- hedendaags
2
('modern, of the present')
- (de) krijgsgevangene
2
('prisoner-of-war')
- (de) krijgsraad
2
(1. 'military court of justice' 2. 'wartime top military council')
- (de) weegschaal
('scale')
- (de) boogschutter
2
('archer, Sagittarius')
- (de) oogst
('harvest')
- hoogstens
2
('at most')
- (de) verpleegster
2
3
('nurse' - female)
- (de) draagstoel
([carried-] 'sedan chair')
- in oorlogstijd
2
('during wartime')
- enigszins
2
3
4
('somewhat')
- nog steeds 2 3 ('still') - Krijgsman 2 (a family name) |
GT |
- m'n vrouw zegt dat ...
('my wife says that ...')
- hij zegt maar wat
2
3
4
('he says just something' - he doesn't know what he's talking about)
- (de) leegte
2
3
4
5
6
7
('emptiness' - usually figuratively)
- (de) hoogte
2
('height')
- (het) hoogtepunt
2
3
('high point, summit, zenith')
- (de) hoogtevrees
2
('fear of heighths')
- hoogtijdagen
2
([days of high tide] - 'heyday')
- (het) gebergte
2
('mountains, mountain range')
- (de) terugtraprem
2
3
4
('backpedal brake')
- terugtrekken
2
3
('to pull back, retreat')
- (het) vliegtuig
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
('airplane')
- 't Is hoog tijd 2 ('It is [high] about time') - Zegt 't voort 2 ('Everybody - pass it on' - the word - a plural imperative) ‑>> - Wat zegt U? 2 3 ('What [do] did you say?' - poliote 'you') |
GU | - gul / gul/gulle ('generous, cordial') - (de) gulden ('guilder,' pre-Euro Dutch monetary unit and coin) - (de) gulp ('fly, zipper') - (het) gum ('eraser') - gunnen 2 ('to grant, allow') - ik gun 2 ('~I don't begrudge') - (de) gunst ('favor') - (de) augurk 2 ('pickle') - (de) yoghurt 2 ('yogurt') - augustus ('August') - (de) guts ('gouge' - woodworking tool |
GUU |
- guur
2
3
('inclement,' 'very bad, very unpleasant, harsh' - weather)
- onguur
2
3
('unsavory,' making a very unpleasant impression - said of people)
- (de/het) figuur
('figure' - graphic representation // 'person')
- Guus (a boys' name) |
GUI | (de) guit ('rascal') - Guis 2 3 4 (a family name) |
GV | - (het) vliegveld 2 ('airport') - erg veel 2 ('very much, really much, a lot') - (de) gezagvoerder 2 3 4 ('leading officer, officer in charge' - especially on an airplane) - bang voor 2 ('afraid of') |
GW | - (de) wigwam 2 3 4 5 6 ('teepee') - (de) argwaan ('suspicion, mistrust') - (de) wegwijzer ('road sign' giving directions) - (het) vliegwiel 2 ('flywheel') |
GY | - (het) gymnasium (secondary school type, 'Latin school') - (de) gymnastiek 2 ('PE, gymnastics') - (de/het) gym 2 3 (short for both previous words, and a school hall for gymnastics or sports) |
GZ |
- zigzag
2
('zigzag')
- (de) rugzak
2
('back-[bag]-pack')
- aardig zijn
('be kind')
Hear also NG below - (de) kledingzaak 2 3 ([clothing shop] 'fashion shop' - usually for men, "men's store") - langzaam 2 3 - langzame 2 3 - langzaam/langzame 2 3 ('slow') (I often pronounce the Z in langzaam as an S) - bang zijn 2 ('to be afraid') |
AG |
- (de) agenda
2
3
('agenda')
- (de) agent
2
('police officer' // "officer" // 'agent')
- (de) bagage
2
('baggage, luggage' - second G French)
- (de) dag
2
('day')
- (het) beslag
2
('batter' - for baking)
- (de) opslag
2
('storage')
- (het) fragment
('fragment')
- (de) agrariër
('farmer' - formal)
- (het) gezag
2
3
('authority')
- (het) ontzag
2
3
('awe, great respect')
- Agaath 2 (a girls' name) - Agnes (a girls' name) |
AAG |
- behaaglijk
2
3
4
('comfortable, pleasant, enjoyable' - temperature)
- [(de)] laag
2
3
4
('low' // 'layer')
- (de) kraag
('collar')
- (de) vraag
2
('question') ‑>>
- vragen
2
('to ask') ‑>>
- (de) dagen
2
('days')
- (de) hagedis
2
('lizard')
- (de) hagel
('hail,' ice-rain)
- (de) jager
('hunter')
- fragiel
2
('fragile, vulnerable')
- [(de)] wagen
2
('car, cart' - old-fashioned // to risk, dare,
chance) ‑>>
- Aagje (a girls' name) |
AUG | - (de) augurk 2 ('pickle') - augustus ('August') |
BG | - ik heb gegeten ('I have eaten') - ik heb gegeven ('I have given') - ik heb gegraven ('I have dug') - ik heb gegrepen ('I have grabbed, I have gripped') |
CHG | - (het) lachgas 2 ('laughing gas,' nitrous oxide) - zich gedragen 2 3 ('to behave') |
DG | - (het) aardgas 2 ('natural gas') - doodgaan ('to die') - (de) hoofdgedachte 2 3 ('main, most important idea') - hardgekookt ei 2 3 ('hard-boiled egg') - (de) tijdgenoot 2 ('contemporary,' person of your time') - (het) hoofdgerecht ('main dish') - (het) spoedgeval 2 3 ('urgent case, urgent matter') - noodgevallen 2 ('emergencies') - doodgewoon 2 3 ('very common, not unusual') - (de) loodgieter 2 ('plumber') - (het) brandglas (large magnifying glass that can be used to start a fire) - (het) bladgoud 2 ('gold leaf') - (de) handgranaat 2 ('hand grenade') - (de) bloedgroep 2 3 ('blood group, blood type') |
EG |
- (de) eg
('harrow' - agriculture tool)
- (de) heg
('hedge')
- weggaan
('to leave')
- (het) beleg
('siege' // 'bread covering, sandwich fillling')
- beleggen
2
('to invest' - money)
- leggen
('to lay' - down
‑>>
- (het) overleg
2
('consultation, meeting')
- (de) overweg
2
3
('railroad crossing')
- (de) dievegge
2
('thief' - female)
- (de) weg
('way, road')
- (het) weggetje
2
('small road')
- zeggen
2
3
('to say') ‑>>
- (de) oomzegger
([uncle-sayer] - 'niece' or 'nephew')
- (het) zegje
2
("say," - 'forceful' opinion statement)
- (de) belegging
2
('investment')
- weggooien
2
3
('to throw away')
- Egbert (a boys' name) - Egberts (a family name) - Egmond 2 (a town // Dutch revolutionary, executed by the Spanish) |
EEG |
- (het) deeg
('dough')
- leeg
/ lege
2
/ leeg/lege
('empty')
- [(het)] negatief
2
3
('negative')
- (de) egel
('hedgehog')
- (de) kegel
2
3
(1. 'cone' 2. 'bowling pin'
3. 'alcohol breath')
- (de) regel
2
3
4
(1. 'rule' 2. 'line' - of text)
- (de) tegel
('tile')
- gedegen
2
('thorough')
- belegen
2
('mature' - cheese)
- raadplegen
('to consult, ask an expert')
- negen
('9')
- (de) negende
2
3
('ninth')
- (de) regen
2
('rain') ‑>>
- tegen
('against' ‑>>
// ~to ) ‑>>
2
- wegen
2
('roads' // 'to weigh')
- wegens
2
('because of')
- (de) zegen
2
('blessing')
- (de) afweging
('consideraation')
- regisseren
2
3
('to direct' - a play, TV series or a movie)
- (de) strategie
2
('strategy')
- (het) steegje
2
('narrow city street)
- (de) leegte
2
3
4
5
6
7
('emptiness' - usually figuratively)
- (het) leger
('army')
- (de) veger
('broom')
- (het) ego
2
3
('ego')
- Lego
2
3
('Lego' - the construction toys)
- Regina (a girls' name) - Nijmegen ('a city') - Noorwegen ('Norway') |
E(uh)G |
- elegant
2
('graceful')
- begaafd
('gifted, very talented
- (de) legende
2
('legend')
- (de) begeerte
2
('desire')
- begeleiden
2
('to accompany')
‑>>
- (het) begin
('start, beginning')
‑>>
- (de) bruidegom
('groom')
- wij begonnen
2
('we started')
- gegorgeld
2
('gargled')
- weggegooid geld
2
('money thrown away, wasted')
- begraven
('to bury')
- goeie gunst!
2
('good grief!')
- De Geus 2 3 (a family name) - De Goede (a family name) - De Gouw 2 (a family name) - De Graaf(f) 2 3 (a family name) - De Groot 2 (a family name) - De Gruyter (a family name) - Elegast (character from a Charlemagne story) - Cannegieter 2 3 4 (a family name) - Izegem (a town in Belgium) |
EIG | - (de) dreigbrief 2 3 ('threatening letter') - (het) eigeel ([egg-yellow] 'egg yolk') - eigen ('~own, ~personal, ~private') ‑>> - (de) eigenaar ('owner') - eigenlijk 2 ("actually") ‑>> - dreigen ('to threaten') - (de) reiger 2 ('heron' - a bird) - weigeren 2 ('to refuse') - (de) dreiging 2 3 ('threat') |
EUG | - (de) deugd 2 ('virtue') - (de) jeugd 2 ('youth') - (de) vreugde ('joy') - (de) teugel 2 ('rein' - horse management) - (het) geheugen 2 3 ('memory' - the brain faculty) - ondeugend 2 3 4 ('naughty') - (de) leugens 2 ('lies') - (het) vleugje 2 ('whiff' - of perfume, for instance) - Tegen heug en meug (saying - 'Doing something under strong protest, like having to eat something you really don't like') |
FG | - (de) afgang 2 ('failure, flop, public failing') - (het) gifgas 2 ('poison gas') - afgelopen 2 ('finished, ended' // 'last, previous' - time units) - afgezaagd 2 3 4 5 ('sawed off, cut off' - past participle - but often figuratively: 'boring, not original, heard too often already') - gifgroen 2 3 4 5 ('"poison" green' - very bright) |
IG |
The I in the -IG ending
is pronounced as 'voiceless, unstressed E'
(the 'schwa')
- romig 2 3 4 ('creamy') ‑>> - enig ('only, unique // any') ‑>> - groenig 2 ('greenish') ‑>> - krachtig 2 3 / krachtige 2 ('powerful, strong') ‑>> - schichtig 2 3 ('skittish, nervous, shy') - spichtig 2 3 ('wispy, spidery') - oorlogszuchtig 2 3 ('craving war, warlike') - goedgelovig 2 3 ('credulous, quick to believe') more -IG endings Of course, one-syllable words don't have suffixes: - (de) big ('young pig') - (het) biggetje 2 3 4 ('very young, small pig - piglet') - ik lig ('I'm lying down') - (de) tegenligger 2 3 4 5 (['lying-against'] - 'oncoming traffic') - (de) wig ('wedge') - and another exception: (de) vaandrig 2 ('army cadet officer') |
IEG | - (de) vlieg ('house fly') - (de) wieg 2 ('cradle') - wiegedrukken 2 ('incunables,' the very first printed books) - kriegel 2 3 4 ('testy, easily irritated') - (de) spiegel 2 ('mirror') - liegen ('to lie,' say what is not) ‑>> - vliegen ('to fly' // 'flies') - (de) vlieger 2 ('kite') |
IJG |
IJ also hear EI - above
- (de) vijg 2 ('fig') - zwijg! 2 ('shut up! keep your mouth shut!' - (het) bijgebouw 2 3 ('annex,' side building) - vijgen ('figs') - krijgen ('to get, receive' - without effort ‑>> - zwijgen 2 3 ('to be silent, not speak') - (de) krijger 2 ('brave,' native American warrior) - (de) tijger ('tiger') - (het) bijgerecht 2 3 ('side dish') - (de) vrijgezel ('bachelor') |
KG |
- ik gaf
2
('I gave')
- (het) plankgas
2
("pedal to the metal," max pushing in the car gas pedal)
- ik ga weg
2
3
('I'm [going away] leaving')
- (het) spraakgebrek
2
('speech impediment')
- (het) stuk gereedschap
2
3
('tool,' ['piece of
gear'])
- (de) werkgever
('employer')
- (het) struikgewas
('bush, bushes')
- ik ging
2
3
('I want')
- spekglad
2
3
4
('very slippery' - "like bacon")
- (de) dakgoot
2
('raingutter')
- (de) buikgriep
2
('stomach flu, food poioning')
- Dijkgraaf 2 (a family name) |
LG |
- (de) velg
2
('rim' of a wheel)
- (de) wilg
2
('willow' - a tree)
- (het) gevolg
('result, effect, consequence')
- edelgassen
('noble gases' - chemistry)
- vulgair
2
('vulgar')
- (het) wisselgeld
('small change')
- (het) taalgebruik
2
('usage, language use')
- walgelijk
2
3
('disgusting')
- algemeen
/ algemene
2
3
('general')
- (de) volgeling
2
('follower')
- zwelgen
2
('to wallow, guzzle')
- volgen
2
3
('to follow')
- volgend
2
('next')
- (de) opvolger
('successor')
- (het) taalgevoel
2
3
('linguistic feeling, intuitive understanding of languages')
- Belgisch
2
3
4
('Belgian')
- (het) speelgoed
('toys')
- (de) doelgroep
2
('target audience')
- Helga (a girls' name') - Olga (a girls' name') - Bulgarije ('Bulgaria') |
MG | - (de) omgang 2 ('contact' // 'procession') - (de) omgeving ('environment') - Kom gauw! 2 3 ('Come quick!') |
NG |
In Dutch, NG in the
‑ANG, ‑ENG, ‑ING and ‑ONG endings
is always said like NG in English
SINGER ('vocalist') or HANGER,
NEVER like in English LINGER or DANGER
- (het) ding ('thing') - dingen 2 ('things') - ding/dingen - (de) kring 2 ('circle') - kringen 2 ('circles') - (de) ringvinger ('ring finger') - (de) aandrang 2 3 ('urge') - bang ('afraid') - lang ('long, tall') - (de) slang ('snake // hose') - (de) zang 2 3 ('singing, song') - (het) belang ('interest') - belangrijk 2 ('important') - (de) belangstelling ('interest') - (de) angst ('fear, dread') - eng ('scary, creepy') - gemengd 2 3 ('mixed') - (de) bengel ('naughty boy') - brengen 2 3 4 ('to bring') ‑>> - (de) engerd ('a creep') - vingers ('fingers') - (de) helling ('slope, incline') - (de) honing 2 ('honey') - (de) botsing 2 ('crash, collision') - (de) koningin 2 ('queen') - (de) sprong ('a jump') - (de) tong 2 ('tongue' - in mouth) - jong ('young') - (de) jongen ('boy') - (de) honger ('hunger') - tongstrelend 2 ([tongue-caressing] 'delicious, very good-tasting') - als de dagen lengen, gaan de nachten strengen ('when the days get longer, the nights get more severe' - i.e. colder) - Inge 2 (a girls' name) When compound words connect between N and G, the N still has a faint NG-sound but the G is clear, like for instance: - aangeven 2 ('to hand, pass,' put something into someone else's hands // 'to indicate, signal' // 'to register,' file an official report ‑>> - ingewikkeld / ingewikkelde 2 3 ('complicated') - ongerust 2 3 ("uneasy," 'worried') - ongeluk 2 ('accident') - ongeveer 2 ('about, roughly') more 'on-' - (het) mangaan ('manganese, Mn') |
OG | - log ('not nimble, hard to move') - de oorlog ('the war') - (de) oorlog ('war') - nog ('still, yet' // 'rather, quite') ‑>> - (het) bedrog 2 3 ('deceit') - (de) trog 2 ('manger,' animal food 'plate') - (het) kielzog 2 3 4 5 6 7 ('wake,' whitewater 'trail' of a boat or ship) - arrogant 2 ('arrogant') - (de) arrogantie 2 ('arrogance') - (de) rogge 2 ('rye' - grain, cereal) - (de) Doggersbank ('Dogger Bank' - large sandbank in the North Sea - (het) Wogmeer 2 ('an old polder') |
OOG | - (het) oog 2 ('eye') - (de) oogarts ('eye doctor') - (het) oogje 2 3 4 ('small, little eye') - (de) boog ('arch' //) 'bow' - for shooting arrows) - hoog 2 3 - hoge - hoog/hoge ('high') ‑>> - ogen ('eyes') - (het) hoogtepunt 2 3 ('high point, summit, zenith') - droog / droge 2 3 / droogdroge ('dry') - hij loog 2 ('he lied') - mogen 2 ("may," 'to be allowed to') ‑>> - (de) hoogleraar 2 ('professor' - job title) - (de) oogst ('harvest') - hoogste 2 3 ('highest') - (de) oogsttijd 2 3 ('harvest time') - oogverblindend 2 ([eye-blinding] 'very bright' - light) |
OEG |
- (de) ploeg
('plow')
- genoeg
('enough') ‑>>
- goed genoeg
2
3
('good enough')
- (het) genoegen
('pleasure')
- (de) kroeg
('~bar, ~café')
- (het) boegeroep
2
('booing,' - audience shouting disapproval or contempt)
- (de) wroeging
('remorse')
- Hoe gaat 't?
('How are you doing?')
- Joegoslavië (the former country of Yugoslavia) |
OUG | hear AUG - above |
PG | - diepgaand 2 3 ('in-depth,' profound) - diepgang 2 ('profundity' // 'how deep a ship is in the water') - (de) zonsopgang ('sunrise ') - (de) prijsopgave 2 3 ('offer, bid, estimate' - of price) - opgelet! 2 3 4 ('pay attention!') - opgelucht ('relieved') - opgeven 2 3 ('to give up') - opgewekt 2 ('cheerful, positive') - opgewonden 2 ('excited' // 'heated, frenzied') - (de) loopgraaf 2 ('trench' - WWI) - (het) snoepgoed ('candy') |
RG |
- Bargoens
2
('~slang') ‑>>
- (de) argwaan
('suspicion, mistrust')
- daar ga je!
2
3
([there you go!] 'cheers, prosit!')
- (het) jaargetijde
('season')
- naargeestig
2
3
4
('gloomy, dreary, depressing')
- erg
('very' // 'bad')
‑>>
- (de) berg
('mountain')
- (het) merg
('marrow')
- (het) beenmerg
2
3
('bone marrow')
- bergaf
2
('downhill')
- (het) hergebruik
2
('re-use, recycling')
- ergens
2
('somewhere' // 'something')
‑>>
- erger
2
3
('worse')
- (de) herbergier
('innkeeper' - Medieval)
- allergisch
2
('allergic')
- (het) bergje
2
3
("small mountain" - 'hill')
- (de) bergschoenen
([mountain shoes] - 'hiking boots')
- [(het)] ergste
('worst')
- (het) gebergte
2
('mountains, mountain range')
- (de) weerga
2
3
('~return, reprise')
- (de) neergang
2
3
('downturn, fall')
- (het) smeergeld
([grease-money] - 'bribe')
- (het) bierglas
2
('beerglass')
- (de) ondergang
2
3
4
('downfall, decline')
- vergeten
2
3
('to forget') ‑>>
- overgeven
2
('to vomit, throw up')
- (het) ondergoed
2
3
4
5
('underwear') ‑>>
- (de) achtergrond
2
('background')
- vergroten
2
('to enlarge')
- (de) vergroting
2
('enlargement')
- (de) orgaan
2
('organ' - body part)
- georganiseerd
2
3
('organized')
- (het) voorgeborchte
('limbo,' heaven waiting room)
- (het) orgel
('organ' - music)
- [(de)] morgen
2
('tomorrow' // 'morning' // "mawning!")
- zorgen
2
('worries' // 'to take care (of)')
- bezorgen
2
3
('to deliver')
- doorgaan
2
('to continue')
- (het) voorgevoel
2
('premonition')
- voorgoed
2
('~forever,' "once and for all")
- (de) schouwburg
2
('theatre' - old-fashioned)
- urgent
2
('urgent, requiring prompt action')
- (de) urgentie
('urgency')
- (de) burgemeester
2
3
('mayor')
- (de) burger
2
('citizen, civilian,' Medieval "townsman")
- Marga (a girls' name) - Margreet (a girls' name) - Margriet (a girls' name) - Jurgen 2 (a boys' name) - Limburg ('a province') - Aardenburg 2 (a town) - Argentinië 2 |
SG |
- (het) knoopsgat
('buttonhole')
- (het) losgeld
2
([release-money] 'ransom')
- disgenoten
2
3
('people sharing a [dish] meal or dining table')
- (de) krijgsgevangene
2
('prisoner-of-war')
- levensgevaarlijk
2
('very dangerous, life-endangering')
- (het) richtingsgevoel
2
('sense of direction, orientation')
- doopsgezind
2
(a protestant denomination, moderate continuation of Anabaptism)
- (de) visgraat
2
3
4
('fish bone')
- (de) staatsgreep
('coup')
- muisgrijs
2
3
('mouse-grey')
- onwijs gaaf! 2 ('very cool' - 1990s teenagers slang) - "Dit is gekkenwerk!" 2 3 4 ('This is a [madmen's] crazy way of doing things! - Er is geen bewijs 2 3 ('There is no proof') - de mens gist 2 3 ('Man guesses') - Edsger (a boys' name) - Edsger Dijkstra 2 (famous computer scientist)‑>> |
TG | - (de) uitgang 2 ('exit') - (de) voetganger 2 3 ('pedestrian') - uitgaan 2 3 (1. 'to go out, go off' (lights etc.) 2. 'to go out for entertainment' 3. 'romantic relations ending') ‑>> - zachtgekookt ei 2 3 ('soft-boiled egg') - (de) echtgenote ([marriage partner, female] 'spouse, wife') - (de) echtgenoot ([marriage partner, male] 'spouse, husband') - lichtgewicht 2 ('lightweight') - (het) luchtgat 2 ([air hole] - 'ventilation opening') - (het) schietgebedje 2 ('a quick prayer in a moment of peril') - (het) flatgebouw ('high-rise building - vetgedrukt ('in bold print') - lotgenoten 2 3 4 ('people sharing a fate') - (het) rotgezicht 2 3 4 5 ('unpleasant sight' // 'unpleasant face') - (het) vergrootglas 2 ('magnifying glass') - soortgelijk / soortgelijke 2 ('of a similar kind') - (de) kunstgras 2 ('artificial turf, grass') |
UG |
- (de) mug
('mosquito')
- (de) rug
('back' - body part)
- ruggen
2
('backs')
- (de) brug
('bridge')
- terug
(going 'back, ~returning')
- (de) suggestie
('suggestion')
- suggestief
2
('suggestive')
- (de) rugzak
2
('back-[bag]-pack')
- Vught (a city) |
UUG |
- (het) spuug
2
3
4
('saliva, spittle' - children's language)
- spugen
2
('to spit,' // 'to vomit, throw up')
- ik spuug
2
('I'm spitting' // 'I'm throwing up')
- Hugo (a boys' name) - Portugal ('Portugal') |
UIG |
- (de) huig
('uvula,' a part of the throat)
- ruig
('rough')
- (het) tuig
2
3
('~gear' // 'bad people')
- (het) vaartuig
('vessel' ~boat, ~ship)
- (het) rijtuig
('horse-drawn carriage')
- (het) vliegtuig
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
('airplane')
- (het) werktuig
2
('instrument, tool')
- (het) zintuig
('sense, sensory organ')
- (de) getuige
('witness')
- buigen
2
3
('to bend')
- zuigen
('to suck')
- (de) stofzuiger
2
('vacuum cleaner')
- (de) buiging
2
('polite bow')
- (de) verbuiging
2
3
('declension' - changes in nouns, adjectives, pronouns)
- (de) zuigling
2
3
('suckling,' baby or young animal drinking mother's milk)
- (de) zuignap
('suction cup')
- Huygens 2 (a family name) |
YG | also hear
IG and IEG above
- (de) hygiëne 2 3 ('hygiene') - (de) hygiënisch 2 ('hygienic') |
Hear also: 'Southern' G
Major Exceptions to the Phonetic Spelling of Dutch:
- Page 1:
een
-IG
-ISCH
-LIJK
- Page 2:
-B
-D
SCHR
-TIE
UW
WR
Hear the Dutch Letters in Hundreds of Words:
AU/OU
CH
E
EI/IJ
EU
F
G
H
L
OE
SCH
U
UI
W
X
Y
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'Thou shalt not steal'