The Dutch g
Goed, gezellig and Groningen all start with a rasping sound from the back of the throat, a little like gently clearing it.
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Dutch · First phrasesHoe gaat het?
hoo KHAHT ut
How are you?
ServerHoi! Wat wil je drinken?Hi! What would you like to drink?
Your first Dutch phrases
Twelve phrases for cafés, shops and meeting people, with a guide to the sounds English doesn't have.
| Dutch | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hallo! / Goedemorgen! | hah-LOH / khoo-duh-MOR-khun | Hello / Good morning |
| Hoe gaat het? | hoo KHAHT ut | How are you? |
| Goed, dank je. | KHOOT, DAHNK yuh | Good, thanks. |
| Ik heet Sam. | ik HAYT sam | My name is Sam. |
| Leuk je te ontmoeten! | LUHK yuh tuh ont-MOO-tun | Nice to meet you! |
| Een koffie, alstublieft. | un KOF-fee, ahl-stew-BLEEFT | A coffee, please. |
| Hoeveel kost het? | hoo-VAYL KOST ut | How much is it? |
| Mag ik de rekening? | MAHKH ik duh RAY-kuh-ning | Can I have the check? |
| Waar is het toilet? | VAHR is ut twah-LET | Where's the restroom? |
| Ik begrijp het niet. | ik buh-KHRAYP ut NEET | I don't understand. |
| Kunt u langzamer praten? | KUNT ew LAHNG-zah-mer PRAH-tun | Could you speak more slowly? |
| Dank u wel! / Doei! | DAHNK ew vel / dooy | Thank you very much! / Bye! |
The Dutch g and ch are a rasping sound from the back of the throat, written kh here. In the south and in Belgium the g is much softer.
A conversation you'll practice
Coffee and apple pie in Amsterdam. The tutor plays the server, and doesn't switch to English.
ServerHoi! Wat wil je drinken?Hi! What would you like to drink?
YouEen koffie verkeerd, alstublieft.A koffie verkeerd (coffee with lots of milk), please.
ServerWil je er iets bij?Would you like something with it?
YouJa, een stuk appeltaart.Yes, a slice of apple pie.
ServerPrima. Dat is dan negen euro vijftig.Great. That'll be nine euros fifty.
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
Je or u
Je (or jij) is for most people, u for older people and formal situations. The Dutch move to je much sooner than Germans move to du.
De or het
Nouns are either de words (de koffie, de stad) or het words (het huis, het bier). Most are de words, so the het words are the ones to learn by heart.
Verb second, extra verbs last
Ik drink koffie, but Morgen drink ik koffie (tomorrow I drink coffee): the verb stays in second place. A second verb goes to the end: Ik wil koffie drinken.
How Talvo teaches Dutch
- Tap Replay or Slowly on any line the tutor says, and Show translation when you need it
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning Dutch
Dutch from the Netherlands or Belgium?
Talvo teaches standard Dutch as spoken in the Netherlands. It's understood in Flanders too, where pronunciation and some everyday words differ.
Can I learn Dutch with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
How is Talvo different from Duolingo?
Duolingo is built around short tap-and-match exercises and daily streaks. Talvo is built around speaking: lessons written around your interests, a tutor you talk to out loud, and a live interpreter for real conversations. Plenty of learners use both.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
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