Not all
common verbs are 'strong:'
A List of Common Dutch Verbs
with basic conjugation
Systematic List of Dutch Strong Verbs: Some Patterns in the Changes
General Pages:
The Simple Past Tense
The Perfect Tenses
I've given the past plural when it is spelled or pronounced
differently (besides of the -EN ending) from the simple past singular.
The double arrows ‑>> link to pages with full conjugation of
that verb with sample sentences and related words;
the single arrows ‑> link to examples of usage of that verb.
English Words for the Strong Dutch Verbs
at the bottom of the page)
50 Common Strong Verbs:
Alphabetic List
- Patterns of Change
100 Common Verbs:
Alphabetic List
- 'Systematic' List
English | Dutch infinitive |
simple past singular |
past participle |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
example: | to do | did | (I have) done | |
to do | doen | deed | gedaan | ‑>> |
wij deden | ||||
example: | to go | went | (I have) gone | |
to go | gaan | ging | gegaan | 2 ‑>> |
(wij gingen 2) - so usually not included |
Alphabetic List of Strong Dutch Verbs | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
to spoil (active and passive) |
bederven | bedierf | bedorven | 2 ‑> | |
wij bedierven 2 | |||||
to cheat, deceive | bedriegen | bedroog | bedrogen | 2 | |
wij bedrogen 2 | |||||
to start, begin | beginnen | begon | begonnen | 2 ‑> | |
wij begonnen | |||||
to understand | begrijpen | begreep | begrepen | ‑> | |
wij begrepen | |||||
to salvage (ships) | bergen | borg | geborgen | ||
to decide | besluiten | besloot | besloten | 2 | |
wij besloten 2 | |||||
to exist | bestaan | bestond | bestaan | ‑> | |
to order, command |
bevelen | beval | bevolen | ||
wij bevalen | |||||
to move (yr body, items) |
bewegen | bewoog | bewogen | ‑> | |
wij bewogen | |||||
to pray | bidden | bad | gebeden | ‑>> | |
wij baden | |||||
to offer //
to bid (auction) |
bieden | bood | geboden | ‑> | |
wij boden | |||||
to bite | bijten | beet | gebeten | 2 | |
wij beten | |||||
to tie, to bind | binden | bond | gebonden | ||
to blow | blazen | blies | geblazen | ||
wij bliezen 2 | |||||
to appear
('it turned out') |
blijken | bleek | gebleken | ‑> | |
wij bleken | |||||
to stay, remain | blijven | bleef | gebleven | ‑>> | |
wij bleven | |||||
to shine, glitter | blinken | blonk | geblonken | ||
to break, crack,
rupture |
breken | brak | gebroken | ‑>> | |
wij braken | |||||
to bring | brengen | bracht | gebracht | ‑>> | |
to bow, to bend | buigen | boog | gebogen | ||
wij bogen | |||||
to dig, to mine | delven | dolf | gedolven | 2 | |
wij dolven 2 | |||||
to think | denken | dacht | gedacht | ‑>> | |
to do | doen | deed | gedaan | ‑>> | |
wij deden | |||||
to carry | dragen | droeg | gedragen | ||
to float // to drive (cattle etc.) |
drijven | dreef | gedreven | 2 | |
wij dreven | |||||
to drink | drinken | dronk | gedronken | ‑>> | |
to push, press, shove |
dringen | drong | gedrongen | 2 ‑> | |
to drip | druipen | droop | gedropen | 2 | |
wij dropen | |||||
to dive | duiken | dook | gedoken | ||
wij doken | |||||
to force, compel | dwingen | dwong | gedwongen | 2 ‑> | |
to eat | eten | at | gegeten | ‑>> | |
wij aten | |||||
(G inserted in the past participle) | |||||
to whistle | fluiten | floot | gefloten | 2 | |
wij floten | |||||
to go | gaan | ging | gegaan | 2 ‑>> | |
to behave | gedragen | gedroeg | gedragen | ||
to count, weigh; to be applicable |
gelden | gold | gegolden | 2 ‑> | |
to heal, cure | genezen | genas | genezen | 2 3 | |
wij genazen 2 3 | |||||
to enjoy | genieten | genoot | genoten | 2 ‑> | |
wij genoten 2 | |||||
to give | geven | gaf | gegeven | ‑>> | |
wij gaven | |||||
to pour | gieten | goot | gegoten | 2 ‑>> | |
wij goten | |||||
to glide, slide | glijden | gleed | gegleden | ||
wij gleden | |||||
to dig | graven | groef | gegraven | ||
wij groeven | |||||
to grab | grijpen | greep | gegrepen | ‑> | |
wij grepen | |||||
to hang (things) | hangen | hing | gehangen | ||
to have | hebben | had | gehad | ‑>> | |
wij hadden | |||||
to help, assist | helpen | hielp | geholpen | ‑> | |
to hold | houden | hield | gehouden | ‑>> | |
to hunt // to hurry // to send, drive |
jagen | joeg | gejaagd | 2 | |
to choose | kiezen | koos | gekozen | ‑> | |
wij kozen | |||||
to look | kijken | keek | gekeken | ‑>> | |
wij keken | |||||
to climb | klimmen | klom | geklommen | 2 | |
wij klommen | |||||
to sound | klinken | klonk | geklonken | ||
to squeeze,
pinch, press |
knijpen | kneep | geknepen | ||
wij knepen | |||||
note that K before N is not dropped | |||||
to come | komen | kwam | gekomen | ‑>> | |
wij kwamen | |||||
to buy | kopen | kocht | gekocht | ‑>> | |
to get | krijgen | kreeg | gekregen | ‑>> | |
wij kregen | |||||
to shrink | krimpen | kromp | gekrompen | ||
to crawl | kruipen | kroop | gekropen | ||
wij kropen | |||||
to be able
to, 'can' |
kunnen | kon | (gekund) | ‑>> | |
wij konden | |||||
(D inserted in the past plural) | |||||
to let, allow | laten | liet | gelaten | ‑>> | |
to read | lezen | las | gelezen | ‑>> | |
wij lazen | |||||
to lie
(to say what is not) |
liegen | loog | gelogen | ‑> | |
wij logen | |||||
to lie down | liggen | lag | gelegen | ‑>> | |
wij lagen | |||||
to suffer | lijden | leed | geleden | 2 ‑>> | |
wij leden | |||||
to appear, look like, 'seem' |
lijken | leek | geleken | ‑> | |
wij leken | |||||
to walk | lopen | liep | gelopen | ‑>> | |
to measure | meten | mat | gemeten | ‑> | |
wij maten | |||||
to have to, 'must' | moeten | moest | gemoeten | ‑>> | |
(only a consonant change) | |||||
to be allowed to, 'may' |
mogen | mocht | gemogen | ‑>> | |
to take | nemen | nam | genomen | ‑>> | |
wij namen | |||||
to teach | onderwijzen | onderwees | onderwezen | 2 ‑> | |
wij onderwezen | |||||
~ to memorize | onthouden | onthield | onthouden | 2 | ‑>|
to originate, come into being |
ontstaan | ontstond | ontstaan | ||
to spare, refrain from harming |
ontzien | ontzag | ontzien | 2 3 | |
to put away, store | opbergen | borg op | opgeborgen | 2 ‑> | |
to consider | overwegen | overwoog | overwogen | 2 | |
wij overwogen 2 | |||||
to praise | prijzen | prees | geprezen | ||
wij prezen | |||||
to guess // to counsel |
raden | ried | geraden | ||
alternative simple past: raadde | |||||
to drive, to ride | rijden | reed | gereden | ‑>> | |
wij reden | |||||
to rise (dough) | rijzen | rees | gerezen | ||
to call, shout | roepen | riep | geroepen | ‑>> | |
to smell | ruiken | rook | geroken | ‑> | |
wij roken | |||||
to donate // to pour drinks |
schenken | schonk | geschonken | 2 ‑> | |
to create (like God) | scheppen | schiep | geschapen | ‑> | |
to shave | scheren | schoor | geschoren | ||
wij schoren | |||||
alternate simple past: 'scheerde' | |||||
to shoot | schieten | schoot | geschoten | ‑> | |
wij schoten | |||||
to shine //
to appear, 'it looks like ...' |
schijnen | scheen | geschenen | ‑> | |
wij schenen | |||||
to write | schrijven | schreef | geschreven | ‑>> | |
wij schreven | |||||
to be startled, frightened |
schrikken | schrok | geschrokken | 2 ‑> | |
wij schrokken | |||||
to shove,
make slide |
schuiven | schoof | geschoven | ||
wij schoven | |||||
to slap, hit | slaan | sloeg | geslagen | ‑> | |
to sleep | slapen | sliep | geslapen | ‑> | |
to grind, sharpen | slijpen | sleep | geslepen | ||
wij slepen | |||||
to wear out
// to sell // to pass the time |
slijten | sleet | gesleten | 2 | |
wij sleten | |||||
to shrink | slinken | slonk | geslonken | 2 | |
to sneak | sluipen | sloop | geslopen | ||
wij slopen | |||||
to close | sluiten | sloot | gesloten | ||
wij sloten | |||||
to melt | smelten | smolt | gesmolten | ||
to throw angrily
('smite') |
smijten | smeet | gesmeten | ||
wij smeten | |||||
to cut
(with a knife) |
snijden | sneed | gesneden | ‑>> | |
wij sneden | |||||
to blow (your nose) |
snuiten | snoot | gesnoten | 2 | |
wij snoten 2 | |||||
to sniff, to snort | snuiven | snoof | gesnoven | 2 | |
wij snoven 2 | |||||
to regret | spijten | speet | gespeten | ‑> | |
to split | splijten | spleet | gespleten | ||
wij spleten 2 | |||||
to speak | spreken | sprak | gesproken | ‑>> | |
wij spraken | |||||
to jump | springen | sprong | gesprongen | ‑> | |
to stand | staan | stond | gestaan | ‑>> | |
to stab, to sting | steken | stak | gestoken | ||
wij staken | |||||
to steal | stelen | stal | gestolen | 2 ‑> | |
wij stalen | |||||
to die | sterven | stierf | gestorven | ‑> | |
wij stierven | |||||
to rise | stijgen | steeg | gestegen | 2 | |
wij stegen | |||||
to smell bad | stinken | stonk | gestonken | ‑> | |
to fight, battle | strijden | streed | gestreden | 2 ‑> | |
wij streden | |||||
to iron (clothes) // to brush // to smooth |
strijken | streek | gestreken | ||
wij streken | |||||
dust blowing //
to speedily go |
stuiven | stoof | gestoven | ||
wij stoven | |||||
to hit // to meet, encounter |
treffen | trof | getroffen | 2 3 | |
to pull | trekken | trok | getrokken | ‑> | |
wij trokken | |||||
to fall | vallen | viel | gevallen | ‑>> | |
to catch | vangen | ving | gevangen | ||
to sail, move by ship |
varen | voer | gevaren | ||
to fight, struggle | vechten | vocht | gevochten | ‑> | |
to hide | verbergen | verborg | verborgen | 2 | |
to forbid, disallow | verbieden | verbood | verboden | ||
wij verboden | |||||
to connect // to dress a wound |
verbinden | verbond | verbonden | ||
to disappear | verdwijnen | verdween | verdwenen | 2 ‑> | |
wij verdwenen 2 | |||||
to compare | vergelijken | vergeleek | vergeleken | 2 3 ‑> | |
wij vergeleken 2 3 | |||||
to forget | vergeten | vergat | vergeten | ‑> | |
wij vergaten | |||||
to forgive | vergeven | vergaf | vergeven | 2 ‑> | |
wij vergaven | |||||
to lose | verliezen | verloor | verloren | ‑> | |
wij verloren | |||||
to avoid | vermijden | vermeed | vermeden | ‑> | |
wij vermeden | |||||
to betray | verraden | verried | verraden | ||
alternative simple past: verraadde | |||||
to wear out | verslijten | versleet | versleten | ||
wij versleten | |||||
to devour | verslinden | verslond | verslonden | 2 | |
to understand, hear what is said |
verstaan | verstond | verstaan | 2 ‑> | |
to depart.leave | vertrekken | vertrok | vertrokken | 2 3 | |
wij vertrokken 2 3 | |||||
to replace | vervangen | verving | vervangen | 2 | |
to reproach | verwijten | verweet | verweten | ||
wij verweten | |||||
to find | vinden | vond | gevonden | ‑>> | |
to braid | vlechten | vlocht | gevlochten | ||
to fly | vliegen | vloog | gevlogen | ‑> | |
wij vlogen | |||||
to ask | vragen | vroeg | gevraagd | ‑>> | |
to eat like a beast (slang) |
vreten | vrat | gevroten | ||
wij vraten 2 | |||||
to freeze | vriezen | vroor | gevroren | ||
(wij vroren ) | |||||
wind blowing | waaien | woei | gewaaid | ||
alternative simple past: waaide | |||||
to weigh | wegen | (woog) | gewogen | ‑> | |
(wij wogen ) | |||||
to throw, cast | werpen | wierp | geworpen | ||
to enlist, canvass | werven | wierf | geworven | ||
wij wierven | |||||
to know (things) |
weten | wist | geweten | 2 ‑>> | |
to blame | wijten | weet | geweten | ‑> | |
wij weten 2 | |||||
to point | wijzen | wees | gewezen | 2 ‑> | |
wij wezen | |||||
to wind | winden | wond | gewonden | ||
to win | winnen | won | gewonnen | ‑> | |
wij wonnen | |||||
to 'become' | worden | werd | geworden | ‑>> | |
to avenge | wreken | wreekte | gewroken | ||
to rub | wrijven | wreef | gewreven | ||
wij wreven | |||||
(W before R is pronounced as Dutch V) | |||||
to wring | wringen | wrong | gewrongen | ||
to say | zeggen | zei | gezegd | ‑>> | |
wij zeiden | |||||
Note D inserted for past plural | |||||
to send | zenden | zond | gezonden | ||
to see | zien | zag | gezien | ‑>> | |
wij zagen | |||||
to be | zijn | was | geweest | ‑>> | |
wij waren | |||||
to sing | zingen | zong | gezongen | ‑> | |
to sink (passively) | zinken | zonk | gezonken | ‑> | |
to sit | zitten | zat | gezeten | ‑>> | |
wij zaten | |||||
to search,
look for |
zoeken | zocht | gezocht | ‑>> | |
to suck | zuigen | zoog | gezogen | ||
wij zogen | |||||
to drink heavily (alcohol - slang) |
zuipen | zoop | gezopen | ||
wij zopen | |||||
'shall, will'
(for the future tense) |
zullen | zou | - | 2 ‑>> | |
wij zouden 2 | |||||
to swell | zwellen | zwol | gezwollen | 2 | |
to swim | zwemmen | zwom | gezwommen | ‑> | |
wij zwommen | |||||
to swear (take an oath) |
zweren | zwoer | gezworen | ||
to roam | zwerven | zwierf | gezworven | ||
wij zwierven | |||||
to be silent,
not speak |
zwijgen | zweeg | gezwegen | ‑> | |
wij zwegen | |||||
The Simple Past Tense
The Pefect Tenses
Hebben or Zijn
in the perfect tenses
Systematic List of Strong Verbs: Patterns
A List of Common Dutch Verbs
with basic conjugation
Desktop versions:
The Simple Past Tense and the Perfect Tenses
- Strong Verbs (with Related Words)
More Good Dutch Smartphone Pages
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Gij zult niet stelen
'Thou shalt not steal'