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Learn to pronounce the Dutch diphthongs ui, ou, eu, and oe with examples such as huis, koud, neus, and boek. This lesson covers their unique sounds and practical tips for mastering them at the A1 level.
Klank (Sound)Voorbeelden (Examples)
uiHuis, lui, muis (House, lazy, mouse)
ouKoud, goud, hout (Cold, gold, wood)
euNeus, deur, geur (Nose, door, smell)
oeBoek, moe, doel (Book, tired, goal)
mixZoet, zout, zuid (Sweet, salty, south)

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Hoe laat ____ je het antwoord geven?

(What time ____ you want to give the answer?)

2. Waarheen ____ je vanavond?

(Where ____ you going tonight?)

3. Waarom ____ hij niet op mijn vragen?

(Why ____ he not answer my questions?)

4. Hoeveel boeken ____ je gelezen?

(How many books ____ you read?)

5. Wanneer ____ je de vragen stellen?

(When ____ you want to ask the questions?)

6. Wat ____ je antwoorden op die vraag?

(What ____ you want to answer to that question?)

Pronunciation of ui, ou, eu, oe in Dutch

This lesson focuses on mastering the pronunciation of four common Dutch diphthongs: ui, ou, eu, and oe. These vowel combinations play a key role in everyday Dutch speech and appear frequently in various words. Understanding their sound patterns will improve your listening skills and help you pronounce words accurately.

Key Diphthongs and Examples

  • ui - found in words like huis (house), lui (lazy), muis (mouse)
  • ou - as in koud (cold), goud (gold), hout (wood)
  • eu - appearing in neus (nose), deur (door), geur (smell)
  • oe - for example boek (book), moe (tired), doel (goal)

There is also a mix category covering combinations such as zoet (sweet), zout (salt), zuid (south).

Why These Sounds Matter

These diphthongs form the foundation of Dutch vowel pronunciation and often differ significantly from their English counterparts. For example, the Dutch ui sound doesn't exist in English, presenting a unique challenge. Practicing them will help you recognize and produce Dutch words more confidently.

Instruction Differences and Practical Tips

In English, vowel sounds are often simpler, while Dutch diphthongs like ui and eu have unique qualities. For instance, ui sounds roughly like a combination of "ow" and "ee," but with a rounded lip articulation. Also, note that Dutch diphthongs are usually pronounced as a glide between two vowel positions within the same syllable, which differs from many English vowel sounds.

Here are some useful words and phrases to practice:

  • Huis – house
  • Koud – cold
  • Neus – nose
  • Boek – book
Try to listen to native speakers and imitate their pronunciation to develop a natural sound.

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Sunday, 09/03/2025 05:11