Pronunciation of "sch", "ch", "g"

What are sch, ch and g in Dutch?

In this chapter you focus on three important Dutch sounds: sch, ch and g.

They look similar, but they do not sound the same. English does not have these sounds in the same way, so it is normal if they feel strange at first.

• sch – as in schip, schoen, school
• ch – as in licht, nacht, lachen
• g – as in groot, glas, goed

When you can see and hear the difference, speaking Dutch becomes much clearer.

How to pronounce sch

spelling: s + ch = sch

In modern Dutch, sch at the start of a word is usually pronounced like:

• English “s” + a very light throat sound (often almost only “s”)

Word	Pronunciation tip	Meaning
schip	like skip, but start with a slightly stronger /s/	ship
schoen	similar to soon with sch at the start	shoe
school	almost like English school, but the sch is one unit	school

• Position: almost always at the beginning of a word or syllable.
• Rule: sch rarely appears at the end of a Dutch word.

So *huis-sch or *tafeldsch do not exist.

How to pronounce ch

The Dutch ch is a voiceless throat sound. English normally does not have this sound.

• Make a strong air flow from your throat.
• Your vocal cords are off (no vibration).
• It is similar to the ch in Scottish “loch” or German “nach”.

Word	Pronunciation tip	Meaning
licht	li + strong throat ch + t	light
nacht	na + throat ch + t	night
lachen	la + throat ch + en	to laugh

You also see ch in words borrowed from French, like douche. There the sound can be softer (more like English sh), but for A1 it is enough if you recognise the spelling.

How to pronounce g

The Dutch g is a voiced throat sound.

• Place your tongue in the same area as for ch.
• Now switch on your vocal cords (they vibrate).
• This makes the sound heavier and louder than ch.

Word	Pronunciation tip	Meaning
groot	like throat ch but with vibration: g-root	big
goed	g + hoed (similar to English hood)	good
glas	g + las (not like English glass with /g/)	glass

For many learners, g is the most difficult sound. That is normal. Aim for a clear contrast with English g and keep practising.

sch, ch and g – how are they different?

Here is a simple overview:

Spelling	Type of sound	Where in the mouth?	Voice?	Example
sch	mainly an s sound	front (teeth)	voiced	school, schip
ch	strong friction	back (throat)	no voice	licht, lachen
g	strong friction	back (throat)	with voice	groot, goed

• sch is about the spelling (s + ch), often heard as a long /s/.
• ch and g use the same place in the mouth, but g vibrates and ch does not.

Typical mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• 1. Saying English “sh” for ch or g
  • *shoed for goed
  • *lashen for lachen
  • Tip: move the sound back in your mouth, towards the throat.
• 2. Reading sch as s + k
  • *skool for school
  • Tip: think of one sound group at the start: sch = long, clear /s/.
• 3. Confusing ch and g
  • ch = no vibration (put your hand on your throat: it stays calm).
  • g = vibration (you feel a buzz in your throat).
  • Practice pairs: lach – lag, licht – ligt.

Where do sch, ch and g usually appear?

• sch
  • almost always at the start of a word: school, schip, schoenen
  • very rarely at the end of a Dutch word.
• ch
  • often in the middle or at the end: nacht, lachen, gezicht
  • also in combinations like cht: licht, nacht
• g
  • often at the beginning: groot, goed, groen
  • also in the middle: gezicht, gordijn

When you see a new Dutch word, this helps you predict the correct sound.

Step-by-step practice: feel the difference

1. Find your throat position
   • Say a very long English h (as in hello).
   • Move that air a little deeper into your throat.
   • You are close to the Dutch ch position.
2. From h to ch
   • Start with a soft h…
   • Then make it stronger and rougher until you get friction: hhh → ch.
   • Try with a word: ha – cha – lach (end with Dutch lach).
3. From ch to g
   • Say ch and put your hand on your throat: no vibration.
   • Now do the same movement but switch on your voice: vibration starts.
   • You now have g. Try with: ch → g → goed.
4. Add sch
   • Say a long English s: ssss…
   • Add a light throat sound right after it.
   • Now add a word: schip, schoen, school.

Quick self-check: can you do this already?

• 1. Spot the spelling
  • Look at a word and answer: is there sch, ch or g?
  • Example: gezicht → starts with g, has ch inside.
• 2. Predict the sound
  • See school → think: long /s/ at the start.
  • See licht → think: voiceless throat sound before t.
  • See groot → think: strong voiced throat sound at the start.
• 3. Feel your throat
  • Say: lach – lag.
  • Do you feel vibration in g (lag) but not in ch (lach)?
• 4. Short sentences
  • Make very short sentences and focus on the sound:
  • Het schip is groot.
  • Ik lach in het licht.
  • De schoenen zijn groen.

If you can do these steps slowly and clearly, you are ready to use these sounds in real conversation.

What to pay attention to in conversation

• Do not rush
  • In the beginning, speak a little more slowly.
  • Give yourself time to make the throat sounds.
• Be clear, not perfect
  • Your Dutch does not need to sound like a native speaker.
  • The goal is: other people understand you without effort.
• Use frequent words
  • Practice with high-frequency words you will really say:
  • goed (good), graag (with pleasure), licht (light), nacht (night), school (school).
• Listen actively
  • When Dutch speakers talk, mentally highlight every sch, ch, g you hear.
  • This trains your ear and makes it easier to copy the sounds.

With this overview and some short daily practice, you can prepare independently and use classroom time mainly for speaking and feedback.