as in to be able to speak it fairly well, understand what people say, and get an idea of what is being said in written words. writing it isn't as important. i know it's said dutch is very similar to english, but how much? could it be learned to a fairly decent level within a matter of months?

If you spend a lot of time on it. I think you could reach a decent level.

If only wtfdude would log in more often he'd have an answer for you. I helped him study dutch (he's american), so he has hands on experience.

Do you know any other languages? Like German? (would help greatly)

It depends on your individual aptitude, what resources you use, and the order at which you go about learning the different aspects of the language. Dutch is relatively close to english so you could start expressing yourself and asking questions in a few weeks and holding a conversation in a few months.

You'd be better off learning German first. There aren't many resources for learning Dutch unless you live in say, Belgium, and knowing German would be more useful anyways. Not to mention, Dutch is very similar to, yet much easier than German. By knowing some German you'd already have learned most of Dutch grammar, and you'd have an idea on how to say most words.

I had about a year and a half of German under my belt, and spending just a couple months in Belgum, I managed to get to a survival/weak conversational level in Dutch by talking with coworkers. Having a decent command of German made things incredibly easy, and usually I could just guess something and still be understood, and subsequently corrected.

Why do you want to learn Dutch anyway?

i guess it would be easier and maybe more practical to learn german first. to answer the one question, no i don't know any german, i only speak english. would you say those who speak dutch are likely to also speak either english or german?

People in Flanders in Belgium tend to speak decent English. All of the ones I knew spoke fluent English in fact. German...not really.

EDIT: Anyways, why the fuck do you keep posting in here? After at least a year of talking about wanting to learn a language, you haven't put any effort into a single one. On the internet alone you can find a hefty amount of resources for just about any major language, and many minor ones as well. You just keep sitting around talking about shit and "planning". Bottom line: pick a language that interests you, and start learning it today. Motherfucker.

would you say those who speak dutch are likely to also speak either english or german?

fact 1. all dutch people speak german

fact 2. not all dutch people like germans and therefor don´t admit fact 1

fact 3. even without studying the language an average intelligent german can read dutch and vice versa

fact 4. dutch language looks like stuttered german with basic english knowledge when drunk

fact 5 dutch tv shows english films and tv series with subtitles, no need to show german films, they are close to the border and the country is too small to not receive german television

fact 1. all dutch people speak german

fact 2. not all dutch people like germans and therefor don´t admit fact 1

fact 3. even without studying the language an average intelligent german can read dutch and vice versa

fact 4. dutch language looks like stuttered german with basic english knowledge when drunk

fact 5 dutch tv shows english films and tv series with subtitles, no need to show german films, they are close to the border and the country is too small to not receive german television

Aside from facts 1, 3, and 4 being flat out wrong...

Fuck it. Just stop posting, dumbass.

DerDrache has a point. although there's a huge tutorial for learning dutch on totse in the textfile section. And most dutch speak english (more than german)

Also BSK;

1. No
2. Anti-german feelings are almost gone, they were strong after the war but most of the people who lived throug hit are dead now. And pre-war we were very pro-german so...
3. At a basic level yes, but not completely dutch and german are not that similar (anymore).
4. Your opinion.
5. True, we receive German tv, but also english, belgian, french and italian channels.

1. thx for proving my point
2. oh do wake up, will ya?
3. I was talking about average intelligent people, that´s above your level scarlett
4. deal with the truth
5. I was talking about broadcasting via air

I'll care to reply. I'm fluent in English, very good in German and am Dutch myself so. Bring it on I dare you.

BSK's questions:

fact 1. all dutch people speak german
Sadly, not true anymore. Many speak it but in the big city's to the west most don't speak it. I must hand it to you however that most people above 50-ish do speak German because it was a mandatory language on schools back then since early post-war economy drove largely on Germany's renewed industry and commerce. Much as the old generation hates to admit it.

fact 2. not all dutch people like germans and therefor don´t admit fact 1
Correct, naturally.

fact 3. even without studying the language an average intelligent german can read dutch and vice versa.
Not correct. I have many German friends and they can't make up a single coherent sentence when I speak Dutch to friends in their presence. At best they can translate shared nouns or a verb here and there. Some dialects of German however come very close to dutch, German people that speak this have less problems understanding Dutch off the shelf. Keep in mind that during the renaissance Holland was under heavy French influence and Germany was not. We have many French nouns, verbs and grammatical influence comming from there where German has kept more true to its Germanic roots.

fact 4. dutch language looks like stuttered german with basic english knowledge when drunk
I find your deduction here amusing. Maybe it tells us more about you then about the Dutch language. No further comment.

fact 5 dutch tv shows english films and tv series with subtitles, no need to show german films, they are close to the border and the country is too small to not receive german television.
Mostly correct. We use subtitles instead of speakers or synchronisation. Have you ever heard a chinese movie synchronised into English? Its horrible. We prefer the original voice of the actor. If your used to subtitles you don't even have to take your eye's of the scene, you can read it "on the fly". The same policy goes for German movies/shows or movies/shows from any other country. Even some belgian movies are sometimes subtitled because their accent is hard to understand for some.


Comming back to the OP's question. You don't need Dutch to go around in Holland, speaking English will get you around just fine. If you do want to learn another Germanic language I'd say, learn German.

Keep in mind that during the renaissance Holland was under heavy French influence and Germany was not. We have many French nouns, verbs and grammatical influence comming from there where German has kept more true to its Germanic roots.

keep in mind the era you talk about was from 14th to 16th century, long ago after the germanic tribes you seem to refer to. anyone can look this up on wikipedia or google, so idc about the rest of your bullshit post.

keep in mind the era you talk about was from 14th to 16th century, long ago after the germanic tribes you seem to refer to. anyone can look this up on wikipedia or google, so idc about the rest of your bullshit post.

You're a fucking retard. Why don't you be an ass in SG if you don't care to help people in this forum.

En cool, nog een Nederlander. :)

oh I can help people, but I prefer to let the ass wiping do the mentally challenged from neighbour countries with very low education, so I can correct them and be the super hero for all the girls in this forum that fail at life too ..

Translation anyone?

It's funny you try to act superior yet can't type a few coherent sentences in english.

Dumbass.

what the fuck are you saying? what is your native language?

Why respond to BSK? Does he ever add anything to the conversation, besides strident stupidity? He might as well be a joke account.

if it´s strident stupidity to you it may has to do with the average intelligence level you are excluded from without any chance - same goes for fza btw, I guess I have to point that out again ..

I have concluded that you're a faggot.

by reading some other posts of you my point has only be proven. if you are below average, don´t come here and try to show off ..

I still think you're a faggot. A "below-average" faggot as well. Come back when you perfect your English.

By reading some other posts from Zay, your point has been proven?

That sentence means that the act of reading his posts proved your point. So, either you suck at English, or you suck at logic. Probably both, based on your other posts...

I still think you're a faggot. A "below-average" faggot as well. Come back when you perfect your English.

if you really feel the urge to argue at that level, go on, it helps when puberty sucks the most ..

BSK, your English is far from perfect.

your post is far from any point of being interesting nor do you prove anything. kthxbye ..

Rofl, every post you make is proof. I'm so happy that others have finally called you out for being a douchebag.

as I obviously have to point out again and again to my little stalker, because I´m sure he´s talking to me, the user derdrache is on my ignore list for more than 12 months. as some newbies to this forum think his bullshit is worth being quoted I can´t avoid to see that he´s still replying to me most of the times when he posts 5 minutes after me. it´s about time to show that his iq is above the average of a sliced toast bread and he stops talking to me - btw it doesn´t produce any relevant knowledge in this thread or forum if he talks about anything but his knowledge from online translators. so just keep going on and make a bigger fool of yourself by making flame wars involving me without getting noticed by me ..

Stop making an ass out of yourself BSK, it's pathetic.

you first.

lol BSK Bull-Shit King

who do you think you are to say that? what makes you think this will get us anywhere but to a useless flame war? what makes you post irrelevant comments and think you are proving anything?

the only thing you do is showing your immaturity and lowering your reputation to a non-existant level. go on, I don´t want to make you stop, it´s up to you ..

BSK just keeps on going, and going, and going, and going. Energizer bunny motherfucker...

How long would it take an American to learn Dutch?

Exactly 16 hours, 23 minutes, 12 seconds.

Fuck you.

I'd say that based on the fact that you ask a question regarding the time it would take for anyone of 300 million people to learn a different language when referring to yourself.... it would take a very, very long time.

I know how to say exactly one thing in Dutch. It sounds like "voht schtom" and means "how stupid..." or "this is ridiculous".

Right?

"voht schtom"

Never heard of it. If your mean "wat stom" its pronounced the way its written. Give the a an English accent a and your a good way there.

I think "bewaaken met honden" means "beware of dog."

That's nice, also wrong. It would be "bewaken", but without context it doesn't make any sense.

"bewaken met honden" = Guarding with dogs.

Guarding what?

I think it was an airforce base. I just assumed it meant beware because bewaken looks like beware. Is this not a common phrase?

That's nice, also wrong. It would be "bewaken", but without context it doesn't make any sense.

"bewaken met honden" = Guarding with dogs.

Guarding what?

Just fyi, in English "Beware of dog" is a common sign to see on certain people's property. It means, well, beware of their dog. Bewaken means "to guard", not "to beware"?

Yeah. You'd think it would be like "bewake" which would have the same meaning as "beware" but I'll leave this one to the guys who actually know Dutch.

Just fyi, in English "Beware of dog" is a common sign to see on certain people's property. It means, well, beware of their dog. Bewaken means "to guard", not "to beware"?

No. Those signs here are "Pas op voor de hond" (Beware of the dog/Look out for the dog).

pas op = look out / Be wary
voor = for
de = the
hond = dog

Another example.
In english: General Ackbar; "Look out! It's a trap!"
In dutch: Generaal Ackbar; "Pas op! Het is een valstrik!"

Why you wanna learn dutch? Planning to go on a weedtrip?

Stop posting, shithead.

Stop posting, shithead.

First of all you asked the same question:
Why do you want to learn Dutch anyway?

And second, im dutch myself so i think i have a bit more right to post here than your sorry ass.

And btw DerDrache... The dragon?? Fucking nazi nerd, stop dreaming about dungeons and dragons.

First of all you asked the same question:


And second, im dutch myself so i think i have a bit more right to post here than your sorry ass.

And btw DerDrache... The dragon?? Fucking nazi nerd, stop dreaming about dungeons and dragons.

Flikker op kneus.

First of all you asked the same question:


And second, im dutch myself so i think i have a bit more right to post here than your sorry ass.

And btw DerDrache... The dragon?? Fucking nazi nerd, stop dreaming about dungeons and dragons.

"Why you wanna learn dutch? Planning to go on a weedtrip."

You posed your question like a dumbass, so I assumed you were a dumbass.

And second, im dutch myself so i think i have a bit more right to post here than your sorry ass.

you should know that he uses an online translator and therefor pretends to know all languages and thinks he has the right to teach everyone. of course any redneck from usa thinks the netherlands are just a trip for a trip ..

I have two extra buttons on my keyboard. One nukes Holland, the other makes toast.

1. Nuke Holland.
2. Make toast.

Problem solved.

Why would you want to learn Dutch anyway? It's a pretty difficult language (not like English at all) and all Dutch people can speak English (and most of them, also a lot more other languages), so there isn't really any need to, I think :)

Flikker op kneus.

Niet huilen kanker stinkkaaskop

"Why you wanna learn dutch? Planning to go on a weedtrip."

You posed your question like a dumbass, so I assumed you were a dumbass.

You posted this like you were fucking your mommy in the ass, so i assume you are a motherfucker?

Niet huilen kanker stinkkaaskop

Gast als je niks nuttigs te melden heb kanker dan op naar SG.

How about lets just start with America learning English ...

Omg, you're so clever and hardcore insulting Americans. I think we can handle it though, especially since Canada is world-renowned as being one of the lamest places on Earth.

Not to mention I thought the title was
"How long would it take America to learn Dutch?"
You took it the wrong way faggot.

You're right. I should have just assumed that your dyslexic ass misread the title.

so true, so true

the title should have been like ".. an exceptional intelligent american .." and then the answer could have been like "the same time an average european needs, 6 months" ..

fact 1. all dutch people speak german

fact 2. not all dutch people like germans and therefor don´t admit fact 1

fact 3. even without studying the language an average intelligent german can read dutch and vice versa

fact 4. dutch language looks like stuttered german with basic english knowledge when drunk

fact 5 dutch tv shows english films and tv series with subtitles, no need to show german films, they are close to the border and the country is too small to not receive german television

Fact 1 false, i am dutch and i truly suck at german.

Fact 4 lol.

To the OP i'm guessing it would be pretty hard, especially the pronounciation of the "G", lol.