Niederländisch
/ˈniːdɐˌlɛndɪʃ/neuter
In German, the English phrase "dutch" (referring to the language) is translated as Niederländisch. Wiktionary also lists Holländisch.
Meaning: the Dutch language (name)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Niederländisch | /ˈniːdɐˌlɛndɪʃ/ | neuter |
| Holländisch | /ˈhɔlɛndɪʃ/ | neuter |
Both Niederländisch and Holländisch are used to name the Dutch language. While Niederländisch is the standard term, Holländisch is a common colloquial term.
Which one should you use?
Niederländisch is the standard term for the Dutch language. Holländisch is a common colloquial term for the language, although it technically refers only to the dialect of Holland.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an adjective (e.g., 'the Dutch language'), the words niederländisch and holländisch are written in lowercase.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈniːdɐˌlɛndɪʃ/
Did you know?
- Because Holland is a specific part of the Netherlands, calling the language Holländisch is like calling English 'Londonish'.
- The word Niederländisch literally translates to 'low-landish', reflecting the country's low-lying geography.
- The term Niederländisch is shared with other Germanic languages, such as the English word 'Netherlandish', though the latter is now rare.
Examples in context
- Ich bringe ihm Holländisch bei.I'm teaching him Dutch.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of Holländisch.Tatoeba #13399249 by Waldelfe, translation #9321352 by megamanenm
- Niederländisch hat fünf Plosive.Dutch has five plosives.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of Niederländisch.Tatoeba #13013587 by Vortarulo, translation #11554050 by megamanenm
- Dein Holländisch ist schrecklich.Your Dutch is terrible.Tatoeba #7961848 by wolfgangth, translation #7957671 by deniko
- Ich lerne Niederländisch.I am learning Dutch.
- Mein Vater spricht Holländisch.My father speaks Dutch.
- 77 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are discussing their language learning goals.
- MaximilianWelche Sprache lernst du gerade, Sarah?Which language are you learning right now, Sarah?
- SarahIch lerne seit zwei Monaten Niederländisch.I have been learning Dutch for two months.
- MaximilianIst Niederländisch schwierig zu lernen?Is Dutch difficult to learn?
- SarahEs ist einfacher als ich dachte.It is easier than I thought.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dutch” translations and entries Niederländisch, Holländisch, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
