Pronunciation in Dutch is a bitch but here are some tips to get through the hardest of them all, the “r” sounds. I suggest you first have a beer or eight.
1. The “g” is not a sexy spot. “G” in Dutch has the same sound as a sick person trying to clear his “phlegmish” throat (the Flemish language is a variation of Dutch, get it? haha, ok, maybe not…). In fact my “g” became much better when I got a cold.
2. The “r” rolls off your tongue like when pronounced in “grrrr.”
3. “Ch” is a dry “r” sound. You’ll have to try it yourself: run really fast till you’re out of breath with a fish bone stuck in your throat then pronounce “house.”
4. The H also comes out as a dry “r” but more like when you’ve just put a hot potato in your mouth and you’re trying to get some of the steam out by blowing air from your throat and above the hot potato. Listen to both H and R: haring.
Here’s an audio sample of a popular word that uses the first three “r” sounds: gracht, which means “canal” and which will get you quizzical looks when you’re visiting Amsterdam and trying to find your way around the UNESCO Heritage Site Canal Ring. Try pronouncing the names of the main canals: Prinsengracht, Herengracht and Keizersgracht.
Have another beer.
Haha cool!
You just need to practice harder, Ana!
When learning to speak Welsh, they say that having half a pint of phlegm in one’s throat helps one to pronounce the long Welsh place names.
Try this one out sometime:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
It’s a theory that works pretty well for speaking Dutch too…! ;)
You’re kidding me! I think you’re just making up words man :)