deze, die, dit, dat: this and that in Dutch
Choose deze, die, dit or dat before a noun using its Dutch form of “the” (de or het) and how you point to it.
A demonstrative is a pointing word: deze, die, dit or dat. It identifies the person or thing you mean.
How do you choose between deze, die, dit and dat?
Deze fiets (this bike) and dit huis (this house) both use the closer or more pointed choice. The forms differ because fiets goes with de and huis goes with het.
- Match the noun. A singular de-word takes deze or die; a singular het-word takes dit or dat. See de or het?.
- For a plural, use deze or die, because every plural takes de: het boek (the book) becomes deze boeken (these books) or die boeken (those books).
- Choose how you point. Deze and dit often mark something closer or give it extra focus. Die and dat often mark something farther away or refer to it more neutrally. Physical distance is a useful starting point, not the only factor.
| Noun | Closer or more pointed (this / these) | Farther or more neutral (that / those) |
|---|---|---|
| Singular de-word: de fiets | deze fiets | die fiets |
| Singular het-word: het huis | dit huis | dat huis |
| Plural: de huizen | deze huizen | die huizen |
The article determines the form. The endings give you a memory pattern, not the grammatical reason: de, deze and die end in -e; het, dit and dat end in -t.
The demonstrative replaces the article
Dit huis (this house), not dit het huis: the demonstrative goes directly before the noun and replaces de or het. In the same way, de trein (the train) becomes deze trein (this train).
When the noun is left out, or when you present someone with Dit is … (this is …) or Dat zijn … (those are …), extra rules apply. See die and dat as replacements: pointing without the noun.
- Vul in: *___ huis is te koop.* (this house — *het huis*)
- *Deze*
- *Dit*
- *Die*
- *Dat*
*Huis* is a *het*-word, and this is the closer or more pointed option, so use *dit*: *Dit huis is te koop.* (This house is for sale.)
- Which phrase means “that bike” (*de fiets*, farther away)?
- *dit fiets*
- *deze fiets*
- *dat fiets*
- *die fiets*
*Fiets* is a *de*-word, so it takes *deze* or *die*. For the farther-away option, use *die fiets*.
- Which sentence means “This train leaves at nine”?
- *De deze trein vertrekt om negen.*
- *Dit trein vertrekt om negen.*
- *Deze trein vertrekt om negen.*
- *Deze de trein vertrekt om negen.*
*Trein* is a *de*-word, so the closer or more pointed form is *deze*. The demonstrative replaces *de*: *Deze trein vertrekt om negen.*
- Which phrase means “these books” (*het boek* → *de boeken*)?
- *dit boeken*
- *deze boeken*
- *dat boeken*
- *die boeken*
Every plural takes *de*, so it uses *deze* or *die*. For these books, choose *deze boeken*, even though the singular *het boek* uses *dit*.
- Why is it *dit kind* (this child) and not *deze kind*?
- because *kind* is a *het*-word (*het kind*)
- because the child is far away
- because *kind* is plural
- because *kind* is a name
*Kind* is a *het*-word (*het kind*), so it takes *dit* (near) or *dat* (far), never *deze* or *die*.
Test yourself
Question 1 of 5
Vul in: ___ huis is te koop. (this house — het huis)