Dutch to English Translator
Free AI translation from Dutch to English, built to carry grammar and register across, not just words.
What changes when you translate Dutch to English
Translating Dutch into English changes more than the words. English has very little inflection and instead relies heavily on word order and helper verbs, with a huge vocabulary drawn from both Germanic and Romance roots. English requires an explicit subject in nearly every sentence and marks questions with word order, so translations into English often need pronouns and auxiliaries that the source language leaves out. A word-for-word tool gets the vocabulary right and these things wrong, which is why the translator above reads the whole sentence before it writes anything.
Dutch and English: key differences
Dutch and English diverge on word order, grammatical gender, and formality. Each row below is a place where swapping words one for one produces the wrong English sentence.
| Feature | Dutch | English |
|---|---|---|
| Typical word order | verb-second, with verb-final subordinate clauses | subject–verb–object |
| Grammatical gender | two genders (common, neuter) | no grammatical gender |
| Formality | informal and formal second person | no formal/informal distinction |
Dutch to English example sentences
Full sentences translated from Dutch to English:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Kunt u mij de agenda vóór de vergadering sturen? | Would you please send me the agenda before the meeting? Professional email · formal — Formal u combines here with the contemporary second-person verb form kunt · Netherlands Standard Dutch |
| Als ik thuiskom, bel ik je meteen. | When I get home, I'll call you right away. Message to a friend · informal — The subordinate clause places its finite verb last, and the following main clause has subject-verb inversion · Netherlands Standard Dutch |
| Leg de blauwe map op het tafeltje bij het raam. | Put the blue folder on the small table by the window. Practical instruction · informal — Liggen and leggen distinguish position from placement; the diminutive tafeltje is grammatically neuter · Netherlands Standard Dutch |
| We wachten al een uur buiten. | We have been waiting outside for an hour. Complaint about a delay · neutral — Dutch uses the present tense with al for an activity continuing from the past · Netherlands Standard Dutch |
| Hij zei dat hij niet bij de vergadering aanwezig kon zijn. | He said that he could not attend the meeting. Reporting a colleague's absence · neutral — The dat-clause sends the verb group to the end instead of copying English word order · Netherlands Standard Dutch |
| Stuur me even een berichtje als de trein aankomt. | Send me a quick message when the train arrives. Casual travel coordination · informal — Even softens the request, berichtje is a natural diminutive, and aankomen separates only in a main clause · Netherlands Standard Dutch |
| Dat voorstel is voorlopig uitgesloten. | That proposal is out of the question for now. Project decision · neutral — Uitgesloten is the idiomatic rejection; a literal translation involving a question would be unnatural · Netherlands Standard Dutch |
Common Dutch to English phrases
Everyday expressions translated from Dutch to English:
| Dutch (Nederlands) | English |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Welterusten | Good night |
| Dank je wel | Thank you |
| Alsjeblieft | Please |
| Hoe gaat het? | How are you? |
| Hoe heet je? | What is your name? |
| Ik hou van je | I love you |
| Pardon | Excuse me |
| Waar is het toilet? | Where is the bathroom? |
| Tot ziens | Goodbye |
About the English language
English (English) is spoken by about 1.5 billion people across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and as the world's lingua franca. It belongs to the Germanic (Indo-European) language family and is written in the Latin alphabet.
- Native name
- English
- Speakers
- 1.5 billion
- Language family
- Germanic (Indo-European)
- Writing system
- the Latin alphabet
- Word order
- subject–verb–object
Dutch to English translation tips
- Dutch uses verb-second, with verb-final subordinate clauses word order, while English is subject–verb–object, so the AI restructures whole sentences instead of substituting words one by one.
- Use jij/je for familiar singular address and u for polite or formal address. The reduced forms je, we and ze are also normal in ordinary written Dutch when they are unstressed.
- Main clauses normally place the finite verb in second position. Subordinate clauses usually move the finite verb or verb group toward the end, which makes copied English order conspicuous.
- Every singular common noun selects de or het, and all diminutives take het. Learn the article with the noun because English the does not preserve this distinction.
- This bundle uses Standard Dutch as used in the Netherlands. Standard usage in Belgium and Suriname includes accepted regional vocabulary and preferences not covered here.
Dutch false friends to watch for
- eventueel looks like “eventual” but means possible / if necessary.
- slim looks like “slim” but means clever.
Dutch to English translation FAQ
How accurate is AI Dutch to English translation?
The translator uses a modern AI language model that understands context, so Dutch to English results read more naturally than word-for-word tools. For legal, medical, or other high-stakes text, have a fluent speaker review the output.
What is Hallo in English?
Hallo is how you say hello in Dutch. The common-phrases table on this page shows more Dutch expressions with their English meanings.
Should a Dutch translation address the reader as je or u?
Choose from the relationship and setting: je is familiar, while u is polite or formal. Keep the possessives and verb forms consistent with that choice.
Why do the verbs move in Dutch subordinate clauses?
Dutch subordinate clauses generally place the finite verb or verb group near the end. Review clauses introduced by words such as dat, omdat and als rather than preserving English order.
Sources
- Taaladvies.net: subordinate clauses
- Taaladvies.net: u is or u bent
- Taaladvies.net: full and reduced personal pronouns
- Dutch Language Union: Standard Dutch and geographic variation
- Algemene Nederlandse Spraakkunst: diminutives
- Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal: contemporary Dutch dictionary
The language facts and grammar notes on this page are checked against these references.