Dutch grammar: vraagwoorden

What this grammar point covers

Vraagwoorden are question words in Dutch. They are used to ask for specific information, such as who, what, where, when, why, and how.

When to use it

Use vraagwoorden at the beginning of a question when you want to ask about a person, thing, place, time, reason, or manner in Dutch.

Key forms

• wie
• wat
• waar
• wanneer
• waarom
• hoe

Examples

Tips

• Vraagwoorden usually come at the start of the question.
• After the vraagwoord, the verb comes next, then the subject.
• Do not use 'is' or 'do' like in English; the verb comes directly after the vraagwoord.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some vraagwoorden can combine with prepositions, for example: Waar + op = Waarop (On what).