Dutch Question Words
Almost every Dutch question word starts with w, and the word order that follows is the same every time: question word, then verb, then person.
The question words
-
wie
vee
-
who
-
wat
vat
-
what
-
waar
vahr
-
where
-
wanneer
vah-NAYR
-
when
-
waarom
vah-ROM
-
why
-
hoe
hoo
-
how
-
welke
VEL-kuh
-
which
welk before a het-word
-
hoeveel
hoo-VAYL
-
how much, how many
Where to and where from
-
waarheen
vahr-HAYN
-
where to
Waar ga je heen? is the everyday version
-
waarvandaan
vahr-van-DAHN
-
where from
Waar kom je vandaan? Where are you from?
The verb comes second
Start with the question word, put the verb straight after it, then the person: Waar woon je? Where do you live?
Dutch has no equivalent of the English do in questions. Wat doe je is literally what do you, and inserting an extra word for do would be wrong.
The same order holds for longer questions: Waarom leer je Nederlands?
Dutch does the same thing German does here, so if you know one the pattern carries straight over.
- Hoe heet je?What is your name?
- Wanneer komt de trein?When does the train come?
- Hoeveel kost het?How much does it cost?
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