Common Dutch Words

A list of the most common Dutch words ordered by their frequency of use. You can use this list to learn words efficiently, ensuring you cover the basic vocabulary of Dutch.

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1	de	©
1. art. the (definite article, masculine and feminine gender)
De man — “The man”
De vrouw — “The woman”
Het boek — “The book”
De boeken — “The books”
2	van
1. prep. of (possession, property)
de hoed van het meisje - the hat of the girl
het gewicht van een olifant - the weight of an elephant
2. prep. of (general association)
Zij was van adel. - She was of noble stock.
3	een	©
1. art. (indefinite) Placed before a singular noun, indicating a general case of a person or thing: a, an. Compare with de and het.
2. num. (cardinal) one
4	het	©
1. art. the (the neuter definite article)
het boek
the book
het meisje
the girl
5	en	©
1. conj. and
De oude man en de zee.
The Old Man and the Sea.
2. conj. well, so
En, hoe gaat het ermee?
6	in	©
1. adv. in, inside
2. adv. (postpositional) into
De jongen rende het huis in.
The boy ran into the house.
3. prep. in; expressing containment.
7	is
1. v. third-person singular present of zijn; is, equals
Twaalf min drie is negen — twelve minus three equals nine
2. adv. (informal dialect) (misspelling of es)
8	dat	©
1. det. that (neuter); referring to a thing or a person further away.
dat huis
that house
dat kind
that child
9	op
1. adv. up
De bal stuiterde op en neer.
The ball bounced up and down.
2. adv. (postpositional) onto, up onto
De kat klom gisteren het dak op.
10	te
1. adv. indicating excess: too
Te veel is nooit goed - too much is never good
te gek! - far out!
2. prep. (modifying an infinitive verb) to
Er is iets te eten - there is something to eat
11	zijn	©
1. v. (intransitive) To be, to exist.
Zijn of niet zijn, dat is de vraag. - To be or not to be, that is the question.
Was je er afgelopen zaterdag ook? - Were you there too last Saturday?
2. v. (transitive copular) Used to connect a noun to an adjective that describes it.
De bal is rond. - The ball is round.
12	voor
1. prep. for
2. prep. before
3. prep. in front of
4. n. pro, advantage
Hij overwoog het voor en tegen.
13	met	©
1. prep. with, along with (another person)
2. prep. with, using (a tool, instrument or other means)
3. prep. at, for, during (a holiday/festivity)
Heb je zin om met kerst bij ons langs te komen?, Do you fancy visiting us for Christmas?
14	die	©
1. det. that (masculine, feminine); referring to a thing or a person further away.
die boom
that tree
die vrouw
that woman
15	niet	©
1. adv. Not, no: used to express negation.
Niet storen! - Do not disturb!
Dat is niet waar. - That is not true.
2. n. A staple.
3. v. first-, second- and third-person singular present indicative of nieten
16	aan
1. prep. on
2. prep. to
3. adv. on
4. adj. on (functional, operational)
17	er
1. adv. there (unspecific to distance)
2. adv. (with a preposition) him, her, it, them.
Ik heb ermee gewerkt.
I have worked with it/them.
Je kunt er de bergen boven zien.
18	om
1. prep. around, about
2. prep. at (a time)
3. adv. around, about
4. adv. around, over (to another state)
Hij zette de schakelaar om.
19	ook
1. adv. also, too, moreover
Dat kan ik ook. – I can do that too.
2. adv. (in negative sentences) either
Ik kan dat ook niet. – I can't do that either.
3. adv. -ever
20	als	©
1. conj. (subordinating) if, when
Als je die knop indrukt, gaat de computer uit.
If you push that button, the computer will turn off.
2. conj. when, as soon as
Als het regent worden alle daken nat.

Dictionary entries from Wiktionary