[A Dutch flag on the edge of a puddle of water]
colors, materials
[A plate of fava beans, with bacon and potatoes]
meals
[a handful of Brussels sprouts]
food
[small saucepan: lidded pot with a stick handle]
kitchen
[Me riding a bicycle]
bicycles
[Cows in a meadow]
animals
[a variety of items]
more
[The Face of Dutch]

Dutch Vocabulary: Personal Pronouns

Verbs - NEW: Word Order (Sentences)
Everyday Dutch Words - Useful Words and Phrases for Travelers
Learning Dutch? (Lessons - Suggested Method)

Personal Pronouns

Please note that the Dutch word for you in the singular (jij, je) is different from you in the plural (jullie.) Dutch also frequently uses the polite form of you: 'U,' to older people or other people deserving respect; it should also be used when addressing people in a subservient position, like sales clerks or hotel and restaurant staff. This 'U' is rarely used in the plural.
English
Nominative
Subject
(Nominative)
Possessive
(Genitive)
Object
(Accusative)
Reflexive

"I am" "my dog" "remember me" "be yourself"
I ik mijn
m'n
*[me]*
mij
me
*[mijn]*
mezelf
me
hear
you (singular) jij
je
jouw
je
jou
je
jezelf
je
hear
he hij
(-ie)
zijn
z'n
hem
('m)
zichzelf
zich
hear
she zij
ze
haar
(d'r)
haar
(d'r, 'r)
zichzelf
zich
hear - take 2
it (see note) het
't
- - - hear
we wij
we
onze, ons ons onszelf
ons
hear
you (plural) jullie jullie jullie jezelf
je
hear
they zij
ze
*[hun]*
hun hen
ze
(hun)
zichzelf
zich
hear - take 2
you (formal) U Uw U zichzelf
zich
hear

The dative form of 'ze' is 'hun' "Give it to them."
'Jou' and 'jouw' are pronounced exactly the same, both end in a Dutch W sound; but 'U' and 'Uw' should not sound the same, there is NO Dutch W sound in 'U.'
(...) - acceptable variation
*[...]* - heavy slang
'het' (it) is not used as much as in English; only for the abstract, like
"'t Is mooi weer" -hear- (it's nice weather) or
"Het is tien uur," -hear- (It's ten o'clock.)
"It is said that ..." is best said in Dutch as "Men zegt dat ..." - hear
(Dutch 'men' is an occasional 'they'.)

Second Person Singular: 'Je'

Next to 'Je' Dutchmen use "Jij' and 'Jou(w)' for singular 'you' - I would recommend you use 'je' because it's easier, you can use it in all positions:
je woont in Hongkong - you live in HK (je = subject)
gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag - congratulations with your birthday (je = possessive)
je zoontje lacht - your little boy is laughing (je = possessive)
ik stuur je een email - I'll send you an email (je = dative)
ik stuurde een pakje aan je - I sent a package to you (je = dative)
heb je het pakje gekregen? - did you get the package? (je = subject)
ik feliciteer je - I congratulate you (je = object)

For Dutchmen, 'je' is not completely interchangeable with 'jij' and 'jou(w)', but it's an almost inexplainable fine point. Maybe only in the stressed vocative (address) you can't use 'je':
Hé, jij daar! - Hey, you there!

Reflexive Verbs

The reflexive verb always takes the reflexive pronoun (to defend oneself, I defend myself). The reflexive verb is more common in Dutch than in English.
More Dutch Verbs
zich herinnerento remember zich verdedigento defend oneself
ik herinner me
jij herinnert je
hij herinnert zich
zij herinnert zich
wij herinneren ons
jullie herinneren je
zij herinneren zich
U herinnert zich
hear
(I remember)
(you remember)
(he remembers)
(she remembers)
(we remember)
(you remember)
(they remember)
(you remember)

ik verdedig me
jij verdedigt je
hij verdedigt zich
zij verdedigt zich
wij verdedigen ons
jullie verdedigen je
zij verdedigen zich
U verdedigt zich
hear
(I defend myself)
(you defend yourself)
(he defends himself)
(she defends herself)
(we defend ourselves)
(you defend yourselves)
(they defend themselves)
(you defend yourself)
zich vergissento be mistaken zich vervelento be bored
ik vergis me
jij vergist je
hij vergist zich
zij vergist zich
wij vergissen ons
jullie vergissen je
zij vergissen zich
U vergist zich
hear
(I am mistaken)
(you are mistaken)
(he is mistaken)
(she is mistaken)
(we are mistaken)
(you are mistaken)
(they are mistaken)
(you are mistaken)

ik verveel me
jij verveelt je
hij verveelt zich
zij verveelt zich
wij vervelen ons
jullie vervelen je
zij vervelen zich
U verveelt zich
hear
(I am bored)
(you are bored)
(he is bored)
(she is bored)
(we are bored)
(you are bored)
(they are bored)
(you are bored)
Verveel je je?
hear

Verveelt U zich?
hear
Are you bored? (informal)


Are you bored? (polite)
zichzelf ziento see oneself
ik zie mezelf
jij ziet jezelf
hij ziet zichzelf
zij ziet zichzelf
wij zien onszelf
jullie zien jezelf
zij zien zichzelf
U ziet Uzelf /
U ziet zichzelf
hear
(I see myself)
(you see yourself)
(he sees himself)
(she sees herself)
(we see ourselves)
(you see yourselves)
(they see themselves)
(you see yourself)

[2 books]
media
[glasses, watch, etc.]
necessities
[a fleece jacket]
clothing
[clothespins]
laundry, cleaning
[a house]
the house
[a mirror]
beauty
[a 50s radio]
days of old

Marco Schuffelen - email
copyright © 1999-2006 Marco Schuffelen - All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't be a dief (thief) - dievegge (female thief) - diefstal (theft) - stelen (to steal) - heler (dealer in stolen goods) - hear Dutch - 2