Dutch · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "zes" in Dutch?

Q: How do you pronounce zes in Dutch?

zes is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /zɛs/. It means “six.” Sounds close to English "sess" — Dutch initial z carries much less buzz than English z.

Sounds close to English "sess" — Dutch initial z carries much less buzz than English z.

zes /zɛs/

Single-syllable and fully stressed, as numbers always are. Worth noting for later: in "zestien" and "zestig" the s and z reshuffle so the words begin with a plain s sound — the numeral does not carry its z into its own derivatives.

Listen: zes

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Sound it out

z Only weakly voiced in the northern standard, sitting partway between s and z. Many speakers in the Randstad produce something an English ear simply hears as s.

e Short "eh" as in "bed," hemmed in on both sides by consonants so it stays clipped.

s A clean voiceless hiss to close the word. Since the opening z is barely voiced, the two ends of the word nearly match.

Hear it in a sentence

Ik ben om zes uur terug.

I'll be back at six.

Listen: Ik ben om zes uur terug.

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"Ik ben om zes uur terug" uses "om" for clock times, the fixed preposition for "at" with an hour. The separable-ish adverb "terug" sits at the end, and the whole sentence pivots rhythmically on "zes uur" in the middle.

Where English speakers slip

English speakers deliver a full-throated "ZESS" with the vibrating z of "zoo." Dutch z is much lighter — start the airflow before the voicing catches up. Beginners also lengthen the short e into the "ay" of "say," which is what the doubled spelling "zee" (sea) would mean. Keep the vowel short and the word will land correctly.