Chapter 4: Dutch Diphthongs
Learning Objectives
- Produce the three main Dutch diphthongs
- Understand how Dutch diphthongs differ from English diphthongs
- Practice common words with diphthongs
4.1 What is a Diphthong?
A diphthong is a vowel sound that glides from one position to another within the same syllable. Unlike the pure long vowels in Chapter 3, diphthongs intentionally move.
4.2 Overview of Dutch Diphthongs
| IPA | Dutch Spelling | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| /ɛi/ | ij, ei | wijn, trein | Like “ay” in “say” but starting lower |
| /œy/ | ui | huis | Unique to Dutch |
| /ʌu/ | ou, au | koud, blauw | Similar to “ow” in “now” |
4.3 The /ɛi/ Diphthong (ij/ei)
Articulation:
- Start with /ɛ/ (like “bed”)
- Glide toward /i/ (like “ee”)
- The two spellings ij and ei are pronounced identically
Practice Words:
- wijn /ʋɛin/ - wine
- trein /trɛin/ - train
- ijs /ɛis/ - ice
- tijd /tɛit/ - time
- bij /bɛi/ - bee/at
- ei /ɛi/ - egg
Note: The Dutch ij is sometimes considered a single letter and is capitalized together (IJ) at the start of proper nouns.
4.4 The /œy/ Diphthong (ui) - Most Challenging!
Articulation:
- Start with /œ/ (rounded “eh”)
- Glide toward /y/ (rounded “ee”)
- Both parts are rounded - this is unique to Dutch
Step-by-Step:
- Round your lips
- Say something between “uh” and “eh” → /œ/
- Keep lips rounded and glide to /y/ (rounded “ee”)
Practice Words:
- huis /hœys/ - house
- muis /mœys/ - mouse
- tuin /tœyn/ - garden
- uit /œyt/ - out
- lui /lœy/ - lazy
- fruit /frœyt/ - fruit
Common Error: Americans often say “ow-ee” or “oo-ee.” Remember: lips stay rounded throughout, and it’s front vowels, not back.
4.5 The /ʌu/ Diphthong (ou/au)
Articulation:
- Start with /ʌ/ (like “uh” in “cut”)
- Glide toward /u/ (like “oo”)
- Similar to “ow” in American “now” but may start slightly more central
Practice Words:
- koud /kʌut/ - cold
- oud /ʌut/ - old
- blauw /blʌu/ - blue
- vrouw /vrʌu/ - woman
- goud /ɣʌut/ - gold
- auto /ˈʌutoː/ - car
4.6 Diphthongs in Context
Common Words with Multiple Diphthongs:
- rijbewijs /ˈrɛibəʋɛis/ - driver’s license (two /ɛi/ sounds)
- ui words often appear in daily vocabulary
Practice Exercises
-
Minimal Pairs with Diphthongs:
- mijn /mɛin/ (my) vs. maan /maːn/ (moon)
- huis /hœys/ (house) vs. haas /haːs/ (hare)
- koud /kʌut/ (cold) vs. code /ˈkoːdə/ (code)
-
Tongue Twister: In het huisje van het muisje (In the little house of the little mouse) Practice the /œy/ diphthong repeatedly.
-
Diphthong Identification: Listen to native speakers and identify which diphthong is used.