Vowel combinations consist of two or three different vowels that are pronounced more or less as one vowel. We treat the combination as one syllable (together with one or more consonants).
In Dutch, we have 16 vowel combinations. Some combinations perfectly merge into one new vowel, while the synthesis of other combinations is less perfect (see also Klankeninventaris van het Nederlands). The important thing for you to know is that they are all _fixed_ combinations.
You must learn the combination by heart: If two consecutive vowels are not a fixed vowel combination, the vowels constitute two different syllables (along with a couple of consonants).
The Dutch vowel combinations are:
aai
ae
ai
au | eeu(w)
ei
eu | ie
ieu(w)
ij | oe
ou
oi
ooi
oei | ui
Combinations that consist of two vowels
ae | This vowel combination occurs exclusively in old Dutch words. You will only find it in proper names, especially in Flanders:
It is pronounced the same way as 'aa' [a]
meneer Claessen (Mr. Claessen)
mevrouw Haenen (Mrs. Haenen)
ai | This is a rare vowel combination.
Pronounce like English _i_ in wine. [ai]
hai (hi)
mais (corn; also spelled as maïs).
au | Pronounce like the English _ou_ in house [au]
gauw (soon)
grauw (greyish)
lauw (lukewarm)
ei | This sound is a bit similar to the German _ei_ in reisen, but pronounced a bit 'flatter' [ɛi] or [æi]
ei (egg)
beleid (policy)
bereiden (to prepare)
geit (goat)
trein (train)
eu | Pronounce like French 'eu' in 'feu' or German _ö_ in Köln [ø]
leuk (nice, funny)
neus (nose)
heup (hip)
treuzelen (to be slow)
But: if it precedes the letter r, pronounce like the English or in word [œ]
geur (smell)
kleur (colour)
zeuren (to whine)
deur (door)
ie | Pronounce like _ee_ in the English keep [i]
lief (sweet, dear)
bier (beer)
hier (here)
genieten van (to enjoy)
ij\* | Same as _ei_ [ɛi] or [æi]
wijs (wise)
blij (happy, glad)
grijs (grey)
tijd (time)
oe | Pronounce like English _oo_ in choose [u]
voelen (to feel)
goed (good)
zoet (sweet)
voet (foot)
oi | A combination that you will seldom come across.
Pronounce like English _oy_ in toy. [ɔi]
hoi (hi)
ou | Same as _au_[au]
zout (salt)
vrouw (woman)
koud (cold)
nou (now)
stout (bad, naughty)
ui | This sound is something between ou and eu [ay]
zuid (south)
bruin (brown)
fluiten (to whistle)
buiten (outside)
(\*) Technically speaking, this is not a vowel combination, for it consists of a vowel (i) and a consonant (j). Read more about [the letter ij](#/lesson/SpellingAndPronunciation.03).
Combinations that consist of three vowels
There are a few vowel combinations that take three vowels, but again, are pronounced more or less as one:
Ooi, aai, and oei
The letter _i_ at the end is pronounced like English _y_ in _yes._
aai | [ai]
draai-en (to turn)
aai-en (to stroke)
maai-en (to mow)
oei | [ui]
groei-en (to grow)
roei-en (to row)
ver-moeid (tired)
ooi | [oi]
gooi-en (to throw)
mooi (beautiful)
ver-strooid (forgetful)
Ieu(w) and eeu(w)
These combinations are always followed by the consonant w.
_Ieuw_ is pronounced as English _ee_ followed by an English _w_ and _eeuw_ as English _ay_ followed by _w_.
eeu | [eːw]
leeu-wen (lions)
geeu-wen (to yawn)
ieu | [iːw]
ver-nieu-wen (to renew)
kieu-wen (gills of a fish)
Claessen, Haenen hai, mais gauw, grauw, lauw ei, beleid, bereiden, geit, trein leuk, neus, heup, treuzelen geur, kleur, zeuren, deur lief, bier, hier, genieten wijs, blij, grijs, tijd voelen, goed, zoet, voet hoi zout, vrouw, koud, nou, stout zuid, bruin, fluiten, buiten draaien, aaien, maaien groeien, roeien, vermoeid gooien, mooi, verstrooid leeuwen, geeuwen vernieuwen, kieuwen