Accent Reduction for Dutch Speakers

5 English pronunciation tips for Dutch speakers who want to improve their English accent:

Dutch pronunciation

1) TH

  • This is made by putting the tip of the tongue by the back of the upper front teeth. Ensure it is touching the teeth.
  • Don’t make a /s/ or /z/ sound, or /t/ or /d/ sound. Compare:
  • sin – thin
  • Zen – then
  • tin – thin
  • den – then

2) How and When to Make R

  • In Dutch, the R is either made with the back of the tongue moving upwards – or the tip of the tongue touching the top of the mouth. Different regional accents create the /r/ sound in different ways in the Netherlands.
  • In English, the tip of the tongue curls back in the mouth without touching the top of the mouth.
  • We only pronounce a R sound when there is a vowel sound after it: Really, Tree, Carry
  • We don’t pronounce a R sound when there is no vowel sound after it: Car, Learn, Here.

3) Devoicing

  • In Dutch:
    • /b/ at the end of a word will sound like a /p/.
    • /d/ at the end of a word will sound like a /t/.
    • /g/ at the end of a word will sound like a /k/.
  • In English, the sounds must stay the same. Compare:
    • cap – cab
    • sheet – she’d
    • back – bag

4) “g”

  • This sound is usually either /g/ or /ʤ/. Ensure it isn’t like the Dutch ‘g’ sound in groei
  • get /get/
  • gym /ʤɪm/

5) “e” and “a”

  • For “a” /a/, make an “e” /ɛ/ sound and lower the tongue.
  • Compare:
    • set – sat
    • bed – bad
    • head – had

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