ij / ei

IJ and EI

Foundations

In Dutch, ij and ei represent the exact same sound (/ɛi/). Because they are homophones, you must learn which spelling belongs to which word through practice and specific suffixes.

How It Works

To become proficient with these spellings, it helps to look for patterns in suffixes and word types:

  • The -lijk Suffix: Words ending in -lijk (like vriendelijk) always use ij. Note that in this specific suffix, the sound changes to a 'schwa' (like the 'u' in 'but').
  • The -heid Suffix: Abstract nouns ending in -heid (like vrijheid) always use ei.
  • Verbs: Many 'strong' verbs use ij (e.g., kijken, schrijven), while many 'weak' verbs use ei (e.g., reizen), though there are exceptions.
  • Capitalization: If a word starting with ij is at the beginning of a sentence, both letters must be capitalized (e.g., IJsland).

For a broader look at how Dutch words are built, see Basic Spelling Rules.

Examples (4)

  1. Ik drink graag een glas wijn.

    I like to drink a glass of wine.

    Word by Word: I drink gladly a glass wine.

    'Wijn' (wine) is a very common word spelled with 'ij'.

  2. We gaan met de trein.

    We are going by train.

    Word by Word: We go with the train.

    'Trein' (train) is a common word spelled with 'ei'.

  3. Dat is eigenlijk heel moeilijk.

    That is actually very difficult.

    Word by Word: That is actually very difficult.

    This shows both: 'ei' in the root of 'eigenlijk' and 'ij' in the suffix '-lijk'.

  4. IJmuiden is een stad in Nederland.

    IJmuiden is a city in the Netherlands.

    Word by Word: IJmuiden is a city in Netherlands.

    Notice how both 'I' and 'J' are capitalized at the start of the proper noun.

Common Mistakes

  • Capitalizing only the 'I' in 'IJ' at the start of a sentence.

    Ijsselmeer is groot.
    IJsselmeer is groot.

    In Dutch, 'IJ' is treated as a single unit for capitalization. Both letters must be uppercase.

  • Pronouncing the 'ij' in '-lijk' as a full diphthong.

    vriendel-EYE-k
    vriendel-uh-k

    While ij usually sounds like 'eye', in the suffix -lijk it is normally reduced to a soft 'uh' (schwa).

  • Confusing 'ij' with the letter 'y'.

    byl
    bijl

    The letter 'y' is only used in loanwords (like 'baby'). Native Dutch words use 'ij'.

Words in This Pattern

ei