Useful sentences
Shopping at the market, the bakery, or the supermarket — and doing simple maths in Dutch.
Counting
The numbers 1–100, and how bigger numbers are built.
1–10
| 1 | een |
| 2 | twee |
| 3 | drie |
| 4 | vier |
| 5 | vijf |
| 6 | zes |
| 7 | zeven |
| 8 | acht |
| 9 | negen |
| 10 | tien |
11–19
| 11 | elf |
| 12 | twaalf |
| 13 | dertien |
| 14 | veertien |
| 15 | vijftien |
| 16 | zestien |
| 17 | zeventien |
| 18 | achttien |
| 19 | negentien |
20–100 (tens)
| 20 | twintig |
| 30 | dertig |
| 40 | veertig |
| 50 | vijftig |
| 60 | zestig |
| 70 | zeventig |
| 80 | tachtig |
| 90 | negentig |
| 100 | honderd |
Building bigger numbers
Compound numbers are written as one word, smaller unit first: een-en-twintig (21, lit. "one-and-twenty"), acht-en-twintig (28), negen-en-zeventig (79). Hundreds stack the same way: honderd-een (101), honderd-twaalf (112), driehonderd-vijf-en-zestig (365).
Grammar
Plurals, basic word order, question formation, and the informal pronoun shortcuts you'll actually hear.
a. Singular and plural nouns
Most plural nouns are formed by adding -s or -en.2
-en is used when the noun has just one syllable (fiets → fietsen), and also when it has more syllables with the stress on the last one (to-MAAT → to-MA-ten). If the last syllable is not stressed, -s is used instead (TA-fel → TA-fels).3
The article for every plural is always de: het huis → de huizen.
| 1 appel | 1 apple | 2 appels | 2 apples |
| 1 fiets | 1 bike | 6 fietsen | 6 bikes |
| 1 peer | 1 pear | 5 peren | 5 pears |
2. Dutch has only singular and plural — no dual form, unlike some languages.
3. More on -s vs -en: dutchgrammar.com
b. Word order and questions
A simple Dutch sentence follows Subject – Verb – Rest (SVR).
In a question, the subject and verb swap places: Verb – Subject – Rest (VSR), with a question mark at the end.
What / when / who / how / why — and any noun that belongs with them — come right at the start of the sentence.
| De appel kost 1 euro. | The apple is 1 euro. |
| Kost de appel 1 euro? | Is the apple 1 euro? |
| Wat kost de appel? | How much does the apple cost? |
| Ik ben 24 jaar oud. | I am 24 years old. |
| Ben jij 20 jaar? | Are you 20 years? |
| Hoe oud ben jij? | How old are you? |
c. Conjugation in questions
Questions mirror the positive form — with one exception: jij drops its -t.
| Positive | Question |
|---|---|
| Ik betaal | betaal ik |
| Jij betaalt | betaal jij |
| U betaalt | betaalt u |
| Hij/zij betaalt | betaalt hij/zij |
| Wij betalen | betalen wij |
| Jullie betalen | betalen jullie |
| Zij betalen | betalen zij |
d. Informal pronouns
In everyday spoken Dutch, several pronouns shrink:
| Official | Informal |
|---|---|
| ik | 'k (spoken only) |
| jij | je |
| hij | -ie (after the verb, spoken only) |
| zij (sing.) | ze |
| wij | we |
| jullie | je |
| zij (plur.) | ze |
Exercises
Practice your numbers, then fill in the blanks and translate.
1Say these numbers out loud
In the original workbook these are hidden in a number-search grid that spells out a picture when you colour them in — on paper, grab a pen and a friend. Here, just read each one aloud before checking chapter 2's number list above.
2Fill in the missing words
- 01Ik … graag … kilo appels. (want; 1)
- 02… ik … bananen? (may; 4)
- 03Hoe duur … de druiven? (be)
- 04Dat is dan …. (5,70)
- 05Met … cent is … en met … maakt …. (30; 6 / 4; 10 — paying with a €10 note)
- 06Meng 1 … met 2 … en 12 …. (banana; orange; strawberry)
3Translate
- 01Does he like grapes?
- 02Are the apples €2 for the kilo?
- 03Does this sweater cost €30?
- 04Does he read the book?
- 05Are those shoes expensive?
4Your turn
Write ten sentences using the words you know from this chapter — use both singular and plural nouns.
Word list
Shops, groceries, and the basics you'll need at the market.