Dutch · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "jij" in Dutch?

Q: How do you pronounce jij in Dutch?

jij is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /jɛi/. It means “you (informal).” Sounds like English "yay" — a y-glide followed by the ij diphthong. The j is never the English j of "jam."

Sounds like English "yay" — a y-glide followed by the ij diphthong. The j is never the English j of "jam."

jij /jɛi/

This is the emphatic form of "you": Dutch keeps both "je" (unstressed) and "jij" (stressed) in circulation, so choosing "jij" already signals that the pronoun is being highlighted. Say it with real weight — a limp "jij" defeats the point of using it.

Listen: jij

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Sound it out

j In Dutch this letter is always the y-sound of "yes." It never carries the affricate value English gives it, so "jij" opens like "you," not like "Jim."

ij A diphthong that starts near the "e" of "bed" and glides up toward "ee" — close to English "ay" in "day" but shorter and starting lower. It is pronounced identically to the spelling "ei," which is a lifelong spelling headache even for Dutch children.

Hear it in a sentence

Jij bent heel aardig.

You are very nice.

Listen: Jij bent heel aardig.

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"Jij bent heel aardig" uses the strong pronoun precisely because the compliment is aimed pointedly at the listener; "je bent heel aardig" would be the neutral version. The b of "bent" follows the diphthong directly, so let the ij finish its upward glide before closing the lips.

Where English speakers slip

Two errors compete here. The first is the English j: seeing "jij," learners say "jidge" or "jij" with soft j's at both ends, when Dutch j is a plain y. The second is flattening the ij into a long "ee," giving "yee" — the vowel must travel from a low starting point up toward ee, not sit still at the top.