Dutch for Americans
PHONETICS

Chapter 9: Stress and Rhythm

Learning Objectives

  • Identify stress patterns in Dutch words
  • Understand the difference between stressed and unstressed syllables
  • Apply appropriate rhythm to Dutch sentences

9.1 What is Word Stress?

Stress refers to the emphasis placed on a syllable within a word. The stressed syllable is:

  • Louder
  • Longer
  • Higher in pitch

9.2 Basic Stress Patterns in Dutch

Native Dutch Words: Most native Dutch words have stress on the first syllable (root):

  • VROgen /ˈvroːɣən/ - to ask
  • WAter /ˈwaːtər/ - water
  • APpel /ˈɑpəl/ - apple
  • TAFel /ˈtaːfəl/ - table

Exceptions - Prefixes: Unstressed prefixes: be-, ge-, er-, her-, ont-, ver-

  • beGINnen /bəˈɣɪnən/ - to begin
  • verSTAAN /vərˈstaːn/ - to understand
  • geZELlig /ɣəˈzɛləx/ - cozy
  • ontMOeten /ɔntˈmutən/ - to meet

9.3 Stress in Loanwords

Loanwords often keep their original stress patterns:

French Loans (stress often on final syllable):

  • stuDENT /styˈdɛnt/ - student
  • restauRANT /rɛstoˈrɑnt/ - restaurant

English Loans:

  • COMputer /kəmˈpjutər/ - computer
  • INternet /ˈɪntərnɛt/ - internet

9.4 Compound Word Stress

In compound words, the first element typically receives primary stress:

  • HUISdier /ˈhœysdiːr/ - pet (house + animal)
  • SCHOOLkind /ˈsxoːlkɪnt/ - schoolchild
  • AUTOweg /ˈʌutoːʋɛx/ - highway

9.5 Stress and Vowel Reduction

Unstressed syllables often have reduced vowels:

  • de /də/ - the
  • het /hət/ or /ət/ - the (neuter)
  • een /ən/ - a/an

In words:

  • lopen /ˈloːpən/ - the -en is reduced to /ən/
  • water /ˈʋaːtər/ - the -er is reduced to /ər/

9.6 Sentence Rhythm

Dutch has a stress-timed rhythm, similar to English. This means:

  • Stressed syllables occur at roughly regular intervals
  • Unstressed syllables are compressed between stressed ones

Practice Sentence: Ik GA naar de STAD om BOODschappen te DOen. (I’m going to the city to do shopping.)

The capitalized syllables receive stress and occur at regular intervals.

9.7 Contrastive Stress

Stress can shift for emphasis:

  • Ik heb het BOEK gelezen. (I read THE BOOK - not something else)
  • IK heb het boek gelezen. (I read the book - not someone else)

Practice Exercises

  1. Stress Identification: Mark the stressed syllable:

    • beginnen → beGINnen
    • telefoon → teleFOON
    • bibliotheek → biblioTHEEK

  2. Prefix Practice:

    • verstaan, begrijpen, ontmoeten, geloven

  3. Rhythm Practice: Read aloud, keeping stressed syllables evenly spaced: Hij WERKT in een GRO-te FA-briek in AM-ster-DAM.