Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| holandés | /olanˈdes/ | masculine |
| neerlandés | /neeɾlanˈdes/ | masculine |
Both words are used to refer to the Dutch language, people or things from the Netherlands.
Which one should you use?
holandés is the most common way to say Dutch, neerlandés is the more precise and formal term used to refer to the entire Netherlands rather than just the province of Holland.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term holandés is used to refer to the Dutch language, specifically in Spain and some Latin American countries.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing a feminine noun, such as la cultura, the adjective must change to the feminine form holandesa or neerlandesa. To refer to the Dutch people as a group, use the plural form holandeses or neerlandeses.
How do you pronounce it?
/olanˈdes/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Unlike English, adjectives for nationalities and names of languages like holandés are not capitalized in Spanish.
Did you know?
- The word neerlandés shares a distant linguistic relative with the English word 'land' through the Proto-Germanic root *landą.
- Depending on the region, a Spanish speaker might use neerlandés to be politically correct to avoid excluding the non-Holland provinces of the Netherlands.
Examples in context
- Guus Hiddink es holandés.Guus Hiddink is Dutch.This sentence is useful for describing someone's nationality using holandés.Tatoeba #479839 by Shishir, translation #476761 by Thanuir
- No sé holandés. Es difícil.I don't understand Dutch. It's difficult.This sentence is useful for expressing an inability to understand the language using holandés.Tatoeba #1426402 by marcelostockle, translation #890534 by Scott
- Mis padres no hablan holandés.My parents don't speak Dutch.This sentence is useful for stating that someone does not speak the language using holandés.Tatoeba #1479286 by marcelostockle, translation #1479287 by CN
- El idioma oficial de los Países Bajos es el neerlandésThe official language of the Netherlands is Dutch
- Los habitantes de los Países Bajos hablan holandésThe inhabitants of the Netherlands speak Dutch
- ¿Hablas holandés?Do you speak Dutch?
- Ella es holandesaShe is Dutch
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are discussing their language classes.
- DanielEstoy estudiando holandés este semestre.I am studying Dutch this semester.
- María¿Es muy difícil el holandés?Is Dutch very difficult?
- DanielSí, pero me gusta mucho.Yes, but I like it a lot.
- María¡Qué bien, Daniel!That's great, Daniel!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dutch” translations and entries holandés, neerlandés, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries holandés, neerlandés, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
