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Dutch · Parents who don't speak it

How to teach your child Dutch when you don't speak it

Lots of parents want their child to learn Dutch without speaking it themselves. The good news: you don't have to be the teacher. Your job is to make Dutch a regular, fun part of the week, and to learn alongside your child. Bilingual songs make that possible, because you always know what you're singing.

Is it a good fit? Made for exactly this: every Dutch line in the songs comes with its English meaning, for ages 2–8.

Be a co-learner, not a teacher

Children love it when adults learn with them. Saying "I don't know that word, let's find out!" is a great example to set. You'll be surprised how quickly you pick up the songs too.

Let the audio be the model

Your accent doesn't need to be perfect. The songs give your child a clear model of the Dutch sounds; your role is to sing along, show enthusiasm and use the words in daily life.

Start with words you'll use every day

Greetings, please and thank you, good night, a few foods. These come up so often that you'll both be using them within days.

Dutch words to start with

Words from the songs below that fit this moment. Tap one for pronunciation help and practice ideas.

EnglishDutchSounds like ≈
hellohalloHAH-loh
pleasealsjeblieftAHL-shuh-bleeft
thank youdank je welDAHNK yuh vel
how are you?hoe gaat het?hoo KHAHT ut
good nightwelterustenvel-tuh-RUS-tun
goodbyetot zienstot ZEENS
Good to know about Dutch: Dutch shares a lot of vocabulary with English but has a few new sounds: the throaty g, ui and ij. Children usually copy these by ear far more easily than adults do.

Dutch songs for parents who don't speak it

Hand-picked from the Dutch library. Songs marked Free are part of the free first unit; the rest are Premium.

Quick tips

  • Start with the free greetings unit; it's free forever.
  • Read the English line, then sing the Dutch line together.
  • Pick one phrase a week and use it in real life, not just in the song.
  • Don't worry about your accent; enthusiasm matters more.

Questions parents ask

Will my bad accent hurt my child's Dutch?

Children listen to many voices, and the songs give them a clear model of the Dutch sounds. Singing along with enthusiasm helps far more than staying quiet because you're worried about your accent.

How will I know what the words mean?

Every line in every song is shown with its English meaning, and the songs themselves go back and forth between English and Dutch.

Sing it in Dutch, free

The first unit, 6 greeting songs with lyrics and English translation, is free forever. No card needed. Premium unlocks all 134 songs.

Start free — no card