Some Dutch Words are Impossible. Fact.

There are some Dutch words I will never master. It’s a fact. They are impossible for a non-Dutch person to say. Thankfully I have Dutch kids to remind me of that fact on a regular basis.

My then six year old son announced one morning from his sick bed,

“Mama, there are some Dutch words you can’t say properly because you’re English.”

One excellent example is sneeuw. Unless I pull a funny face and attempt to say ‘snow’ like the British Queen I can’t quite get the right sound in Dutch.

I also, ironically, have a real issue with moeite.

There are more. Of that I am sure. Like this. And this.

I haven’t asked my kids for a comprehensive list. Having my Dutch language skills corrected by my children is not on my parenting bucket list, but it is a fact of life. I have three little language critiques to deal with……and that is niet tof.