Is Dutch easier than German? – YES! - Learn Dutch Online (2024)

Is Dutch easier than German? – YES!

Is Dutch easier than German? – YES! - Learn Dutch Online (1)

During the Summer and Winter Schools we see students from all over the world who are learning Dutch. Each year I’m surprised by the number of students who come here just to learn Dutch and also to visit the Netherlands.

Some of them moved here because they have a Dutch partner, some want to study here, others already work here. But every time, there are also students who are learning Dutch, just for fun!

Learning a language just for fun! Yes, those people exist.

The question is then: what new language should I learn?

For English speaking people, German and Dutch sound kind of familiar. So it’s normal that they consider choosing one of these two to study. Also, both languages and cultures have had their influence all over the world.

In this blog I will explain why Dutch is EASIER to learn than German. First, something about the languages.

Dutch, German and English are in the same family tree

Dutch is part of the Indo-European language family. Within this family, one of the largest subgroups are the Germanic languages which include English, Dutch and German.

Around the year 500 A.D., the Germanic dialects gave rise to separate languages, including Old Dutch. So Dutch is about 1500 years old.

To simplify a little bit, you can see it like this.

German is the oldest form. Dutch emerged from it, and from Dutch came English. So Dutch is closer to English.

Both languages have the same origin, so how is Dutch easier? Let’s take a look at the grammar.

Dutch grammar is easier than German

One of the biggest differences between Dutch and German is in the definite articles. In German there are three, whereas Dutch has two.

And this difference has a lot of consequences.

Here is an example:

  • Duits
  • der Vater (mannelijk/masculine)
  • die Information (vrouwelijk/feminine)
  • das Wasser (onzijdig/neuter)
  • Nederlands
  • de vader (mannelijk/masculine)
  • de informatie (vrouwelijk/feminine)
  • het water (onzijdig/neuter)
  • Engels
  • the father (mannelijk/masculine)
  • the information (vrouwelijk/feminine)
  • the water (onzijdig/neuter)

The conjugation of the adjectives is related to this. German has different forms depending on the gender and whether it’s singular or plural.

In Dutch the choice is between two forms, with an extra –e or without. English has only one form: a nice boy, the nice woman, the nice houses.

Related to this is the forming of plurals. In Dutch the general rule is that you add –en or –s at the end of a noun. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but in most cases this applies.

In German there are more rules. And they vary according to the gender.

Why is Dutch easier than German?

Dutch and German share the same origin, but the further away a language has grown from that origin, the more it has changed and developed.

German is an older language.

One of the main factors affecting how difficult a language is, is language contact. When languages interact with each other, it means that the language adapts and usually leads to a simplification.

German has always been relatively isolated, but English has, in the course of time, come into contact with many different languages, for example French, Norwegian and Latin.

Conditions in Germany are better to learn the language

One thing that makes German easier to learn is that people in Germany speak German.

This might sound logical. But in the Netherlands, people are known to love speaking English. It is possible to visit Amsterdam or other big cities without speaking Dutch, unfortunately.

During the Dutch Summer School we like to change this, and let you get to know other people who are studying Dutch.

Is Dutch easier than German? – YES! - Learn Dutch Online (2)

Bart de Pau
online Dutch teacher & founder of the Dutch Summer School & Dutch Winter School

Is Dutch easier than German? – YES! - Learn Dutch Online (2024)

FAQs

Is Dutch easier than German? – YES! - Learn Dutch Online? ›

Dutch is from the same family as English and German

Which one is easier to learn, Dutch or German? ›

It's also the official language of several countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Both Dutch and German have their challenges, but Dutch is generally considered easier to learn than German.

Can I learn Dutch if I know German? ›

It is certainly easier to learn Dutch when you know German and vice versa. The similarity is perhaps a bit more significant than between the romance langauges (Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.)

What language is easy to learn for Dutch speakers? ›

If you're a native Dutch speaker, I suppose the easiest language to learn would be Afrikaans. But this wouldn't be the case for a native English speaker, even if he has some knowledge of Dutch. This would also be the case for learning German, which would be more easy for a native Dutch speaker.

What is the quickest way to learn Dutch? ›

The 7 best tips to learn Dutch
  1. Grasp the basics. Pronunciation. ...
  2. Use a language app. ...
  3. Sign up for a course. ...
  4. Read textbooks. ...
  5. Practice with native speakers. ...
  6. Consume Dutch media. ...
  7. Surround yourself with Dutch.
Oct 10, 2022

What is the hardest part of learning Dutch? ›

What Makes Dutch Hard to Learn
  • Vocabulary. English and Dutch share some vocabulary due to their common Germanic roots. ...
  • Pronunciation. Dutch pronunciation can pose a challenge for English speakers. ...
  • Grammar. ...
  • Spelling and Pronunciation Correspondence. ...
  • Cultural Context.
Jun 28, 2023

Should I learn Dutch then German? ›

So my advice: start with German, and after learning German you will find it easy to learn Dutch because the two languages are fairly similar; Dutch is really a form of 'lower' German. So far during my Dutch courses, I've met German people who had quite an easy time with Dutch.

Which German dialect is closest to Dutch? ›

If you compare plattdeutsch and platnederlands, you'll notice a lot of similarities. Usually when I see some old text in Platt (= language of the 'farmer regions'), it's hard to tell whether it's old Dutch or old German. So the answer: the plattdeutsch which is spoken in the border regions.

How fast can a German learn Dutch? ›

In a classroom context, it will typically take around 24 weeks of study or 600 hours to achieve general professional proficiency in Dutch according to the FSI. This includes both speaking and reading. To achieve basic fluency, the average is 480 hours according to research by the ACTFL.

Why is Dutch so easy to learn? ›

English students frequently say to me that Dutch is the easiest language to learn. It makes sense because Dutch is part of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European family of languages, just like English. And if you compare it to another language of that family, German, it's much easier.

Which is easier, French or Dutch? ›

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.

Why is Dutch easier to learn than German? ›

Unlike German, Russia, Finnish, Icelandic, Japanese, Korean and others, both English and Dutch have no case system. As learners of any language with cases know, it's an endless frustration needing to remember the various forms of words. Thankfully, Dutch has no case system at all!

Can I learn Dutch by myself? ›

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!

How long does it take an American to learn Dutch? ›

Similarly, the United States Foreign Service Institute suggests 600 hours of classroom time is needed for fluency. But in my experience, with the right strategies and consistent effort, many learners gain conversational fluency faster, reaching their destination in 9 to 12 months.

Can you learn Dutch in 3 months? ›

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.

Is learning Dutch difficult? ›

While Dutch may have some challenges, it's not considered one of the most difficult languages for English speakers to learn. The degree of difficulty you'll encounter largely depends on your prior language learning experience, your exposure to the language, and your individual aptitude and motivation.

How long does it take to learn Dutch? ›

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.

References

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