In December two thousand twenty-five, the focus is simple and practical: saying “clothespin,” “garlic,” and “onion” in Dutch, with phonetics to support confident speaking in the Netherlands (Europe).
Key Takeaways
The three core words
The Dutch words are wasknijper (clothespin), knoflook (garlic), and ui (onion), with uien as the common plural for onions.
Sound support that matters
Dutch spelling can look familiar, but the sounds can surprise. Clear phonetic lines and one short pronunciation video help bridge that gap.
Story & Details
From laundry line to cutting board
A clothespin is a small object, but it is a big win for daily life vocabulary. In Dutch (Netherlands, Europe), wasknijper is the everyday word, and it can also be said more casually as knijper. The phonetic line for wasknijper is /ˈʋɑsˌknɛi̯.pər/.
In the kitchen, knoflook names garlic, a word that often shows up in recipes, shopping lists, and casual talk. Its phonetic line is /ˈknɔf.loːk/.
Then comes the most famous short word: ui, meaning onion. The plural uien is the form seen again and again on labels and menus. Their phonetic lines are /œy̯/ for ui and /œy̯.jən/ for uien. In Belgium (Europe), a common synonym for ui is ajuin.
A tiny Dutch practice corner
Here are short, real Dutch lines to rehearse, with a clear, simple meaning first, then a word-by-word gloss.
A natural meaning: asking someone to hand over the clothespins.
Dutch: Kun je de wasknijpers pakken?
Word by word: Kun = can, je = you, de = the, wasknijpers = clothespins, pakken = grab/pick up.
A natural meaning: saying what is needed for cooking.
Dutch: Ik heb knoflook en ui nodig.
Word by word: Ik = I, heb = have, knoflook = garlic, en = and, ui = onion, nodig = needed.
A quick note on the “ui” sound
The “ui” sound is a classic hurdle. It is short on the page, but it asks the mouth to move in a way many learners have not used before. A short, focused pronunciation video from an academic language centre is a helpful way to hear and copy the sound.
Conclusions
Small words, fast progress
Three words can open many doors: laundry, shopping, cooking, and simple daily talk in the Netherlands (Europe). With phonetics, a few short Dutch lines, and one careful sound guide for “ui,” the next conversation becomes lighter and more natural.
Selected References
[1] https://anw.ivdnt.org/article/wasknijper
[2] https://anw.ivdnt.org/article/knoflook
[3] https://anw.ivdnt.org/article/ui
[4] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wasknijper
[5] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/knoflook
[6] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ui
[7] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/uien
[8] https://www.rug.nl/language-centre/about-us/news/archive/pronunciation-videos?lang=en
[9] https://youtu.be/HpVx9URdWho
Appendix
Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek
A Dutch dictionary project by the Institute for the Dutch Language that provides detailed word information, including grammar, usage, and sometimes pronunciation.
Diphthong
A single vowel sound that glides from one position to another, often written with two letters, such as the Dutch “ui”.
International Phonetic Alphabet
A standard set of symbols used to write speech sounds clearly across languages, often shortened to IPA.
Netherlands
A country in Europe where Dutch is the main language and where these everyday words are widely used.
Phonetic transcription
A way of writing how a word sounds, using consistent symbols so pronunciation is clearer than ordinary spelling.
University of Groningen Language Centre
A university language centre in the Netherlands (Europe) that publishes learning materials, including pronunciation resources for Dutch.
Wiktionary
A free online dictionary that includes word meanings, forms, and pronunciation information, often with International Phonetic Alphabet notation.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 