Dutch Vocabulary Test | Test Your Dutch For Free . Click Here
Download Our Learn Dutch App –here
In Dutch grammar, some basic spelling rules are applied to the plurals of nouns, conjugations of verbs, and inflections of adjectives. By learning and applying these simple rules, you can avoid beginner’s mistakes.
Single and Double Letter Long Vowels
The long vowels
/aa/, /ee/, /oo/, and /uu/ are written with two letters in a closed syllable and with a single letter in an open syllable.
- Open syllable: a syllable that ends in a vowel, e.g. de, ei, moe, mooi.
- Closed syllable: a syllable that ends in a consonant, e.g. bal, kop, baan, boek.
Application to the Plurals of Nouns
| Singular |
Plural |
| naam (name) |
namen (names) |
| keel (throat) |
kelen (throats) |
| oor (ear) |
oren (ears) |
| uur (hour) |
uren (hours) |
Application to the Inflection of Adjectives
| Adjective |
Inflection |
| laag (low) |
lage bloeddruk (low blood pressure) |
| geel (yellow) |
de gele mantel (the yellow coat) |
| groot (big) |
de grote prijs (the big prize) |
| duur (expensive) |
dure wijn (expensive wine) |
Take a Quiz Now!
Application to the Conjugation of Verbs
| First Person Singular |
First Person Plural |
| ik haal (I fetch) |
we halen (we fetch) |
| ik heet (I am called) |
we heten (we are called) |
| ik woon (I live) |
we wonen (we live) |
| ik huur (I rent) |
we huren (we rent) |
Exception: u before w
The long vowel
/uu/ is written with a single letter before the consonant
w, even in a closed syllable.
Example: Plurals of Nouns
| Singular |
Plural |
| schaduw (shadow) |
schaduwen (shadows) |
Example: Conjugation of Verbs
| First Person Singular |
First Person Plural |
| ik huw |
we huwen |
| ik duw |
we duwen |
Take a Quiz Now!
Doubling the Consonant at the End of a Closed Syllable
A consonant is doubled after a short vowel, if the consonant is followed by an unstressed syllable. This rule applies to the consonants
b, d, f, g, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, z, and
c (pronounced as
/k/) and to the short vowels
/a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/.
- Closed syllable: a syllable that ends in a consonant, e.g. bal, kop, baan, boek.
Application to the plurals of nouns
| Singular |
Plural |
| nek (neck) |
nekken (necks) |
| lip (lip) |
lippen (lips) |
| adres (address) |
adressen (addresses) |
Application to the Inflection of Adjectives
| Adjective |
Inflection |
| stil (quiet) |
stille motoren (quiet engines) |
| fris (fresh) |
frisse salade (fresh salad) |
Application to the Conjugation of Verbs
| First Person Singular |
First Person Plural |
| ik stap (I step) |
we stappen (we step) |
| ik gok (I gamble) |
we gokken (we gamble) |
| ik vat (I grasp) |
we vatten (we grasp) |
| ik gom (I erase) |
we gommen (we erase) |
Take a Quiz Now!
Exceptions
Some consonants in plurals of nouns, inflections of adjectives, and conjugations of verbs that end in an unstressed –
el, -es, -et, -ig, -ik, -il, -it, -em.
Example: the Plural of a Noun
| Singular |
Plural |
| de appel ( apple ) |
appelen |
Example: Inflection of Adjectives
| Adjective |
Inflection |
| edel |
edele metalen |
Example: Conjugation of Verbs
Indicative – Aantonende wijs
Present
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd [o t t]
| ik |
wandel |
| jij |
wandelt |
| hij |
wandelt |
| wij |
wandelen |
| jullie |
wandelen |
| zij |
wandelen |
Present Perfect
Voltooid tegenwoordige tijd [v t t]
| ik |
heb gewandeld |
| jij |
hebt gewandeld |
| hij |
heeft gewandeld |
| wij |
hebben gewandeld |
| jullie |
hebben gewandeld |
| zij |
hebben gewandeld |
Past
Onvoltooid verleden tijd [o v t]
| ik |
wandelde |
| jij |
wandelde |
| hij |
wandelde |
| wij |
wandelden |
| jullie |
wandelden |
| zij |
wandelden |
Past Perfect
Voltooid verleden tijd [v v t]
| ik |
had gewandeld |
| jij |
had gewandeld |
| hij |
had gewandeld |
| wij |
hadden gewandeld |
| jullie |
hadden gewandeld |
| zij |
hadden gewandeld |
Future
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd [o t t t]
| ik |
zal wandelen |
| jij |
zult wandelen |
| hij |
zal wandelen |
| wij |
zullen wandelen |
| jullie |
zullen wandelen |
| zij |
zullen wandelen |
Future Perfect
Voltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd [v t t t]
| ik |
zal gewandeld hebben |
| jij |
zult gewandeld hebben |
| hij |
zal gewandeld hebben |
| wij |
zullen gewandeld hebben |
| jullie |
zullen gewandeld hebben |
| zij |
zullen gewandeld hebben |
Double consonants are not written at the end of a word.
This rule is applied to the third singular form of some verbs in simple present.
| Infinitive |
First Person Singular |
Third Person Singular |
| vatten |
ik vat |
hij vat (not vatt) |
| heten |
ik heet |
hij heet (not heett) |
Take a Quiz Now!
V or z is not written at the end of a syllable.
V is replaced with
f. Z is replaced with
s.
Application to the Plurals of Nouns
| Singular |
Plural |
| neus (nose) |
neuzen (noses) |
| initiatief (initiative) |
initiatieven (initiatives) |
Application to the Inflection of Adjectives
| Adjective |
Inflection |
| grijs (gray) |
een grijze auto (a gray car) |
| positief (positive) |
positieve eigenschappen (positive qualities) |
Application to the Conjugation of Verbs
| First Person Singular |
First Person Plural |
| ik leef (I live) |
we leven (we live) |
| ik verlies (I lose) |
we verliezen (we lose) |
Conclusion
These are the most basic, must-know spelling rules of the Dutch grammar. Neither these rules, nor the exceptions mentioned in the article are exhaustive. Nevertheless, they are a good starting point for the serious Dutch language learner. You can practice the applications of these rules with 500+ free exercises in our quizzes.
Dutch Vocabulary Test | Test Your Dutch For Free . Click Here
Download Our Learn Dutch App –here
