Is Dutch a rare language?
Dutch is the third largest Germanic language after English and German, with a diaspora of 23 million native speakers stretching from Europe to South America, as well as an additional 4 million who speak it as a second language.
| Dutch | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Netherlands, Belgium |
| Region | Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, Indonesia; Additionally in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, French Flanders and South Africa (as Afrikaans) |
| Ethnicity | Dutch Flemings Indo |
| Native speakers | 25 million (2021) Total (L1 plus L2 speakers): 30 million (2021) |
dutch is the third most widely-spoken germanic language, after english and german. In terms of grammar and pronunciation, Dutch is sometimes said to be between English and German. Since Dutch is in the same family as English, it's an easy language to learn.
The UNESCO Atlas of endangered languages lists the language as vulnerable.
The difficulty of learning Dutch can vary depending on your native language and your previous experience with learning foreign languages. However, for most English speakers, Dutch is generally considered to be a moderately difficult language to learn.
3. How hard is it to learn? Dutch is probably the easiest language to learn for English speakers as it positions itself somewhere between German and English. For example, you may know that German has three articles: der, die and das, and English only one: the.
Dutch has even been described as a combination of the English and German languages! This makes it one of the easiest languages to learn for speakers of either language. That said, learning Dutch will take some time and effort, no matter what your native language is.
Officially, according to the number one dictionary in the Netherlands, Van Dale - which is also responsible for selecting the country's word of the year every December - the longest Dutch word is meervoudigepersoonlijkheidsstoornis (35 letters) which, when plural, becomes even longer: ...
Even if English is the official language in your workplace, you still benefit from learning Dutch. Learning Dutch becomes more important if you stay here for a longer period. Also, if you're searching for a job in the Netherlands, you will definitely increase your chances on the job market by learning Dutch.
Both Dutch and German have their challenges, but Dutch is generally considered easier to learn than German. However, your decision should ultimately be based on your goals and interests. Consider factors such as job opportunities, travel plans, and personal interests before choosing which language to learn.
What is the closest language to Dutch?
The most similar language to Dutch is Afrikaans. Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch and shares many similarities in terms of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Spoken only by 30 speakers, the Kunwinjku language of Australia is regarded as an “almost extinct” language. It is very similar to Iwaidja and is also related to languages in Malaysia.
So dive right in and practice your Dutch with confidence. For the same reasons Dutch is the closest language to English, German is also a close language, and another one that many English speakers may find easier to learn. Dutch is commonly mentioned as the language nestled between English and German.
As a native English speaker who knows Spanish and Dutch to an intermediate level, I can easily say Spanish was far easier for me. If you mean is it easier for an English or a Spanish speaker to learn Dutch, then I would say English.
The Foreign Language Institute recommends a total of 24-30 weeks or 600-750 hours of Dutch language learning to reach fluency. Tobian Language School personally recommends 20 – 30 lessons for A2 level with a minimum of 2 weekly lessons. And B2 learners? You'll need to strive for 40 – 50 lessons or up to 50 hours.
Mandarin Chinese
Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world. Mandarin Chinese is challenging for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the writing system is extremely difficult for English speakers (and anyone else) accustomed to the Latin alphabet.
Learn to speak Dutch in just three months with this practical and comprehensive self-study language course. Whether you're a complete beginner or wanting to refresh your knowledge, Hugo: Dutch in Three Months will have you speaking Dutch fluently in just 12 weeks.
You can definitely learn to speak great Dutch by yourself. However, if you've never done it before then you'll also be learning how to teach yourself at the same time! Get exposure to the language, listen, read about grammar, ask for feedback and practise as much as you can!
Dutch pronunciation isn't incredibly tricky though. Many natives are assured that their language is crazy hard to learn, but Dutch really is MUCH less complex than German, both in grammar and pronunciation.
For English-speakers with no background in either language, Dutch will be easier to learn than French. Because Dutch has Germanic roots, like English, it will come easier to English speakers. That said, if you have background in a romance language (like Spanish or Italian), French may actually be easier to learn.
Can I learn Dutch in 2 years?
But if you only have one hour per day available then it will take you 750 days (2 years) to reach a B2 level of Dutch. Similarly, if you just have 30 minutes a day using the FSI data and table, it should take you up to 1500 days (4 years and 1 month) to learn Dutch at the B2 level.
When learning Dutch, many people find the pronunciation and the use of gendered articles to be challenging. Dutch has a complex system of vowel sounds and consonant combinations that can be difficult for non-native speakers to master.
- achtentachtig "eighty-eight" Mijn opa is 88 jaar oud. ...
- afstandsbediening "remote control" ...
- angstschreeuw "cry of distress" ...
- duivenvoer "pigeon food" ...
- gevarendriehoek "warning triangle" ...
- goochelaar "magician" ...
- grafiek "graph" ...
- reünie "reunion"
The Fastest Ways to Learn to Speak Dutch. Immerse Yourself: Immersion is a potent technique for learning any language rapidly. Surround yourself with the Dutch language as much as possible. Watch Dutch TV shows, movies, and listen to Dutch music.
There are at least almost 400,000 words in the Dutch language. The Dictionary of the Dutch language (Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal) contains between 350,000 to 400,000 entries. These are words from between 1500 to 1921, which were registered in this dictionary.
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