Dutch · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "sterk" in Dutch?

Q: How do you pronounce sterk in Dutch?

sterk is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /stɛrk/. It means “strong.” sterk — plain s (never "sht"), a short "eh" before the r, and an unaspirated k.

sterk — plain s (never "sht"), a short "eh" before the r, and an unaspirated k.

sterk /stɛrk/

One dense beat: two consonants in front, two behind, and a short vowel in the middle. Inflected as "sterke," a schwa opens up after the k and the r suddenly has more room, which makes the longer form noticeably easier to say.

Listen: sterk

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Sound it out

st Sharp s, quiet t. This is the cluster where German and Dutch part company most audibly — German says "sht" at the start of a word, Dutch says "st."

e Quick and open-jawed, the vowel of "bet." Keep it distinct rather than letting the r behind it take over.

rk A light tapped or scraped r followed by an unaspirated k, released quickly together.

Hear it in a sentence

De koffie is heel sterk.

The coffee is very strong.

Listen: De koffie is heel sterk.

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"De koffie is heel sterk" ends on the adjective, exposing the rk cluster at the close of the sentence. "Koffie" beforehand has first-syllable stress and a long "ee" ending, so the sentence moves from an open, relaxed word to a tightly closed one.

Where English speakers slip

Anyone who has studied German will say "shterk." Dutch keeps the s clean. English speakers instead let the r colour the vowel, producing something like "sturk" with no distinct "eh" at all. Say the vowel first, then flick the r — separating them is what makes the word sound Dutch rather than approximated.