Why Do Some Dutch Adjectives End in “-e”? (And How to Know When to Use It)

Here’s a sentence I once said to my Dutch friend:
“Ik heb een groot hond.”

He smiled.

“Hmm… grote hond.”

That “-e” again. That sneaky, stubborn “-e.”

Why do some adjectives in Dutch get an extra -e and others don’t?
Why is it een groot huis, but de grote hond?

Let’s break it down.

Because this rule? It’s not random.
It just feels like it—until you know the pattern.

What’s Going On With That “-e”?

In Dutch, adjectives usually come before nouns, like in English.

But unlike English, they sometimes get an extra “-e” tacked on.

Here’s the TL;DR rule:

🔑 Most adjectives take -e.
❗ But there are two specific cases when they don’t.

Let’s get specific.

Rule 1: Always Add -e After “de” Words

This one’s easy.

If the noun is a “de” word, the adjective gets an -e. Always.

Examples:

• de grote hond → the big dog

• de blauwe jas → the blue coat

• de oude man → the old man

No exceptions.
If it’s de, it’s -e.

✅ Easy win.

Rule 2: Always Add -e for Plurals

Even if the plural noun is a “het” word in singular, you still add -e when it’s plural.

Examples:

• de grote huizen → the big houses

• de mooie kinderen → the beautiful children

• de lange dagen → the long days

Plural = -e. Every time.

✅ Another rule you can trust.

Rule 3: Drop the -e Only in One Specific Case

Now here’s the twist.

If the noun is a “het” word, and it’s:

1. Singular,

2. Indefinite (used with een, not het),

3. Then the adjective does not take -e

That’s it. One case. The only time you skip the -e.

Examples:

• een groot huis → a big house (✅ no -e)

• een mooi kind → a beautiful child (✅ no -e)

• een oud boek → an old book (✅ no -e)

But watch what happens when you add het:

• het grote huis

• het mooie kind

• het oude boek

Boom. The -e is back.

Think of it like this:
The -e sneaks away only when you have:
een + het word + singular

A Quick Chart (Bookmark This)

Easy? Kind of.
Useful? Extremely.

Still Confused? Try This Mental Shortcut:

Ask yourself:

“Is this a de word, or a het word?”
“Am I using een or het?”
“Is it singular or plural?”

If it's anything but “een + singular het word,” → add -e.

Real-Life Sentences You Can Steal

• Ik zoek een klein appartement.

• We wonen in het kleine huis naast de bakker.

• Hij draagt een nieuwe jas.

• De rode fiets is van mij.

• Ze verkopen oude boeken op de markt.

Say them. Feel the rhythm. Let the pattern sink in.

Why This Trips Up So Many Learners

• You don’t see the article in a vocabulary list

• Apps rarely explain the grammar behind the -e

• “Het” words are less common, but they’re everywhere in formal Dutch

• You hear both versions and can’t tell the difference at first

Reddit learners say:
“I just started adding -e to everything because I gave up.”
“This is the first rule that actually made sense. Finally.”
“Why don’t apps ever explain this clearly???”

Well—we do.

How Dodo Makes the “-e” Rule Stick

Dodo has a dedicated Adjective Agreement Trainer, where you:

• ✅ Choose the correct adjective form in real sentences

• ✅ Get instant feedback on why it’s groot or grote

• ✅ Practice with “de vs het” built in

• ✅ Level up difficulty as your accuracy improves

• ✅ See your progress over time—and make your Dodo proud 🦤

No abstract grammar charts.
Just smart, fast, fun practice that rewires your brain.

What Does This Mean for You?

• Most Dutch adjectives do take -e

• The only time they don’t?
  → “een + singular het word”

• You can master this pattern with a few focused reps

• Dodo gives you the feedback and structure that other apps skip

You’ve Got This

Next time someone points at your klein hond, you’ll smile and say:
“Het is een grote hond, hoor.”

And they’ll smile back.
Because yeah—you nailed it.

P.S. Want to stop second-guessing your Dutch adjective endings?

👉 Download Dodo and train with our Adjective Agreement Game.
Make “grote” decisions. Master Dutch, one -e at a time.