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This lesson focuses on the pronunciation of the Dutch vowel sounds 'ij' (as in ijs, prijs, konijn) and 'ei' (as in trein, geheim, geit), which sound alike but have different spellings. You'll also learn how 'ij' changes in words ending with '-lijk', like verschrikkelijk and vreselijk.
  1. The sounds 'ij' and 'ei' sound the same.
  2. 'ij' is called 'een lange ij'.
  3. 'ei' is called 'een korte ei'.
Klank (Sound)Voorbeelden (Examples)
ijijs, blijven, prijs, grijs, konijn, verschrikkelijk, vreselijk (ice cream, to stay, prize, grey, rabbit, terrible, awful)
eitrein, klein, geheim, pleister, geit,  (train, small, secret, plaster, goat)

Exceptions!

  1. In words ending with '-lijk', 'ij' is pronounced differently.

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Ik ______ elke dag met de hond in het park.

(I ______ the dog every day in the park.)

2. De kat ______ rustig zitten op de stoel.

(The cat ______ calmly sitting on the chair.)

3. Mijn schildpad beweegt ______ over de vloer.

(My turtle moves ______ across the floor.)

4. Het konijn ______ vrolijk in de tuin.

(The rabbit ______ happily in the garden.)

5. Ik ______ goed voor mijn vogel en geef hem vers water.

(I ______ good care of my bird and give him fresh water.)

6. De muis ______ snel terug naar zijn hok als hij bang is.

(The mouse ______ quickly back to his cage when he is scared.)

Understanding the Pronunciation of "ij" and "ei" in Dutch

This lesson focuses on the subtle but important pronunciation distinction between the Dutch letter combinations "ij" and "ei". While these two sounds may seem similar in spoken Dutch, their spelling differs, which can be challenging for learners to master at the A1 beginner level.

Key Sounds and Examples

Both "ij" and "ei" are diphthong sounds that often sound identical when spoken. In this lesson, you will encounter examples illustrating these sounds.

  • ij sound words: ijs, blijven, prijs, grijs, konijn, verschrikkelijk, vreselijk
  • ei sound words: trein, klein, geheim, pleister, geit

Important Highlights

  • The sounds of "ij" and "ei" are pronounced the same in Dutch, despite their different spellings.
  • "ij" is often referred to as the long ij, while "ei" is called the short ei.
  • In certain words ending with "-lijk", the pronunciation of "ij" changes slightly, which can affect listening comprehension and spelling.

Note on Language Differences

Unlike English, where vowel sounds typically have clearer distinctions, Dutch features these two visually distinct yet phonetically identical diphthongs "ij" and "ei". This can be tricky for English speakers since English does not represent this sound with two different spellings that sound the same.

Here are some useful Dutch phrases and their rough English equivalents to highlight common usage:

  • Ik blijf thuis – "I stay at home"
  • De trein komt aan – "The train arrives"
  • Dat is verschrikkelijk – "That is terrible"
  • Heb je het geheim gehoord? – "Did you hear the secret?"

This lesson will help you recognize and practice these sounds, improving both your pronunciation and spelling skills in Dutch.

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 14:21