We'll be traveling to Amsterdam and Brugge, and I'd like to learn some words and phrases of Dutch before we go (even though I realize that most people in those cities speak English to a remarkable extent). Additionally, I'd like to be able to pronounce place names, menu items, etc, with reasonable accuracy.

Here's the problem. I bought a guidebook and a Dutch language dictionary, and browsed several more in the bookstore, and there is a surprising amount of disagreement about how words and even letters are shown in phonetic English. Could someone who knows help me out with these:

"v" is pronounced like the English "f" according to some sources. No; like the English "v" say others.

"w" is like "v". No; it's like "w".

"ei" and "ij" are either the "i" sound of "time" or the "ay" sound of "say"

The basic word for "thanks" AND "you're welcome" - "alstublieft" - is shown as both "uls-too-bleeft" or "allsh-yuh-bleeft".

"Thank you" is either "dunk-oo-wel" or "dahnk-ye-vel".

"Good morning" variously shown as "hooder morhen" or "khooder morkern" or "goede morgen"

"v" is pronounced as in "verify, vulture, velocity,...".

"w" is pronounced as in "water, waist, where, what, lower,...".

"ei" and "ij" are the same sound, pronounced more or less as in "say, waist,..."

"thanks" AND "you're welcome" is "alstublieft" - is shown as both "als-ye-blieft".

"Thank you" is like "dank-ye-wel".

Still, this might not assure you...
Just let us assume this is a generally accepted standard pronounciation. And it would not help you to give the Amsterdam pronounciation and the Brugge pronounciation!

Anyhow, the Dutch (people from The Netherlands" have a different accent from the Flemish to the extent, in some cases, of utter uncomprehensive.
It is a bit like German spoken in Hamburg and in Munich, or in Switzerland...

But as you said, they are mainly fluent in English...

Thanks, Baldrick!

Interestingly, your pronunciations are contrary to the majority of sources I consulted. Very confusing!

(BTW, is your name derived from the character in "Blackadder"? One of my faves!)

Balto Traveler,
Confusing or not, you can trust Baldrick. He's absolutely right about the Dutch ponounciation.

Hey Balto, check this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other...ix/dutch.shtml

Click & listen - all the phrases you'll need before Nederlanders switch into English. They'll love you for it, though
: )

Went to the BBC site provided by Ealing, and they pronounce "please" as "als-tu-bleeft" rather than Baldrick's "als-ye-blieft". And "thanks" is "dahnk ew" rather than "dank ye".

Is this a matter of regional accent, as Baldrick suggests, or am I missing something?

The "ew" pronunciation is meant to emphasize the formal "you" in addressing strangers and the "ye" is for the familiar "you" (written "je" or "jij" in Dutch). I never learned Dutch formally but my parents used to speak it daily.

"alstublieft", pronounced as "als-tu-bleeft" and "dank u (dhank-ew)" is used in Flanders, Belgium.It's the "courtesy form". We speak more formal then the Dutch. It's like "tu" and "vous" in French. Maybe you are not going to believe this, but we even speak that way to our children.

When you use "alstublieft" in the Netherlands, people will think you are very polite.

Yes - and you want to be polite.

Say 'dank U' to people you've never met before, 'dank je' to close friends and children.

A 'dank U wel' (dank oo vel) at the end of meals/shopping is always met with a smile - hope this helps!!

How about "bedankt" for "thank you"? Is it normal usage in Holland and Flanders for people you don't know? Is it pronounced "bid-dahnkt" or "ber-dahnkt" (another of the disagreements among the sources I looked at).

How about "hoi" for "hello"? I noticed that the BBC site uses it as the standard "hello", using "dag" just for "good-bye". (And "dag" requires that near-impossible-for-Americans "g" sound!)

"bedankt" is ok for "thank you". the "e" of "bedankt" is pronounced like the "o" in "words".

If I were you I would indeed use "hoi" instead of "dag", especially because you can't pronouce our "g". And while you pronounce our "a" also diffently, the whole word would sound a bit strange.

But don't worry, almost all Dutch and Flemish Belgian speak English too.
Still, I like your efforts to learn about our language

Hey again, "b'dankt" (soft B, not beee, more buh) is like thanks. It's often used.

You'll hear 'daghchchch' a lot. To practice the pronunciation, get the Pimsleur tapes from your library - I did, it was the only way to get all the niceties (and the weird clingon G sound) burnt into my brain!!

These might also be useful for your trip:
http://www.specialbite.com/
http://www.amsterdamhotlinks.com/index-open.html
http://www.learn-dutch-language-soft...es/FSDutch.htm

Have a good weekend!

Balto traveler, I hope you have a cunning plan for visiting my home town!!!
I have noticed Martinewezel took over rightly and steered you in the right direction.
Ik wens je een goede reis!

Thank-oo-whell, Baldrick!