Dutch Compound Words and Apostrophes: Why Is Everything Glued Together?!

Let me guess.

You wrote “fiets winkel” for “bike shop”...
And your teacher crossed it out with a sigh:
“It’s fietswinkel — all one word.”

And just when you think you’ve figured it out, someone writes baby’s with an apostrophe.
But not papa’s auto.

What’s going on?!

Let’s crack the code on Dutch compound words and apostrophe rules, once and for all.

First: Why Is Dutch Obsessed With Gluing Words Together?

In Dutch, two (or more!) words often become one. It’s called a samenstelling (compound word).

Examples:

• fiets + winkel = fietswinkel

• sneeuw + bal = sneeuwbal

• school + tas = schooltas

• woorden + boek = woordenboek

Why?

Because Dutch loves efficiency.
If the words belong together in meaning, they stick together in spelling.

One Reddit user said:
“Dutch compound words are like LEGO—everything clicks together… whether you like it or not.”

Rule #1: If It’s One Concept, It’s One Word

If two nouns describe one thing, glue them together.

• A cheese sandwich → kaasbroodje

• A Dutch teacher → Nederlandseleraar

• A dog leash → hondenriem

No space. No hyphen. No mercy.

✅ Correct: huisdeur
❌ Incorrect: huis deur

Even three-part monsters exist:

• verjaardagskalender → birthday calendar

• zonneschijnverzekering → sunshine insurance (yes, really)

Rule #2: Add a Buffer Letter If Needed (Like “-e-” or “-en-”)

To make compound words easier to say, Dutch sometimes adds a little glue between the pieces.

• zon + bril = zonnebril

• paard + bloem = paardenbloem

• kind + spel = kinderspel

There’s no perfect formula for this, but the pattern often depends on:

• Plural form of the first noun (ex: paard → paarden)

• Pronunciation flow

• Long-standing convention

So yes—it’s partly logic, partly “because that’s how Dutch does it.”

Rule #3: Apostrophes Only When Necessary (Mostly for Plurals or Clarity)

Dutch doesn’t throw around apostrophes for fun. They show up in very specific cases:

✅ To clarify plural endings on loanwords or abbreviations:

• baby → baby’s

• pc → pc’s

• emoji → emoji’s

• CV → CV’s

This keeps the pronunciation correct.
Without the apostrophe, babys looks wrong and sounds weird.

Think: “Is the word ending in a vowel or abbreviation that needs help?”
If yes, add an apostrophe before the “s”.

Rule #4: Apostrophes Are Not Used for Possession (Usually)

This trips up English speakers all the time.

In Dutch, you don’t need an apostrophe to show possession.

• English: Dad’s car

• Dutch: de auto van papa or papa’s auto (✅ both fine)

Yes, Dutch sometimes uses apostrophes for names ending in vowels, especially to avoid confusion or awkwardness.

Examples:

• Anna’s fiets

• Timo’s jas

• Opa’s bril

But for regular nouns?
Skip the apostrophe. Use van if you want to be safe.

Why This Is So Hard for Learners

Let’s be honest:

• Your native language probably separates words

• Dutch sometimes stacks three or four words together

• Apostrophes look familiar, but the rules feel alien

• Apps rarely explain why fietswinkel is one word, but school vakantie is wrong

Reddit learners say:
“I kept writing everything as two words because that’s what feels natural.”
“Why is it verjaardagscadeau and not verjaardag cadeau?!”
“Compound words are where my spelling confidence dies.”

But here’s the thing:

This stuff can be learned.
It just needs pattern exposure and smart practice.

How Dodo Helps You Master Compounds and Apostrophes

Dodo’s Spelling + Compounds Game gives you:

✅ Sentence-based compound word fill-ins
✅ Tap-to-choose apostrophe placement
✅ Real-life vocabulary chunks (no random combos)
✅ Instant feedback with mini-explanations
✅ A difficulty curve that adapts as you improve
✅ Streak bonuses and pet rewards to keep it fun 🦤

Because you can learn spelling without hating it.

What Does This Mean for You?

• Dutch loves compound words—learn to spot the pattern

• Use an apostrophe only for clarity or pronunciation in plurals

• Practice through real sentence examples, not random lists

• Dodo helps you drill both rules naturally—until it just clicks

You’ve Got This

One day soon, you’ll write:

Ik zoek een kinderopvangverzekering.

And people won’t blink.
No red pen. No awkward correction.
Just solid, native-looking Dutch.

P.S. Want to stop second-guessing Dutch compounds and apostrophes?

👉 Download Dodo and play the Spelling Challenge.
Master the glue that holds Dutch together.