Dutch Vowels: UI, EU, UU & IJ
After the g, the rounded Dutch vowels are the hardest part of pronunciation. Here's how to make ui, eu, uu and ij — the sounds English simply doesn't have.
The rounded vowels
These sounds require lip and tongue positions English never uses. Here's the trick for each.
The four tricky vowels
How to make each.
ui (huis, uit)
Round your lips for 'oo', then glide toward 'uh' keeping lips rounded.
uu (huur, uur)
Say English 'ee', then round your lips without moving your tongue.
eu (deur, neus)
Like 'uu' but slightly more open — tongue forward, lips rounded.
ij/ei (mij, ijs)
An 'ay'-like diphthong; mouth fairly closed.
Practice words
Drill these out loud.
| Sound | Words |
|---|---|
| ui | huis, ui, tuin, uit, muis |
| uu | uur, huur, muur, buur, duur |
| eu | deur, neus, keuken, kleur |
| ij/ei | mij, wij, ijs, blij, klein, trein |
The shortcut for uu and eu
The fastest trick: say the English ‘ee’ sound (as in ‘see’), then round your lips without moving your tongue. That’s uu. Open slightly more for eu. These front rounded vowels feel strange because English never combines a forward tongue with rounded lips — but once your mouth learns it, it sticks.
Crack the Dutch vowels
Dutch Daily's Pronunciation Lab gives phoneme-level feedback on ui, eu and uu — exactly the sounds English speakers struggle with. Free to start.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce 'ui' in Dutch?
Round your lips as if to say 'oo', then glide toward 'uh' while keeping your lips rounded. It's in words like 'huis' and 'uit' and has no English equivalent.
How do you pronounce 'uu' in Dutch?
Say the English 'ee' sound, then round your lips without moving your tongue. It's a front rounded vowel, as in 'uur' and 'huur'.
What's the difference between eu and uu?
Both are front rounded vowels (tongue forward, lips rounded). 'eu' (deur, neus) is slightly more open than 'uu' (uur, huur).