adj
Common
Dutch
duhch
Dutch (adj) means relating to the Netherlands, its people, or its language. Example: “She ordered a Dutch coffee and a stroopwafel.”
adj
1
Relating to the Netherlands, its people, or its language.
"She ordered a Dutch coffee and a stroopwafel."
name
1
The language spoken in the Netherlands, Flanders, and Suriname.
"He learned Dutch while living in Amsterdam."
"By the time this mysterious knight died in the 1360s, his book was available in every European language, including Dutch, Gaelic, Czech, Catalan, and Walloon."
— Giles Milton, 'The Riddle and the Knight' (2001)
How to use Dutch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with the Netherlands or its people and language.
Common mistake
Despite the name, "Dutch" refers to the Netherlands, not Germany — a common mix-up given the shared root with "Deutsch."
Common pairings
the Dutch government
speak Dutch
Dutch cheese
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Word forms
- Plural
- dutches
- Third person singular
- Dutches
- Past tense
- Dutched
- Comparative
- more Dutch, Dutcher
- Superlative
- most Dutch, Dutchest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She ordered a _____ coffee and a stroopwafel.
Etymology
From Middle Dutch dūtsch, originally meaning "of the (common) people" — the same root gave German "Deutsch." English narrowed the word to refer specifically to the Netherlands.
Synonyms
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Netherlandish
of the Netherlands
Rhymes for Dutch
See all rhymes for Dutch →Frequently asked questions
What does “Dutch” mean?
The word “Dutch” means relating to the Netherlands, its people, or its language. In plain terms, to do with the Netherlands or its people and language.
How do you pronounce “Dutch”?
“Dutch” is pronounced duhch (/dʌt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Dutch” in a sentence?
Here is “Dutch” used in a sentence: “She ordered a Dutch coffee and a stroopwafel.”
What part of speech is “Dutch”?
Depending on how it is used, “Dutch” can be an adjective and a name.
Where does the word “Dutch” come from?
The word “Dutch” comes from German. From Middle Dutch dūtsch, originally meaning "of the (common) people" — the same root gave German "Deutsch." English narrowed the word to refer specifically to the Netherlands.
Is “Dutch” a common word?
“Dutch” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Dutch” have?
“Dutch” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the Netherlands, its people, or its language.
What is the difference between Dutch and German?
Dutch refers to the Netherlands, its people, and its language; German refers to Germany and its language. The two are related Germanic tongues but are separate and not mutually intelligible. Confusingly, 'Pennsylvania Dutch' Americans are actually of German descent — 'Dutch' there comes from Deutsch, the German word for German.
What is the difference between Dutch, the Netherlands, and Holland?
The Netherlands is the country; Dutch is the adjective for its people, language, and culture. Holland refers to only two provinces in the west, though it is often used loosely to mean the whole nation. So a person from the Netherlands is Dutch, not 'Netherlandish' or 'Hollandish'.
Why are people from the Netherlands called Dutch?
The word comes from an old Germanic root, 'diets' or 'duutsch', meaning 'of the people' — the same root that gives German 'Deutsch'. Centuries ago, English used 'Dutch' broadly for speakers of related Germanic languages, then narrowed it to the people of the Netherlands, where it stuck.
What does 'going Dutch' mean?
'Going Dutch' means each person pays their own share, especially splitting the bill on a date or meal rather than one person treating everyone. The phrase is one of several English expressions using 'Dutch', and its exact origin is uncertain, though it clearly refers to separate, independent payment.
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