Pronunciation Problems for the Dutch

1. The /θ/ and /ð/ Sounds

English has two "th" sounds: voiceless /θ/ as in "think" and voiced /ð/ as in "this". Dutch does not have these sounds, so Dutch speakers often substitute them with /s/, /z/, /d/, or /t/.

• Examples:

  • "Think" may become "sink" or "tink".

  • "This" may become "dis" or "zis".

Tip: To pronounce /θ/, place your tongue between your teeth and blow air out gently. For /ð/, do the same but use your vocal cords to make a sound.

2. The /v/ and /w/ Sounds

In Dutch, the /v/ and /w/ sounds can be quite similar, leading to confusion in English where they are distinct.

• Examples:

  • "Wine" may sound like "vine".

  • "Very" may sound like "wery".

Tip: For /v/, the upper teeth touch the lower lip. For /w/, round your lips like you are about to whistle.

3. The /ɪ/ and /iː/ Sounds

Dutch speakers often struggle with the short /ɪ/ as in "sit" and the long /iː/ as in "seat". These subtle differences can be difficult to master.

• Examples:

  • "Ship" may sound like "sheep".

  • "Bit" may sound like "beat".

Tip: Practice minimal pairs (words that differ by only one sound) to train your ear and mouth. Record yourself and listen to the differences.

(I’ll share a minimal pairs article soon)

4. The /æ/ Sound

The /æ/ sound, as in "cat", does not exist in Dutch. Dutch speakers often replace it with /ɛ/ (as in "bed") or /ɑ/ (as in "father").

• Examples:

  • "Cat" may sound like "cot" or "ket".

Tip: Open your mouth wider and lower your tongue to produce the /æ/ sound. Practice with words like "cat", "bat", and "hat".

5. Intonation and Stress

Dutch is relatively flat in intonation compared to English, which uses varied pitch to convey meaning and emotion. Additionally, stress patterns in multi-syllabic words can be different.

• Examples:

  • "Record" (noun) vs. "record" (verb).

  • "Present" (noun) vs. "present" (verb).

Tip: Listen to native speakers and mimic their intonation. Use resources like YouTube videos, podcasts, and language exchange partners to practice stress patterns.

6. Silent Letters

Dutch speakers may pronounce all letters as they are written, while English has many silent letters.

• Examples:

  • The "k" in "knife" is silent.

  • The "b" in "comb" is silent.

Tip: Familiarise yourself with common silent letters and practice reading aloud. Over time, these silent letters will become more natural.

Practice Section

Let’s put your skills to the test. Try reading these sentences aloud:

1. "Think about this theory."

2. "I have a very warm coat."

3. "Sit in that seat."

4. "The cat sat on the mat."

5. "Please record the record."

Fun Fact

Did you know that English and Dutch share many words due to their Germanic roots? For instance, "water" is "water" in both languages, and "milk" is "melk" in Dutch. This shared heritage can make learning vocabulary easier for Dutch speakers.