This list breaks down the most common letters in the Dutch language, based on large-scale corpus analyses of modern written texts. Whether you’re a language learner, a cryptographer, or just curious about how Dutch compares to other Germanic languages, these rankings give you a concrete look at which letters do the heavy lifting. We’ll cover the top ten letters, from the ubiquitous E down to the surprisingly frequent N, and explain what makes each one tick.
E – The Undisputed Champion
E tops the Dutch letter frequency chart, accounting for roughly one in every five letters in typical text. Its dominance comes from its role in common endings like -en (plural nouns and infinitive verbs) and -e (adjective inflections). In any Dutch word, you’re almost guaranteed to find an E, making it the first letter any cryptogram solver should guess.
N – The Silent Workhorse
N is the second most frequent letter, largely because of the ubiquitous -en suffix that marks plurals, infinitives, and many verb forms. It also appears in common words like een (a/an) and niet (not). In fact, the -en ending is so common that it’s often reduced to a schwa in speech, but in writing, the N is always there.
A – The Open Vowel
A ranks third, appearing in frequent words like aan (on/to), dat (that), and als (if/as). It’s a versatile vowel that can be short or long, and it’s a key part of diphthongs like au and ai. In Dutch, the A is often pronounced with a more open mouth than in English, giving the language its characteristic sound.
I – The Short and Sharp
I is the fourth most common letter, appearing in function words like in (in), is (is), and ik (I). It’s typically a short, crisp vowel, unlike the English ‘eye’ sound. The I also appears in the common digraph ie, which represents a long ‘ee’ sound, as in vriend (friend).
R – The Rolling Consonant
R rounds out the top five, and its frequency is boosted by its use in common prepositions like voor (for) and over (over). Dutch R can be pronounced as a rolled alveolar trill or a guttural uvular trill, depending on the region. This letter is essential for the rhythm of the language, appearing in many past participles and adjectives.
T – The Grammatical Glue
T is the sixth most frequent letter, largely due to its role in verb conjugations. The third-person singular present tense often ends in -t, as in hij werkt (he works). T also appears in common words like het (the/it) and wat (what). It’s a small but mighty letter that holds sentences together.
O – The Round Vowel
O comes in seventh, appearing in frequent words like op (on), ook (also), and over (over). It can be short or long, and it’s a key part of the diphthong ou as in oud (old). The O is also common in diminutive endings like -tje and -pje, which are used all the time in everyday Dutch.
D – The Linking Consonant
D ranks eighth, often appearing at the end of verb stems and in common words like de (the) and dat (that). It’s also part of the past tense suffix -de for weak verbs, as in werkte (worked). The D is frequently devoiced to a T sound at the end of a word, but in writing, it remains distinct.
S – The Hissing Sound
S is ninth, appearing in plural endings like -s (for many nouns) and in common words like is (is) and als (as). It’s a hissing sound that also appears in the digraph sch, which is pronounced like ‘s’ followed by a guttural ‘ch’ in many dialects. S is also common in loanwords from English and French.
L – The Liquid Consonant
L rounds out the top ten, appearing in frequent words like al (already), alleen (alone), and zullen (will/shall). It’s a liquid consonant that flows easily in speech, and it’s often doubled in spelling to indicate a short vowel, as in malle (silly). L is also common in diminutive suffixes like -tje and -pje.
How to Choose
When using letter frequency data for Dutch, the key is to consider the source and the text type. Frequencies from a general corpus of modern news and fiction will differ slightly from those in a technical manual or a poem. For cryptograms, start with E, N, A, and I, but also pay attention to common digraphs like ij and ui. For language learning, focus on the most frequent letters to build a strong foundation, but don’t neglect the less common ones like Q and X, which appear mostly in loanwords.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common vowel in Dutch? E is the most common vowel, and also the most common letter overall.
How does Dutch frequency compare to English? Dutch has a higher frequency of N and A, while English has more T and O. Both share E as the top letter.
Is the letter ‘ij’ considered a single letter? Historically, ‘ij’ was sometimes treated as a single letter, but in modern usage it’s two separate letters. It’s still a very common digraph.
Why is ‘N’ so common in Dutch? Because of the ubiquitous -en ending for plurals and infinitives, which is a hallmark of Dutch grammar.
Do these frequencies change for formal vs. informal Dutch? Yes, informal spoken Dutch may have more ‘e’ sounds (schwa) and fewer written consonants, but the written frequencies are fairly stable across registers.
What about letters like ‘Q’, ‘X’, and ‘Y’? These are rare, appearing mainly in loanwords and names. They rank near the bottom of the frequency list.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the letter frequency of Dutch is more than just a trivia fact—it’s a practical tool for solving puzzles, improving your spelling, and understanding the rhythm of the language. The top ten letters show a clear preference for vowels and the consonant N, which gives Dutch its characteristic sound. Whether you’re a beginner or a polyglot, keeping these frequencies in mind will help you decode and produce Dutch more effectively.