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Dutch Strong Verbs Vowel Changes - Smartphones Page

Alphabetic List of Strong Dutch Verbs

Visit the desktop version for a list of interesting related words.

You may notice patterns in the vowel changes of the strong verbs, but I doubt that they will be useful in learning - I don't remember mention of patterns when I was taught English strong verbs.
Not all vowels are represented in the patterns list. Verbs with some vowels don't fall into patterns, and for some other vowels there are very few or no strong verbs.

sterke werkwoorden click to hear 2 'strong verbs'
(de) verleden tijd click to hear 2 3 'the past tense'
(het) voltooid deelwoord click to hear 'past participle'

Patterns?
The Strong Verbs Changes

Consonants Changes

Strong Verbs Vowel Changes Patterns

The Vowels and Diphthongs

In my estimate, about 30% of the strong verbs have the same vowel or diphthong in the simple present tense as in the past participle; about 45% of the strong verbs have the same vowel or diphthong in the simple past tense as in the past participle, and about 25% have a third vowel or diphthong in the past participle.
A small number, about 5% of strong verbs have a past participle ending in ‑D or ‑T.

infinitive and
present tense
past
tense
past
participle
long A short O
OE
IE
long A
long A
long A
exception: gaan
short A short I short A
exception: vallen
long E short/long A
short/long A
long O
long E
long O
long O
exceptions: weten, wreken, zweren
short E short A
short O
IE
short A
short O
short O
exceptions: zeggen, scheppen
short I short O
short/long A
short O
long E
IE long O long O
exception: zien
IJ long E long E
exception: zijn
UI long O long O

Dutch Strong Verbs and Their Changes

Though I did not include all compound strong verbs, I tried to make a more or less complete list - some in the list are a bit old-fashioned and not all verbs will be very useful. Feel free to skip what doesn't look interesting to you.
I've given the past plural when it is spelled or pronounced differently from the past singular, besides of the -EN ending.

English infinitive simple
past
singular
past
participle
example: to be was (I have)
been
to go gaan ging gegaan click to hear 2
to stand staan stond gestaan click to hear
to understand,
hear what is said
verstaan verstond verstaan click to hear 2
to exist bestaan bestond bestaan click to hear
to originate,
come into being
ontstaan ontstond ontstaan click to hear
to carry dragen droeg gedragen click to hear
to behave gedragen gedroeg gedragen click to hear
to ask vragen vroeg gevraagd click to hear
to hunt // to hurry //
to send, drive
jagen joeg gejaagd click to hear 2
to slap, hit slaan sloeg geslagen click to hear
to dig graven groef gegraven click to hear
wij groeven click to hear
to sail,
move by ship
varen voer gevaren click to hear
wind blowing waaien woei gewaaid click to hear
alternative simple past: waaide click to hear
to sleep slapen sliep geslapen click to hear
to let, allow laten liet gelaten click to hear
to guess //
to counsel
raden ried geraden click to hear
alternative simple past: raadde click to hear
to betray verraden verried verraden click to hear
alternative simple past: verraadde click to hear
to blow blazen blies geblazen click to hear
wij bliezen click to hear 2

--------
to fall vallen viel gevallen click to hear
to catch vangen ving gevangen click to hear
to replace vervangen verving vervangen click to hear 2
to hang (things) hangen hing gehangen click to hear

--------
to give geven gaf gegeven click to hear
wij gaven click to hear
to forgive vergeven vergaf vergeven click to hear 2
wij vergaven click to hear
to eat eten at gegeten click to hear
wij aten click to hear
(G inserted in the past participle)
to measure meten mat gemeten click to hear
wij maten click to hear
to forget vergeten vergat vergeten click to hear
wij vergaten click to hear
to read lezen las gelezen click to hear
wij lazen click to hear
to speak spreken sprak gesproken click to hear
wij spraken click to hear
to take nemen nam genomen click to hear
wij namen click to hear
to break, crack,
rupture
breken brak gebroken click to hear
wij braken click to hear
to stab, to sting steken stak gestoken click to hear
wij staken click to hear
to steal stelen stal gestolen click to hear 2
wij stalen click to hear
to order,
command
bevelen beval bevolen click to hear
wij bevalen click to hear
to eat like a beast
(slang)
vreten vrat gevroten click to hear
wij vraten click to hear 2
to weigh wegen (woog) gewogen click to hear
(wij wogen click to hear)
to move bewegen bewoog bewogen click to hear
wij bewogen click to hear
to consider overwegen overwoog overwogen click to hear 2
wij overwogen click to hear 2
to shave scheren schoor geschoren click to hear
wij schoren click to hear
alternate simple past: 'scheerde' click to hear
to know
(things)
weten wist geweten click to hear 2
to swear
(take an oath)
zweren zwoer gezworen click to hear
to avenge wreken wreekte gewroken click to hear

--------
to have hebben had gehad click to hear
wij hadden click to hear
to say zeggen zei gezegd click to hear
wij zeiden click to hear
Note D inserted for past plural
to think denken dacht gedacht click to hear
to bring brengen bracht gebracht click to hear
to pull trekken trok getrokken click to hear
wij trokken click to hear
to hit //
to meet, encounter
treffen trof getroffen click to hear 2 3
wij troffen
to swim zwemmen zwom gezwommen click to hear
wij zwommen click to hear
to fight, struggle vechten vocht gevochten click to hear
to send zenden zond gezonden click to hear
to salvage (ships) bergen borg geborgen click to hear
to hide verbergen verborg verborgen click to hear 2
to put away, store opbergen borg op opgeborgen click to hear 2
to donate //
to pour drinks
schenken schonk geschonken click to hear 2
to braid vlechten vlocht gevlochten click to hear
to dig, to mine delven dolf gedolven click to hear 2
wij dolven click to hear 2
to melt smelten smolt gesmolten click to hear
to count, weigh;
to be applicable
gelden gold gegolden click to hear 2
to swell zwellen zwol gezwollen click to hear 2
to help, assist helpen hielp geholpen click to hear
to throw, cast werpen wierp geworpen click to hear
to die sterven stierf gestorven click to hear
wij stierven click to hear
to enlist, canvass werven wierf geworven click to hear
wij wierven click to hear
to roam zwerven zwierf gezworven click to hear
wij zwierven click to hear
to spoil
(active and passive)
bederven bedierf bedorven click to hear 2
wij bedierven click to hear 2
to create (like God) scheppen schiep geschapen click to hear
to see zien zag gezien click to hear
wij zagen click to hear
to freeze vriezen vroor gevroren click to hear
(wij vroren click to hear)
to lose verliezen verloor verloren click to hear
wij verloren click to hear
to lie (to say
what is not)
liegen loog gelogen click to hear
wij logen click to hear
to fly vliegen vloog gevlogen click to hear
wij vlogen click to hear
to cheat, deceive bedriegen bedroog bedrogen click to hear 2
wij bedrogen click to hear 2
to choose kiezen koos gekozen click to hear
wij kozen click to hear
to offer //
to bid (auction)
bieden bood geboden click to hear
wij boden click to hear
to forbid, disallow verbieden verbood verboden click to hear
wij verboden click to hear
to shoot schieten schoot geschoten click to hear
wij schoten click to hear
to pour gieten goot gegoten click to hear 2
wij goten click to hear
to enjoy genieten genoot genoten click to hear 2
wij genoten click to hear 2

--------
to climb klimmen klom geklommen click to hear 2
wij klommen click to hear
to win winnen won gewonnen click to hear
wij wonnen click to hear
to start, begin beginnen begon begonnen click to hear 2
wij begonnen click to hear
to be startled schrikken schrok geschrokken click to hear 2
wij schrokken click to hear
to find vinden vond gevonden click to hear
to jump springen sprong gesprongen click to hear
to sing zingen zong gezongen click to hear
to force, compel dwingen dwong gedwongen click to hear 2
to sound klinken klonk geklonken click to hear
to shine, glitter blinken blonk geblonken click to hear
to tie, to bind binden bond gebonden click to hear
to connect //
to dress a wound
verbinden verbond verbonden click to hear
to wind winden wond gewonden click to hear
to drink drinken dronk gedronken click to hear
to sink (passively) zinken zonk gezonken click to hear
to smell bad stinken stonk gestonken click to hear
to shrink slinken slonk geslonken click to hear 2
to shrink krimpen kromp gekrompen click to hear
to wring wringen wrong gewrongen click to hear
to devour verslinden verslond verslonden click to hear 2
to push, press, shove dringen drong gedrongen click to hear 2
to sit zitten zat gezeten click to hear
wij zaten click to hear
to lie down liggen lag gelegen click to hear
wij lagen click to hear
to pray bidden bad gebeden click to hear
wij baden click to hear

--------
to come komen kwam gekomen click to hear
wij kwamen click to hear
to walk lopen liep gelopen click to hear
to be allowed to,
'may'
mogen mocht gemogen click to hear
to buy kopen kocht gekocht click to hear

--------
to 'become' worden werd geworden click to hear

--------
to be able to,
'can'
kunnen kon (gekund) click to hear
wij konden click to hear
(D inserted in the past plural)
'shall, will'
(for the future tense)
zullen zou - click to hear 2
wij zouden click to hear 2

--------
to be zijn was geweest click to hear
wij waren click to hear
to look kijken keek gekeken click to hear
wij keken click to hear
to appear, look like, 'seem' lijken leek geleken click to hear
wij leken click to hear
to compare vergelijken vergeleek vergeleken click to hear 2 3
wij vergeleken click to hear 2 3
to appear ('it turned out') blijken bleek gebleken click to hear
wij bleken click to hear
to get krijgen kreeg gekregen click to hear
wij kregen click to hear
to grab grijpen greep gegrepen click to hear
wij grepen click to hear
to understand begrijpen begreep begrepen click to hear
wij begrepen click to hear
to stay, remain blijven bleef gebleven click to hear
wij bleven click to hear
to write schrijven schreef geschreven click to hear
wij schreven click to hear
to float //
to drive (cattle etc.)
drijven dreef gedreven click to hear 2
wij dreven click to hear
to drive, to ride rijden reed gereden click to hear
wij reden click to hear
to suffer lijden leed geleden click to hear 2
wij leden click to hear
to fight, battle strijden streed gestreden click to hear 2
wij streden click to hear
to glide, slide glijden gleed gegleden click to hear
wij gleden click to hear
to praise prijzen prees geprezen click to hear
wij prezen click to hear
to rise (dough) rijzen rees gerezen click to hear
to disappear verdwijnen verdween verdwenen click to hear 2
wij verdwenen click to hear 2
to avoid vermijden vermeed vermeden click to hear
wij vermeden click to hear
to wear out //
to sell //
to pass the time
slijten sleet gesleten click to hear 2
wij sleten click to hear
to wear out verslijten versleet versleten click to hear
wij versleten click to hear
to be silent,
not speak
zwijgen zweeg gezwegen click to hear
wij zwegen click to hear
to rise stijgen steeg gestegen click to hear 2
wij stegen click to hear
to cut (with a knife) snijden sneed gesneden click to hear
wij sneden click to hear
to rub wrijven wreef gewreven click to hear
wij wreven click to hear
(W before R is pronounced as Dutch V)
to squeeze, pinch, press knijpen kneep geknepen click to hear
wij knepen click to hear
note that K before N is not dropped
to bite bijten beet gebeten click to hear 2
wij beten click to hear
to point wijzen wees gewezen click to hear 2
wij wezen click to hear
to teach onderwijzen onderwees onderwezen click to hear 2
wij onderwezen click to hear
to split splijten spleet gespleten click to hear
wij spleten click to hear 2
to iron (clothes) //
to brush // to smooth
strijken streek gestreken click to hear
wij streken click to hear
to shine // to appear,
'it looks like ...'
schijnen scheen geschenen click to hear
wij schenen click to hear
to blame wijten weet geweten click to hear
wij weten click to hear 2
to reproach verwijten verweet verweten click to hear
wij verweten click to hear
to regret spijten speet gespeten click to hear
to grind, sharpen slijpen sleep geslepen click to hear
wij slepen click to hear
to throw angrily ('smite') smijten smeet gesmeten click to hear
wij smeten click to hear

--------
to do doen deed gedaan click to hear
wij deden click to hear
to search,
look for
zoeken zocht gezocht click to hear
to call, shout roepen riep geroepen click to hear
to have to, 'must' moeten moest gemoeten click to hear
(only a consonant change)

--------
to hold houden hield gehouden click to hear

--------
to dive duiken dook gedoken click to hear
wij doken click to hear
to bow, to bend buigen boog gebogen click to hear
wij bogen click to hear
to close sluiten sloot gesloten click to hear
wij sloten
to decide besluiten besloot besloten click to hear 2
wij besloten click to hear 2
to whistle fluiten floot gefloten click to hear 2
wij floten click to hear
to suck zuigen zoog gezogen click to hear
wij zogen click to hear
to smell ruiken rook geroken click to hear
wij roken click to hear
to sneak sluipen sloop geslopen click to hear
wij slopen click to hear
to crawl kruipen kroop gekropen click to hear
wij kropen click to hear
to drip druipen droop gedropen click to hear 2
wij dropen click to hear
to shove,
make slide
schuiven schoof geschoven click to hear
wij schoven click to hear
dust blowing //
to speedily go
stuiven stoof gestoven click to hear
wij stoven click to hear
to blow (your nose) snuiten snoot gesnoten click to hear 2
wij snoten click to hear 2
to sniff, to snort snuiven snoof gesnoven click to hear 2
wij snoven click to hear 2
to drink heavily
(slang)
zuipen zoop gezopen click to hear
wij zopen click to hear

Consonant Changes in Strong Verbs

The list above focuses on the vowel changes, but do note that about twenty of the strong verbs also have a consonant change in the past tenses. The list below repeats the strong verbs with consonant changes from the above list.
English infinitive simple
past
singular
past
participle
example: to be was (I have)
been
to be zijn was geweest click to hear
wij waren click to hear

to have hebben had gehad click to hear
wij hadden click to hear

to come komen kwam gekomen click to hear
wij kwamen click to hear

to hold houden hield gehouden click to hear

to go gaan ging gegaan click to hear 2

to stand staan stond gestaan click to hear
to slap, hit slaan sloeg geslagen click to hear

to know (things) weten wist geweten click to hear 2

to say zeggen zei gezegd click to hear
wij zeiden click to hear
D inserted in the past plural

to see zien zag gezien click to hear
wij zagen click to hear

to lose verliezen verloor verloren click to hear
wij verloren click to hear

to freeze vriezen vroor gevroren click to hear
(wij vroren click to hear)

to be able to,'can' kunnen kon (gekund) click to hear
wij konden click to hear
D inserted in the past plural

'shall, will'
(for the future tense)
zullen zou - click to hear 2
wij zouden click to hear 2
D inserted in the past plural

to do doen deed gedaan click to hear
wij deden click to hear

to have to, 'must' moeten moest gemoeten click to hear
only a consonant change

to think denken dacht gedacht click to hear

to bring brengen bracht gebracht click to hear

to be allowed to, 'may' mogen mocht gemogen click to hear

to buy kopen kocht gekocht click to hear

to search, look for zoeken zocht gezocht click to hear

Alphabetic List of Strong Verbs

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Gij zult niet stelen click to hear 'Thou shalt not steal'