English to Dutch Translator

Free AI translation from English to Dutch, built to carry grammar and register across, not just words.

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What changes when you translate English to Dutch

Translating English into Dutch changes more than the words. Dutch distinguishes de and het nouns, keeps the verb in second position in main clauses but at the end of subordinate clauses, and is closely related to both German and English. Dutch word order shifts between main and subordinate clauses, and the de/het article choice is unpredictable, so grammatical context drives the translation. 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.

English and Dutch: key differences

English and Dutch diverge on word order, grammatical gender, and formality. Each row below is a place where swapping words one for one produces the wrong Dutch sentence.

Feature	English	Dutch
Typical word order	subject–verb–object	verb-second, with verb-final subordinate clauses
Grammatical gender	no grammatical gender	two genders (common, neuter)
Formality	no formal/informal distinction	informal and formal second person (je / u)

English to Dutch example sentences

Full sentences translated from English to Dutch:

English	Dutch
Would you please send me the agenda before the meeting?	Kunt u mij de agenda vóór de vergadering sturen? Professional email · formal — Formal u combines here with the contemporary second-person verb form kunt · Netherlands Standard Dutch
When I get home, I'll call you right away.	Als ik thuiskom, bel ik je meteen. 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
Put the blue folder on the small table by the window.	Leg de blauwe map op het tafeltje bij het raam. Practical instruction · informal — Liggen and leggen distinguish position from placement; the diminutive tafeltje is grammatically neuter · Netherlands Standard Dutch
We have been waiting outside for an hour.	We wachten al een uur buiten. Complaint about a delay · neutral — Dutch uses the present tense with al for an activity continuing from the past · Netherlands Standard Dutch
He said that he could not attend the meeting.	Hij zei dat hij niet bij de vergadering aanwezig kon zijn. 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
Send me a quick message when the train arrives.	Stuur me even een berichtje als de trein aankomt. Casual travel coordination · informal — Even softens the request, berichtje is a natural diminutive, and aankomen separates only in a main clause · Netherlands Standard Dutch
That proposal is out of the question for now.	Dat voorstel is voorlopig uitgesloten. Project decision · neutral — Uitgesloten is the idiomatic rejection; a literal translation involving a question would be unnatural · Netherlands Standard Dutch

Common English to Dutch phrases

Everyday expressions translated from English to Dutch:

English	Dutch (Nederlands)
Hello	Hallo
Good night	Welterusten
Thank you	Dank je wel
Please	Alsjeblieft
How are you?	Hoe gaat het?
What is your name?	Hoe heet je?
I love you	Ik hou van je
Excuse me	Pardon
Where is the bathroom?	Waar is het toilet?
Goodbye	Tot ziens

About the Dutch language

Dutch (Nederlands) is spoken by about 25 million people across the Netherlands, Flanders in Belgium, and Suriname. It belongs to the Germanic (Indo-European) language family and is written in the Latin alphabet.

Native name: Nederlands
Speakers: 25 million
Language family: Germanic (Indo-European)
Writing system: the Latin alphabet
Word order: verb-second, with verb-final subordinate clauses

English to Dutch translation tips

English uses subject–verb–object word order, while Dutch is verb-second, with verb-final subordinate clauses, 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.

English to Dutch translation FAQ

How accurate is AI English to Dutch translation?

The translator uses a modern AI language model that understands context, so English to Dutch results read more naturally than word-for-word tools. For legal, medical, or other high-stakes text, have a fluent speaker review the output.

How do you say hello in Dutch?

Hello in Dutch is Hallo. The common-phrases table on this page lists more everyday Dutch expressions, such as Dank je wel (thank you) and Tot ziens (goodbye).

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

The language facts and grammar notes on this page are checked against these references.

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