Despite their different linguistic roots—Dutch from Germanic and Spanish from Romance languages—there are intriguing similarities between them. Certain words in Dutch and Spanish share a resemblance, making them easier to remember for learners. This post explores some of these linguistic twins, highlighting how these similarities can aid in language acquisition.

Gratis – Free

“Gratis” is a word that sounds and means the same in both Spanish and Dutch. In both languages, it is used to denote something that is free of charge.

• Dutch: De toegang tot het park is gratis.
• Spanish: La entrada al parque es gratis.

Maïs – Corn

While the Dutch spell it as “maïs” and the Spanish as “maíz,” the pronunciation and meaning are the same, referring to the corn plant or kernels.

• Dutch: Wij eten vanavond maïs bij het diner.
• Spanish: Comeremos maíz esta noche en la cena.

Docent – Teacher

“Docent” in Dutch and “docente” in Spanish both describe someone who teaches, typically at a higher educational level or university.

• Dutch: De docent wiskunde is erg behulpzaam.
• Spanish: El docente de matemáticas es muy útil. 

Raar – Strange

“Raar” in Dutch and “raro” in Spanish share a root and mean strange or unusual.

• Dutch: Ik vind zijn gedrag raar.
• Spanish: Encuentro su comportamiento raro.

Meubels – Furniture

The Dutch word “meubels” and the Spanish “muebles” are cognates, both meaning furniture.

• Dutch: We kopen nieuwe meubels voor ons huis.
• Spanish: Compraremos muebles nuevos para nuestra casa.

Foto – Photo 

“Foto” is used in both Dutch and Spanish to mean a photograph.

• Dutch: Kun je die foto sturen?
• Spanish: ¿Puedes enviar esa foto?

Pagina – Page

Another linguistic twin is “pagina,” used in both languages to refer to a page of a book or document.

• Dutch: Lees de eerste pagina van het document.
• Spanish: Lee la primera página del documento.

Finding similarities like these between Spanish and Dutch can make learning either language more approachable and fun. For learners at LS Institute, recognizing these commonalities helps in faster acquisition and understanding of new vocabulary. If you’re looking to expand your language skills in a supportive environment, consider our courses that cater to various levels. Explore our language courses and start your journey into Dutch or Spanish with confidence.