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Vowel combinations
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This is an internal web link, which will open in the same window.Spelling exercises   This is an external web link, which will open a new browser window.Dutch spelling reform in 2006 

English version by Bieneke Berendsen :: other languages
Vowel combinations consist of two different or three vowels that are pronounced more or less as one vowel. We treat the combination as one syllable (together with one or more consonants).

In Dutch, we have 16 vowel combinations. Some combinations perfectly merge into one new vowel, while the synthesis of other combinations is less perfect (see also This is an external web link, which will open a new browser window.Klankeninventaris van het Nederlands). The important thing for you to know is that they are all fixed combinations.

You must learn the combination by heart: If two consecutive vowels are not a fixed vowel combination, the vowels constitute two different syllables (along with a couple of consonants).

The Dutch vowel combinations are: aai, ae, ai, au, eeu(w), ei, eu, ie, ieu(w), ij, oe, ou, oi, ooi, oei, and ui.


Combinations that consist of two vowels


ae

This vowel combination occurs exclusively in old Dutch words. You will only find it in proper names, especially in Flanders:
It is pronounced the same way as 'aa'.
This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[a]
Mister Claessen, Mrs. Haenen
ai

This is a rare vowel combination.
Pronounce like English i in wine

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[ai]
hai (hi), mais (corn, but this is also spelled as maïs).
au

Pronounce like the English ou in house

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[au]
gauw (soon), grauw (greyish), lauw (lukewarm)
ei

This sound is a bit similar to the German ei in reisen, but pronounced a bit 'flatter'.

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[ɛi] or [æi]
ei (egg), beleid (policy), bereiden (to prepare), geit (goat)
trein (train)
eu

Pronounce like German ö in Köln

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[ø]
leuk (nice, funny), neus (nose), heup (hip), treuzelen (to be slow)

But: if it precedes the letter r, pronounce like the English or in word

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[œ]
geur (smell), kleur (colour), zeuren (to whine), deur (door)
ie

Pronounce like ee in the English keep

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[i]
lief (sweet, dear), bier (beer), hier (here), genieten (to enjoy)
ij*

Same as ei

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[ɛi] or [æi]
wijs (wise), blij (happy, glad), grijs (grey), tijd (time)
oe

Pronounce like English oo in choose

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[u]
voelen (to feel), goed (good), zoet (sweet), voet (foot)
oi

A combination that you will seldom come across.
Pronounce like English oy in toy. [ɔi]

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.hoi (hi)
ou

Same as au

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[au]
zout (salt), vrouw (woman), koud (cold), nou (now), stout (bad, as in "bad boy")
ui

This sound is something between ou and eu.

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[ay]
zuid (south), bruin (brown), fluiten (to whistle), buiten (outside)


* Technically speaking, this is not a vowel combination, for it consists of a vowel (i) and a consonant (j). Read more about Internal link the letter ij.


Combinations that consist of three vowels


There are a few vowel combinations that take three vowels, but again, are pronounced more or less as one:

Ooi, aai, and oei
The letter i at the end is pronounced like English y in yes.

aai

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[ai]
draai-en (to turn), aai-en (to stroke), maai-en (to mow)
oei

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[ui]
groei-en (to grow), roei-en (to row), ver-moeid (tired)
ooi

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[oi]
gooi-en (to throw), mooi (beautiful), ver-strooid (forgetful)


Ieu(w) and eeu(w)
These combinations are always followed by the consonant w. Ieuw is pronounced as English ee followed by an English w and eeuw as English ay followed by w.

eeu

This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[eːw]
leeu-wen (lions), geeu-wen (to yawn)
ieu This is a sound file, which will open your media player.[iːw]
ver-nieu-wen (to renew), kieu-wen (gills of a fish)
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