allebei/beide

Both

Level 2

Both allebei and beide mean 'both'. Allebei is more common in speech and usually follows the noun, while beide is more formal and sits directly before a noun.

How It Works

To express 'both' in Dutch, you have two main choices: allebei and beide.

1. Allebei (The Casual Choice)
This is the most frequent choice in everyday spoken Dutch. It is a 'floating' quantifier, meaning it often appears after the verb or the noun it refers to.

  • Wij gaan allebei. (We are both going.)
  • If used before a noun, it must be followed by an article or possessive: allebei de boeken (both the books).
  • Important: Unlike beide, allebei never takes an -n, even when referring to people.

2. Beide (The Formal/Determiner Choice)
This is used directly before a plural noun without an article.

  • Beide auto's zijn rood. (Both cars are red.)
  • It is slightly more formal than allebei. Never say "beide de..." as the article is already implied.

3. The Special Case: Beiden
When you refer to people and there is no noun following the word, you add an -n in formal writing.

  • Zij zijn beiden erg aardig. (They are both very nice.)
  • Note: This form is primarily for formal writing and can sound quite stiff or 'bookish' in casual conversation. For objects, you never add the -n (e.g., De boeken zijn beide duur).

Examples (5)

  1. Beide broers wonen in Amsterdam.

    Both brothers live in Amsterdam.

    Word by Word: Both brothers live in Amsterdam.

    Here 'beide' acts as a determiner directly before the plural noun 'broers'.

  2. Ze hebben allebei een nieuwe auto gekocht.

    They both bought a new car.

    Word by Word: They have both a new car bought.

    'Allebei' is used here as a pronoun referring back to 'ze' (they).

  3. Ik heb twee zussen; zij zijn beiden leraar.

    I have two sisters; they are both teachers.

    Word by Word: I have two sisters; they are both teacher.

    Because we are referring to people (sisters) without a following noun, the formal 'beiden' is used.

  4. Ik wil allebei de boeken lezen.

    I want to read both the books.

    Word by Word: I want both the books read.

    When using 'allebei' before a noun, you must include the article 'de'.

  5. De glazen zijn beide leeg.

    Both glasses are empty.

    Word by Word: The glasses are both empty.

    Since 'glazen' (glasses) are objects, we use 'beide' without the -n, even though it stands alone.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'beiden' for objects.

    Ik heb twee fietsen, beiden zijn blauw.
    Ik heb twee fietsen, beide zijn blauw.

    The form with -n (beiden) is strictly reserved for people. For objects, always use 'beide'.

  • Adding an article after 'beide'.

    Beide de boeken zijn interessant.
    Beide boeken zijn interessant.

    Unlike 'allebei', the word 'beide' acts as a determiner and cannot be followed by an article like 'de' or 'het'.

  • Adding an -n to 'allebei' when referring to people.

    De studenten zijn allebeien geslaagd.
    De studenten zijn allebei geslaagd.

    While 'beide' becomes 'beiden' when referring to people independently, 'allebei' never changes its form. There is no such word as 'allebeien'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

allebei/beideLevel 2Both

Learn This First

To use 'allebei' and 'beide' correctly, you need to understand how plural subjects work in Dutch, how adjectives are inflected with an -e ending when preceding nouns, and where these words fit within standard Dutch word order.

Words in This Pattern

allebeiallebeibeidebeide