LangritSubject pronouns in Dutch
Personal pronouns are the first building block of any language. In Dutch, they are:
| Dutch | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | Ik ben Anna. — I am Anna. |
| jij / je | you (informal) | Jij bent mijn vriend. — You are my friend. |
| u | you (formal) | U bent de leraar. — You are the teacher. |
| hij | he | Hij woont in Amsterdam. — He lives in Amsterdam. |
| zij / ze | she | Zij is mijn zus. — She is my sister. |
| het | it | Het is koud. — It is cold. |
| wij / we | we | Wij spreken Nederlands. — We speak Dutch. |
| jullie | you (plural) | Jullie zijn lief. — You are sweet. |
| zij / ze | they | Zij komen morgen. — They are coming tomorrow. |
Formal vs informal
Jij/je is used with friends, family, and people your age. U is used in formal situations: with strangers, elders, or in professional settings.
Hoe heet jij? — What is your name? (informal)
Hoe heet u? — What is your name? (formal)
Short forms
Many pronouns have a short (unstressed) form used in everyday speech:
- jij → je: Je bent aardig. — You are nice.
- zij → ze: Ze woont hier. — She lives here.
- wij → we: We gaan naar huis. — We are going home.
The stressed (long) form is used for emphasis: Jij bent mijn beste vriend, niet hij! — You are my best friend, not him!