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Why learn Dutch?
Dutch is one of the 67 languages you can learn on Lingocard with frequency-ranked flashcards, spaced repetition, and live speaking partners. Build vocabulary and pronunciation at your own pace, on web and mobile.
Dutch is written in the Latin script. In the US Foreign Service Institute ranking, Dutch is a Category I language - about 700 class hours to professional working proficiency for English speakers. Dutch belongs to the Indo-European (Germanic) family - if you enjoy it, a natural next step is German or English.
The 50 most common Dutch words
Start with the words you will actually meet: learn these and you will recognize something in almost every Dutch sentence.
| # | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | de | duh | the (definite article) |
| 2 | het | het | it |
| 3 | een | uhn | one |
| 4 | zijn | zeyn | his |
| 5 | en | en | and |
| 6 | van | vahn | of |
| 7 | ik | ik | I |
| 8 | te | tuh | to |
| 9 | dat | daht | that |
| 10 | in | in | in |
| 11 | je | yuh | you |
| 12 | niet | neet | not (negation) |
| 13 | hij | hey | he |
| 14 | met | met | with |
| 15 | op | op | on |
| 16 | voor | vohr | for |
| 17 | hebben | HEB-ben | have |
| 18 | zij | zey | she |
| 19 | maar | mahr | but |
| 20 | om | om | for |
| 21 | aan | ahn | on |
| 22 | er | er | there |
| 23 | ook | ohk | also |
| 24 | als | ahls | if |
| 25 | dan | dahn | then |
| 26 | bij | bey | near |
| 27 | nog | nokh | yet |
| 28 | kunnen | KUN-nen | can |
| 29 | geen | khayn | no |
| 30 | gaan | khahn | go |
| 31 | zo | zoh | so |
| 32 | worden | VOR-den | to become |
| 33 | weten | VAY-ten | know |
| 34 | wat | vaht | what |
| 35 | mijn | meyn | my |
| 36 | zien | zeen | see |
| 37 | nu | noo | now |
| 38 | komen | KOH-men | come |
| 39 | willen | VIL-len | want |
| 40 | doen | doon | do |
| 41 | naar | nahr | to |
| 42 | uit | owt | out |
| 43 | dit | dit | this |
| 44 | maken | MAH-ken | make |
| 45 | tijd | teyt | time |
| 46 | jaar | yahr | year |
| 47 | zeggen | ZEKH-en | say |
| 48 | mens | mens | person |
| 49 | goed | khoot | good |
| 50 | dag | dakh | day |
Useful phrases in Dutch
- Hallo · HAH-loh · Hello / Good day
- Hoe gaat het? · hoo khaht het · How are you?
- Dank je · dahnk yuh · Thank you
- Alsjeblieft · ahls-yuh-BLEEFT · Please
- Ik heet... · ik hayt · My name is...
- Waar is...? · vahr is · Where is...?
- Tot ziens · tot ZEENS · Goodbye
- Sorry · SOR-ree · Excuse me
- Ik begrijp het niet · ik buh-KHREYP ut neet · I don't understand
- Kunt u mij helpen? · kunt ew mey HEL-pen · Can you help me?
- Hoeveel kost het? · hoo-FAYL kost ut · How much is it?
- Tot morgen! · tot MOR-khen · See you tomorrow!
Learn Dutch with comprehensive language resources
- Pronunciation
- Numbers
- Verbs and adjectives
- Frequency dictionaries
- Basic sentences
- Thematic dictionaries
- Politeness
- Idioms
Learn Dutch, wherever you are
- AI-powered spaced repetition learning system on the go
- Audio processing for pronunciation
- Creation of visual language flash cards with images
- Search for speaking practice partners
- Frequency and thematic dictionaries for any language
- Alert system with exercise reminders
- Live video and messaging to facilitate learning
Join our global Dutch learning community
Collaborate with native Dutch speakers and fellow learners: exchange messages, correct each other's cards, and practice real conversation.
Send friend requests to the speakers you click with and build your own friends list - many practice partners become real friends.
Are you an educator? Teach Dutch online · Create an online Dutch school · Build a Dutch curriculum
Frequently asked questions about learning Dutch
How difficult is it to learn Dutch?
How difficult Dutch is depends on your background, but every language becomes manageable with consistent daily practice. Focusing on the most frequent words first means you can understand and say a lot early on. In the US Foreign Service Institute ranking, Dutch is a Category I language - about 700 class hours to professional working proficiency for English speakers.
What should I learn first to reach a basic level in Dutch?
Start with the 100-500 most frequent words (free in our apps) and the thematic dictionaries most relevant to your daily life. Set clear goals and practise a few minutes every day - consistency is what produces results. Then connect with other learners to build confidence at your new basic level.
How long does it take to learn Dutch?
Most learners reach a comfortable conversational level in Dutch within 8-18 months of consistent daily study. Practising vocabulary with spaced repetition and speaking regularly speeds this up considerably. About 25 million people across 3 countries speak Dutch, so you will never run short of practice partners.
How do I improve my Dutch vocabulary?
Use the spaced-repetition and flashcard systems in the app. You can set daily, weekly, or yearly goals in our mobile apps and steadily reach the vocabulary size you’re aiming for.
Is Dutch pronunciation hard?
Every language has a few sounds that take practice, but Dutch pronunciation becomes consistent with regular listening and speaking. Hearing the language often matters more than memorising rules.
How do I get Free Dutch speaking practice?
Open the Practice or Friends page in the app, send practice requests, and start real conversations with other learners - don’t be shy! You can also mention that you want speaking practice when you create your account, and the platform will help match you with suitable partners.
Do I need to learn the Dutch alphabet first?
If Dutch uses a different script, learning it early unlocks reading - and it's usually faster than people expect. On Lingocard you'll find every alphabet, with example words, free.