Dutch · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "het weer" in Dutch?

ut VAYR — soft lip-teeth w, a long "ay," and a light r.

het weer /ət ˈʋeːr/

Dutch uses this same word as an adverb meaning "again," spelled and stressed identically — so the noun and the adverb are distinguished purely by the article and the syntax around them.

Listen: het weer

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Sound it out

w Lower lip drifting toward the upper teeth with light contact and no rounding — the sound that separates Dutch from both English and German in one stroke.

ee Held at a single tongue position and noticeably lower than the English "ee." Before an r many Dutch speakers open it slightly further.

r A light tap or soft scrape arriving only once the vowel is done. It must not shorten or colour what comes before it.

Hear it in a sentence

Het weer is mooi vandaag.

The weather is nice today.

Listen: Het weer is mooi vandaag.

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"Het weer is mooi vandaag" puts the adjective before the time word, which is standard Dutch order. Both "weer" and "mooi" have long vowels, giving the sentence a stretched, unhurried rhythm until the final syllable of "vandaag."

Where English speakers slip

The English "weir" and "wear" both supply a rounded w and a diphthongised vowel. Dutch needs a labiodental w and a steady "ay." Learners also let an American r eat the vowel, which is the difference between "weer" and something closer to "wer."