Meaning
Asking about language ability.
Cultural Background
Dutch people are often very proud of their English skills. If you ask 'Spreek je Engels?', they might jokingly reply 'A little bit' and then speak perfect, fluent English. In Flanders, English is also widely spoken, but there is a stronger emphasis on French as a second language. Asking 'Spreekt u Engels?' is still very common and polite. In international hubs like Eindhoven or Amsterdam, English is often the 'lingua franca'. You might find that people answer you in English even if you ask in Dutch!
The 'T' Rule
Always remember to drop the 't' in 'spreekt' when 'je' follows it. It's the most common beginner mistake!
Politeness First
Even if you know they speak English, asking first in Dutch makes a much better impression.
Meaning
Asking about language ability.
The 'T' Rule
Always remember to drop the 't' in 'spreekt' when 'je' follows it. It's the most common beginner mistake!
Politeness First
Even if you know they speak English, asking first in Dutch makes a much better impression.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing verb form for an informal question.
______ je Engels?
When 'je' follows the verb, the '-t' is dropped.
Which sentence is the most polite when speaking to a police officer?
Select the formal version:
'U' is the formal pronoun used for authority figures.
Match the Dutch phrase to its English meaning.
Match these:
These are basic conjugations of 'spreken'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Pardon, ik begrijp het niet. _____ B: Ja, ik spreek Engels. Hoe kan ik helpen?
The context of not understanding suggests asking for a language switch.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises______ je Engels?
When 'je' follows the verb, the '-t' is dropped.
Select the formal version:
'U' is the formal pronoun used for authority figures.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are basic conjugations of 'spreken'.
A: Pardon, ik begrijp het niet. _____ B: Ja, ik spreek Engels. Hoe kan ik helpen?
The context of not understanding suggests asking for a language switch.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsIn big cities, it's common, but in smaller towns, it's considered much more polite to ask 'Spreek je Engels?' first.
This is rare in the NL, but if so, try using Google Translate or simple gestures.
Languages in Dutch are treated as nouns/adjectives that don't take the -e ending in this context.
Related Phrases
Ik spreek geen Nederlands
similarI don't speak Dutch
Een beetje
builds onA little bit
Kunt u dat herhalen?
builds onCan you repeat that?
