Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how the trema (¨) in Dutch shows separate vowel sounds in words like België, poëzie, and coördinatie, helping you pronounce words correctly and avoid vowel clashes.
  1. The diaeresis is placed on the second vowel of a diphthong.
  2. We use a diaeresis with vowel collision as in 'België'.
Zonder trema (Without diaeresis)Met trema (With diaeresis)
BelgieBelgië (Belgium)
PoeziePoëzie (Poetry)
ReeelReëel (Real)
CoordinatieCoördinatie (Coordination)
MozaiekMozaïek (Mosaic)
EgoistischEgoïstisch (Selfish)

Exercise 1: Woorden met een trema

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

mozaïek, reëel, poëzie, Italië, België, geïrriteerd

1.
We hebben een kunstwerk gezien dat erg ... leek.
(We saw a piece of art that looked very realistic.)
2.
Tijdens het concert voelde ik me ... door de andere mensen.
(During the concert, I felt irritated by the other people.)
3.
Die kunstenaar maakt beelden van ....
(The artist makes images from mosaic.)
4.
In het museum zagen we prachtige kunst uit ....
(In the museum we saw beautiful art from Belgium.)
5.
De zangeres zong over liefde en ....
(The singer sang about love and poetry.)
6.
Mijn favoriete dans komt uit ....
(My favourite dance comes from Italy.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Ik ga morgen naar de expositie in ___.

(I am going to the exhibition in __ tomorrow.)

2. De muzikant leest een __ tijdens het concert.

(The musician reads a __ during the concert.)

3. Het schilderij is erg __ en levendig.

(The painting is very __ and lively.)

4. In het museum hangt een __ van moderne kunstwerken.

(In the museum hangs a __ of modern artworks.)

5. De __ in de galerie is erg kleurrijk.

(The __ in the gallery is very colorful.)

6. Zijn __ gedrag stoort de andere bezoekers.

(His __ behavior bothers the other visitors.)

Words with a Trema (Diaeresis) in Dutch

This lesson focuses on the use of the trema, a diacritical mark (¨) placed over vowels in Dutch words. It shows where two vowels are pronounced separately, not as a single combined sound.

What is a Trema?

The trema indicates that two adjacent vowels form separate syllables, so both vowels are clearly articulated one after the other. This is important for pronunciation and meaning.

Examples of Words with and without Trema

Without TremaWith Trema
BelgieBelgië
PoeziePoëzie
ReeelReëel
CoordinatieCoördinatie
MozaiekMozaïek
EgoistischEgoïstisch

How to Use the Trema

In Dutch, the trema is placed on the second vowel of a vowel pair to signal separate pronunciation, especially when there is a vowel collision, as in the name België. It helps to avoid confusion and guides correct pronunciation.

Key Points to Remember

  • The trema is never placed on the first vowel of a vowel pair.
  • It is commonly used in words borrowed from other languages or compound words where vowels meet.
  • Examples: poëzie (poetry), reëel (realistic), coördinatie (coordination).

Comparing to English

In English, the trema (often called diaeresis) is rare but sometimes appears in words like "naïve" or "coöperate" to indicate separate vowel sounds. Dutch uses it regularly for clarity in pronunciation. There are no direct English words with the exact same function, but understanding this will help you pronounce Dutch words correctly.

Useful Words and Phrases

  • België – Belgium
  • Poëzie – Poetry
  • Reëel – Realistic
  • Coördinatie – Coordination
  • Mozaïek – Mosaic
  • Egoïstisch – Egoistic

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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 10:34