Amsterdam Dutch

Dutch has many dialects. One well-known dialect is the dialect of Amsterdam. Let us discuss the phonology of Amsterdam Dutch.

In most Dutch dialects, the lateral is velarized in the syllable coda but not in the syllable onset. The word laat (late) is pronounced with a different lateral than the word stoel (chair). However, in Amsterdam Dutch, both words are pronounced with the velarized lateral.

All Dutch fricatives are devoiced in the syllable coda, but in Amsterdam Dutch, the fricatives /v/ and /z/ are often devoiced in the syllable onset. This is also common in other parts of the western Netherlands. In the eastern Netherlands and in Belgium, however, they are not devoiced in the syllable onset.

The /r/ is an alveolar trill or alveolar flap in the syllable onset. It can also be a trill or flap in the syllable coda, but now a number of speakers of Amsterdam Dutch use an alveolar approximant in the syllable coda. However, it is never the uvular fricative or trill of other Dutch dialects.

The mid front vowel of geel (yellow) and mid back vowel of brood (bread) are diphthongs. This is also the case in many other Dutch dialects. However, in the southern Netherlands and in Belgium, they are not diphthongs but monophthongs.

Features associated with the dialect of Amsterdam include the devoicing of the fricatives /v/ and /z/, the velarization of the lateral in all positions and the alveolar trill or tap. It does not differ so much from standard Dutch. The features of Amsterdam Dutch are closer to those of the northern dialects than of the southern ones.