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A 'False Friends' Pronunciation Exercise

Smartphone Version

Listen to Dutch:
broodroof click to hear 2 ('bread-theft') - taking away someone's livelihood
De brave baker at brood met worst op de brink. click to hear 2
The obedient nanny ate bread with sausage on the village square.
(baker 'nanny' is somewhat obsolete Dutch)

A pronunciation exercise of about 200 words that are found both in English and Dutch - each word is a challenge. Almost automatically you'll say these words in English like you're used to - but try to pronounce them as Dutch words - or just listen to the examples for starters, do the pronunciation next time. It will not be easy, but it will quickly teach you the differences between English and Dutch pronunciation.
Find the Dutch translation of the English words on the full False Friends Page

To Study Dutch Pronunciation:

1. vowels - 2 - klinkers click to hear
a, e, i, o, u

2. diphthongs - tweeklanken click to hear
au, ei, eu, ij, oe, ou, ui

3. long and short vowels - 2
a/aa - e/ee - i/ie - o/oo - u/uu
4. 'voiceless E' - 2
click to hear 'schwa'

5. consonants - 2 - medeklinkers click to hear
b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x z

6. exceptions and irregularities - 2
Dutch Pronunciation Reference Page

Now pronounce as Dutch words and then compare to how I say them (or just listen to the Dutch)
(F) - words from French, pronounced somewhat as French words

An click to hear - a girls' name
Ad click to
    hear - a boys' name
Age click to hear - a Frisian boys' name
arm click to
    hear - 1. arm (body part) 2. poor
arts click to hear 2 - Medical Doctor
as click to hear - 1. ashes 2. axle, axis
at click to hear 2 (ik at click to hear 2 - I ate, I was eating)
bad click to hear - bath (ik bad click to hear - I was praying)
baker click to hear (obsolete) - nanny
balk click to hear - a beam (wood)
band click to hear - 1. tire, tube 2. bond, tie, tape
bang click to hear - afraid, scared
bank click to hear - 1. money services 2. bench
bar click to hear 2 - 1. drinks place 2. harsh, bleak
been click to hear - leg
beef click to hear 2 (ik beef click to hear 2 - I tremble)
beer click to hear - bear
beet click to hear - 1. bite 2. gotcha!
belt click to hear 2 (hij belt click to hear 2 - he is on the phone)
bent click to hear 2 (jij bent click to hear 2 - (you) are)
bevel click to hear - order, command
bid click to hear 2 (ik bid click to hear - I pray, I am praying)
big click to hear - pig
blank click to hear 2 - white (pink) skin
bond click to hear 2 union, association, federation
boom click to hear 2 - tree
boon click to hear - bean
boos click to hear - angry
boot click to hear - boat
boots click to hear 2 (ik boots na click to hear 2 - I imitate, mimic)
bots click to hear 2 3 (ik bots click to hear 2 I collide, crash into)
bout click to hear - 1. leg meat 2. bolt for nut
brand click to hear - fire
branding click to  hear 2 - breakers, waves on a beach
brave click to hear 2 - well-behaved, harmless
breed click to hear - wide, broad
brief click to hear 2 - letter (mail)
brink click to hear - village square
brood click to hear 2 - bread
chef (F) click to hear 2 - department head
Co click to
   hear - a boys' name
college (F) click to hear - 1. university class 2. council
concrete click to hear 2 - physical, solid, real (not talk)
concurrent click to hear 2 - business competitor
crèche (F) click to hear - children's daycare center
damp click to hear 2 - vapor
dank click to hear - thanks
deed click to hear (ik deed click to hear - I did)
den click to hear - 1. pine tree 2. old-fashioned 'the'
die click to hear - that, those
diner (F) click to hear - festive evening meal
ding click to hear - thing
direct click to hear 2 - immediately; straightaway
divers click to hear 2 - varied
doe click to hear (ik doe click to hear - I do)
door click to hear - 1. through 2. by
dove click to hear 2 - a deaf person
dozen click to hear 2 - boxes
drab click to hear 2 - thick, murky liquid
drank click to hear - beverage; liquor
driest click to hear - bold, reckless
drop click to hear - liquorice (the black candy)
douche (F) click to hear - shower
dun click to hear - thin, skinny
elders click to hear - elsewhere, in another place
elk click to hear - each, every
email (F) click to hear - enamel
even click to hear 2 - 1. just a moment 2. e. numbers
fat click to hear - a dandy
fee click to hear - a fairy
Ferry click to
   hear - a boys' name
file click to hear - traffic jam
fitting click to hear 2 - lightbulb socket
Flip click to
   hear - a boys' name
folder click to hear - brochure
Floor click to
   hear - a girls' name
fret click to
   hear - partition on string instrument neck
Greet click to hear - a girls' name
gal click to hear - gall
gang click to hear - corridor, hallway
gave click to hear 2 - 1. gift 2. whole, undamaged
gene click to hear (obsolete) - 'those yonder'
gilt click to hear 2 (zij gilt click to hear 2 - she shrieks)
gist click to hear - yeast
gold click to hear 2 ('t gold click to hear 2 - ~it counted as)
glad click to
   hear - 1. slippery 2. smooth
grind click to hear - gravel, pebbles
grove click to hear (grof/grove click to hear) coarse
gulp click to hear - fly, pants zipper
gum click to hear - eraser
gun click to hear (ik gun click to hear 2 - I grant)
guts click to hear - a woodcarving tool
gymnasium click to hear - PE, gymnastics classroom
hard click to hear - 1. not soft 2. fast, not slow
hark click to hear - 1. rake (garden) 2. a clumsy male
Harm click to
    hear - a boys' name
have click to hear (obsolete) - (moveable) property
haven click to hear - port, harbor
heel click to hear 2 - 1. whole 2. very
held click to hear - hero
helm click to hear - helmet
hem click to hear - him
hoe click to hear - how?
honing click to hear 2 - honey
hoop click to hear 2 - 1. hope 2. heap, load
jammer click to hear 2 - it's a pity
Joke click to
    hear - a girls' name
kale click to hear (kaal/kale click to hear 2) - bald
keel click to hear - throat
kin click to hear 2 - chin
kind click to hear 2 - child
kinds click to hear 2 - senile
knot click to hear - skein, ball (of wool)
lag click to hear 2 (ik lag click to hear 2 3 - I was lying down)
lager click to hear - lower
lam click to hear - 1. lamb 2. lame, paralyzed
late click to hear (laat/late click to hear 2) - late (not early)
last click to hear - burden
lap click to hear - a piece of fabric
leek click to hear - layman
('t leek click to hear 2 - it looked like)
leer click to hear 2 - 1. leather 2. teachings
leg click to hear (ik leg click to hear - I lay down)
lessen click to hear 2 - 1. lessons 2. to slake
(2. dorst lessen click to hear 2 - to slake thirst)
let click to hear (let op! click to hear 2 - pay attention!)
letter click to hear 2 - alphabet character
lever click to hear - liver
libel click to hear 2 3 - dragonfly
lid click to hear 2 - member
lied click to hear - song
Lies click to
   hear - a girls' name
lies click to
   hear - groin, where the leg joins the body
link click to hear 2 (slang) - dangerous
links click to hear - left (not right)
lint click to hear 2 - ceremonial tape
list click to hear 2 - ruse, trick
log click to hear - hard to move, not nimble
logger click to hear 2 - harder to move
long click to hear - lung
loom click to hear 2 - slow, languid
loop click to hear 2 - 1. gunbarrel 2. course
(ik loop click to hear - I walk)
loot click to hear - new, young branch
Lot click to hear 2 - a girls' name
lot click to hear 2 - 1. a lottery ticket 2. fate
lover click to hear (obsolete) - leaves, foliage
machinist (F) click to hear 2 - engineer, engine driver
made click to hear - maggot
man click to hear 2 - 1. adult male human 2. husband
map click to hear - holder for papers
mare click to hear 2 * - report; rumor; story, legend
marine click to
   hear - the navy
mate click to hear 2 - 1. mate van click to hear - level of, degree
mate click to hear 2 - 2. met mate click to hear - in moderation
meet click to hear (ik meet click to hear - I take measurements)
men click to hear - an informal 'they' *
messing click to hear 2 - brass (copper/zinc)
met click to hear - with
Mien click to hear 2 3 - a girls' name
milt click to hear 2 3 - spleen (organ)
minder click to hear - less, fewer
minister click to hear 2 - cabinet minister, secretary
mode click to hear - fashion
molt click to hear 2 (hij molt click to hear 2 - he breaks, destroys)
moot click to hear - a fish steak
mop click to hear 2 - a joke
mud click to hear 2 (obsolete) - 100 liters measure
mug click to hear - mosquito
multiplex click to hear 2 - laminated board (>3 layers)
nap click to hear (obsolete) - small wooden bowl
nor click to hear (slang) - prison
nut click to hear - usefulness, use
occasion click to hear 2 - secondhand car for sale
of click to hear - or
offer click to hear 2 - sacrifice
order click to hear - order (buying / command)
pad click to hear 2 - 1. path 2. toad
page (F) click to hear - a knight's servant
pal click to hear - (standing) firm
paring click to hear 2 - 1. mating 2. pairing
past click to hear 2 ('t past click to hear - it fits)
paste click to hear 2 (het paste click to hear - it fit - past tense)
pat click to hear - stalemate (chess)
peer click to hear 2 3 - pear
pees click to hear 2 - tendon
penning click to hear 2 - medal, coin
pens click to hear 2 - 1. tripe 2. paunch
pension click to hear - boarding house
pet click to hear 2 - 1. baseball cap 2. rotten, not good
pink click to hear - little finger, 'pinky'
pit click to hear 2 - 1. small fruit seed 2. human energy
plant click to hear - living plant
poet click to hear 2 - loot, criminal gain
poets click to hear 2 1. practical joke, trick
2. ik poets click to hear 2 - I am polishing, shining
pond click to hear - 500 grams, ~ pound
pool click to hear - pole (North, South)
pop click to hear 2 - doll
port click to hear - Portuguese sweet, strong wine
prompt click to hear - responding quickly
pummel click to hear - ill-mannered young man
put click to hear 2 - well, waterhole
rag click to hear - spiderweb material, also: spinrag click to hear 2
rage (F) click to hear - craze, fad
ramp click to hear - disaster
rang click to
      hear 2 - rank in hierarchy
rank click to hear 2 - 1. slender 2. tendril, vine
rap click to hear (obsolete) - quickly
rapport click to hear 2 - official report; grades sheet
rare click to hear (raar/rare click to hear 2) - strange, weird, odd
raven click to hear 2 - ravens
red click to hear 2 (ik red click to hear 2 - I rescue, save)
reed click to hear (ik reed click to hear 2 - I rode, I drove)
rein click to hear 2 - pure, clean (old-fashioned)
rest click to hear 2 - remainder, remnant
ring click to hear 2 - ring (on finger)
rode click to hear (rood / rode click to hear ) - red
roe click to hear 2 - (bundle of twigs, for punishment)
romp click to hear 2 - trunk, body w/o head, arms and legs
roof click to hear 2 - robbery, theft
rook click to hear - smoke
room click to hear - cream
rooster click to hear 2 - 1. grate 2. schedule, roster
rover click to hear - robber, mugger
rug click to hear - back (body part)
rust click to hear 2 - rest, a time of quiet
sinus click to hear - sine (trigoniometry)
sip click to hear 2 - glum, unhappy
sister click to hear 2 - medieval string instrument
slab click to hear 2 - bib
slag click to hear - blow; battle
slang click to hear 2 - 1. snake 2. hose
slap click to hear - weak
sleep click to hear 2 (ik sleep click to hear - I drag, I tow)
sleet click to hear 2 (ik sleet click to hear 2 - ~I spent my time)
slim click to hear - bright, intelligent
slimmer click to hear 2 - more clever
slinks click to hear 2 - devious, cunning, secretly
sloop click to hear 2 - 1. pillowcase 2. wrecking, e.g. cars
slot click to hear 2 - 1. lock 2. end 3. castle
smart click to hear 2 (obsolete) - pain, hurt
snap click to hear 2 3 (ik snap 't click to hear 2 3 - I understand [it])
spanning click to hear 2 3 tension
spies click to hear skewer, metal pin for roasting
spin click to hear - spider
spook click to hear 2 - ghost
spot click to hear 2 - ridicule, derision
spring click to hear (ik spring click to hear 2 - I jump)
stadium click to hear 2 - stage, phase
stage (F) click to hear - internship
staking click to hear 2 - strike, work stoppage
stand click to hear - setting
star click to hear - rigid, inflexible
steel click to hear 2 - 1. large tools stick 2. stem (plants)
stem click to hear - 1. voice 2. vote
step click to hear 2 - children's scooter
stomp click to hear 2 - 1. not sharp 2. punch, hit 3. stub
storing click to hear 2 - interruption
storm click to hear 2 - high winds, gale
stout click to hear - naughty
strand click to hear - beach
student click to hear - college & university student only
taken click to hear - tasks
talk click to hear - baby powder
tang click to hear 2 - pliers
teen click to hear - toe
ten click to hear (old-fashioned) - 'at'
thee click to hear - tea
tilde click to hear 2 3 (hij tilde click to hear 2 3 - he lifted)
tin click to hear - tin (the metal, Sn)
Tine click to
   hear - a girls' name
tip click to hear - suggestion
toe click to hear 2 - 1. come on! 2 ~direction
Ton click to
   hear - a boys' name
tot click to hear - till
trap click to hear - stairs
tree click to hear - stairs step
trek click to hear 2 - 1. hunger, an appetite 2. epic journey
(ik trek click to hear 2 - I pull, I drag)
trilling click to hear 2 - vibration, trembling
trots click to hear 2 - pride; proud
tube click to hear 2 - (toothpaste etc.) container
turf click to hear - peat
turn click to hear 2 (ik turn click to hear 2 - type of gymnastics)
twist click to hear - quarrel
vale click to hear - discolored, faded
van click to hear - of
vast click to hear - fast, firmly connected, not loose
veer click to hear - 1. spring (tensile) 2. feather 3. ferry
veiling click to hear - auction
vent click to hear - a guy, a bloke (somewhat unfavorable)
verse click to hear 2 (vers/verse click to hear 2 3) - fresh
vest click to hear 'cardigan, fleece jacket'
vet click to hear - 1. fat, grease 2. fat, greasy
vies click to hear - dirty, not clean; bad-tasting
violet click to hear - 1. a flower 2. blue purple
wand click to hear - wall (of a room)
want click to hear 2 - 1. mitt 2. for, because
war click to hear (in de war click to hear - confused)
was click to hear - 1. laundry 2. wax
(ik was click to hear - 1. I was 2. I'm washing/doing laundry)
waste click to hear (ik waste click to hear - 1. I washed up 2. I was doing laundry)
wee click to hear - 1. contraction (birth) 2. woe to ...
went click to hear 2 ('t went click to hear 2 - you get used to it)
wet click to hear - law
wig click to hear 2 - wedge
wit click to hear 2 - white
wonder click to hear - miracle
word click to hear 2 (ik word click to hear 2 - I become, I am being)
worst click to hear - sausage
zoom click to hear 2 3 - hem, finished fabric edge

Identical Words of About Identical Meaning - or sharing at least a common meaning. See and hear also my Easy Dutch pages for words that are not identical but similar, 'recognizable.'

absurd click to
  hear
abstrakt click to hear
accountant click to hear 2
adder * click to hear
alcohol click to hear 2
alibi click to hear 2
amateur click to hear
anatomie click to hear
angst click to hear
april click to hear
architect (Fr.) click to hear 2 3
arm * click to hear
atlas click to hear 2 3
auto click to hear
banjo click to hear 2
bank * click to hear
barometer click to hear 2
bed click to hear 2
best click to hear 2
(ik) bind click to hear 2
bitter click to hear
blind click to hear 2
bus click to hear
cement * click to hear
centimeter click to hear
chaos click to hear
cholera click to hear
concert click to hear
contact click to hear 2 3
contract * click to
 hear
cylinder * click to hear
decibel click to hear
deodorant click to hear
desoriënterend click to hear 2
diameter click to hear 2
discipline * click to hear 2
dogma click to hear 2
drama click to hear 2
(ik) drink click to hear 2
duel click to hear 2
duet click to hear
duo click to hear 2
echo click to hear 2 3
etiquette (Fr.) click to hear 2 3
expert * click to hear
experiment click to hear
film click to hear 2
fragment click to hear
fret * click to hear
fruit click to hear
gas click to hear 2
god click to hear
gram click to hear
half click to hear
hand click to hear
hard click to hear
harp * click to hear 2
help * click to hear 2
horizon click to hear 2
hut click to hear
in click to hear 2
incompetent click to hear 2
is click to hear 2
joker * click to hear 2
kilometer click to hear
lab click to hear
lamp click to hear
land click to hear 2 3
later click to
    hear
lens click to hear
lip click to hear
liter click to hear 2
lust click to hear
man * click to hear 2 3
margarine click to hear 2
menu (Fr.) click to hear
meter click to hear
migraine (Fr.) click to hear 3
mild click to hear
mist click to hear
modern click to hear 2
moment click to hear
monument click to hear
navel click to hear 2
open click to hear
opera click to hear
oven click to hear
pan click to hear 2
park click to hear
pen click to hear
piano click to hear
platform click to hear 2
plan click to hear
plank click to hear 2
plant click to hear
plastic (Engl.) click to hear
privilege * click to hear 2
psalm click to hear 2
radio click to hear 2
rasp click to hear 2
rat * click to hear 2 3
rebel click to hear 2
respect click to hear
rib click to hear 2
rot click to hear 2
rubber click to hear 2 3
salamander click to hear
school click to hear
shampoo (Engl.) click to hear 2
specialist click to hear
spelling !!! click to hear 2
splinters click to hear 2 3
spore click to hear 2
stank click to hear 2
stop click to hear 2
tempo click to hear
tent click to hear
test click to hear 2 3
tetanus click to hear 2
Thai click to hear
thermometer click to hear
ton * click to hear 2 3
trombone click to hear
tuba click to hear
tunnel click to hear 2
uniform * click to hear
virus click to hear
volume click to hear
wake click to hear 2
warm click to hear
was click to hear
water click to hear 2
week click to hear 2
west click to hear
wild click to hear
wind click to hear 2
winter click to hear
wolf click to hear
worm click to
    hear
(ik) wring click to hear 2
we are here click to hear 2 Shouldn't people seeking asylum in The Netherlands try to learn Dutch?

The Dutch sounds that are not found in English (CH/G, EI/IJ, EU, UI and 'long U') are underrepresented on this page. Find more: Easy Dutch and Dutch Summary.

Find the Dutch translation of the English words on the full False Friends Page
Exercises Overview - An Old Pronunciation Exercise - Listening Exercise

Welcome Learning Dutch? - Lesson 1 Site Map Pronunciation Words and Phrases Hear Dutch Names

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Don't be a dief (thief) / dievegge (female thief) - diefstal (theft) - stelen (to steal) - heler (dealer in stolen goods) - hear Dutch - 2
Gij zult niet stelen click to hear 'Thou shalt not steal'