In Dutch, an _e_ in a weak syllable (one you don't say louder) is usually a quick, relaxed "uh", close to the a in English "about" or the u in "but", so _de_ sounds like "duh". The endings _-ig_ and _-lijk_ shrink to the same sound: _aardig_ (nice) sounds like "AAR-duch" and _eigenlijk_ (actually) like "EI-gun-luk". Many people also drop the n of _-en_, so _lopen_ (to walk) often sounds like "LO-puh".
The pattern
An _e_ in a syllable without stress is usually a quick "uh". The unstressed endings _-ig_ and _-lijk_ use the same "uh", even though they are spelled with _i_ and _ij_.
- Small words: _de_, _je_, _me_ and _te_ sound like "duh", "yuh", "muh" and "tuh". _Het_ sounds like "ut", and _een_ (a) like "un".
- Weak beginnings and endings: the _e_ in _bedankt_, _gezellig_, _morgen_ and _grote_.
- _-en_: many speakers drop the n, so _lopen_ sounds like "LO-puh". In writing, the n always stays.
- _-ig_ sounds like "uch", with the rough Dutch _ch_ ([The Dutch g and ch](#/lesson/g-and-ch)): _aardig_, _gezellig_, _twintig_.
- _-lijk_ sounds like "luk": _eigenlijk_, _natuurlijk_, _moeilijk_.
Examples
| De trein naar Utrecht is laat. | The train to Utrecht is late. |
|---|---|
| Hoe heet je? | What's your name? |
| Priya, kun je me helpen? | Priya, can you help me? |
| Daan en Fatima wonen in Leiden. | Daan and Fatima live in Leiden. |
| Mijn buurman Ahmed is heel aardig. | My neighbour Ahmed is very nice. |
| Bij Sanne is het altijd gezellig. | It's always cosy at Sanne's. |
| Het is vandaag twintig graden. | It's twenty degrees today. |
| Ik ben eigenlijk moe. | Actually, I'm tired. |
| Nederlands is soms moeilijk. | Dutch is sometimes difficult. |
| Ja, natuurlijk! | Yes, of course! |
Why it works this way
Dutch words with more than one syllable usually have one main stressed syllable, the strong beat. Many unstressed syllables, most of all those spelled with _e_, relax into a quick "uh", called the schwa. It is one of the most frequent sounds in Dutch. English does something similar: in "banana", only the middle a is a full a. Not every unstressed vowel relaxes, though: the o at the end of _auto_ stays a clear o. [Word stress](#/lesson/word-stress) shows where the strong beat falls.
So why not write "uh"? Because spelling shows how a word is built. _Eigenlijk_ is _eigen_ (own) plus _-lijk_, and the _-en_ of _lopen_ is the same ending you write in _wij werken_. A fixed spelling lets readers spot those parts, however fast people talk.
The "uh" belongs to weak syllables: unstressed endings, weak prefixes such as _be-_ and _ge-_, and small words such as _de_ and _je_. When _lijk_ itself is stressed, as in _gelijk_ (equal, right), you hear the full _ij_ of _wijn_. Dropping the n of _-en_ is normal relaxed speech in much of the Netherlands, even on radio and TV. Some speakers keep it, and that is fine too.
If you speak German, don't say _-ig_ and _-lijk_ like the clear "ich" and "lich" of German "fertig" and "eigentlich". Spanish speakers often give every e a clear "eh"; here, let it go soft.
Remember: say it lazy, write it in full. A weak _e_, _-ig_ and _-lijk_ are a small "uh" in your mouth and a fixed spelling on paper.
Watch out
- Not: _Wij lope naar huis._ Say: _Wij lopen naar huis._ (drop the n in speech if you like, never in writing)
- Not: _Mijn buurvrouw is aardug._ Say: _Mijn buurvrouw is aardig._ (you hear "uch", you write _-ig_)
- Not: _Dat is moeiluk._ Say: _Dat is moeilijk._ (you hear "luk", you write _-lijk_)
- Not: _Ik heb eigelijk geen tijd._ Say: _Ik heb eigenlijk geen tijd._ (fast speech swallows that n, yet the word is _eigen_ plus _-lijk_)
Quick check
- Fix the sentence: _Daan en Mei fietse naar het station._
- Fill in the ending that sounds like "luk": _Ja, natuur...!_
- Fix the spelling: _Ik betaal twintug euro._
- Choose: in _Hoe heet je?_, the _e_ of _je_ sounds like (a) the ay in English "day" or (b) the a in English "about".
Answers
- _Daan en Mei fietsen naar het station._ (in writing, _-en_ keeps its n)
- _natuurlijk_ (the "luk" ending is spelled _-lijk_)
- _twintig_ (the "uch" ending is spelled _-ig_)
- (b) (a weak _e_ is a relaxed "uh")
Use it today
At the next birthday or _borrel_ (drinks), tell the host _Het is heel gezellig!_ with a small "uch" at the end. On your bike ride home, say _Ja, natuurlijk!_ and _Ik ben eigenlijk moe._ out loud, keeping every ending lazy.