Want to Sound Fluent? Stop Thinking in English
dodoHere’s a sentence I once said to a Dutch colleague:
“Ik maak het uit met mijn werk.”
He blinked.
Paused.
Then asked, “Are you... breaking up with your job?”
I had directly translated “I’m done with work.”
Which is fine in English. But in Dutch? It sounded like a dramatic breakup.
That’s when I realized:
Thinking in English is sabotaging my Dutch.
Why Translating Doesn’t Work
Here’s the problem:
Your English brain wants to help.
It builds the sentence you want to say.
Then it sends that sentence to your mouth, and your mouth tries to “convert” it to Dutch.
What comes out is... not Dutch.
It’s Dutch-flavored English.
And people notice.
Learners on Reddit say it all the time:
“I know the words. I know the grammar. But my sentences still sound weird.”
That’s because you’re translating. Not thinking Dutch.
What Does It Mean to “Think in Dutch”?
It means you:
Use Dutch sentence structures from the start
Rely on chunks, not word-by-word construction
Stop mentally “converting” in your head
Start forming thoughts using Dutch logic
Think of it like this:
Translating is like assembling IKEA furniture with instructions in another language.
Thinking in Dutch is grabbing the right piece instinctively and building something smooth.
It’s the difference between sounding like a dictionary…
And sounding like a person.
Common Signs You’re Still Thinking in English
You start every sentence in your head with “I want to say…”
You pause mid-sentence trying to remember word order
You keep saying things that make Dutch people go 😬
You rely on “safe” phrases and avoid expressing new ideas
You feel confident in vocab but frozen in conversation
How to Start Thinking in Dutch (Even as a Beginner)
Here’s the good news:
You don’t need to be fluent to think in Dutch.
You just need to train your brain to switch tracks.
Step 1: Learn in “Chunks,” Not Words
Instead of learning:
gaan = to go
winkel = shop
ik = I
Learn:
Ik ga naar de winkel. = I’m going to the store.
Now that sentence lives in your brain as one unit.
Other chunk examples:
Hoe laat is het? → What time is it?
Mag ik even kijken? → May I take a look?
Ik ben het vergeten. → I forgot (it).
These are language Lego blocks—and they’re golden.
Step 2: Start Your Day in Dutch
This is a trick that worked wonders for me:
As soon as you wake up, narrate your morning in Dutch. Out loud if you can.
“Ik ga uit bed.”
“Waar is mijn koffie?”
“Ik heb echt geen zin vandaag.”
Don’t overthink it.
Use the words you have.
The goal is wiring your brain to default to Dutch.
Step 3: Limit Subtitles (Just a Bit)
Start watching Dutch shows with Dutch subtitles.
Yes, you’ll miss stuff. Yes, it’s harder.
But your brain will stop reading English and start hearing meaning.
Good shows for this:
Het Klokhuis (educational, fun, clear)
Jeugdjournaal (kid-friendly news)
Undercover (Netflix crime drama with clean Dutch)
Start slow. Even 5–10 minutes a day helps.
Step 4: Do Micro-Conversations with Yourself
This one’s underrated.
Talk to yourself in Dutch throughout the day:
“Wat moet ik nu doen?”
“Dat was stom.”
“Even pauze nemen.”
You’re not rehearsing. You’re switching your brain’s default.
It’s weird. It works.
Step 5: Practice With No English Allowed
You need a space where English isn’t an option.
That’s why we built Dodo’s “Think Dutch” Mode.
How Dodo Trains You to Think in Dutch
Dodo’s Think Dutch Mode helps rewire your brain with:
✅ Sentence-building games that start in Dutch
✅ No-English challenges—guess meaning from context
✅ Chunk-based drills that train fluid phrases, not isolated vocab
✅ Repetition with spaced intervals, so it sticks
✅ Audio + visual reinforcement to boost pattern recognition
It’s not about getting it “right”—it’s about feeling natural.
And every time you get closer?
Your Dodo evolves with you.
Because fluency shouldn’t feel like punishment.
It should feel like progress.
What Reddit Learners Are Doing That Works
✅ Listening every day, even passively
✅ Shadowing: repeating Dutch audio out loud
✅ Using AI tools (like Dodo, ChatGPT) in Dutch-only mode
✅ Setting phone/apps to Dutch
✅ Keeping a Dutch journal (simple entries!)
✅ Saying phrases out loud multiple times a day
What Does This Mean for You?
Thinking in Dutch is a skill—and you can train it
Start with chunks, not rules
Narrate your life in Dutch
Ditch English subtitles more often
Use tools that build real thought patterns—not just vocab lists
You’ve Got This
One day, you’ll stub your toe and shout:
“AU! Waarom staat dat daar?!”
No translation. No hesitation.
Just reaction—in Dutch.
That’s when you’ll know:
Your brain made the switch.
P.S. Want to stop translating and start thinking in Dutch?
👉 Download Dodo and try Think Dutch Mode.
It’s like a mental gym, but more fun—and with a pet.