Dutch Grammar Quiz: De or Het? (Het lidwoord)

Dutch nouns use one of two definite articles: de (common gender) or het (neuter). About 75% of nouns take de. Learn the patterns below and you will be right most of the time.

Key rules for De or Het?

de — Persons and Professions

Nouns referring to people and all professions use de, regardless of gender.

de — Ending -heid

All nouns ending in -heid are de. These are usually abstract nouns.

de — Ending -ing

Nouns ending in -ing are almost always de.

Examples

de man, de vrouw — people — always de
de dokter, de student — professions — always de
de bakker, de leraar — professions — always de
de chauffeur, de pianist — professions ending in -eur, -ist — always de
de vrijheid — freedom
de gezondheid — health

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Practice: De or Het?

Key rules for De or Het?

Examples

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