Surinamese Dutch

Dutch is the official language of Suriname. It is spoken as a native language by approximately 60% of the population. Surinamese Dutch uses loanwords taken from other languages of Suriname. It also exhibits differences in pronunciation.

In Surinamese Dutch, the letter w is a labiovelar approximant. In the Dutch of the Netherlands, it is a labial approximant. The word water (water) is pronounced differently in Suriname and the Netherlands.

The /r/ is always trilled in Surinamese Dutch. Unlike in the Netherlands, it is never realized as an alveolar approximant, uvular fricative or uvular trill.

The fricatives /v/ and /z/ are fully devoiced in Surinamese Dutch. This also occurs in the Dutch of Amsterdam, but only when the fricatives are word-initial.

Another difference is that the velar fricative is pronounced with a more advanced articulation. This is also the case in the southern Netherlands and Belgium. The result is that the velar fricative is a post-palatal or palatal fricative.

Surinamese Dutch is easily understood by other Dutch speakers. It exhibits differences in vocabulary and pronunciation. One of the key differences is that the labial approximant of the Netherlands has a labiovelar articulation in Surinamese Dutch.