1,000 most common Dutch words
Welcome to our compilation of the 1,001 most common Dutch words. These words are sorted by frequency, from the most commonly occurring to the least.
We used diverse data sources representing real-world usage across various contexts, to ensure an accurate representation of the most commonly used words in modern Dutch.
Tip: If you're looking for a (physical) Dutch dictionary, please see our list of top books for learning Dutch.
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Data sources
- Dutch Lexicon Project at the University of Ghent
- Digital Corpus of the European Parliament
- OpenSubtitles corpus (P. Lison and J. Tiedemann, 2016)
The list
Each Dutch word in the list is accompanied by its English translation. We have been meticulous in our translations, which are reviewed (by humans!) to ensure correctness, but please let us know if you spot any errors or issues! Please note the list is dynamic – we update it twice per year on average (which is quite an undertaking for 1,000 words) although the majority of updates are simply reordering existing entries based on changes in frequency.
The list was last updated on 2 December 2024, to reflect new words and correct a number of minor issues (duplicate entries). Usage of some words was further clarified.
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| Dutch word | English translation |
|---|---|
| ik | I |
| je | you |
| het | the |
| de | the |
| is | is |
| dat | that / this |
| een | a / one |
| niet | not |
| en | and |
| wat | what |
| van | of |
| we | we |
| in | in |
| ze | they / she |
| op | on / in |
| te | to / too |
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| hij | he |
| zijn | his / is (also 'to be') |
| er | there |
| maar | but |
| me | me |
| die | that / this |
| heb | have |
| voor | for |
| met | with |
| als | as / if |
| ben | am |
| was | was |
| mijn | my |
| u | you (formal) |
| dit | this |
| aan | on / to |
| om | to / for / at / around (highly context-dependent) |
| hier | here |
| naar | to |
| dan | then / than (depends on whether it's temporal or comparative) |
| jij | you (emphasis) |
| zo | so |
| weet | know |
| ja | yes |
| kan | can |
| geen | no |
| nog | yet / still |
| wel | well / surely (used for emphasis or positive contrast) |
| wil | want |
| moet | must |
| goed | good |
| hem | him |
| hebben | have |
| nee | no |
| heeft | has |
| waar | where / true |
| nu | now |
| hoe | how |
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| ga | go |
| kom | come |
| uit | out / from |
| gaan | go |
| bent | are |
| haar | her / its / hair |
| doen | to do |
| ook | also |
| mij | me |
| over | about |
| of | or |
| daar | over there / because |
| zou | would |
| al | all / already / though |
| jullie | you (plural; like "y'all") |
| zal | shall / will |
| bij | at / in / to / with / by |
| ons | us / our |
| gaat | goes |
| hebt | have |
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| meer | more |
| waarom | why |
| iets | something |
| deze | these |
| laat | late |
| had | had |
| doe | do |
| moeten | must |
| wie | who |
| jou | you (object form) |
| alles | everything |
| denk | think |
| kunnen | can |
| eens | once |
| echt | really |
| weg | away / road (context determines meaning) |
| door | through / by |
| man | man |
| toch | yet / though |
| zien | see |
| oké | okay |
| alleen | only |
| nou | well / now |
| dus | so |
| nooit | never |
| terug | back |
| laten | let |
| mee | with / along |
| even | just / even |
| hou | hold / love (context-dependent) |
| komt | comes |
| niets | nothing |
| zei | said |
| misschien | maybe |
| kijk | look |
| iemand | someone |
| komen | come |
| tot | to / until / up to (context-dependent) |
| veel | much / many |
| worden | become |
| onze | our |
| mensen | people |
| zeg | say |
| leven | life / live |
| zeggen | to say |
| weer | again / weather |
| gewoon | just / simply |
| nodig | necessary |
| wij | we |
| twee | two |
| tijd | time |
| tegen | against / to |
| uw | your (formal/polite) |
| toen | then / when |
| zit | sit / is located |
| net | just / barely (common) / network (technical context) |
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| weten | to know |
| heel | very / whole |
| maken | to make |
| wordt | becomes |
| dood | dead / death |
| mag | may |
| altijd | always |
| af | off / done |
| wacht | wait |
| geef | give |
| dag | day |
| omdat | because |
| zeker | sure / certain |
| zie | see |
| allemaal | all |
| gedaan | done |
| oh | oh |
| dank | thanks |
| huis | house |
| hé | hey |
| zij | they / she (depends on sentence context and verb conjugation) |
| jaar | year |
| vader | father |
| doet | does |
| zoals | like / such as |
| jouw | your |
| vrouw | woman / wife |
| geld | money |
| hun | their / them |
| mr | mister (formal title) |
| god | god |
| kunt | can |
| keer | time (occurrence) |
| dacht | thought |
| erg | very / bad |
| willen | want |
| anders | otherwise / different |
| zitten | sit / are located |
| iedereen | everyone |
| één | one |
| andere | other |
| zullen | shall / will |
| niks | nothing |
| niemand | nobody |
| wilt | want (formal or emphasized) |
| bedankt | thanks |
| binnen | inside / within |
| beter | better |
| spijt | regret |
| maak | make (I make / imperative form) |
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| hallo | hello |
| neem | take (I take / imperative form) |
| vind | find (I find) |
| staat | stands / state (context-dependent) |
| werk | work / job |
| zich | himself / herself / itself |
| moeder | mother |
| gezien | seen |
| waren | were |
| wilde | wanted |
| praten | to talk |
| hele | whole / entire |
| genoeg | enough |
| meneer | mister / sir |
| bedoel | mean (I mean) |
| klaar | ready / done |
| vinden | to find |
| kon | could |
| mooi | beautiful / nice |
| leuk | fun / nice |
| luister | listen (I listen / imperative form) |
| ziet | sees |
| toe | to / towards |
| na | after |
| sorry | sorry |
| elkaar | each other |
| blijf | stay (I stay / imperative form) |
| uur | hour |
| zegt | says |
| vast | firm / stuck / probably (context-dependent) |
| drie | three |
| alsjeblieft | please / here you go |
| alle | all |
| natuurlijk | naturally / of course |
| maakt | makes |
| gek | crazy |
| helpen | to help |
| verdomme | damn (informal, vulgar) |
| grote | big / large |
| lang | long / tall |
| wist | knew |
| dingen | things |
| helemaal | completely |
| graag | with pleasure / gladly |
| eerste | first |
| krijgen | to get |
| blijven | to stay |
| werd | became |
| zonder | without |
| houden | to hold / to keep |
| naam | name |
| vriend | friend |
| kijken | to look |
| beetje | bit / little |
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| jongen | boy |
| steeds | still / continuously |
| auto | car |
| goede | good |
| snel | fast |
| geven | to give |
| geweest | been |
| achter | behind |
| ooit | ever |
| wanneer | when |
| kinderen | children |
| onder | under |
| bang | afraid |
| ging | went |
| hand | hand |
| vertellen | to tell |
| eten | to eat |
| jongens | boys / guys |
| hoor | hear / listen (context-dependent) |
| kwam | came |
| idee | idea |
| paar | few / couple |
| zag | saw |
| moest | had to |
| wereld | world |
| zorgen | to care / worries (context-dependent) |
| deed | did |
| gebeurd | happened |
| nieuwe | new |
| vraag | question / request |
| morgen | tomorrow |
| staan | to stand |
| vragen | to ask |
| laatste | last |
| lijkt | seems |
| geweldig | amazing |
| want | because |
| vandaag | today |
| zelf | self |
| kun | can (informal singular) |
| nemen | to take |
| beste | best |
| heen | to / towards |
| ie | he (informal/slang) |
| zelfs | even |
| meisje | girl |
| ken | know (I know) |
| stop | stop |
| rustig | calm |
| enige | only |
| buiten | outside |
| thuis | home |
| gezegd | said |
| kleine | small |
| geloof | faith / belief |
| eerst | first |
| mannen | men |
| hadden | had |
| samen | together |
| vertel | tell (imperative) |
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| denken | to think |
| halen | to get / to fetch |
| hen | them |
| eigen | own |
| hoop | hope |
| zoon | son |
| krijg | get (I get / imperative) |
| denkt | thinks |
| open | open |
| probleem | problem |
| elke | each / every |
| zouden | would |
| horen | to hear |
| pak | suit / pack / grab (context-dependent) |
| geleden | ago |
| orde | order |
| wou | wanted (informal) |
| bijna | almost |
| gelijk | equal / immediately (context-dependent) |
| vrienden | friends |
| kant | side |
| houdt | holds / loves (context-dependent) |
| begrijp | understand (I understand) |
| politie | police |
| gebeurt | happens |
| eigenlijk | actually / really |
| soms | sometimes |
| wachten | to wait |
| kind | child |
| hoofd | head |
| vanavond | tonight |
| precies | exactly / precisely |
| geeft | gives |
| alsof | as if |
| ding | thing |
| voel | feel (I feel) |
| gevonden | found |
| probeer | try (I try) |
| zet | put / set |
| verder | further |
| help | help (imperative) |
| heet | is called / hot (context-dependent) |
| dagen | days |
| familie | family |
| haal | fetch / take |
| pas | just / only / pass (context-dependent) |
| werken | to work |
| volgende | next |
| krijgt | gets |
| gehad | had |
| 't | (informal abbreviation of "het") |
| eruit | out of it |
| gehoord | heard |
| zat | sat / was (context-dependent) |
| bel | call (imperative) |
| hè | huh / isn’t it? (informal interjection) |
| oude | old |
| vermoord | murdered |
| vijf | five |
| schiet | shoot |
| plaats | place |
| manier | way / manner |
| stad | city |
| gemaakt | made |
| hoeveel | how much / how many |
| ogen | eyes |
| best | best |
| zoek | look for / search (I search) |
| vroeg | early / asked (context-dependent) |
| word | become (I become) |
| jezelf | yourself |
| daarom | therefore / that’s why |
| spelen | to play |
| geloven | to believe |
| minuten | minutes |
| slecht | bad |
| school | school |
| pijn | pain |
| vindt | finds |
| moment | moment |
| blij | happy |
| welke | which |
| kamer | room |
| water | water |
| kans | chance |
| schat | darling / treasure |
| dollar | dollar |
| land | country / land |
| vier | four |
| werkt | works |
| deur | door |
| brengen | to bring |
| broer | brother |
| breng | bring (imperative / I bring) |
| mooie | beautiful |
| zoeken | to search |
| lekker | tasty / nice |
| later | later |
| wees | be (imperative) / orphan (context-dependent) |
| juist | correct |
| vooruit | forward |
| klootzak | bastard (vulgar) |
| volgens | according to |
| alstublieft | please (formal) |
| groot | big |
| ligt | lies (location) / depends (context-dependent) |
| boven | above |
| ergens | somewhere |
| spreken | to speak |
| blijft | stays |
| papa | dad |
| prima | fine / excellent |
| handen | hands |
| sta | stand (I stand / imperative) |
| tussen | between |
| praat | talks / talk (imperative) |
| vond | found |
| verteld | told |
| soort | type / kind |
| zoveel | so much |
| week | week |
| proberen | to try |
| problemen | problems |
| hulp | help |
| echte | real |
| kent | knows |
| vrouwen | women |
| vergeten | to forget |
| plan | plan |
| mevrouw | madam |
| dokter | doctor |
| pakken | to grab / to take |
| beginnen | to begin |
| nacht | night |
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| kop | head / cup (context-dependent) |
| betekent | means |
| klopt | correct / knocks (context-dependent) |
| bed | bed |
| stoppen | to stop |
| hoi | hi |
| lopen | to walk |
| klein | small |
| mama | mom |
| gebruiken | to use |
| doden | to kill |
| vrij | free |
| liefde | love |
| zult | shall / will |
| zorg | care |
| zaak | case / business |
| los | loose |
| bellen | to call |
| ervan | of it / from it |
| mis | miss / wrong |
| hart | heart |
| beneden | downstairs |
| verhaal | story |
| wakker | awake |
| sir | (formal address) |
| voordat | before |
| voorbij | past |
| leren | to learn |
| vol | full |
| tien | ten |
| slapen | to sleep |
| druk | busy / pressure |
| zodat | so that |
| neer | down |
| nummer | number |
| hoeft | need (negative contexts) |
| 'n | (abbreviation for "een") |
| dochter | daughter |
| jezus | Jesus |
| foto | photo |
| vergeet | forget |
| dicht | close |
| gelukkig | happy / fortunately |
| snap | understand (I understand) |
| zoiets | something like that |
| gekomen | come |
| baby | baby |
| gebeuren | to happen |
| ok | okay |
| moeilijk | difficult |
| meteen | immediately |
| gezicht | face |
| dr | Dr. (abbreviation for doctor) |
| stel | set / couple (context-dependent) |
| sinds | since |
| zes | six |
| begin | begin / start |
| plek | place |
| drinken | to drink |
| hey | hey |
| vermoorden | to murder |
| zaken | business / matters |
| begrepen | understood |
| ver | far |
| hetzelfde | the same |
| ander | other |
| bezig | busy / occupied |
| liggen | to lie (down) |
| per | per |
| oud | old |
| gaf | gave |
| eraan | on it / to it |
| eerder | earlier |
| baas | boss |
| agent | officer |
| oorlog | war |
| mond | mouth |
| waarschijnlijk | probably |
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| film | film / movie |
| rust | rest |
| zeer | very / sore |
| vallen | to fall |
| sterven | to die |
| hond | dog |
| mogen | may / to be allowed |
| waarheid | truth |
| rond | around |
| geluk | luck / happiness |
| heren | gentlemen |
| jaren | years |
| vent | guy |
| hoorde | heard |
| terwijl | while |
| mam | mom |
| avond | evening |
| nieuws | news |
| aardig | kind / nice |
| maanden | months |
| welkom | welcome |
| veilig | safe |
| schatje | sweetheart |
| fijn | fine |
| mogelijk | possible |
| stuk | piece |
| redden | to save |
| rest | rest |
| hoort | hears / belongs |
| hé | huh / hey |
| bloed | blood |
| vriendin | girlfriend / female friend |
| stil | quiet |
| langs | along |
| eerlijk | honest |
| recht | right / law |
| vandaan | from |
| ermee | with it |
| betalen | to pay |
| voelt | feels |
| kennen | to know (someone) |
| kerel | guy / bloke |
| schuld | debt / fault |
| buurt | neighborhood |
| fout | mistake |
| reden | reason |
| ouders | parents |
| overal | everywhere |
| belangrijk | important |
| hard | hard / loud |
| kapitein | captain |
| telefoon | telephone |
| kreeg | got |
| duidelijk | clear |
| pa | dad |
| mezelf | myself |
| woord | word |
| straks | later |
| boek | book |
| prachtig | gorgeous |
| heer | gentleman |
| klinkt | sounds |
| erop | on it |
| anderen | others |
| liet | let |
| vanaf | from |
| vaak | often |
| baan | job |
| zin | sentence / desire |
| eentje | one |
| generaal | general |
| spullen | stuff |
| zwarte | black |
| pistool | gun |
| toekomst | future |
| bank | bank |
| degene | the one |
| goedemorgen | good morning |
| langer | longer |
| slechts | only |
| informatie | information |
| schrijven | to write |
| ieder | each |
| verliefd | in love |
| veranderd | changed |
| probeerde | tried |
| tenminste | at least |
| slaan | to hit |
| luisteren | to listen |
| vliegtuig | airplane |
| kwamen | came |
| begrijpt | understands |
| makkelijk | easy |
| boos | angry |
| boot | boat |
| geest | spirit / ghost |
| gingen | went |
| ter | to the / on the |
| ongeluk | accident |
| trouwens | by the way |
| succes | success |
| vliegen | to fly |
| lange | long |
| maand | month |
| vraagt | asks |
| gebeurde | happened |
| kijkt | looks |
| meester | master |
| koud | cold |
| onderzoek | research / investigation |
| kleren | clothes |
| lul | jerk (slang) |
| stom | stupid |
| spreek | to speak |
| feest | party |
| jawel | yes (emphatic) |
| weinig | few / little |
| liefje | darling |
| schip | ship |
| behalve | except |
| vreselijk | terrible |
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| bal | ball |
| hotel | hotel |
| controle | control / inspection |
| genomen | taken |
| wonen | to live |
| honger | hunger |
| sterk | strong |
| juiste | correct |
| zak | bag / pocket |
| volgen | to follow |
| geheim | secret |
| probeert | tries |
| ene | one |
| contact | contact |
| verkopen | to sell |
| show | show |
| hoef | need (negative contexts) |
| gedood | killed |
| welk | which |
| iedere | every |
| meter | meter |
| zolang | as long as |
| sturen | to send |
| rot | rotten |
| begonnen | started |
| woont | lives |
| absoluut | absolutely |
| beschermen | to protect |
| bestaat | exists |
| dienst | service |
| moe | tired |
| rug | back |
| geboren | born |
| naast | next to |
| afgelopen | past / last |
| wegwezen | get out |
| bewijs | evidence |
| lachen | to laugh |
| jong | young |
| jonge | young (emphatic) |
| lijken | to seem |
| erover | about it |
| gered | saved |
| wilden | wanted |
| voorstellen | to introduce / to propose |
| reis | journey |
| advocaat | lawyer |
| afspraak | appointment |
| raak | hit |
| verkeerde | wrong |
| schelen | to matter |
| gevaarlijk | dangerous |
| rij | row |
| voelde | felt |
| gestolen | stolen |
| kolonel | colonel |
| maat | mate / measure |
| volg | follow |
| gedacht | thought |
| dame | lady |
| dragen | to carry / to wear |
| prijs | price |
| lukt | succeeds |
| kont | butt |
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| geleerd | learned |
| betaald | paid |
| speelt | plays |
| hel | hell |
| trekken | to pull |
| geraakt | touched |
| mocht | was allowed |
| stem | voice / vote |
| missen | to miss |
| jammer | pity |
| seks | sex |
| ma | mom |
| bekend | known |
| doel | goal |
| amerikaans | American |
| camera | camera |
| leuke | fun / nice |
| helpt | helps |
| regels | rules |
| gevaar | danger |
| sla | lettuce / hit |
| erger | worse |
| red | save |
| raar | weird |
| derde | third |
| raken | to hit |
| arme | poor |
| zweer | swear |
| vertrouw | trust |
| seconden | seconds |
| totdat | until |
| rennen | to run |
| paard | horse |
| tafel | table |
| geweldige | amazing |
| sneller | faster |
| steek | stab |
| moesten | had to |
| wagen | car |
| grapje | joke |
| groep | group |
| kaart | map / card |
| moordenaar | murderer |
| wedstrijd | match |
| via | via |
| gefeliciteerd | congratulations |
| gaten | holes |
| macht | power |
| dom | dumb |
| nadat | after |
| leek | seemed |
| raad | advice / council |
| band | band |
| tuurlijk | of course |
| zover | so far |
| arm | arm |
| ruimte | space |
| gebracht | brought |
| meeste | most |
| dromen | dreams |
| zodra | as soon as |
| zwaar | heavy |
| kerk | church |
| schuldig | guilty |
| rijk | rich |
| ziel | soul |
| geprobeerd | tried |
| oog | eye |
| vlucht | flight |
| vanuit | from |
| vorige | previous |
| allen | all |
| uh | uh |
| herinneren | to remember |
| vooral | especially |
| meiden | girls |
| eind | end |
| oma | grandma |
| viel | fell |
| zuster | sister |
| gelooft | believes |
| wet | law |
| kapot | broken |
| gooi | to throw |
| haast | rush |
| gedachten | thoughts |
| negen | nine |
| bewijzen | to prove |
| eer | honor |
| brief | letter |
| dronken | drunk |
| drugs | drugs |
| teken | sign |
| duurt | lasts |
| sleutel | key |
| onmogelijk | impossible |
| zee | sea |
| ouwe | old |
| namen | names |
| regel | rule |
| lijn | line |
| kost | costs |
| zon | sun |