Dutch · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "verbaasd" in Dutch?

Q: How do you pronounce verbaasd in Dutch?

verbaasd is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /vərˈbaːst/. It means “surprised.” vuhr-BAHST — unstressed ver- prefix, a long open "aah," and a final d said as a t.

vuhr-BAHST — unstressed ver- prefix, a long open "aah," and a final d said as a t.

verbaasd /vərˈbaːst/

The ver- prefix cannot take stress, so the accent lands on the second syllable — the same weak-strong shape as "verhaal," "vergeten" and "verkeerd." Recognising that prefix family lets you place the beat on sight.

Listen: verbaasd

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Sound it out

ver- The unstressed prefix: a half-voiced v, a schwa, and a faint r, all passing in an instant. It never takes a beat in Dutch.

b A clean voiced stop opening the stressed syllable, released without aspiration.

aa Wide open and generously held, carrying the primary stress. It is the only full vowel in the word.

sd The s is voiceless and the d devoices to t under its influence and its final position, so the word ends "-st."

Hear it in a sentence

Ik was verbaasd over het nieuws.

I was surprised by the news.

Listen: Ik was verbaasd over het nieuws.

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"Ik was verbaasd over het nieuws" uses "over" for the thing causing surprise, which is the fixed preposition. "Nieuws" at the end contains the same "ieu" glide as "nieuw," so the sentence closes on a compressed vowel movement.

Where English speakers slip

The sd ending is the sticking point: learners voice the d, giving "verbaazd," or drop it. It surfaces as "-st." Front-stressing to "VER-baasd" is the other reflex error, and it also robs the long vowel of the prominence the word depends on.