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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Discover how to pronounce the Dutch sounds 'sch' in schip, schoen, school, 'ch' in licht, nacht, lachen, and 'g' in groot, glas, goed, focusing on their distinct pronunciations and usage.
  1. 'sch' rarely occurs at the end of a word.
schschip, schoen, school, misschien, schoorsteen
chlicht, nacht, lachen, gezicht, douche, nachtlamp
ggroot, glas, goed, groen, gordijn

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. De lamp staat naast de _____ in de woonkamer.

(The lamp is next to the _____ in the living room.)

2. Ik _____ de deur voordat ik binnenkom.

(I _____ the door before I come inside.)

3. Het bed staat _____ het raam in de slaapkamer.

(The bed is _____ the window in the bedroom.)

4. Wij _____ het raam omdat het regent.

(We _____ the window because it is raining.)

5. De kast staat naast het _____ in mijn studeerkamer.

(The cabinet is next to the _____ in my study room.)

6. De stoel staat _____ de tafel in de eetkamer.

(The chair is _____ the table in the dining room.)

Pronunciation of sch, ch, and g in Dutch

This lesson focuses on the pronunciation differences of three letter combinations in Dutch: sch, ch, and g. Understanding their sounds is important for clear communication and proper word recognition.

Pronunciation Details

  • sch: The sound appears at the beginning of words like schip (ship), schoen (shoe), school (school), misschien (maybe), and schoorsteen (chimney). It is rarely found at the end of words.
  • ch: This sound occurs in words such as licht (light), nacht (night), lachen (to laugh), gezicht (face), douche (shower), and nachtlamp (night lamp).
  • g: Pronounced distinctly in words like groot (big), glas (glass), goed (good), groen (green), and gordijn (curtain).

Key Points

These sounds differ in articulation and must be learned separately to avoid confusion. The sch sound is more guttural and sharper, while the ch and g sounds differ in softness and position of the tongue.

Useful Notes for English Speakers

English does not have exact equivalents for these Dutch sounds, especially the guttural g and sch. For instance, the g in Dutch is pronounced from the throat, unlike the English hard g as in "go." Practice with words like groot and schoen will help you master these sounds.

Some practical phrases include:

  • Schip means ship – a useful word when discussing travel or transport.
  • Licht means light – important for everyday conversation about environment or objects.
  • Groot means big – helpful for describing size and quantity.

Remember that sch rarely appears at the end of Dutch words, unlike some English consonant clusters.

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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 12:27