Word lists › Dutch
The most common Dutch words, in frequency order
This is a frequency-based Dutch word list: words ranked by how often they actually occur in everyday text, with translations and pronunciation. Frequency-based learning means studying words in this order, so every hour goes to the words you will meet most. Learn the first 500 and you will recognise about 71% of the words in everyday Dutch. That is Zipf's law, and it is why this list is in this order. The first 250 are below; Zipf teaches all 5,000.
71%of everyday Dutch text is the first 500 words
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The 250 most common Dutch words
| # | Word | IPA | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | de | /də/ | article | the |
| 2 | zijn | /zɛi̯n/ | verb | to be |
| 3 | van | /vɑn/ | preposition | of, from |
| 4 | het | /(ɦ)ət/ | pronoun | it |
| 5 | een | /ən/ | article | a, an |
| 6 | en | /ɛn/ | conjunction | and |
| 7 | in | /ɪn/ | adverb | in |
| 8 | op | /ɔp/ | preposition | on |
| 9 | ik | /ɪk/ | pronoun | I |
| 10 | dat | /dɑt/ | pronoun | that |
| 11 | voor | /voːr/ | preposition | for |
| 12 | hebben | /ˈɦɛbə(n)/ | verb | to have |
| 13 | te | /tə/ | preposition | to |
| 14 | je | /jə/ | pronoun | you |
| 15 | met | /mɛt/ | preposition | with |
| 16 | niet | /nit/ | adverb | not |
| 17 | die | /di/ | pronoun | that, those |
| 18 | worden | /ˈʋɔrdə(n)/ | verb | to become |
| 19 | deze | /ˈdeːzə/ | pronoun | this, these |
| 20 | haar | /ɦaːr/ | pronoun | her |
| 21 | als | /ɑ(l)s/ | conjunction | if, when |
| 22 | er | /ɛr/ | adverb | there |
| 23 | kunnen | /ˈkʏnə(n)/ | verb | can, to be able to |
| 24 | aan | /aːn/ | preposition | on, at |
| 25 | om | /ɔm/ | preposition | around, about |
| 26 | maar | /maːr/ | adverb | but, only |
| 27 | veel | /veːl/ | adjective | much, many |
| 28 | hij | /ɦɛi̯/ | pronoun | he |
| 29 | wij | /ʋɛi̯/ | pronoun | we |
| 30 | door | /doːr/ | preposition | through, by |
| 31 | ook | /oːk/ | adverb | also, too |
| 32 | bij | /bɛi̯/ | preposition | at, near |
| 33 | gaan | [xaːn] | verb | to go |
| 34 | uit | /œy̯t/ | adverb | out |
| 35 | naar | /naːr/ | preposition | to, towards |
| 36 | dan | /dɑn/ | adverb | then |
| 37 | wat | /ʋɑt/ | pronoun | what |
| 38 | al | /ɑl/ | adverb | already |
| 39 | over | /ˈoː.vər/ | preposition | over, about |
| 40 | of | /ɔf/ | conjunction | or, whether |
| 41 | zullen | /ˈzʏ.lə(n)/ | verb | will, shall |
| 42 | nog | /nɔx/ | adverb | still, yet |
| 43 | moeten | /ˈmutə(n)/ | verb | must, have to |
| 44 | goed | /ɣut/ | adjective | good, right |
| 45 | komen | /ˈkoː.mə(n)/ | verb | to come |
| 46 | ons | /ɔns/ | pronoun | us |
| 47 | u | /y/ | pronoun | you (polite) |
| 48 | maken | /ˈmaːkə(n)/ | verb | to make |
| 49 | doen | /dun/ | verb | to do |
| 50 | willen | /ˈʋɪl.ə(n)/ | verb | to want |
| 51 | mijn | /mɛi̯n/ | pronoun | my |
| 52 | zien | /zin/ | verb | to see |
| 53 | zo | /zoː/ | adverb | so, like that |
| 54 | geen | /ɣeːn/ | article | no, not a |
| 55 | wel | /ʋɛl/ | adverb | indeed, really |
| 56 | tot | /tɔt/ | preposition | to, until |
| 57 | nu | /ny/ | adverb | now |
| 58 | jaar | /jaːr/ | noun · neuter | year |
| 59 | na | /naː/ | preposition | after |
| 60 | nieuw | /niu̯/ | adjective | new |
| 61 | staan | /staːn/ | verb | to stand, to be |
| 62 | zeggen | /ˈzɛɣə(n)/ | verb | to say, to tell |
| 63 | me | /mə/ | pronoun | me, myself |
| 64 | mens | /mɛns/ | noun · masculine | human, person |
| 65 | ander | /ˈɑn.dər/ | adjective | other, different |
| 66 | hoe | /ɦu/ | adverb | how |
| 67 | waar | /ʋaːr/ | adverb | where |
| 68 | vinden | /ˈvɪndə(n)/ | verb | to find |
| 69 | laten | /ˈlaːtə(n)/ | verb | to let, to leave |
| 70 | heel | /ɦeːl/ | adverb | very |
| 71 | weten | /ˈʋeːtə(n)/ | verb | to know |
| 72 | geven | /ˈɣeːvə(n)/ | verb | to give |
| 73 | twee | /tʋeː/ | numeral | two |
| 74 | groot | /ɣroːt/ | adjective | big, large, great |
| 75 | zich | /zɪx/ | pronoun | himself, herself, oneself |
| 76 | krijgen | /ˈkrɛi̯ɣə(n)/ | verb | to get, to receive |
| 77 | dag | /dɑx/ | noun · masculine | day |
| 78 | onder | /ˈɔndər/ | preposition | under, below |
| 79 | hier | /ɦir/ | adverb | here |
| 80 | tegen | /ˈteː.ɣə(n)/ | preposition | against, towards |
| 81 | dus | /dʏs/ | adverb | so, therefore |
| 82 | echt | /ɛxt/ | adjective | real, genuine |
| 83 | houden | /ˈɦɑu̯də(n)/ | verb | to keep, to hold |
| 84 | alleen | /ɑˈleːn/ | adjective | alone |
| 85 | denken | /ˈdɛŋkə(n)/ | verb | to think |
| 86 | mij | /mɛi̯/ | pronoun | me |
| 87 | zitten | /ˈzɪtə(n)/ | verb | to sit |
| 88 | hun | /ɦʏn/ | pronoun | them, their |
| 89 | nemen | /ˈneːmə(n)/ | verb | to take |
| 90 | weer | /ʋeːr/ | adverb | again |
| 91 | leven | /ˈleːvə(n)/ | noun · neuter | life |
| 92 | tijd | /tɛi̯t/ | noun · masculine | time |
| 93 | jij | /jɛi̯/ | pronoun | you |
| 94 | man | /mɑn/ | noun · masculine | man, husband |
| 95 | blijven | /ˈblɛi̯vən/ | verb | to stay, to remain |
| 96 | eens | /eːns/ | adverb | once |
| 97 | daar | /daːr/ | adverb | there |
| 98 | toch | /tɔx/ | adverb | still, anyway |
| 99 | volgen | /ˈvɔl.ɣə(n)/ | verb | to follow |
| 100 | mee | /meː/ | adverb | along |
| 101 | kijken | /ˈkɛi̯kə(n)/ | verb | to look, to watch |
| 102 | laat | /laːt/ | adjective | late |
| 103 | zoals | /zoːˈɑls/ | conjunction | like, as |
| 104 | mogen | /ˈmoːɣə(n)/ | verb | to be allowed |
| 105 | vrouw | /vrɑu̯/ | noun · feminine | woman, wife |
| 106 | iets | /its/ | pronoun | something |
| 107 | werken | /ˈʋɛrkə(n)/ | verb | to work |
| 108 | omdat | /ɔmˈdɑt/ | conjunction | because |
| 109 | toen | /tun/ | adverb | then |
| 110 | vraag | /vraːx/ | noun · feminine | question |
| 111 | kind | /kɪnt/ | noun · neuter | child |
| 112 | lang | /lɑŋ/ | adjective | long, tall |
| 113 | jou | /jɑu̯/ | pronoun | you |
| 114 | hem | /ɦɛm/ | pronoun | him |
| 115 | jullie | /ˈjʏli/ | pronoun | you all |
| 116 | tijdens | /ˈtɛi̯də(n)s/ | preposition | during |
| 117 | wie | /ʋi/ | pronoun | who, whom |
| 118 | gebruiken | /ɣəˈbrœy̯kə(n)/ | verb | to use |
| 119 | gewoon | /ɣəˈʋoːn/ | adjective | ordinary, normal |
| 120 | tussen | /ˈtʏsə(n)/ | preposition | between, among |
| 121 | altijd | /ˈɑl.tɛi̯t/ | adverb | always |
| 122 | ja | /jaː/ | interjection | yes |
| 123 | net | /nɛt/ | adjective | neat, just |
| 124 | plaats | /plaːts/ | noun · feminine | place, spot |
| 125 | liggen | /ˈlɪɣə(n)/ | verb | to lie, to be located |
| 126 | mooi | /moːi̯/ | adjective | beautiful, nice |
| 127 | waarom | /ʋaːˈrɔm/ | adverb | why |
| 128 | uur | /yr/ | noun · neuter | hour |
| 129 | drie | /dri/ | numeral | three |
| 130 | alles | /ˈɑləs/ | pronoun | everything |
| 131 | via | /ˈvi.aː/ | preposition | via, through |
| 132 | even | /ˈeː.və(n)/ | adverb | briefly, just |
| 133 | af | /ɑf/ | adverb | off |
| 134 | terug | /təˈrʏx/ | adverb | back |
| 135 | oud | /ɑu̯t/ | adjective | old |
| 136 | beginnen | /bəˈɣɪnə(n)/ | verb | to begin, to start |
| 137 | zonder | /ˈzɔn.dər/ | preposition | without |
| 138 | land | /lɑnt/ | noun · neuter | country, land |
| 139 | zoeken | /ˈzu.kə(n)/ | verb | to search, to look for |
| 140 | snel | /snɛl/ | adjective | fast, quick |
| 141 | weg | /ʋɛx/ | adverb | away, gone |
| 142 | foto | /ˈfoː.toː/ | noun · feminine | photo |
| 143 | steeds | /steːts/ | adverb | always |
| 144 | ver | /vɛr/ | adjective | far |
| 145 | eigen | /ˈɛi̯ɣə(n)/ | adjective | own |
| 146 | keer | /keːr/ | noun · masculine | time, occasion |
| 147 | klein | /klɛi̯n/ | adjective | small, little |
| 148 | iemand | /ˈi.mɑnt/ | pronoun | someone |
| 149 | iedereen | pronoun | everyone | |
| 150 | huis | /ɦœy̯s/ | noun · neuter | house |
| 151 | brengen | /ˈbrɛŋə(n)/ | verb | to bring |
| 152 | elk | /ɛlk/ | adjective | each, every |
| 153 | spelen | /ˈspeːlə(n)/ | verb | to play |
| 154 | erg | /ɛrx/ | adjective | very, severe |
| 155 | binnen | /ˈbɪ.nə(n)/ | adverb | inside |
| 156 | weinig | /ˈʋɛi̯nəx/ | adverb | little, few |
| 157 | werk | /ʋɛrk/ | noun · neuter | work, job |
| 158 | week | /ʋeːk/ | adjective | soft, weak |
| 159 | leuk | /løːk/ | adjective | nice, fun |
| 160 | nooit | /noːit/ | adverb | never |
| 161 | stad | /stɑt/ | noun · feminine | city, town |
| 162 | aantal | /ˈaːn.tɑl/ | noun · neuter | number, amount |
| 163 | zelf | /zɛlf/ | adverb | self, oneself |
| 164 | naam | /naːm/ | noun · masculine | name |
| 165 | lijken | /ˈlɛi̯kə(n)/ | verb | to seem, to resemble |
| 166 | samen | /ˈsaː.mə(n)/ | adverb | together |
| 167 | dood | /doːt/ | adjective | dead |
| 168 | toe | /tu/ | adverb | to, closed |
| 169 | nodig | /ˈnoːdəx/ | adjective | necessary, needed |
| 170 | elkaar | /ɛlˈkaːr/ | pronoun | each other |
| 171 | deel | /deːl/ | noun · neuter | part, piece |
| 172 | belangrijk | /bəˈlɑŋ.rɛi̯k/ | adjective | important |
| 173 | vanaf | preposition | from, starting from | |
| 174 | horen | /ˈɦoːrə(n)/ | verb | to hear; to belong |
| 175 | stellen | /ˈstɛ.lə(n)/ | verb | to state, to pose |
| 176 | want | /ʋɑnt/ | conjunction | because |
| 177 | zeker | /ˈzeː.kər/ | adjective | certain, sure |
| 178 | allemaal | /ˈɑləˌmaːl/ | pronoun | all, everyone |
| 179 | lopen | /ˈloːpə(n)/ | verb | to walk |
| 180 | helpen | /ˈɦɛl.pə(n)/ | verb | to help |
| 181 | probleem | /ˌproːˈbleːm/ | noun · neuter | problem |
| 182 | schrijven | /ˈsxrɛi̯və(n)/ | verb | to write |
| 183 | verschillend | /vərˈsxɪ.lənt/ | adjective | different, various |
| 184 | lezen | /ˈleːzə(n)/ | verb | to read |
| 185 | bestaan | /bəˈstaːn/ | verb | to exist; to consist |
| 186 | enkel | /ˈɛŋ.kəl/ | adjective | single, only |
| 187 | hoog | /ɦoːx/ | adjective | high |
| 188 | misschien | /mɪˈsxin/ | adverb | perhaps, maybe |
| 189 | volgens | /ˈvɔl.ɣə(n)s/ | preposition | according to |
| 190 | eten | /ˈeː.tə(n)/ | noun · neuter | food |
| 191 | vaak | /vaːk/ | adverb | often |
| 192 | anders | /ˈɑn.dərs/ | adverb | otherwise |
| 193 | graag | /ɣraːx/ | adverb | gladly |
| 194 | wanneer | /ʋɑˈneːr/ | conjunction | when |
| 195 | vragen | /ˈvraːɣə(n)/ | verb | to ask |
| 196 | kennen | /ˈkɛnə(n)/ | verb | to know |
| 197 | per | /pɛr/ | preposition | per, for each |
| 198 | niets | /nits/ | pronoun | nothing |
| 199 | vandaag | /vɑnˈdaːx/ | adverb | today |
| 200 | wereld | /ˈʋeː.rəlt/ | noun · masculine | world |
| 201 | vallen | /ˈvɑlə(n)/ | verb | to fall |
| 202 | jong | /jɔŋ/ | adjective | young |
| 203 | noemen | /ˈnumə(n)/ | verb | to call, to name |
| 204 | natuurlijk | /naːˈtyrlək/ | adverb | of course |
| 205 | eerst | /eːrst/ | adverb | first, at first |
| 206 | zelfs | /zɛlfs/ | adverb | even |
| 207 | vriend | /vrint/ | noun · masculine | friend |
| 208 | film | /fɪlm/ | noun · masculine | film, movie |
| 209 | bekend | /bəˈkɛnt/ | adjective | known, familiar |
| 210 | proberen | /ˌproːˈbeː.rə(n)/ | verb | to try |
| 211 | paar | /paːr/ | noun · neuter | pair, couple, a few |
| 212 | achter | /ˈɑxtər/ | preposition | behind |
| 213 | nee | /neː/ | interjection | no |
| 214 | welk | /ʋɛlk/ | pronoun | which |
| 215 | hand | /ɦɑnt/ | noun · feminine | hand |
| 216 | meisje | /ˈmɛi̯.ʃə/ | noun · neuter | girl |
| 217 | maand | /maːnt/ | noun · feminine | month |
| 218 | halen | /ˈɦaːlə(n)/ | verb | to fetch, to get |
| 219 | zorgen | /ˈzɔrɣə(n)/ | verb | to ensure, to take care |
| 220 | helemaal | /ˈɦeː.ləˌmaːl/ | adverb | completely |
| 221 | voelen | /ˈvulə(n)/ | verb | to feel |
| 222 | geld | /ɣɛlt/ | noun · neuter | money |
| 223 | vooral | /voːˈrɑl/ | adverb | especially |
| 224 | website | /ˈʋɛp.sɑi̯t/ | noun · masculine | website |
| 225 | zaak | /zaːk/ | noun · feminine | matter, business |
| 226 | gebeuren | /ɣəˈbøːrə(n)/ | verb | to happen |
| 227 | groep | /ɣrup/ | noun · masculine | group |
| 228 | vertellen | /vərˈtɛlə(n)/ | verb | to tell |
| 229 | lijden | /ˈlɛi̯də(n)/ | verb | to suffer |
| 230 | rond | /rɔnt/ | adjective | round |
| 231 | ding | /dɪŋ/ | noun · neuter | thing |
| 232 | familie | /faːˈmi.li/ | noun · feminine | family, relatives |
| 233 | moment | /moːˈmɛnt/ | noun · neuter | moment |
| 234 | sinds | /sɪn(t)s/ | conjunction | since |
| 235 | zo'n | /ˈzoːn/ | article | such a |
| 236 | manier | /maːˈniːr/ | noun · feminine | way, manner |
| 237 | vrij | /vrɛi̯/ | adjective | free |
| 238 | zetten | /ˈzɛ.tə(n)/ | verb | to put, to set |
| 239 | boek | /buk/ | noun · neuter | book |
| 240 | bijna | /ˈbɛi̯.naː/ | adverb | almost |
| 241 | leren | /ˈleːrə(n)/ | verb | to learn, to teach |
| 242 | school | /sxoːl/ | noun · feminine | school |
| 243 | mogelijk | /ˈmoː.ɣə.lək/ | adjective | possible |
| 244 | naast | /naːst/ | preposition | next to, besides |
| 245 | auto | /ˈɑu̯.toː/ | noun · masculine | car |
| 246 | spreken | /ˈspreːkə(n)/ | verb | to speak |
| 247 | enig | /ˈeːnəx/ | adjective | any, some |
| 248 | verhaal | /vərˈɦaːl/ | noun · neuter | story |
| 249 | online | /ɔnˈlɑi̯n/ | adverb | online |
| 250 | soort | /soːrt/ | noun · neuter | sort, kind |
Words 251–5,000, with inflection tables, practice and the AI tutor, are in the app. Open Zipf →