Dutch word list
500 Most Common Dutch Words
Learn the words that do the heavy lifting first. The most frequent Dutch words are the fastest route from recognising a few words to following what's going on — each with a translation.
500 words
de
the (definite article)
het
the (definite article)
een
a, an
mijn
my
jouw
your (possessive determiner)
uw
your (formal/polite)
zijn
his, its (belonging to a male)
haar
her (possessive determiner)
ons
our (possessive determiner)
jullie
your (plural possessive)
hun
their
deze
this
die
that (demonstrative determiner)
dat
that (demonstrative determiner)
dezelfde
the same
zo'n
such a, that kind of
al
all (determiner)
elk
every, each (all members of a group)
ieder
every, each (all members of a group)
sommige
some, certain
geen
no, not a
beetje
a bit, a little, some
paar
pair
wat
some, a little (unspecified amount)
zoveel
so much, so many
hoeveel
how many, how much
ik
I
jij
you (singular, informal subject, stressed)
hij
he, it
zij
she (third person singular feminine subject pronoun)
wij
we
jullie
you (plural subject)
zij
they (third person plural subject pronoun)
het
it (referring to a specific thing or animal)
mij
me
me
myself
jou
you (object pronoun)
haar
her (object pronoun)
ons
us (object pronoun)
zich
himself, herself, themselves, itself
zelf
himself, herself, myself, themselves
iemand
someone, somebody, anyone
niemand
no one, nobody
iets
something
niets
nothing
niks
nothing, anything, zilch
iedereen
everyone, everybody
allemaal
all, everyone, all of them
alles
everything, all
elkaar
each other, one another
wie
who
wat
what (used to ask questions)
welke
which, which one
alle
all (determiner / quantifier)
beide
both
veel
much, a lot of, plenty of (large amount of)
weinig
little, not much
mens
human, human being, man, person
man
man, guy (an adult male human)
vrouw
woman, female (adult female human)
jongen
boy, lad
meisje
girl
kind
child, kid
opa
grandpa, granddad, grandfather
oma
grandma, grandmother, granny
vader
father, dad
moeder
mother, mom
zoon
son
dochter
daughter
broer
brother
familie
family, relatives
vriend
friend (a person you know well and like)
vriendin
friend, female friend (female)
man
husband, man (a man in a marriage)
vrouw
wife (married female partner)
vriend
boyfriend, partner (male romantic partner)
vriendin
girlfriend (romantic partner)
politie
police, police force
lichaam
body
hoofd
head
gezicht
face
haar
hair (mass noun)
hand
hand
been
leg
pijn
pain, ache
ziekenhuis
hospital
leven
life (existence in general)
leeftijd
age
huis
house, home
kamer
room, bedroom
bed
bed
bank
sofa, couch (upholstered seat)
afwas
dishes, washing-up
kom
bowl
kop
cup, mug
t-shirt
T-shirt, tee
broek
trousers, pants
portemonnee
wallet, purse, coin purse
telefoon
phone, telephone
eten
food, provisions (substance for nourishment)
water
water
aardbei
strawberry
sinaasappel
orange
tomaat
tomato
pannenkoek
pancake, crepe
patat
French fries, chips, fries
tijd
time
moment
moment, instant, minute
keer
time, occasion
uur
hour (a unit of time)
uur
o'clock, hour (used with numbers for the time)
dag
day (24-hour period)
avond
evening
nacht
night, nighttime
morgen
morning (early part of the day)
week
week
maand
month
jaar
year, calendar year
maandag
Monday
dinsdag
Tuesday
woensdag
Wednesday
donderdag
Thursday
vrijdag
Friday
zaterdag
Saturday
zondag
Sunday
januari
January
februari
February
maart
March
april
April
mei
May
juni
June
juli
July
augustus
August
september
September
oktober
October
november
November
december
December
weer
weather (meteorological)
plaats
place, spot, location
plek
place, spot
buurt
neighborhood, district, quarter
straat
street
stad
city, town
dorp
village
land
country, nation
wereld
world, globe, Earth
zee
sea
eiland
island
grond
ground, floor
weg
road, way (physical infrastructure for vehicles)
stap
step, pace
auto
car, automobile
reis
journey, trip, voyage
kaart
map
school
school
les
lesson, class
werk
job, work, profession, occupation
team
team
spel
game, match
geld
money, cash
prijs
price, cost
bank
bank (financial institution)
kerk
church
naam
name
woord
word
taal
language, tongue
stem
voice
tekst
text
boek
book
pagina
page
bericht
message, note, notice
antwoord
answer, reply
vraag
question, inquiry
nummer
number (identification or rank)
nummer
number, phone number (telephone number)
idee
idea
plan
plan, intention
nieuws
news
programma
program, show
film
movie, film
foto
photo, photograph, picture
plaatje
picture, illustration, figure
radio
radio
tv
TV, television, television set
muziek
music
begin
beginning, start
eind
end, ending (terminal point in time or space)
einde
end, ending (general meaning)
deel
part, portion
stuk
piece, fragment (part of a whole)
kant
side
midden
middle, center
ruimte
space, room, gap
vorm
shape, form
kleur
color, colour, hue
licht
light (physical phenomenon)
hulp
help, assistance, aid
bezoek
visit
plezier
fun, pleasure, enjoyment
liefde
love, affection
probleem
problem, trouble
zin
feel like, fancy, want, desire
kilogram
kilogram, kg
meter
meter, metre
zijn
be (am, is, are, was, were)
worden
become, get
blijven
stay, remain
hebben
have, own, possess
kunnen
can, be able to (general ability or skill)
kunnen
can, be possible (possibility or potential)
moeten
have to, must, need to
mogen
be allowed to, may, can
willen
want, intend
zullen
will, shall
wonen
live, reside
leven
live (to be alive)
eten
eat, consume (to consume food)
slapen
sleep, be asleep
voelen
feel
horen
hear
zien
see, perceive
kijken
look (direct one's eyes)
kijken
watch (films, programs)
gaan
go, travel, leave (general movement)
gaan
be going to, will (future plan or intention)
gaan
go, work, do (to proceed or unfold)
komen
come (movement towards the speaker)
komen
come from, be from (indicate origin or birthplace)
brengen
bring, take, transport
halen
fetch, go get, pick up, get
rijden
drive, ride
lopen
walk
volgen
follow, go after
vallen
fall, drop
staan
stand (physical position)
staan
stand, be (be located (of objects))
zitten
sit
liggen
lie, lie down
praten
talk, speak, chat
spreken
speak
zeggen
say, tell
vertellen
tell, narrate, relate
vragen
ask, inquire
stellen
ask, put
noemen
call, name
schrijven
write
lezen
read, read aloud
sturen
send, post
delen
share
denken
think, believe
weten
know, be aware
kennen
know, be acquainted with
vinden
think, find, consider (to have an opinion)
vinden
find, locate (to locate or discover)
zoeken
look for, search, seek
kiezen
choose, pick, select
leren
learn
proberen
try, attempt
vergeten
forget
doen
do, perform (to perform an action)
doen
put, place (to place something somewhere)
maken
make, prepare, create
gebruiken
use, utilize
nemen
take, grab (grasp with hands)
nemen
take, catch (use transport)
zetten
put, set, place
dragen
wear, have on (clothing, jewelry, or accessories)
aanhebben
wear, have on (to have clothing or an accessory on your body)
aanstaan
be on, be running
betalen
pay, settle
kopen
buy, purchase
krijgen
get, receive
geven
give, hand, present
helpen
help, assist, support
zorgen
take care of, care for, look after
houden
love, like
werken
work
spelen
play
laten
let, allow
wachten
wait, await
beginnen
start, begin
stoppen
stop, quit, cease
gebeuren
happen, occur, take place
veranderen
change
sneeuwen
to snow
alleen
alone, by oneself (without company)
jong
young, youthful
oud
old, elderly (having lived for a long time)
geboren
born
dood
dead, deceased
wakker
awake, up
beter
better, well
blij
happy, glad, pleased
gelukkig
happy
bang
afraid, scared, frightened
druk
busy, occupied, tied up
groot
big, large
klein
small, little, diminutive
lang
long (spatial distance)
lang
tall (height of a person)
kort
short
hoog
high, tall
half
half, partially
heel
whole, entire (entirety)
licht
light, lightweight (regarding weight)
hard
hard, firm (solid to the touch)
sterk
strong, powerful
vast
fixed, firm, tight
vol
full, filled
rond
round, circular (shape)
recht
straight
heet
hot, very warm
licht
light, bright, pale (regarding color or illumination)
hard
loud (high volume)
snel
fast, quick, rapid
dicht
closed, shut (not open)
open
open, unlocked
toe
closed, shut (not open)
op
up (Awake and out of bed)
op
gone, finished, out (No longer present or available)
uit
off (state of a device or light)
af
finished, done (completed)
klaar
finished, done (having completed a task)
klaar
ready (prepared for action or use)
stuk
broken (not working or damaged)
laatste
last, final
nieuw
new
oud
old, ancient (not new)
laat
late
vroeg
early (near the start of the day)
goed
good, fine (general term for positive quality)
slecht
bad, poor
fijn
nice, pleasant, fine
leuk
nice, pleasant, fun
mooi
beautiful, pretty, lovely
geweldig
great, wonderful, fantastic
heerlijk
delicious, tasty
lekker
tasty, delicious, yummy (having a pleasant flavor)
lekker
nice, lovely, good (pleasant or agreeable)
moeilijk
difficult, hard, tough
erg
terrible, bad, awful (very unpleasant)
duidelijk
clear
gek
strange, crazy, odd, weird
echt
real, genuine, authentic (existing objectively)
waar
true (factually correct)
juist
correct, right
zeker
certain, sure (established as a fact)
veilig
safe, secure
nodig
necessary, needed
gratis
free, gratis, complimentary, free of charge
vrij
off, free
bekend
famous, well-known
gewoon
ordinary, normal, common, usual (not special or distinctive)
normaal
normal, usual
ander
other, another
anders
different (not the same)
eigen
own, private
extra
extra, additional
net
neat, tidy, smart (tidy and clean)
ver
far, distant, remote (general term for great distance)
nu
now, currently
vandaag
today
gisteren
yesterday
morgen
tomorrow (the day after today)
vroeg
early (before the usual time)
vroeger
formerly, in the past, previously
later
later, later on
eerst
first, first of all, firstly
dan
then, afterwards (next in a sequence)
al
already (adverb of time)
net
just (moments ago)
even
briefly, for a moment, just
geleden
ago
nog
still (continuing state)
nog
another, more (one more)
altijd
always, forever
vaak
often, frequently
soms
sometimes, occasionally
nooit
never
weer
again, once more (adverb)
hier
here
daar
there (location away from speaker)
er
there (existential subject (there is/are))
thuis
at home, home
beneden
downstairs, below
binnen
inside, indoors (location)
buiten
outside, outdoors (outdoors)
boven
upstairs, above (on a higher level of a house)
heen
to, towards (indicating direction towards a place)
mee
along, with
terug
back
weg
away, off (moving from a place)
weg
gone, missing (no longer present)
uit
out (direction or movement away from inside)
af
down, off (movement downwards)
aan
on (active/functioning state)
links
on the left, to the left
rechts
right, to the right
rechtdoor
straight ahead, straight on
ver
far, a long way (indicating distance in space or time)
noord
north
oost
east, eastwards
zuid
south
west
west
overal
everywhere, all over
heel
very, really (intensifier)
erg
very, really, extremely (general intensifier for adjectives)
zeer
very, greatly, highly
te
too
helemaal
completely, totally, entirely, at all
bijna
almost, nearly
genoeg
enough, sufficiently
meer
more (comparative of much)
meer
anymore, no longer (used in negative constructions)
meest
most
veel
often, a lot, much (frequently)
ongeveer
about, approximately, roughly
precies
exactly, precisely
vooral
especially, particularly, above all
goed
well (skillfully, accurately, or satisfactorily)
hard
fast, quickly (moving quickly)
samen
together
anders
differently, otherwise (in a different manner)
gewoon
just, simply (simply; only; merely)
graag
like to, would like, gladly
natuurlijk
of course, naturally
echt
really, truly, real (intensifier)
zeker
certainly, definitely, sure (without doubt)
zo
like this, like that, this way (referring to a specific manner shown)
zo
so, that (intensifier)
ook
also, too, as well
maar
only, just (indicating a limit)
alleen
only, just (exclusively)
ja
yes, yeah, yep
niet
not
wel
do, actually, indeed
misschien
maybe, perhaps, possibly
toch
right?, isn't it?, don't you?
hoe
how, what
waar
where (interrogative)
wanneer
when (interrogative adverb)
waarom
why, for what reason, how come
daarom
therefore, so, that's why
in
in, inside (location/inclusion)
binnen
inside, within (enclosed space)
buiten
outside, beyond (beyond the boundaries of a place)
boven
above, over (physically higher than)
onder
under, beneath, underneath
naast
next to, beside, alongside
achter
behind, at the back of
voor
in front of, before (spatial location)
bij
at, near, by (indicating location)
tussen
between
rond
around, round (spatial)
op
on, upon (Positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above)
aan
on, to (positioned at the outer surface of)
tegen
against, into (contact/leaning)
langs
along
door
through, via
over
over, across (position above or movement across)
uit
from, out of (indicating origin or source)
naar
to
tot
until, to, up to
van
from (indicating source or provenance)
vanaf
from, as of, starting from
in
in, during (during a period)
op
on, at (Used with days and dates)
om
at
na
after
voor
before (temporal)
bij
at, with, on (at someone's place)
met
with (accompaniment)
met
by, with (transport or means)
van
of, 's (indicating possession or relationship)
voor
for (beneficiary)
zonder
without
over
about, on, concerning (general subject)
als
as (in the role of)
tegen
to, towards (speech/direction)
aan
at, by, on (location (e.g., at the table))
op
at, on, in (Used for general locations or institutions (e.g., at school, at the office))
en
and
of
or
maar
but, however (conjunction indicating contrast)
dat
that (conjunction)
omdat
because
want
because, for, since
dus
so, therefore
als
if (introducing a condition)
als
when (at the time that)
toen
when (conjunction of time)
dan
than (introducing a comparison)
dag
hello, good day, hi (greeting)
welkom
welcome
dag
goodbye, bye (farewell)
bedankt
thanks, thank you
dankuwel
thank you, thank you very much
sorry
sorry
nee
no
succes
good luck, best of luck
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