What Is The Best Dutch Dictionary?

When learning Dutch, an excellent Dutch-English dictionary is an essential tool.

At some point, whether you're a beginner in learning Dutch or quite a master in Dutch language, you'll need a dictionary. 

Here, we will discuss the physical books as well as apps:

Books:

• Best dictionary for learning vocabulary 
• Best Dutch To English dictionary

Apps:

• Best online dictionary
• Best automatic translators with dictionary functions

 

Physical books

The best dictionary for learning Dutch vocabulary

Learners can access the MostUsedWords Dutch frequency dictionary to find the most commonly used words in Dutch. You will only need to use 2500 words, which is about 90% of the approximately 300,000 Dutch phrases of all time.

It is important to learn the most common words in Dutch if you're just beginning to learn. Our dictionaries give you practical Dutch vocabulary lists based on the frequency you encounter the word. These books give:

A universal standard list that will help you comprehend the most common Dutch words

The most frequent list of Dutch adjectives and adverbs.

A backup A-Z Dutch dictionary, so you can quickly look up Dutch phrases.

 

All entries contain:

• Comprehensive Part of Speech information
• IPA phonetic pronunciation, to help pronounce Dutch words properly
• Their English translation
• Dutch-English example sentences, to help use vocabulary in a specific contexts

 

You can buy the Dutch frequency dictionaries from Amazon in Paperback or as PDF eBooks on our website.  Four books contain all 10,000 common Dutch words:

• Essential Vocabulary - Top 2500 Most Frequent Dutch Phrases
• Dictionary Intermediate Vocabulary - 2501-2500 Most Frequent Dutch Phrases
• Advanced Vocabulary - Top 5001-7500 Most Frequent Dutch Phrases
• Master Vocabulary - Top 7501-10000 Most Frequent Dutch Phrases

 

These frequency dictionaries can be used by anyone who studies Dutch in a classroom or on their own. These are useful tools for quickly building your practical vocabulary.

They do not include all Dutch words, but only the most commonly used ones. These books can still be used for 98% of your Dutch language needs. Grammar is not covered in the books.

 

Best Comprehensive Dutch-English dictionary for Learners

Learners can use both Collins and Oxford, which offer comprehensive dictionaries. They both provide grammar references, and are both trusted brands. You can purchase them in paperback from Amazon, or use their sites for free.

These traditional dictionaries have approximately 120,000 entries and list the Dutch vocabulary starting at A-Z. These dictionaries are great for finding infrequent words. Their strengths lie in their ability to comprehend grammar and thematic vocabulary lists.

 

Online Dutch Dictionaries & Apps

An online dictionary is your best friend if you have to quickly look up a Dutch term. Online dictionaries are better in terms of speed in finding words than the physical ones.

Please note that not all Dutch dictionary websites are created equal. They can be great for certain situations, but not all. Below are some of our suggestions for Dutch dictionaries that might meet your needs.

 

Best All-Round Dictionary (including Conjugations!): WordReference

There's a good chance that someone recommended Wordreference to you if they have ever taken a Dutch class. It's our favorite Dutch dictionary, and it works in many different situations.

Wordreference provides translations from English-Dutch and Dutch-English. This website also contains information on verb conjugations. You will also find information about the context in which Dutch words are used.

It also allows you to use a Dutch only dictionary, which is a great bonus for language-nerds. This is a great way to get around English.

It also has audio playback in European Dutch and Mexican accents.

However, Wordreference's UI has a drawback. It's straight out of the 1990s and would benefit a major overhaul. 

Most Popular Dutch Translator: Google Translate

Google Translate is probably something most people know, if not all. It’s an amazing site when it works. Although It doesn't always work as it claims, you might end up with an incomprehensible sentence or a nonsensical translator.

 

These are some tips to make the most of Google Translate:

Google Translate might make more errors if your Dutch input is complex.

A sign of accuracy is shield icon placed next to a translation. The shield sign indicates that the translator has been certified by an actual person.

Don't look at the first Google Translate result. You might find more useful information below.

 

Best Neural AI Online Dutch Translator

These AI-powered translators offer a great alternative for Google Translate. Their paid versions at least:

• DEEPL
• Lingvanex

 These translations are more accurate than Google Translate but they may still have errors.

 

So, What Is The Best Dutch Dictionary?

 

This all depends on one’s situation. A Dutch frequency dictionary is advisable for a relevant vocabulary quickly.

A traditional dictionary for learners is a good choice if you are looking for a dictionary that can be used in general terms with grammar and many words.

Wordreference is also a great free tool that can help you learn Dutch.

Although, wanting just a quick translation, you can use Google Translate, which is a great tool for translating sentences or getting definitions. Lingvanex and DeepL are great options for accurate translations of a lot of text.