Dutch pronunciation: Diftongen - /œy/

Sample pronunciation audio

Start with one sample audio file for diftongen - /œy/.

Quick tip

Diphthongs start with one vowel sound and glide to another within the same syllable.

Letters and IPA

Practice words

• huis

• lui

• buis

• fruit

• muur

Minimal pairs

• huis / huisje
• lui / lei
• buis / bus
• fruit / friet
• muur / moer

How to produce this sound

Round your lips as if saying 'bird' or 'fur', but start with the tongue forward (like French 'eu'), then quickly move to a sound like 'oo' in 'too', but keep lips rounded.

Common mix-ups

• huis / huisje
• muur / moer
• lui / lei
• buis / bus
• fruit / friet

Closest comparison

This is a new sound in Dutch. Closest English alternatives: 'boy' (oy), 'how' (ow), but neither is the same.