How being more direct can help you improve your Dutch fast

Have you been learning Dutch for a while, and does it still require significant effort to speak it? This is completely normal; there is no reason to worry. It happens to most people. If you would like to speak Dutch for real, there is more that you need to do than just learning the vocabulary. It is not something that you need to study, and it is not something that language schools normally teach. Once you understand it, it makes all the difference…

Don't think in English first

Imagine that you want to say something in Dutch. What do you do? Do you try to remember that one sentence you memorised from your textbook some time ago? Do you think in your own language first, and then try to translate this sentence word by word? Voila! It is crystal clear that speaking Dutch is not easy or natural for you just yet. Using these two strategies will get you stuck within seconds.

The solution is very simple. To speak Dutch freely, you have to think in Dutch directly. Don’t think in English first. Of course, you should have an idea of what you would like to say. Then all you need to do is think of some Dutch words that you can use and put them in a sentence quickly. Doing this, again and again, will make fluency an easy goal.

Why is it so easy to get stuck in Dutch?

The problem is that in most language courses, you never learn how to think in Dutch. Yes, you may memorise many sentences and - who knows? – even long, extended vocabulary lists. Unfortunately, they don’t really show you how to build sentences by yourself. As long as you keep thinking in English first, expressing yourself in Dutch will stay difficult.

Sure, you must know what you want to say, but is it really relevant to make sentences in English first? Thinking in English is a step that you could easily skip. What if you could jump directly to Dutch?

Thinking in English causes many problems. You must have noticed that the order of words in a Dutch sentence is different from English. On top of that, your English vocabulary is probably a lot bigger than your Dutch vocabulary. Unfamiliar terms will make translating sentences word-for-word impossible. And there is a third reason why thinking in English first causes many problems: culture.

Speaking a new language does not only mean using different words and different grammar. This is what most people understand. For some mysterious reason, the cultural aspect is harder to grasp.

Learn to speak Dutch freely with Talencoach

If you keep thinking only from your own cultural perspective, speaking another language will lose its effectiveness. 

Let’s assume that you like being polite. You do not want to offend other people, right? In English, there are plenty of rules to follow. Surprise, surprise… things are quite different in Dutch.

Imagine ordering something in Dutch. Would you use the phrase “mag ik”? (“Mag ik een biertje, mag ik een stroopwafel?”) These sentences sound brilliant, and they are grammatically correct. “Mag ik” is so close to “may I”. No wonder you see it in textbooks again and again, and even teachers insist it's the correct way.

What to understand before you speak

Here is the thing that no one tells you. “Mag ik” is always used to ask for permission. In some situations, it is the right thing to say. However, using this phrase repeatedly can affect your social interactions. Constantly asking for permission could be perceived as a lack of confidence by Dutch people. They might wonder why you are begging all the time…

In Dutch society, people are supposed to be equal. That is why we communicate more directly. In English, you may use sentences like “would you please” or “could you please” more often, but translating them literally into Dutch would be nonsense.

Why "graag" is a magic word

So, what can you do if you want to order something? Instead of using “mag ik”, you can use another magic word: “graag”. In Dutch, it means “met liefde” or “met plezier” ("with love" or "with pleasure"). Instead of saying: “Mag ik een biertje?”, you can also say: “Ik wil graag een biertje” or “Een biertje graag”.

To top it, your sentences could be even simpler. Just smile, make sure that your face looks friendly, and then you can say: “Heb je een biertje?” Once you receive it, you may say “lekker!” or “dank je wel!”

Can you see that sentences like these make speaking Dutch a lot easier? You don’t have to use the literal translation. A short and crisp sentence is usually the correct way to go. If it does the trick, why make your life in Dutch more difficult?

Why Dutch directness is a myth

Once again, speaking Dutch does not only mean using new words and grammar, but also that you embrace a different culture with new ideas. It is also the final thing that most people struggle with.

Many people talk about Dutch directness. There is so much discussion about whether it is a good or a bad thing. However, most people overlook the question of whether or not their perception of Dutch directness is judgmental as well. In Dutch, you also need to be polite. The way you express respect and consideration is different from English. However, it does exist (but this is for another article).

Arguably, Dutch directness is an absolute myth. There are many taboos in Dutch society, and people often do not share their honest opinions. Here is the most important thing, though: if somehow you can embrace Dutch culture, speaking in Dutch will become a lot easier, and you will experience a true liberation.

Another thing to know is that if Dutch people like you, they may tease you a little bit. Casual banter can be a way of showing affection. Once you understand this cultural aspect, it can make your conversations a lot easier. Certainly, learning how to tease people back makes everyday moments more fun!

Once more, if you want to speak fluent Dutch, think in Dutch first and make sure that you also understand the culture! Truly grasp how communication differs between languages and experience the joy.