Chapter 2: The Dutch Vowel System - Short Vowels

Learning Objectives

• Produce the six Dutch short vowels accurately
• Distinguish short vowels from their long counterparts
• Use minimal pairs to train your ear

2.1 Overview of Dutch Short Vowels

Dutch has six short vowels:

IPA	Dutch Spelling	Example	English Approximation
/ɑ/	a	man (man)	Between “cat” and “cot”
/ɛ/	e	bed (bed)	Like “bed”
/ɪ/	i	pit (pit)	Like “pit”
/ɔ/	o	bot (bone)	Like British “cot”
/ʏ/	u	put (well)	No English equivalent
/ə/	e (unstressed)	de (the)	Like “a” in “sofa”

2.2 The Short /ɑ/ Sound

Articulation:

• Open your mouth wide
• Keep your tongue low and slightly back
• Lips are neutral (not rounded)

Practice Words:

• man /mɑn/ - man
• kan /kɑn/ - can
• pak /pɑk/ - suit/package
• kat /kɑt/ - cat
• zak /zɑk/ - bag

Common Error: Americans often use the /æ/ sound from “cat.” Dutch /ɑ/ is more open and back.

2.3 The Short /ɛ/ Sound

Articulation:

• Mid-front vowel
• Tongue is in the front of the mouth, at mid height
• Lips slightly spread

Practice Words:

• bed /bɛt/ - bed
• nek /nɛk/ - neck
• pet /pɛt/ - cap
• met /mɛt/ - with
• les /lɛs/ - lesson

2.4 The Short /ɪ/ Sound

Articulation:

• High-front vowel
• Similar to English “bit”
• Tongue high and forward

Practice Words:

• pit /pɪt/ - pit
• dit /dɪt/ - this
• ik /ɪk/ - I
• blik /blɪk/ - glance/tin
• stik /stɪk/ - choke

2.5 The Short /ɔ/ Sound

Articulation:

• Low-mid back vowel
• Lips slightly rounded
• Tongue back and low-mid

Practice Words:

• bot /bɔt/ - bone
• pot /pɔt/ - pot
• hok /hɔk/ - coop
• rok /rɔk/ - skirt
• bos /bɔs/ - forest

Common Error: Americans may add a glide, making it sound like “bought.” Keep it short and pure.

2.6 The Short /ʏ/ Sound (Challenging!)

Articulation:

• This sound doesn’t exist in English
• Round your lips (like for “oo”)
• But position your tongue as if saying “ih”
• It’s a rounded front vowel

Practice Words:

• put /pʏt/ - well
• bus /bʏs/ - bus
• kut /kʏt/ - vulgar word (be aware!)
• stuk /stʏk/ - piece
• rug /rʏx/ - back

Tip: Say “ee” but round your lips tightly. The sound should change to /ʏ/.

2.7 The Schwa /ə/

Articulation:

• Central, neutral vowel
• Completely relaxed mouth
• Occurs in unstressed syllables

Practice Words:

• de /də/ - the
• ge- prefix in gelopen /xəˈloːpən/ - walked
• -en ending in lopen /ˈloːpən/ - to walk

Practice Exercises

1. Minimal Pairs - Short Vowels:

   • man /mɑn/ vs. men /mɛn/
   • pit /pɪt/ vs. pet /pɛt/
   • bot /bɔt/ vs. but /bʏt/ (doesn’t exist, but practice the contrast)

2. Listening Discrimination: Have a native speaker (or audio resource) say pairs of words. Identify which vowel you hear.

3. Production Practice: Record yourself saying each practice word. Compare to native audio.