Five Brothers and a War

The Dutch Language—Vowel Combos

DUTCH

SOUND

COMMENT

moo or slew loud or now

oe

au

ea

ray-apple

This combination retains its two-vowel, two-syllable sound.

eu

err

As in, “to err is human” if pronounced properly, not as in “air”.

ai, aai

I

The sound is very similar to the English “I”, which had a “y” sound at the end. Pronounced oo-y, where a “y” is added at the end of the double “o”.

buoy

oei, oi, ooi

out

Prounounced exactly as in some English words, like “mouth”.

ou

ui

but-w

Use a longer version of the “u” in the English “but” then add the “w” sound.

holland

Koeieuier strings together seven vowels, with consonants only beginning and ending the word for “cow’s udder”, although the seeming impossibility of that word caused it to be changed, by inserting an “n” in the middle, to make it koeienuier.

Five Brothers and a War

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