Pronouns are words that replace nouns — words like I, you, he, she, we and they. In Dutch, pronouns come in two forms: a stressed (full) form and an unstressed (short) form. Learning Dutch pronouns is essential because they are used in almost every sentence.
👤 Dutch Subject Pronouns
Subject pronouns are used for the person performing the action:
| English | Stressed (full) | Unstressed (short) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | ik | 'k | Ik leer Nederlands. |
| you (singular) | jij | je | Jij spreekt goed. |
| you (formal) | u | u | Spreekt u Nederlands? |
| he | hij | ie | Hij werkt hier. |
| she | zij | ze | Zij woont in Rotterdam. |
| it | het | 't | Het is mooi. |
| we | wij | we | Wij gaan naar Amsterdam. |
| you (plural) | jullie | jullie | Jullie zijn welkom. |
| they | zij | ze | Zij komen morgen. |
💡 Stressed vs Unstressed: When to Use Which
Use the stressed form (jij, zij, wij) when you want to emphasise the pronoun:
- Jij doet het, niet ik! — You do it, not me! (emphasis on you)
- Zij heeft gewonnen. — She won. (emphasis on she)
Use the unstressed form (je, ze, we) in normal everyday conversation:
- Je bent lief. — You are sweet.
- Ze is ziek. — She is sick.
- We gaan eten. — We are going to eat.
🎯 Dutch Object Pronouns
Object pronouns are used when the pronoun receives the action:
| English | Dutch (stressed) | Dutch (unstressed) |
|---|---|---|
| me | mij | me |
| you | jou | je |
| you (formal) | u | u |
| him | hem | 'm |
| her | haar | ze / 'r |
| it | het | 't |
| us | ons | ons |
| you (plural) | jullie | jullie |
| them | hen / hun | ze |
🔐 Dutch Possessive Pronouns
| English | Dutch (stressed) | Dutch (unstressed) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| my | mijn | m'n | Mijn boek — My book |
| your | jouw | je | Jouw fiets — Your bicycle |
| his | zijn | z'n | Zijn auto — His car |
| her | haar | d'r | Haar huis — Her house |
| our | ons / onze | ons / onze | Ons land — Our country |
| your (plural) | jullie | jullie | Jullie school — Your school |
| their | hun | hun / ze | Hun kinderen — Their children |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is I in Dutch?
I in Dutch is ik. Example: Ik spreek Nederlands — I speak Dutch.
What is the difference between jij and je?
Both mean you (singular). Jij is stressed (used for emphasis), je is unstressed (everyday use). Example: Jij doet het! — YOU do it!
How do you say they in Dutch?
They in Dutch is zij (stressed) or ze (unstressed). Example: Ze komen morgen — They are coming tomorrow.
What is the Dutch word for we?
We in Dutch is wij (stressed) or we (unstressed). Example: We gaan naar Amsterdam — We are going to Amsterdam.
Want to expand your Dutch vocabulary?
See our complete guide to the 1000 most common Dutch words.
📖 1000 Most Common Dutch Words →