- For the Site, see Ling: Learn Dutch.
- Available both on the browser and as an iPhone App.
- I've found the initial page-load to be a bit slow in the browser (at least using Chrome), so anyone clicking the above link may need to be somewhat patient.
- Ling Introduction:
- The Netherlands is a low lying country in the EU, bordering with Germany, Belgium and the UK across the channel. The first thing that might come to mind is the vast fields of colorful tulips, or windmills that dot the landscape. Which ever way you think of it, the Netherlands is a beautiful country with a distinct culture unlike anywhere else. For that reason, many people look to start learning the Dutch language.
- Dutch is closely linked to German and English, often being described as the middle point between the two languages. It is a West Germanic language with over 29 million first and second language speakers worldwide. Afrikaans is derived from Dutch, sharing about 90% of vocabulary. It is however, a distinct language. Dutch is written with the Latin Alphabet with the addition of one extra character.
- Grammatically, Dutch is similar to German, following a similar syntax and verb morphology. While cases are not commonly used anymore, they do have a system of three grammatical genders. An SOV word order is most common. Verbs can be split into four main categories which affects how they are conjugated: weak verbs, strong verbs, irregular verbs and mixed verbs. Weak verbs are most common, followed by strong verbs.
- Dutch people are vary capable English speakers, especially considering how closely related Dutch and English are. There are many situations where Dutch would be preferred though. Everyone will be appreciative of someone taking the time to learn at least a few words of the language and can be a great way to make local friends. Consider learning Dutch for the next time you visit the Netherlands.
Text Colour Conventions (see disclaimer)
- Blue: Text by me; © Theo Todman, 2025
- Mauve: Text by correspondent(s) or other author(s); © the author(s)