Which Languages Are Closest to Dutch? A Linguistic Family Tree

Oct 14

The question of which languages are closest to Dutch is oddly satisfying to answer because Dutch sits at a crossroads: compact and practical like German, familiar-looking to English eyes, and ringed by neighbors whose speech blends into Dutch at the borders and diverges into distinct languages across the sea; to make sense of this landscape, we need a simple map of the Germanic family, a feel for historical sound changes, and a reality check about what “close” really means in your ears when you listen to a podcast, read a street sign, or chat with a colleague.

This matters whether you’re a learner picking your next language, a Dutch speaker weighing the payoff of German or English, or an English speaker wondering why Dutch headlines are readable and yet the radio sounds like a riddle. “Closeness” isn’t just about shared vocabulary on a list; it shows up in mutual intelligibility (how much you understand without study), structure (word order, verb systems), sound patterns (that famous Dutch g/ch, the ui, the ij/ei), and everyday usage (compounds, particles, politeness). The payoff of knowing where Dutch sits on the tree is practical: you’ll transfer the right skills, avoid false friends, and choose resources that match your goals.

Below, we’ll tour the Germanic family with Dutch at the center: immediate relatives (Afrikaans), siblings on the continuum (Flemish/Belgian Dutch), close cousins (Frisian, Low Saxon/Low German), strong cousins (Standard German and its dialects), and more distant kin (English and the Scandinavian languages). We’ll also talk about border dialects, false friends, and how to leverage similarities when learning.

The Family Tree in One Glance

Dutch belongs to the Germanic branch of Indo-European:

West Germanic
- Low Franconian: Dutch (Netherlands & Flanders), Zeelandic, Limburgish (transitional)
- Afrikaans (descended from 17th-century Dutch)
- Frisian (West Frisian in the Netherlands; also North & Saterland Frisian in Germany)
- Low Saxon / Low German (Nedersaksisch/Plattdeutsch)
- High German (Standard German and dialects; includes Swiss German, Bavarian, etc.)
- English (and Scots)
North Germanic: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, Faroese (the Scandinavian branch)

Think of these as branches that share a toolkit—cognates like water, hand, land—but differ in how they place verbs, pronounce fricatives, and pack meaning into compounds.

How We’ll Measure “Closeness”

Mutual intelligibility (without study). Could a Dutch speaker follow the gist of a news clip? Could a newcomer read a headline?
Lexicon. How many core words are similar in everyday life?
Sound changes. Does it “sound Dutch-ish” (g/ch, ui, ij/ei), or has it drifted (High German consonant shift, Scandinavian prosody)?
Grammar. Word order (verb-second), separable verbs, cases, diminutives, particles.
Real-world transfer. How quickly can a motivated learner reach basic competence?

We’ll keep this practical rather than academic—enough linguistics to be accurate, not so much that it gets in your way.

The Core: Dutch and Flemish (Belgian Dutch)

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Flemish in everyday speech often means “Belgian Dutch”—the standard variety used in Flanders—plus the regional flavors surrounding it. Linguistically, Belgian Dutch and Netherlands Dutch are standard varieties of the same language, with noticeable differences in pronunciation (a softer g, melody), word choice (goesting vs. zin, frigo vs. koelkast), and formality, but fully mutually intelligible. Dialects inside the Dutch language area—Hollandic, Brabantic, Zeelandic, West/East Flemish, Limburgish, Brabantish—form a historical dialect continuum: walk from Zeeland into East Flanders and you’d hear small shifts at each village. Standardization smooths much of this, but the color remains.

Bottom line: If you speak Dutch, you can use it confidently in Flanders; if you learn in Flanders, you can use it in the Netherlands. The differences are flavor, not barriers.

#1 Closest: Afrikaans (the Daughter Language)

If you want the single closest language to Dutch, it’s Afrikaans. Born from 17th-century Dutch in southern Africa and shaped by Malay, Khoi, and Bantu languages (among others), Afrikaans simplified some grammar but kept Dutch’s core:

Morphology simplified: No person endings on verbs (ek is, jy is, hy is), and no grammatical gender on nouns.
Word order: Still very Dutch/Germanic—verb-second in main clauses, verbs cluster at the end in subclauses.
Lexicon: Massive overlap with Dutch, though with many unique words and semantic shifts.
Pronunciation: Different vowel qualities and rhythm, but broadly recognizable to Dutch ears.

Mutual intelligibility: Very high with exposure, especially in writing. Spoken comprehension improves rapidly once you tune your ear.

Why this helps learners: Dutch speakers can read Afrikaans newspapers almost immediately; Afrikaans speakers find Dutch signage, subtitles, and basic texts approachable. If you know one, the other comes quickly.

Very Close Cousin: West Frisian (and the Frisian Family)

Frisian is its own language group, historically very close to English. In the Netherlands, West Frisian (Frysk) has official status in Fryslân. To outsiders, Frisian can sound like a whimsical bridge between English and Dutch:

Cognates with English: tsiis (cheese), dier (animal), tsjerke (church—via Norse/Old English paths), brea (bread).
Structure: Germanic verb placement patterns, but with Frisian-specific developments.
Mutual intelligibility: Dutch speakers don’t automatically understand Frisian, but with exposure (and literacy), they catch a lot. Frisian speakers are typically bilingual in Dutch.

Why it matters: If you love the north of the Netherlands or coastal histories, Frisian gives you deep insight into the old North Sea language corridor. It’s not “a Dutch dialect”; it’s a parallel branch, friendly to Dutch but distinct.

Border Neighbors: Low Saxon (Nedersaksisch) and Low German (Plattdeutsch)

Along the northeast of the Netherlands and across the German border you’ll meet Low Saxon varieties (in Dutch: Nedersaksisch) and, in Germany, Low German (Plattdeutsch). Historically, these are West Germanic languages outside the High German sound shift—so they didn’t turn p → pf or t → z the way Standard German did. They feel phonologically closer to Dutch than High German does, and they share a lot of vocabulary.

Mutual intelligibility: Variable. A Dutch speaker may catch a fair bit from context, especially with slower speech and shared topics. For many city dwellers, extended exposure is needed.
Status: In the Netherlands, Nedersaksisch enjoys recognition as a regional language; in Germany, Plattdeutsch has strong cultural support in some regions.

Takeaway: If you’re curious about “Dutch across the border,” Low German shows you a sibling that grew up next door. It’s not Dutch, but it’s family.

The Big Cousin: Standard German (High German)

German is the heavyweight cousin—clearly related to Dutch, yet further than Afrikaans, Frisian, or Low German for two reasons:

Sound shifts. German underwent the High German consonant shift: ship vs. Schiff, time vs. Zeit, pepper vs. Pfeffer. Dutch, like English, largely avoided it.
Morphology. German kept cases (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive) and more inflection.

But the similarities are still striking:

Verb-second main clauses: Morgen gehe ich… / Morgen ga ik…
Verb-final in subclauses: … weil ich früh aufstehen muss / … omdat ik vroeg moet opstaan
Separable verbs: anrufen / opbellen
Compounds: Arbeitslosenversicherung / arbeidsongeschiktheidsverzekering (okay, Dutch compounds can be long, too!)

Mutual intelligibility: With no study, a Dutch speaker can often catch headlines and simple texts; speech needs exposure. If you speak one, the other is faster to learn than any non-Germanic language.

The Sibling Who Moved Away: English (and Scots)

English and Dutch share West Germanic roots and thousands of cognates: water/water, hand/hand, land/land, licht/light, huis/house, brood/bread. Yet English drifted through heavy contact with Norse and French, shedding many endings and welcoming a flood of Romance vocabulary. The result:

Lexicon overlap: High, especially in core terms and international words.
Syntax: English is more flexible in verb placement; Dutch keeps Germanic V2.
Sounds: English lacks a Dutch-style g/ch; Dutch lacks English th. Vowel systems differ.

Practical note: For English speakers, Dutch is among the easiest new languages to read at the beginning and one of the most rewarding to learn quickly for real life—once you master a handful of sounds and sentence frames.

The Scandinavian Branch: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish (and the North Atlantic Pair)

The North Germanic languages—Danish, Norwegian, Swedish—are more distant cousins. You’ll recognize many international words and Germanic core vocabulary, and you’ll notice compounds and verb-second tendencies (Norwegian/Swedish in main clauses), but pronunciation and grammar feel different:

Prosody: Scandinavian languages have distinctive melodies and stress patterns; Danish has unique soft consonants.
Mutual intelligibility: Dutch speakers do not understand Scandinavian languages without study, though reading basic signs and headlines is doable with experience.

Icelandic and Faroese preserve older Germanic features and are further still.

A Qualitative Closeness Ladder (Rule-of-Thumb)

From a Dutch perspective, roughly:

Afrikaans – closest (daughter language; high mutual intelligibility with exposure)
Belgian Dutch (Flemish standard) – same language, different standard accent and some vocabulary
Neighboring Dutch dialects & Zeelandic/Limburgish – within-language variation
Low Saxon / Low German (Plattdeutsch) – close cousin; proximity helps comprehension
West Frisian – close cousin, distinct but friendly with exposure
Standard German – strong cousin; clear structural overlap but bigger sound/inflection gap
English (and Scots) – sibling with lots of shared words, but divergent sounds and syntax
Scandinavian languages – distant cousins; many cognates, different sound systems

This is a learning-oriented ranking, not a lab measurement. Your personal ladder may shift with exposure (e.g., living in Groningen may raise Low Saxon for you).

Borderlands and Transitional Varieties

Limburgish (Limburgs) and neighboring Ripuarian dialects around the Dutch-German-Belgian border blend features from Low Franconian and High German areas. Some varieties have tones (pitch accents) reminiscent of Norwegian/Swedish prosody; many are recognized as regional languages. For a learner, they’re fascinating but not your starting point. Learn standard Dutch; enjoy regional speech as a bonus.

Why Some Languages “Feel” Closer: Four Quick Patterns

High German sound shift: If a language avoided it (Dutch, English, Low German), it sounds closer to Dutch than High German does.
Verb placement: Languages that keep V2 and verb-final in subclauses feel structurally close (Dutch, German, Frisian).
Compounding & particles: Shared habits (long compounds, modal particles) give a “home” feel.
Borrowing & history: Trade routes (North Sea, Hanseatic, New Amsterdam) create overlapping vocabulary that boosts mutual intelligibility.

Cognate Snapshots (Fun & Useful)

Core set across English–Dutch–German:

water – water – Wasser
hand – hand – Hand
house – huis – Haus
light – licht – Licht
bread – brood – Brot
salt – zout – Salz
ship – schip – Schiff
day – dag – Tag
new – nieuw – neu

Dutch–Afrikaans near-twins:

huis – huis (house)
kind – kind (child)
vandag – vandaag (today)
môre – morgen (tomorrow; spelling shift)
baie – veel/erg (many/very; Afrikaans-specific word)
werk – werk (work)

Dutch–Frisian echoes:

brood – brea (bread)
tsiis – kaas (cheese)
goed – goed (good; sound shifts differ)
skiep – schaap (sheep; Frisian keeps sk-, Dutch shifts to sch-)

Cognates are great confidence builders. False friends deserve their own caution list: eventueel (possibly), brief (letter), sympathiek (likeable), raar (odd).

How to Leverage Closeness in Your Studies

If You Already Speak English

Exploit cognates for quick reading wins (universiteit, informatie, project, probleem, telefoon).
Prioritize pronunciation: ui, ij/ei, g/ch, and a consistent r.
Master word order templates early (V2; verb-final in subclauses; separable verbs).
Use compounds as LEGO—read left to right, chunk meanings (zorgverzekering → care-insurance).
Lean into particles for natural tone (even, maar, toch, hoor).

If You Already Speak German

Celebrate syntax overlap (V2, verb-final, separables).
Relax about cases—Dutch has no noun case system to memorize.
Tune your sounds—Dutch g/ch differs by region; vowels won’t map 1:1 onto German.
Watch vocabulary traps—eventueel ≠ eventuell (false friend in meaning).

If You Already Speak Afrikaans

Translate confidence into Dutch—you’ll read fast.
Map grammar back—expect more inflection and some different word choices.
Adjust sounds and spelling—Dutch orthography signals length; Dutch ij/ei patterns will feel new.

If You Already Speak Frisian or Low Saxon

Capitalize on proximity—lexicon and structures help, but standard Dutch phonology and spelling rules need focused attention.
Use media from both sides—news from the Netherlands and Flanders builds robust comprehension.

Practical Listening & Reading Tips

Pick a standard to start. Netherlands Dutch or Belgian Dutch; both are fine. Consistency helps.
Shadow short clips. Copy rhythm and particles; don’t over-translate.
Read headlines daily. The mix of cognates and compounds is perfect training.
Dip into neighbors. After a few months, sample Afrikaans text or a German news clip for cross-training.
Keep a “false friend” list. Five minutes a day prevents big misunderstandings.

Mini-FAQ by Neighbor (Speed Rundown)

Afrikaans: Closest; fast reading wins; spoken understanding grows quickly.
Flemish (Belgian Dutch): Same language; softer sound; some vocabulary differences.
Frisian: Distinct language; friendly with exposure; bilingual Frisian speakers help bridge.
Low Saxon/Low German: Close across the border; exposure matters.
German: Strong cousin; structure aligns, sounds/inflection differ.
English: Sibling in writing; spoken Dutch requires sound & syntax training.
Scandinavian: Distant cousins; cognates help, but sound systems are different.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is Flemish a separate language from Dutch?
In general usage, “Flemish” refers to Belgian Dutch—the standard variety used in Flanders—plus regional speech. Linguistically, Belgian Dutch and Netherlands Dutch are standard varieties of the same language with minor differences in pronunciation, word choice, and style.

Q2: What’s the single closest language to Dutch?
Afrikaans. It’s a daughter language of Dutch with simplified morphology and huge vocabulary overlap. Reading comprehension between the two is strong, and spoken understanding improves rapidly with exposure.

Q3: Is Frisian closer to English or Dutch?
Historically, Frisian is very close to English, but modern Frisian coexists with Dutch and shares many features with it. To Dutch ears, Frisian sounds distinct yet approachable after exposure.

Q4: Can Dutch speakers understand German without study?
Some, especially those with exposure (school, media, border regions), can follow the gist of simple speech and headlines. For most Dutch speakers, German is not automatically intelligible, but it’s relatively quick to learn thanks to structural overlap.

Q5: What’s the deal with Low Saxon/Low German and Dutch?
They’re West Germanic languages that, like Dutch, avoided the High German sound shift. That makes them phonologically closer to Dutch than High German is. Mutual intelligibility varies by region and exposure.

Q6: Are Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish close to Dutch?
They’re Germanic cousins but on the North Germanic branch. You’ll see familiar compounds and cognates, but the sound systems and grammar are different. Don’t expect mutual intelligibility without study.

Q7: Which language should I learn after Dutch—German or English?
If you already speak English, German is a natural next step. If you don’t, English delivers global utility. In both cases, Dutch gives you a head start: verb placement (German) and cognates (English).

Q8: Do English and Dutch influence each other today?
Yes. Dutch borrows English terms in tech and business (updaten, meeting, deadline); English retains older Dutch loans (cookie, boss, yacht). You’ll hear code-switching in Dutch offices—stylistic choice, not a must.

Q9: Are Belgian and Netherlands accents mutually understandable?
Yes. A softer g and some vocabulary differences aside, standard Dutch across the Netherlands and Flanders is mutually intelligible. Exposure tunes your ear quickly.

Q10: I’m choosing between Dutch and German. Which is easier?
For English speakers, Dutch often feels faster at first (cognates, lighter inflection). German demands more morphology but rewards you with reach in Central Europe. If your life is in the Netherlands/Belgium, Dutch is the obvious first move; if your work spans Germany, Austria, Switzerland, German may be strategic.

Final Thoughts: A Family You Can Navigate

Dutch doesn’t live alone on the map. It shares a street with Afrikaans, a block with Frisian and Low German, a district with German, and a city with English and the Scandinavian languages. That’s good news: it means transfer value is high. Learn Dutch and you’ll read Afrikaans headlines, pick up German word order faster, and recognize English cognates in reverse. Learn to hear the Dutch sound system and watch your fear of compounds vanish; learn the basic sentence frames and unlock Germanic logic across the board.

When you ask “Which languages are closest to Dutch?” you’re really asking “Where can I go next with the least friction?” The answer: start with Afrikaans if you love fast wins; add German for structural depth; keep English sharp for global reach; explore Frisian or Low Saxon if you’re drawn to the North Sea story. The family is big, but your Dutch is the right passport.

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Olga Sylvia