Learn Dutch Pronunciation and Spelling

Dutch spelling is fairly phonetic. In general, there is just one way of writing each sound, and each letter and letter combination is usually pronounced in the same way. Once you know the pronunciation of the letters, you can almost always easily see from written Dutch how to say it, and on hearing Dutch you will know how it's written.
There are (of course!) exceptions, but not that many, and most are not very important. Speaking Dutch following only the general rules - pronoucing every letter in the standard way - would not be really bad Dutch. The only things that early on need explanation is the 'voiceless E' and the spelling of long and short vowels.
Zoals je 't zegt? 2 3 Like you say it? (Asking if a name or a word is written phonetically, according to the spelling rules)

The 'One-Page' Dutch Summary has a short introduction as a refresher or to quickly give you an idea what Dutch Pronunciation is about.
Pronunciation Reference Page

For learning the sounds and spelling of Dutch I recommend the pages below. The #2 links are not a continuation but a different approach, usually an earlier version.

1. vowels - klinkers a, e, i, o, u 2. diphthongs - tweeklanken au, ei, eu, ij, oe, ou, ui 3. long and short vowels - 2 - 3 a/aa - e/ee - i/ie - o/oo - u/uu		4. 'voiceless, unstressed E' - 2 'schwa' 5. consonants - 2 - medeklinkers b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x z 6. exceptions and irregularities - 2 newer versions below
vowels and diphthongs compared hear side-by-side old version		Slow Dutch - Vowels before R Final N - L - W - Regional G
Dutch Sounds Not Found in English		Dutch Sounds Represented by Different Letters in English
Exceptions to Phonetic Spelling more exceptions, longer version below

Pronunciation and Spelling Smartphone Version (one-column, narrow screen)
Anyway a useful different approach

Another approach: Recognizable Words:
By listening closely to Dutch and English words that are identical or similar, words that look 'recognizable,' you'll quickly come to understand the differences between Dutch and English pronunciation and spelling.
- Lists of 'Recognizable' Words - Longer Version

Some background on Changes between English and Dutch, 'Recognizable' Words, and 'Easy Vocabulary'
Easy Dutch 1: Background and Pronunciation
Easy Dutch 2: Recognizable Words by Subject
Colors - Days, Months, Seasons - Numbers - Time - The Human Body - Family and Relatives - On the Farm - More Animals - Music - Trees
Easy Dutch 3: 'Reognizable' Verbs

A New Series of Many Examples: Hear for Yourself
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
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.

Exceptions and Irregularities
Major Exceptions to Phonetic Spelling: Page 1 - Page 2

Spelling and Pronunciation
- the use of single and double vowels and consonants. Once you understand the system it will all be logical
Very Short Explanation
Longer Explanation with Many Examples
other versions: 1 - 2
Or recommended! find the rules by yourself by studying and listening closely to many examples
or read about the rules:

Hearing
Psychology of Hearing - Hearing (or not hearing) sounds you're not familiar with

Dutch Pronunciation Reference
The Dutch Pronunciation Reference Page - Dutch pronunciation explained by letter, and hear about 2000 examples.

Listening Tests, Exercises

Pronunciation - 2 - Listening

Other Overview Pages: Names - Vocabulary - Picture Pages - Listening - Lessons - Grammar - Essays - Exercises

email - Copyright © Marco Schuffelen 2015. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed, or hotlinked to.
Don't be a dief (thief) / dievegge (female thief) - diefstal (theft) - stelen (to steal) - heler (dealer in stolen goods) - hear Dutch - 2