Gender of Dutch nouns (male / female / neuter)
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The difference between the gender of the nouns has disappeared over the years in the Dutch language. Masculine and feminine nouns are now both 'de' and 'het' is still the article of a neuter noun. However, there are no exact rules that can help determine when to use which article.
The article 'de' can be used for female and male nouns. It is not really important to know if a noun is female or male. The article 'het' is used for neutral nouns. You can find the gender of the nouns in the dictionary.
There are obvious genders of nouns, because it is already in the meaning:
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To make Dutch masculine nouns female, a suffix is added to the nouns:
Masculine | Feminine | Example | Translation |
---|---|---|---|
De Deen (the Danish man) | De Deense (the Danish woman) | De Deense woont in Amsterdam. | The Danish woman lives in Amsterdam. |
De zanger (the singer) | De zangeres (the female singer) | De zangeres kan goed zingen. | The female singer can sing very well. |
De leeuw (the lion) | De leeuwin (the lioness) | De leeuwin is boos. | The lioness is angry. |
De speler (the player) | De speelster (the female player) | De speelster speelt goed. | The female player plays well. |
As explained above there are no rules. There are some guidelines to remember:
When? | Example | Translation |
---|---|---|
All diminutives |
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|
The infinitives used as a noun |
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All nouns ending in '-aat' (that do not refer to a person), '-um', '-isme' |
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Most nouns that begin with the prefix 'be-', 'ver-', 'ge-', but do not end in '-ing' |
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|
All nouns that say 'the good thing is ...', 'the bad thing is ...' |
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|
There are a few tips for the 'de-nouns' to be able to remember when to use them:
When? | Examples | Translation |
---|---|---|
All plural nouns |
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|
Obvious feminine or masculine nouns |
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|
Nouns that end in '-ing' |
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Nouns that end in '-tie', '-thie', '-sie' |
|
|
Nouns that end in '-or' |
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|
Persons (except het kind) |
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Nouns that end in '-aar' |
|
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Nouns that end in '-eur' |
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|
Words ending in '-er' |
|
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Nouns that are obviously female |
|
|
Train your skills with the exercises below!
Choose 'de' (female/male) or 'het' (neuter).
wind (the wind)
meisje (the girl)
muis (the mouse)
huis (the house)
prins (the prince)
man (the man)
glas (the glass)
koningin (the queen)
konijn (the rabbit)
gordijn (the curtain)
vrouw (the woman)
zee (the sea)
jongen (the boy)
park (the parc)
bril (the glasses)
Change the masculine nouns to feminine nouns. Some only have a change in ending, for some the word almost completely changes.
De prins (the prince) - de prins (the princess)
De koning (the king) - de koning (the queen)
De leeuw (the lion) - de leeuw (the lioness)
De speler (the player) - de (the female player)
De zanger (the singer) - de zanger (the female singer)
De chauffeur (the driver) - de (the female driver)
De leraar (the teacher) - de (the female teacher)
De steward (the flight attendant) - de steward (the female flight attendant)
De aanbidder (the worshiper) - de aanbid (the female worshiper)
De bewaker (the guard) - de (the female guard)
Choose 'de' (female/male) or 'het' (neuter).
wind (the wind)
meisje (the girl)
muis (the mouse)
huis (the house)
prins (the prince)
man (the man)
glas (the glass)
koningin (the queen)
konijn (the rabbit)
gordijn (the curtain)
vrouw (the woman)
zee (the sea)
jongen (the boy)
park (the parc)
bril (the glasses)
Change the masculine nouns to feminine nouns. Some only have a change in ending, for some the word almost completely changes.
De prins (the prince) - de prins (the princess)
De koning (the king) - de koning (the queen)
De leeuw (the lion) - de leeuw (the lioness)
De speler (the player) - de (the female player)
De zanger (the singer) - de zanger (the female singer)
De chauffeur (the driver) - de (the female driver)
De leraar (the teacher) - de (the female teacher)
De steward (the flight attendant) - de steward (the female flight attendant)
De aanbidder (the worshiper) - de aanbid (the female worshiper)
De bewaker (the guard) - de (the female guard)
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Hello! My name is Lee Moffat. I am a fully qualified English teacher from Edinburgh, Scotland. I have over eighteen years teaching experience with levels ranging from complete beginners to proficiency level advanced (A1 and lower - C2 and higher). I offer either one to one online tuition or group tuition in the following areas:
Conversation skills
Pronunciation skills
IELTS preparation and TOEFL preparation
Proficiency
Grammar
Fluency
Reading
Writing/study/professional
Business English
General English
These are the main areas i have taught in however if you need more specific skills we can discuss your needs in our free first class! Asides from teaching I work as an artist, writer and supporting actor on various film and television shows. My students describe me as helpful, informative, knowledgeable and fun to learn from. My approach to teaching is to be as helpful and informative as possible taking into account each students individual needs. If you would like more information please contact me and we can arrange a suitable date and time to have a free half hour trial class were we can discuss things further.
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I love working with Ian. He takes the time to tailor the lessons to my needs. Ian is also friendly, funny, down to earth and he makes learning fun! I highly recommend his tutoring services.
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Hi!
My name is Natalia and I am a teacher of Spanish as a foreign language. I was born in Uruguay and I’m currently living in Spain.
I have a degree in International Relations and I have been developing my career as a teacher.
My classes are designed following a natural and communicative, action-oriented approach. In each class you will be able to participate, think, give your opinion and thus you will develop step by step all the necessary skills to learn and master the language.
One-on-one Spanish lessons with me include:
- Authentic materials adapted to your needs and interests.
- Exercises and activities that will keep you motivated.
- Feedback and tips to progress.
If you…
- would love to travel through Latin America or Spain
- need to improve your pronunciation in Spanish, your fluency, your comprehension
- would like to invest in your professional career and you know that speaking Spanish is essential
- need Spanish to do business.
- or just want to learn this language because you like it
Book a free trial lesson with me and start learning this beautiful language!
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Natalia is a lovely and passionate teacher who clearly adores teaching and sharing her taste for languages to her pupils. She knows how to tailor them to her students, helping them to reach their goals. She adapts the subjects and themes to their tastes and is always available for help. I truly recommend her to anyone who wants to learn Spanish in a fun, informative way!
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Hello
My name is Anco Peeters,. I am born in The Netherlands and a native speaker of the Dutch language..
I started my career as a schoolteacher and as a gymnastic instructor.
Later I started working in the ICT sector. Now I am a freelance instructor and consultant who teaches mainly networking and telephony.
I am also an NLP Practitioner
My hobbies are: Yoga, traveling, fitness, walking, meeting people
I would love to teach the Dutch language in an informal way with the accent on learning to speak the language. Grammar is also important. We can talk about any topic. I would like to help you making progress and have a lot of experience in creating an individual plan for every student based on your needs
Would love to see you for a trial lesson
Kind regards
Anco
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Anco is a punctual, intelligent, dedicated, responsive and compassionate language instructor but also an amazing person to talk and work with. He prepares the class with material that meet your needs. He takes the extra mile to have material that suit your learning style. If you don't mind dutch explanations of the dutch grammar, then this is a perfect teacher that I recommend wholeheartedly!
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What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
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Hi!
My name is Mariëlle, and I am 27 years old. I am originally from the Netherlands, but starting in 2025, I will be living in the Dutch Caribbean.
I hold a bachelor's degree in International Primary School Education and a master's degree in NT2 (Dutch as a Second Language). I have five years of experience teaching in Dutch and International Primary Schools, as well as eight years of experience tutoring Dutch as a Second Language to learners of all ages.
My availability is subject to change, so if you would like to know my accurate availability, please send me a message.
We can start off with a free trial class in which we will get to know each other and where we can talk about what you want to learn. After our trial class we could start right away and I can help you achieve your language learning goals.
I am really looking forward to helping you learn a new language or helping you improve your language skills!
I hope to see you soon,
Mariëlle
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Hello
My name is Anco Peeters,. I am born in The Netherlands and a native speaker of the Dutch language..
I started my career as a schoolteacher and as a gymnastic instructor.
Later I started working in the ICT sector. Now I am a freelance instructor and consultant who teaches mainly networking and telephony.
I am also an NLP Practitioner
My hobbies are: Yoga, traveling, fitness, walking, meeting people
I would love to teach the Dutch language in an informal way with the accent on learning to speak the language. Grammar is also important. We can talk about any topic. I would like to help you making progress and have a lot of experience in creating an individual plan for every student based on your needs
Would love to see you for a trial lesson
Kind regards
Anco
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Anco is a very charismatic, positive and encouraging teacher. His lessons are extremely interesting. He is very professional, good prepared and providing with interesting materials from many sources. During the conversation he catches immediately what else should be improved. The lessons are dynamic and very productive. I would definitely recommend Anco.
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What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
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Do you want to improve your Dutch for work and daily life in the Netherlands? I help young expats enhance their Dutch skills, so you can speak and write with more confidence. Not because you have to, but because you want to! My lessons are practical and focused on what you truly need, whether you’re a beginner or already at a higher level.
What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
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I am loving the experience and I feel like I am making a lot of progress. The lessons are tailor made to suit my preferences and our interactions are very fluid and natural. 10/10
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My name is Job and Dutch is my native language.
I can help you with all the basics of speaking, reading and writing. I can also help you pass exams that require dutch, like your inburgeringscursus (NT2a or CNAVT). I can teach students from A1 up to B2 level. Also, I passed for my TEFL for the English language, so there will be no problem with explaining the Dutch language.
Discipline is the key to effective learning. I'm extremely organized, well-prepared for each of my lessons and I will never miss a single class. I have tons of study materials, which I hand out to my students after the class and customize lesson plans with.
Each learning objective is met by the end of the lesson. Grammar and a sufficient range of vocabulary are impossible to overlook, and I value it in my approach.
Dutch grammar can be tricky for non-native speakers. I go over concepts repeatedly until my students get the hang of it.
Why choose me as your tutor? I am:
--> Students passed for their exams with help of my lessons.
--> Organised; always prepared for every lesson.
--> Patient: we can continue as long as we need.
--> Friendly
--> Enthusiastic
--> Like meeting new people from the rest of the world.
My Methodology
My classes are normally up to one hour. It's possible to have longer lessons If you prefer this.
So far I have done over 1000+ lessons and gathered sufficient information that is useful in order to pass your exams or to get familiar with the language.
My materials comprise of speaking, writing, grammar, reading and listening. During our lessons we shall cover all of these aspects.
Here's a normal lesson plan with me if you're a beginner:
- Vocabulary (5 min): discussing new learned verbs.
- Pronounciation (10 min): reading a short story and building on vocabulary and articulation.
- Writing (15 min): Q and A sessions where I write your answers down and further discuss sentence structures and mistakes.
- Speaking (20 min): eloquently answering questions which are commonly asked in the exams.
-Listening (10 min): listening to an audio of a short story and answering questions.
The lesson plan varies according to your level of Dutch. Naturally, more advanced speakers focus on speaking and writing.
I always make sure I'm prepared before our lesson starts, so we can start right away and make the most of your time.
If you wish to have a well-organized and disciplined tutor who can help you achieve your goals and express yourself authentically - you can count on me!
I will make sure you're on track and every minute of your learning experience is valuable. Dutch is a pretty straight-forward language, and so am I - do ask me anything you'd like to know!
If you wish to have a well-organized and disciplined tutor who can help you achieve your goals and express yourself authentically - you can count on me!
I will make sure you're on track and every minute of your learning experience is valuable. Dutch is a pretty straight-forward language, and so am I - do ask me anything you'd like to know!
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Thanks to Job I feel more confident with the Dutch language. He has a lot of different materials to practice grammar, reading, speaking and writing. so far i did 20 lessons with Job and I will definitly continue. I recommend job as a tutor to everyone who wants to know the basics of language or need to prepare for exams.
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Very nice and friendly teacher! Always open to additional questions and eager to help with learning new things.
Christine V.
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Thank you Valentina, I'm glad you liked the lessons and good luck! Sincerely, Christine van Muiswinkel
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Hi! I live in Germany since 2014, I live in the Frankfurt am Main area. I teach German to refugees since the beginning of 2017 and I have been teaching Dutch at several language schools, at peoples homes and in-house at several companies. I passed the C1-level Test for German at the Goethe Institut.
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I look forward to meeting you online!
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Marlijn was perfectly on time however we could not agree on a set time which I thought we had. she processed refund instantly, but suggest to agree on a time first before paying.
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Hello! My name is Lee Moffat. I am a fully qualified English teacher from Edinburgh, Scotland. I have over eighteen years teaching experience with levels ranging from complete beginners to proficiency level advanced (A1 and lower - C2 and higher). I offer either one to one online tuition or group tuition in the following areas:
Conversation skills
Pronunciation skills
IELTS preparation and TOEFL preparation
Proficiency
Grammar
Fluency
Reading
Writing/study/professional
Business English
General English
These are the main areas i have taught in however if you need more specific skills we can discuss your needs in our free first class! Asides from teaching I work as an artist, writer and supporting actor on various film and television shows. My students describe me as helpful, informative, knowledgeable and fun to learn from. My approach to teaching is to be as helpful and informative as possible taking into account each students individual needs. If you would like more information please contact me and we can arrange a suitable date and time to have a free half hour trial class were we can discuss things further.
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I love working with Ian. He takes the time to tailor the lessons to my needs. Ian is also friendly, funny, down to earth and he makes learning fun! I highly recommend his tutoring services.
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Hi!
My name is Natalia and I am a teacher of Spanish as a foreign language. I was born in Uruguay and I’m currently living in Spain.
I have a degree in International Relations and I have been developing my career as a teacher.
My classes are designed following a natural and communicative, action-oriented approach. In each class you will be able to participate, think, give your opinion and thus you will develop step by step all the necessary skills to learn and master the language.
One-on-one Spanish lessons with me include:
- Authentic materials adapted to your needs and interests.
- Exercises and activities that will keep you motivated.
- Feedback and tips to progress.
If you…
- would love to travel through Latin America or Spain
- need to improve your pronunciation in Spanish, your fluency, your comprehension
- would like to invest in your professional career and you know that speaking Spanish is essential
- need Spanish to do business.
- or just want to learn this language because you like it
Book a free trial lesson with me and start learning this beautiful language!
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Natalia is a lovely and passionate teacher who clearly adores teaching and sharing her taste for languages to her pupils. She knows how to tailor them to her students, helping them to reach their goals. She adapts the subjects and themes to their tastes and is always available for help. I truly recommend her to anyone who wants to learn Spanish in a fun, informative way!
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Hello
My name is Anco Peeters,. I am born in The Netherlands and a native speaker of the Dutch language..
I started my career as a schoolteacher and as a gymnastic instructor.
Later I started working in the ICT sector. Now I am a freelance instructor and consultant who teaches mainly networking and telephony.
I am also an NLP Practitioner
My hobbies are: Yoga, traveling, fitness, walking, meeting people
I would love to teach the Dutch language in an informal way with the accent on learning to speak the language. Grammar is also important. We can talk about any topic. I would like to help you making progress and have a lot of experience in creating an individual plan for every student based on your needs
Would love to see you for a trial lesson
Kind regards
Anco
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Anco is a punctual, intelligent, dedicated, responsive and compassionate language instructor but also an amazing person to talk and work with. He prepares the class with material that meet your needs. He takes the extra mile to have material that suit your learning style. If you don't mind dutch explanations of the dutch grammar, then this is a perfect teacher that I recommend wholeheartedly!
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Hello! My name is Emilia and I am an experienced language tutor and translator from/to Bulgarian, Spanish, English and Dutch. My biggest passion are foreign languages and I have passed this passion to many of my students throughout the years. Despite the fact I have a Master's degree in Economics and International Business and I've worked few years as an economist, my heart always takes me back to my teaching and translation jobs. With more than 15 years of teaching experience, a great level of patience and dedication to my work, and a great number of happy students, I am here to help you learn Bulgarian, Spanish and Dutch at your own pace and convenience. Hope to hear from you soon! Best regards, Emilia
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My daughter really loves her lessons with Emilia and feels more and more confident in the Dutch language. I would definitely recommend Emilia if you need to learn Dutch.
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