TL;DR: First 100 Dutch words to learn for the Inburgeringsexamen
First 100 Dutch words to learn should be common daily words about people, home, work, time, place, and simple actions, because these help you pass A1, A2 Dutch tasks faster and use Dutch in real life.
• The article gives a practical 100-word starter list grouped into nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, numbers, prepositions, and weekdays, with English meanings and short example sentences.
• It shows why these words matter for the Inburgeringsexamen: reading notices, hearing appointments, answering simple questions, and writing short sentences.
• You are advised to learn words in small groups, always with de/het or a short sentence, such as het huis, ik ga naar school, and ik werk op maandag.
• It also warns you to avoid common mistakes like ignoring de/het, mixing jij and u, and memorizing translations without context.
If you want a clear next step after this list, see this guide on Dutch A1 to A2 study plan to build from your first 100 words to full exam-ready Dutch.
Check out Inburgering Exam guides that you might like:
Complete Guide to the Dutch Inburgering Exam
How to Pass the Dutch Language Exam: Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing
Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNM) Exam: Everything You Need to Know
From Zero to Integration Diploma: Your Complete Roadmap
Living in the Netherlands: Cultural Integration Beyond the Exam
If you are preparing for the Dutch Inburgeringsexamen, memorizing random words is a bad plan. You need the RIGHT first words. The best first 100 Dutch words are the ones you meet every day: words about people, home, food, work, time, place, and simple actions. These words help you read short texts, answer simple questions, and survive real life in the Netherlands.
Here is why. The language part of the inburgering exams at A2 level expects you to understand common Dutch in daily situations. Public exam prep sources from Inburgeren.nl and study materials used for KNM, such as Welkom in Nederland, point learners toward daily vocabulary, short sentences, and society-related words. A widely shared beginner list, such as the one from Easy Dutch Learning, also groups starter vocabulary into nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, numbers, prepositions, and days of the week. That structure makes sense for beginners because it matches how people actually start speaking.
This guide gives you a practical list of 100 Dutch words with English meanings, very simple explanations, and mini examples. You will also see what these words do in sentences, which words matter most for exam life, and which beginner mistakes slow people down. Do not just read this list. Study it in small groups, say the words aloud, and turn them into short Dutch sentences.
Why should you learn these first 100 Dutch words?
The first words you learn shape everything that comes after. If you start with rare words, your progress feels slow. If you start with common words, you can build sentences fast. That gives you confidence, and confidence matters a lot when you need to speak, listen, read, and write under exam pressure.
- Nouns help you name people and things: de man, het huis, de school.
- Verbs help you say what happens: gaan, komen, werken.
- Pronouns help you build real sentences: ik, jij, wij.
- Numbers help with prices, times, dates, and addresses.
- Prepositions help you explain place: in, op, onder.
- Days of the week help with appointments, school, work, and the gemeente.
A useful reality check: one source aimed at inburgering learners says that A2 often means roughly 2000 Dutch words. That can sound scary. But your first 100 words do a huge amount of work because they appear again and again. Learn them well, and the next 100 become much easier.
📚 Essential Dutch Terms
| Dutch Term | English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| woord | word | Dit woord is makkelijk. = This word is easy. |
| zin | sentence | Ik lees een korte zin. = I read a short sentence. |
| leren | to learn | Ik leer Nederlands. = I learn Dutch. |
| oefenen | to practise | Wij oefenen elke dag. = We practise every day. |
Which 100 Dutch words should beginners learn first?
Below is a structured starter list. It follows a beginner-friendly pattern seen in trusted Dutch learning materials: nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, numbers, prepositions, and weekdays. I also explain what each group means, so you are not just memorizing translations.
1) Everyday nouns: words for people, places, and things
A noun is a word for a person, animal, place, or thing. In Dutch, many nouns come with an article: de or het. These both mean the, but Dutch uses two forms. Beginners often ignore this. That is a mistake because you need articles all the time.
- de vrouw = the woman
- de man = the man
- het kind = the child
- de hond = the dog
- de kat = the cat
- het huis = the house
- de auto = the car
- de tafel = the table
- de stoel = the chair
- het boek = the book
- de computer = the computer
- de winkel = the shop, store
- het restaurant = the restaurant
- de stad = the city
- het ziekenhuis = the hospital
- de school = the school
- het dier = the animal
- de deur = the door
- het raam = the window
- de vloer = the floor
- de muur = the wall
What do these words mean in real life? Vrouw means adult female person, man means adult male person, and kind means child. Huis is a house or home building. Winkel is a shop where you buy things. Ziekenhuis is a hospital. Raam is a window, and deur is a door. These are the words you hear when renting housing, asking directions, shopping, or reading simple notices.
Mini examples: De man leest een boek. means The man reads a book. Het kind is in de school. means The child is in the school, though in natural Dutch people often say op school for at school. De auto staat voor het huis. means The car is in front of the house.
2) Verbs: action words you need in every sentence
A verb is an action word or a state word. Dutch sentences need verbs all the time. If nouns are the building blocks, verbs are the engine. Many beginner conversations depend on a tiny set of very common verbs.
- zijn = to be
- hebben = to have
- gaan = to go
- komen = to come
- leiden = to lead, guide
- zien = to see
- horen = to hear
- spreken = to speak
- lopen = to walk
- weten = to know, know a fact
- leren = to learn
- kijken = to look, watch
- werken = to work
- maken = to make
- leven = to live
- eten = to eat
- drinken = to drink
- lezen = to read
- schrijven = to write
- vragen = to ask
Every one of these verbs matters. Zijn means existence or identity, like I am. Hebben shows possession, like I have. Gaan is movement away, and komen is movement toward. Zien is seeing with your eyes, horen is hearing with your ears, and spreken is speaking words. Weten means to know a fact, while leren means to learn. Vragen means to ask a question.
Mini examples: Ik ben moe. = I am tired. Wij hebben een huis. = We have a house. Ik ga naar school. = I go to school. Kom je morgen? = Are you coming tomorrow? Ik lees een boek. = I read a book.
3) Adjectives: words that describe things
An adjective describes a noun. It tells you what something is like. A house can be groot or klein. Water can be koud. A class can be leuk. These words make your Dutch feel alive very fast.
- groot = big
- klein = small
- mooi = beautiful, nice
- snel = fast
- langzaam = slow
- goed = good
- slecht = bad
- nieuw = new
- oud = old
- heet = hot
- koud = cold
- leuk = nice, fun
- zwaar = heavy
- licht = light, not heavy
- vol = full
- leeg = empty
- hard = hard, loud
- zacht = soft, quiet
- dicht = closed, near depending on context
- ver = far
One warning: some Dutch adjectives can change form in a sentence. You often see mooi become mooie, as in een mooie stad. Beginners should still learn the short dictionary form first. Also, licht can mean light in weight, and in other contexts it can connect to light as brightness. Here we mean not heavy. Dicht can mean closed or near, but beginners first meet it as closed, like De deur is dicht.
4) Pronouns: small words, huge power
A pronoun replaces a noun. Instead of saying a person’s name again and again, you say he, she, they, or I. Dutch pronouns are short, but they are some of the most frequent words in the language.
- ik = I
- jij / je = you, informal singular
- u = you, formal
- hij = he
- zij / ze = she
- het = it
- wij / we = we
- jullie = you all, plural
- zij / ze = they
These words are easy to underestimate. That is a trap. If you know ik, jij, u, wij, and common verbs, you can already make a surprising number of sentences. Also note the social side. U is formal and polite. You may hear it with teachers, older strangers, office staff, or formal service situations. Jij and je are informal.
5) Numbers: small set, big exam value
Numbers show up everywhere: bus times, prices, ages, addresses, dates, and phone numbers. If you cannot hear numbers well, daily life gets hard fast.
- één = one
- twee = two
- drie = three
- vier = four
- vijf = five
- zes = six
- zeven = seven
- acht = eight
- negen = nine
- tien = ten
- vijftien = fifteen
- twintig = twenty
Learn numbers with real content: twee kinderen, vijf euro, tien uur. The word uur means hour or o’clock depending on the sentence. That word is not in this 100-word list, but you will meet it very soon.
6) Prepositions: the glue for place and movement
A preposition is a short word that shows place, direction, or relation. In English these are words like in, on, under, and with. Dutch has the same type of words, and you need them early.
- in = in
- op = on, on top of, at in some set phrases
- onder = under
- tussen = between
- voor = in front of, before, for depending on context
- achter = behind
- naast = next to
- boven = above
- beneden = below, downstairs
- door = through, by
- met = with
- tegen = against, toward
These small words do heavy work. Op school means at school, not literally on school. Voor can mean in front of in place, but also before in time, or for in purpose. Door can mean movement through a space, like door de deur, through the door.
7) Days of the week: words for planning your life
- maandag = Monday
- dinsdag = Tuesday
- woensdag = Wednesday
- donderdag = Thursday
- vrijdag = Friday
- zaterdag = Saturday
- zondag = Sunday
These words matter for work schedules, school timetables, doctor visits, and exam dates. If someone says, Uw afspraak is op donderdag, you must know what that means. One missed day can cost time, money, and a lot of stress.
📚 Essential Dutch Terms
| Dutch Term | English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| de | the | De school is groot. = The school is big. |
| het | the | Het huis is nieuw. = The house is new. |
| gaan | to go | Ik ga naar de winkel. = I go to the shop. |
| met | with | Ik kom met de auto. = I come by car. |
How do these words connect to the Inburgeringsexamen?
Let’s break it down. The Dutch civic exam path includes language skills and knowledge of Dutch society. Official practice information from Inburgeren.nl points learners to A2 practice for Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking, and KNM. That means you do not just need meanings. You need recognition, spelling, pronunciation, and sentence use.
- Reading: you see words like school, ziekenhuis, maandag, werken.
- Listening: you hear short phrases with numbers, times, places, and daily actions.
- Writing: you must build short correct sentences with pronouns and verbs.
- Speaking: you need starter vocabulary for introductions and simple answers.
- KNM: you meet daily life and society words linked to work, school, health, transport, and appointments.
One thing many learners get wrong is this: they study long word lists with no context. Then they freeze in the exam because they know the translation but not the sentence. A word alone is weak. A word inside a phrase is much stronger. Learn de school, but also learn Ik ga naar school. Learn donderdag, but also De afspraak is op donderdag.
Trusted prep mentions also matter here. The Dutch government exam site recommends more practice through places such as Oefenen.nl and Net in Nederland. For KNM study, guides often mention Welkom in Nederland. These are useful because they expose you to the same kind of daily Dutch that these 100 words belong to.
What do all 100 words mean in plain English?
Below is a compact meaning guide. I keep the definitions very plain, so beginners can remember them fast.
- de vrouw: adult woman
- de man: adult man
- het kind: young person, child
- de hond: dog
- de kat: cat
- het huis: house, home building
- de auto: car
- de tafel: table
- de stoel: chair
- het boek: book
- de computer: computer
- de winkel: shop, store
- het restaurant: place where you eat food
- de stad: city, town
- het ziekenhuis: hospital
- de school: school
- het dier: animal
- de deur: door
- het raam: window
- de vloer: floor
- de muur: wall
- zijn: to be
- hebben: to have
- gaan: to go
- komen: to come
- leiden: to lead, guide
- zien: to see
- horen: to hear
- spreken: to speak
- lopen: to walk
- weten: to know a fact
- leren: to learn
- kijken: to look, watch
- werken: to work
- maken: to make
- leven: to live
- eten: to eat
- drinken: to drink
- lezen: to read
- schrijven: to write
- vragen: to ask
- groot: big
- klein: small
- mooi: beautiful, nice-looking
- snel: fast
- langzaam: slow
- goed: good
- slecht: bad
- nieuw: new
- oud: old
- heet: hot
- koud: cold
- leuk: nice, fun, pleasant
- zwaar: heavy
- licht: light in weight
- vol: full
- leeg: empty
- hard: hard or loud
- zacht: soft or quiet
- dicht: closed, shut
- ver: far
- ik: I
- jij / je: you, informal
- u: you, formal
- hij: he
- zij / ze: she
- het: it
- wij / we: we
- jullie: you all
- zij / ze: they
- één: one
- twee: two
- drie: three
- vier: four
- vijf: five
- zes: six
- zeven: seven
- acht: eight
- negen: nine
- tien: ten
- vijftien: fifteen
- twintig: twenty
- in: in
- op: on, at
- onder: under
- tussen: between
- voor: in front of, before, for
- achter: behind
- naast: next to
- boven: above
- beneden: below, downstairs
- door: through
- met: with
- tegen: against, toward
- maandag: Monday
- dinsdag: Tuesday
- woensdag: Wednesday
- donderdag: Thursday
- vrijdag: Friday
- zaterdag: Saturday
- zondag: Sunday
How can you learn these 100 words fast and actually remember them?
Next steps. Do not try to learn 100 words in one evening. That feels productive, but memory research and language classroom experience both point in another direction. Short, repeated review wins. A learner who studies 10 words a day for 10 days and then reviews them in sentences will usually beat the learner who crams 100 at once.
Step-by-step action plan
- First: Split the list into groups of 10 words. Put similar words together, such as home words, action words, or days.
- Then: Learn each word with its article or grammar partner. Learn het huis, not just huis. Learn ik ga, not just gaan.
- Next: Write one tiny sentence for each word. Keep it simple. De kat is klein. Ik werk maandag.
- Finally: Review aloud after 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days. Say the word, the meaning, and one sentence.
Timeline: 2 weeks is realistic for the first 100 words if you study 15 to 20 minutes a day. If you have more time, you can do it in 7 days, but only if you keep reviewing.
- Use flashcards: one side Dutch, one side English.
- Say words aloud: Dutch listening and speaking get better together.
- Use mini dialogues: Waar ga je heen? Ik ga naar de winkel.
- Study in context: link words to your own life, your house, your street, your work, your family.
- Review old words daily: forgetting is normal, but only if you stop reviewing.
A harsh truth many learners ignore: if you cannot make a sentence with a word, you do not really know that word yet.
Mini practice set
- de deur = door → De deur is dicht. = The door is closed.
- drinken = to drink → Wij drinken water. = We drink water.
- vrijdag = Friday → Ik werk op vrijdag. = I work on Friday.
- naast = next to → De auto staat naast het huis. = The car is next to the house.
Which mistakes should beginners avoid with these Dutch words?
Some mistakes are so common that they slow down almost everyone. If you avoid them early, your Dutch gets cleaner much faster.
- Ignoring de and het
Bad habit: learning huis instead of het huis.
Better: always learn the noun with its article. - Learning translations without sentences
Bad habit: seeing werken = work and stopping there.
Better: add Ik werk in de stad. - Mixing formal and informal you
Bad habit: using jij with everyone.
Better: know that u is polite and formal. - Confusing weten and kennen
This list gives weten, which means know a fact. Later you will meet kennen, which means know a person or be familiar with. - Forgetting that Dutch word order can change
Beginners learn short direct sentences first. Good. Still, keep listening to real Dutch so you do not panic when word order moves in longer sentences. - Not reviewing numbers and weekdays with audio
These words are hard in listening if you only read them on paper.
One more trap: many learners chase “advanced” vocabulary too early because it feels smart. It is often a waste of time. If you still hesitate with ik ben, ik heb, ik ga, and weekday names, then advanced words are just decoration.
📚 Essential Dutch Terms
| Dutch Term | English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| jij | you, informal | Jij bent thuis. = You are at home. |
| u | you, formal | Komt u morgen? = Are you coming tomorrow? |
| weten | to know a fact | Ik weet het adres. = I know the address. |
| dicht | closed | Het raam is dicht. = The window is closed. |
What trusted sources support this starter vocabulary approach?
This article’s structure follows the kind of high-frequency daily vocabulary that appears again and again in beginner Dutch study material and inburgering prep:
- Inburgeren.nl lists official practice routes for A2 exam parts and links learners to practice materials for reading, listening, writing, speaking, and KNM.
- NT2 TaalMenu offers A1 civic exam practice and first 100 KNM questions, which shows how much short, daily Dutch matters early on.
- Welkom in Nederland is often mentioned as a KNM study book in inburgering prep guides.
- Easy Dutch Learning published a beginner list of 100 Dutch words grouped into categories like nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, numbers, prepositions, and weekdays. That grouping is useful for A1 learners.
- Dutch Review, in a general explainer for the exam, notes that A2 learners often need around 2000 words. That helps put the “first 100 words” goal in perspective.
That does not mean every exam uses the exact same word list. It means the type of vocabulary is reliable: daily life, society, place, time, and simple actions.
Nederlands: wat zijn de eerste 100 Nederlandse woorden?
Wil je Nederlands leren voor het examen? Leer dan eerst gewone woorden. Niet moeilijke woorden. Leer woorden voor mensen, huis, eten, school, werk, tijd en plaats. Deze woorden hoor je elke dag in Nederland.
Een zelfstandig naamwoord is een woord voor een persoon of ding, zoals de vrouw, het huis, de school. Een werkwoord is een actiewoord, zoals gaan, komen, werken. Een bijvoeglijk naamwoord zegt meer over iets, zoals groot, klein, goed. Een voornaamwoord is ik, jij, wij.
Leer de woorden met een korte zin. Niet alleen huis, maar het huis is groot. Niet alleen gaan, maar ik ga naar school. Niet alleen maandag, maar ik werk op maandag. Zo onthoud je een woord beter.
- de en het zijn allebei the in het Engels.
- ik = I
- jij = you
- u = formeel you
- wij = we
- met = with
- in = in
- op = on, at
Goede oefenzinnen zijn: Ik ben in de winkel. De auto staat voor het huis. Wij drinken water. Het boek is op de tafel. Kom je op dinsdag? Dit zijn korte zinnen op A1-niveau.
Pas op voor fouten. Vergeet de en het niet. Leer ook het verschil tussen jij en u. Oefen nummers en dagen hardop. En leer elke dag een paar woorden. Dat is beter dan 100 woorden in één keer.
What should you do after these 100 Dutch words?
After this list, move to the next layer of survival Dutch: family words, food words, transport words, time words, health words, question words, and common verbs in the present tense. Then start reading very short texts from learner sites and official practice materials.
- Build 20 to 30 short model sentences from this list.
- Listen to beginner Dutch audio every day.
- Read A1 and A2 texts about school, work, shopping, home, and appointments.
- Practise with official-style material from Inburgeren.nl.
- Use extra learner platforms like Oefenen.nl, Net in Nederland, and NT2 TaalMenu.
Final thought: your first 100 Dutch words are not small. They are the words that open the door. Learn them with meaning, articles, sound, and sentences, and you will feel the difference very quickly.
Samenvatting (Article Summary in Dutch)
Practice your reading: This section covers the same information in simple Dutch. Explain how to find answers.
In het artikel leer je de eerste 100 Nederlandse woorden. Deze woorden helpen bij praten over jezelf, thuis, werk, eten en de stad. Je ziet vaak kleine woorden zoals ik, jij, de, het, ja en niet. Zoek in de tekst naar woorden per thema, en let ook op voorbeeldzinnen. Zo vind je de antwoorden sneller.
Vertaling (Translation):
- woord = word
- zin = sentence
- thema = theme
Common Mistakes and How To Avoid Them (H2)
❌ Mistake 1: Je leert losse woorden, maar je maakt geen zinnen.
✅ Instead: Leer een woord met een korte zin, zoals: Ik woon in Amsterdam.
❌ Mistake 2: Je vergeet het lidwoord bij een zelfstandig naamwoord.
✅ Instead: Leer altijd de of het mee, zoals: de tafel, het huis.
❌ Mistake 3: Je gebruikt Engelse woordvolgorde in het Nederlands.
✅ Instead: Maak korte Nederlandse zinnen, zoals: Ik heb honger en niet een Engelse structuur.
❌ Mistake 4: Je zegt elk woord apart, zonder thema.
✅ Instead: Leer woorden in groepjes, zoals familie, eten, school en vervoer.
❌ Mistake 5: Je kent het woord, maar niet de uitspraak.
✅ Instead: Lees het woord hardop en luister naar moedertaalsprekers, zoals op nos.nl of taalapps.
❌ Mistake 6: Je leert te veel woorden in één dag.
✅ Instead: Kies 10 woorden per dag en herhaal ze in de ochtend en avond.
Dutch Practice Exercise (Oefen je Nederlands)
Reading comprehension: Read this paragraph in Dutch and answer the questions below.
Note: Click "Show answer" immediately after each question to check your understanding.
Veel mensen leren eerst 100 Nederlandse woorden. Dat is slim, want deze woorden hoor je elke dag. Je gebruikt ze thuis, in de supermarkt, op straat en op het werk. Woorden zoals ja, nee, brood, water, huis en fiets zijn heel handig. Met deze woorden kun je al korte zinnen maken.
Vragen (Questions):
Veel mensen leren eerst 100 Nederlandse woorden.
✅ WAAR ❌ NIET WAAR"Show
✅ WAAR – Dat staat in de eerste zin.De woorden zijn handig in de ________.
"Show
supermarktWaar gebruik je deze woorden?
A) Alleen op school
B) Alleen thuis
C) Thuis, op straat, in de supermarkt en op het werk
D) Alleen in de trein"Show
C) Thuis, op straat, in de supermarkt en op het werkMet deze woorden kun je nog geen zinnen maken.
✅ WAAR ❌ NIET WAAR"Show
❌ NIET WAAR – In de tekst staat dat je al korte zinnen kunt maken.Woorden zoals brood en water zijn heel ________.
"Show
handig
Dutch Vocabulary List (Woordenlijst)
Master these terms from this article:
Nouns (Zelfstandige naamwoorden)
- het woord – the word
- de zin – the sentence
- de taal – the language
- de familie – the family
- het huis – the house
- de tafel – the table
- de stoel – the chair
- de winkel – the shop
- de supermarkt – the supermarket
- de straat – the street
- de fiets – the bicycle
- het werk – the work
- de school – the school
- het eten – the food
- het water – the water
Verbs (Werkwoorden)
- leren – to learn
- zeggen – to say
- maken – to make
- gaan – to go
- komen – to come
- wonen – to live
- eten – to eat
- drinken – to drink
- lezen – to read
- schrijven – to write
Adjectives & Phrases (Bijvoeglijke naamwoorden & uitdrukkingen)
- handig – useful
- makkelijk – easy
- belangrijk – important
- elke dag – every day
- een korte zin – a short sentence
- thuis en op straat – at home and on the street
- in het Nederlands – in Dutch
Extra oefeningen bij “First 100 Dutch words to learn”
Hier is waarom. Woorden leren gaat sneller als je ze op meer manieren oefent. Je traint dan lezen, schrijven, grammatica en ook een beetje cultuur. Laten we het stap voor stap doen.
Oefening 1: Koppel het woord aan het thema
Schrijf het juiste thema achter elk woord.
Kies uit:
- familie
- eten en drinken
- thuis
- vervoer
- mensen
Woorden:
- moeder
- water
- fiets
- tafel
- man
- brood
- vader
- huis
- vrouw
- trein
"Show
- moeder = familie
- water = eten en drinken
- fiets = vervoer
- tafel = thuis
- man = mensen
- brood = eten en drinken
- vader = familie
- huis = thuis
- vrouw = mensen
- trein = vervoer
Oefening 2: Vul in met de of het
Schrijf de of het.
- ___ huis
- ___ tafel
- ___ water
- ___ winkel
- ___ woord
- ___ straat
- ___ brood
- ___ fiets
"Show
- het huis
- de tafel
- het water
- de winkel
- het woord
- de straat
- het brood
- de fiets
Oefening 3: Maak een goede zin
Zet de woorden in de goede volgorde.
- woon / ik / in / Nederland
- drink / water / ik
- naar / school / ga / ik
- fiets / is / mijn / rood
- brood / koop / ik / in / de supermarkt
"Show
- Ik woon in Nederland.
- Ik drink water.
- Ik ga naar school.
- Mijn fiets is rood.
- Ik koop brood in de supermarkt.
Oefening 4: Kies het goede woord
Kies uit: ik, jij, hij, zij, wij
- ___ woon in Den Haag.
- ___ bent mijn vriend.
- ___ werkt vandaag thuis.
- Anna is mijn zus. ___ woont in Utrecht.
- ___ leren Nederlands.
"Show
- ik
- jij
- hij
- zij
- wij
Oefening 5: Tegenstellingen
Schrijf het tegenovergestelde.
- ja ↔ _____
- groot ↔ _____
- warm ↔ _____
- open ↔ _____
- oud ↔ _____
"Show
- nee
- klein
- koud
- dicht
- jong
Oefening 6: Wat past niet?
Kies het woord dat niet in de rij past.
- brood, water, melk, stoel
- moeder, vader, zus, trein
- huis, tafel, stoel, appel
- fiets, bus, trein, keuken
- ik, jij, supermarkt, hij
"Show
- stoel
- trein
- appel
- keuken
- supermarkt
Oefening 7: Korte dialoog aanvullen
Vul de juiste woorden in.
Kies uit:
- hallo
- heet
- woon
- dank je wel
- ja
Dialoog:
A: _____, ik ben Sara.
B: Hoi, hoe _____ jij?
A: Ik heet Sara.
B: _____ je in Rotterdam?
A: _____, ik woon in Rotterdam.
B: Oké, _____.
"Show
A: hallo, ik ben Sara.
B: Hoi, hoe heet jij?
A: Ik heet Sara.
B: Woon je in Rotterdam?
A: ja, ik woon in Rotterdam.
B: Oké, dank je wel.
Oefening 8: Meervoud
Schrijf het meervoud.
- de tafel → _____
- de stoel → _____
- de fiets → _____
- het woord → _____
- de winkel → _____
"Show
- de tafels
- de stoelen
- de fietsen
- de woorden
- de winkels
Oefening 9: Werkwoord zijn
Vul in: ben, bent, is, zijn
- Ik ___ moe.
- Jij ___ thuis.
- Het huis ___ groot.
- Wij ___ in de winkel.
- De kinderen ___ op school.
"Show
- ben
- bent
- is
- zijn
- zijn
Oefening 10: Werkwoord hebben
Vul in: heb, hebt, heeft, hebben
- Ik ___ brood.
- Jij ___ een fiets.
- Hij ___ water.
- Wij ___ een huis.
- De buren ___ een auto.
"Show
- heb
- hebt
- heeft
- hebben
- hebben
Oefening 11: Lezen en kiezen
Lees de tekst.
Tom woont in Eindhoven. Hij werkt in een winkel. Elke ochtend drinkt hij koffie en eet hij brood. Daarna gaat hij met de fiets naar zijn werk. In de avond leert hij Nederlands.
Vragen:
Waar woont Tom?
A) in Utrecht
B) in Eindhoven
C) in België
D) in Amsterdam"Show
B) in EindhovenHoe gaat Tom naar zijn werk?
A) met de bus
B) te voet
C) met de fiets
D) met de trein"Show
C) met de fietsWat leert Tom in de avond?
A) Engels
B) Duits
C) Spaans
D) Nederlands"Show
D) Nederlands
Oefening 12: Schrijf zelf
Maak zelf korte zinnen met deze woorden.
- huis
- water
- moeder
- fiets
- Nederlands
Voorbeeldantwoorden:
"Show
- Mijn huis is klein.
- Ik drink water.
- Mijn moeder woont in Delft.
- Mijn fiets is zwart.
- Ik leer Nederlands.
Oefening 13: Nederlandse cultuur en dagelijks leven
Deze oefening helpt bij woorden uit het echte leven in Nederland.
Kies het goede antwoord.
Wat koop je vaak bij de bakker?
A) brood
B) fiets
C) tafel
D) trein"Show
A) broodWaar zet je je fiets vaak neer in Nederland?
A) in het water
B) op straat of bij het station
C) op het dak
D) in de klas"Show
B) op straat of bij het stationWat zeg je vaak als iemand je helpt?
A) nee
B) sorry
C) dank je wel
D) dag huis"Show
C) dank je welWat hoor je vaak in een winkel?
A) Goedemiddag
B) Slaap lekker
C) Welterusten
D) Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag"Show
A) Goedemiddag
Oefening 14: Mini dictee
Schrijf deze zinnen op. Controleer daarna je antwoord.
- Ik woon in Nederland.
- De supermarkt is open.
- Mijn vader drinkt water.
- Wij leren elke dag Nederlandse woorden.
"Show
- Ik woon in Nederland.
- De supermarkt is open.
- Mijn vader drinkt water.
- Wij leren elke dag Nederlandse woorden.
Oefening 15: Van Engels naar Nederlands
Vertaal naar het Nederlands.
- I am at home.
- The water is cold.
- We go to school.
- My mother has bread.
- The bike is in the street.
"Show
- Ik ben thuis.
- Het water is koud.
- Wij gaan naar school.
- Mijn moeder heeft brood.
- De fiets is in de straat.
Oefening 16: Van Nederlands naar Engels
Vertaal naar het Engels.
- Ik leer nieuwe woorden.
- De man woont in een groot huis.
- Wij drinken melk en water.
- Het kind gaat naar school.
- De vrouw werkt in de supermarkt.
"Show
- I learn new words.
- The man lives in a big house.
- We drink milk and water.
- The child goes to school.
- The woman works in the supermarket.
Snelle studietips voor de eerste 100 Nederlandse woorden
Hier is waarom dit helpt:
- Leer woorden per thema.
- Schrijf elk woord in een korte zin.
- Herhaal woorden na 1 dag, 3 dagen en 7 dagen.
- Luister naar het woord en zeg het hardop.
- Gebruik woorden uit je eigen leven, zoals huis, werk, kind, winkel.
Kleine zelfcheck
Kun jij deze dingen al in het Nederlands?
- jezelf kort voorstellen
- 5 woorden over eten zeggen
- 5 woorden over je huis zeggen
- een korte zin maken met ik ben
- een korte zin maken met ik heb
"Show
Mogelijke antwoorden:
Next steps
Pak 10 woorden uit de lijst en maak vandaag 10 korte zinnen. Lees die zinnen morgen weer. Daarna vraag je iemand om jou die woorden hardop te laten zeggen. Zo onthoud je de eerste 100 Nederlandse woorden beter en sneller.
People Also Ask:
How many words do you need to know to be fluent in Dutch?
Fluent Dutch usually means far more than the first 100 words. Many learners can handle daily conversations with a few thousand words, while advanced fluency often involves 8,000 or more words. For Inburgering, your goal is usually not full fluency, but enough Dutch to manage daily life, simple conversations, reading, and listening tasks.
What are the first Dutch words to learn for Inburgering in the Netherlands?
The first Dutch words to learn for Inburgering are common daily-life words such as hallo, dank je, ja, nee, ik, jij, wonen, werken, school, dokter, afspraak, gemeente, and trein. These words help with greetings, forms, travel, health, family, and local services, which are common topics in beginner Dutch and the Inburgering process.
Is learning 100 Dutch words enough for the Inburgering exam?
No, 100 Dutch words are a helpful start, but they are usually not enough on their own for the Inburgering exam. You also need short phrases, listening practice, reading practice, and simple grammar. A first 100-word list is useful as a starting point for A1-level Dutch.
Which Dutch vocabulary topics matter most for beginners in the Netherlands?
The most useful topics are greetings, numbers, family, food, transport, shopping, housing, work, health, school, and government services. These topics come up often in daily life in the Netherlands and are very helpful for anyone preparing for Inburgering or settling into a new city.
How do Dutch people say "I love you"?
Dutch people say “Ik hou van jou” or “Ik hou van je.” Both mean “I love you.” “Ik hou van je” is very common in everyday speech, while “Ik hou van jou” can sound a bit stronger or more emphatic depending on the situation.
What does “Fakka” mean in Dutch?
“Fakka” is a slang greeting used by some Dutch speakers, especially among young people. It comes from Surinamese usage and roughly means “How’s it going?” It is informal slang, so it is better to learn standard greetings like “Hallo” and “Hoe gaat het?” first if you are studying for Inburgering.
What is the longest Dutch word and what does it mean?
A famous long Dutch word is “aansprakelijkheidswaardevaststellingsveranderingen.” It is often explained as meaning “liability valuation changes.” It is more of a language curiosity than a useful beginner word, so it is not something you need for early Dutch study or the Inburgering exam.
What level of Dutch do you need for Inburgering?
For many Inburgering routes, learners often start around A1 and work toward higher beginner or lower intermediate ability, depending on the route and current rules in 2026. You should check the latest DUO requirements, but in general you need practical Dutch for speaking, listening, reading, and writing in everyday situations.
What are good places to find a Dutch 100-word list?
Good places to find a Dutch 100-word list include beginner vocabulary sites, Dutch learning channels on YouTube, word lists from language courses, and A1 vocabulary sheets made for newcomers. Resources from Dutch learning websites and beginner course materials are often more helpful than random word lists because they group words by daily-life topic.
What is the fastest way to remember your first 100 Dutch words?
The fastest way is to learn words by topic, repeat them daily, say them out loud, and use them in short sentences. Flashcards, audio repetition, and labeling objects at home can help a lot. It also helps to study words you will actually use in the Netherlands, such as supermarkt, fiets, huisarts, afspraak, and gemeente.
FAQ
How many Dutch words do you realistically need before the Inburgeringsexamen feels manageable?
The first 100 words are a launchpad, not the finish line. Many exam guides suggest A2 learners often need around 2,000 words overall, but you do not need all of them at once. Build from core daily vocabulary first, then add phrases, question words, and common grammar patterns.
Is it better to memorize single Dutch words or short phrases for the inburgering exam?
Short phrases are far more useful than isolated words because the exam tests recognition and use in context. Instead of only learning werken, learn ik werk vandaag. If you need a next step, study basic sentence patterns in Dutch alongside vocabulary.
Which type of Dutch words usually appear fastest in real-life inburgering situations?
Words linked to appointments, transport, shopping, school, health, work, and directions appear constantly. Think beyond vocabulary lists and focus on survival situations: speaking to the gemeente, reading letters, booking a doctor visit, or understanding times and weekdays in audio. These give the highest return early.
What is the smartest way to study Dutch vocabulary if you only have 15 minutes a day?
Use three rounds: five new words, five old words, and two short sentences aloud. Keep the words connected by topic, such as home or work. For extra structure, use learning resources for complete beginners that combine vocabulary, listening, and review.
Should beginners focus on A1 words first even if the exam target is A2?
Yes. Strong A1 vocabulary makes A2 much easier because higher-level Dutch still depends on basic nouns, verbs, pronouns, and prepositions. Many learners struggle at A2 because their foundation is weak. Mastering simple, high-frequency Dutch first usually leads to faster progress and fewer speaking mistakes.
How can you tell if you truly know a Dutch word and not just recognize it?
You really know a word when you can hear it, say it, spell it, and use it in a simple sentence without translating in your head. A good self-test is this: can you answer a basic question with that word naturally in under three seconds?
Are official inburgering practice materials useful for vocabulary building too?
Yes. Official-style practice is not only for testing yourself. It shows how common Dutch words appear in reading, listening, speaking, and KNM contexts. DUO and Inburgeren practice materials also help you notice repeated exam language about daily life, schedules, rules, places, and public services.
What extra grammar should you learn with your first 100 Dutch words?
At minimum, learn articles, present tense basics, pronouns, negation, question forms, and word order in simple sentences. Vocabulary grows faster when grammar is clear. A practical next step is reviewing essential Dutch grammar for absolute beginners while revising your first word groups.
What are the best word categories to study after the first 100 Dutch words?
Move next to family, food, body and health, transport, time, question words, common places, and polite service language. These categories appear often in beginner Dutch for immigrants and civic integration learners. Add practical verbs like moeten, kunnen, and willen as early as possible.
Can flashcards alone help you pass Dutch vocabulary for the Inburgeringsexamen?
Flashcards help with recall, but alone they are not enough. You also need listening practice, pronunciation, and sentence building. The best method mixes cards with mini dialogues, short audio, and writing. If a word never appears in speech or a sentence, it stays weak and easy to forget.


