“G,” “UI,” and the Sounds That Try to Kill You
dodo“G,” “UI,” and the Sounds That Try to Kill You
There’s a moment every Dutch learner faces:
You’re trying to pronounce graag or ui—and you sound like you’re choking on a hairball.
Someone says, “Good try!”
But you know they mean, “That was adorable.”
Let’s fix that.
Why Dutch Pronunciation Feels Like a Trap
Look:
Dutch looks friendly on the page.
But then you try to say gebruiken or ruig out loud, and suddenly your throat is involved in ways it shouldn’t be.
You’re not alone.
The Dutch G and UI sounds are notoriously brutal for English speakers.
Here’s how to tame them.
The Dutch “G” — The Gargle Monster
Let’s get one thing straight:
The Dutch “G” is not a soft letter.
It’s a full-body experience.
How to do it:
Pretend you’re clearing your throat.
Now do it more gently—but keep that raspy vibration.
The sound should come from the back of your throat, not your mouth.
It’s not “guh.”
It’s [g̞χ]—a friction-heavy sound that lives deep in your larynx.
Example words: graag, goed, vandaag, gang, begrijpen
Try saying: "Ik wil graag gaan."
You’ll feel like a villain in a spy movie.
The “UI” Sound — What Is This Vowel Even?
You see ui, your brain wants to say “oo-ee” or “yoo” or... anything logical.
Too bad.
The “UI” is a vowel salad. A mashed-up diphthong that exists nowhere in English.
How to do it:
Start with something like “ow” (as in cow)
Shape your lips like you’re whistling
Push the sound from the middle of your mouth, not the front
🎧 Now say: muur, lui, bruin, uit, ruig
Especially ruig. That one’s a test of character.
The Hard Truth: You Need Reps, Not Hope
Here’s what doesn’t work:
❌ Reading lists of Dutch words and hoping your tongue figures it out
❌ Speaking super fast to cover your mistakes
❌ Avoiding scary words altogether (guilty 🙋)
Here’s what does work:
✅ Repeating real words out loud
✅ Listening to native audio
✅ Matching your pronunciation to theirs
✅ Getting feedback until it clicks
What Dutch Kids Know That You Don’t
Native speakers don’t learn these sounds with rules. They hear them thousands of times before they say them right.
You’re just taking a shortcut.
One of my favorite tricks?
Say the sound into a glass of water. If it bubbles violently—too harsh.
If it tickles gently—you’re in the zone.
Yes, I’m serious. And no, don’t do this in public.
How Dodo Makes Dutch Pronunciation Stick
Enter: Dodo’s Pronunciation Trainer (aka your vocal bootcamp).
Here’s what it gives you:
Real native audio for every tough sound
Mimic practice: say it, hear it, correct it
UI, G, R, and other troublemakers in bite-sized challenges
Immediate feedback on pronunciation attempts
A safe space to sound ridiculous (and get better)
Bonus: Your pet gets happier every time you get closer to the correct sound.
Because motivation matters.
Quick Drill: Try These Now
Let’s go:
graag
uitgaan
begrijp
ruis
gebruiken
🎧 Say them out loud. Record yourself.
Then listen to a native version (from the app or online) and spot the difference.
Yes, it’ll feel awkward. That’s how progress sounds.
What Does This Mean for You?
Dutch pronunciation is learnable, not magical
The G and UI just need specific muscle training
You don’t need perfect—just understood
Tools like Dodo help you practice on your own time, without judgment
You Can Sound Dutch (Yes, Even You)
You won’t get it right the first time.
Or the third.
But one day, someone will say, “Wow, that was spot on.”
And that weird noise your throat is making?
That’s you winning.
P.S. Want to master those terrifying Dutch sounds?
👉 Download Dodo and try the Pronunciation Trainer today.
You’ll laugh. You’ll choke. You’ll improve.
Your G will never be the same.