Translate English to Dutch
Dutch is the native language of about 25 million people in the Netherlands and Belgium (where it is called Flemish). It is also spoken in Suriname, Aruba, and Curacao. Whether you are preparing for a trip to Amsterdam, writing to a supplier in Rotterdam, or helping a colleague in Brussels, paste your English text above and the Dutch translation will appear within seconds.
Common English to Dutch translations
| English | Dutch | Pronunciation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hallo | HAH-loh | ||
| Good morning | Goedemorgen | HOO-duh-MOR-ghun | ||
| Thank you | Dank u wel | dahnk oo vel | ||
| Please | Alstublieft | ahl-stoo-BLEEFT | ||
| How much does this cost? | Hoeveel kost dit? | hoo-VALE kost dit | ||
| Where is the train station? | Waar is het station? | vahr is het stah-SHON | ||
| I do not understand | Ik begrijp het niet | ik buh-GHRYPE het neet | ||
| Can you help me? | Kunt u mij helpen? | koont oo may HEL-pen | ||
| I would like a coffee | Ik wil graag een koffie | ik vil ghrahgh un KOF-fee | ||
| The bill, please | De rekening, alstublieft | duh RAY-kuh-ning ahl-stoo-BLEEFT | ||
| Nice to meet you | Aangenaam | AHN-ghuh-nahm | ||
| Goodbye | Tot ziens | tot zeens | ||
| I need a doctor | Ik heb een dokter nodig | ik hep un DOK-ter NOH-dikh | ||
| Excuse me | Pardon | par-DON |
Tips for English to Dutch translation
Dutch and English are closely related Germanic languages, and many words look similar: water is water, book is boek, house is huis. This similarity helps with reading but also creates false confidence. Words like slim mean “smart” in Dutch (not thin), bellen means “to call” (not bells), and kok means “chef” (not what it looks like in English). Always verify cognates that seem too convenient.
Dutch uses two grammatical genders (common and neuter) with articles de and het. About two-thirds of nouns take de and one-third take het. There is no reliable rule for predicting which one a noun takes, so each word must be learned with its article. Getting the article wrong does not prevent understanding but marks the text as non-native.
The Dutch “g” sound is one of the hardest for English speakers. It is a guttural friction sound produced at the back of the throat, similar to the German “ch” in acht but stronger. The word gracht (canal) has this sound twice. Clicking the speaker button in the table above lets you hear this sound properly, which is much more useful than any written description.
Dutch word order follows the V2 rule: the conjugated verb must be the second element in a main clause. In subordinate clauses, the verb moves to the end, just like German. “I know that he is coming tomorrow” becomes Ik weet dat hij morgen komt (I know that he tomorrow comes). If a translation has the verb in the wrong position, the word order was not adjusted correctly.
About the Dutch language
Dutch belongs to the West Germanic family and is the closest major relative of both English and German. It developed in the Low Countries during the Middle Ages and became standardized in the 16th and 17th centuries during the Dutch Golden Age. The language played a significant role in trade, navigation, and colonial expansion, leaving loanwords in languages from Indonesian (kantor, office) to Japanese (randoseru, school bag).
The difference between Dutch in the Netherlands and Flemish Dutch in Belgium is comparable to the difference between British and American English. Pronunciation, vocabulary, and some expressions differ, but written Dutch is largely the same. The main Dutch dictionary (Van Dale) covers both variants. Surinamese Dutch has its own regional vocabulary influenced by Sranan Tongo and other local languages.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. No sign-up, no limits, no fees.
The output follows standard written Dutch, which is understood in both the Netherlands and Belgium. Some vocabulary differs regionally, but grammar and spelling are the same.
Yes. Click the speaker icon next to any Dutch phrase. The guttural “g” and vowel sounds are much easier to learn by listening than by reading.
Quite similar in grammar and vocabulary, though pronunciation differs significantly. A Dutch speaker can often read German text with some effort, and vice versa. However, spoken Dutch and German are not mutually intelligible.
For everyday emails and messages, it works well. For legal contracts, marketing copy, or official correspondence, have a native Dutch speaker review the output.
De is used with common-gender nouns and all plural nouns. Het is used with neuter-gender nouns. There is no simple rule for predicting which one a noun takes.
This page handles English to Dutch. Visit our Dutch to English translation page for the reverse.
No. Afrikaans evolved from Dutch but is a separate language with different grammar and vocabulary. A separate translator would be needed for Afrikaans.
Yes. All processing is real-time. Nothing is stored or shared.
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Need the reverse? Try Dutch to English translation.
