wie

Who

Level 1

Wie is the Dutch word for 'who'. It is used to identify people, whether they are the subject or the object of the sentence.

How It Works

The word wie is a fundamental question word in Dutch. Here is how to become proficient in using it correctly:

  • Strictly for People: wie is only used to refer to people. For objects or things, use wat.
  • Direct vs. Indirect Questions: In a direct question, the verb follows wie immediately (V2 rule). However, in an indirect question (like 'I know who he is'), the verb moves to the end of the clause.
  • Relative Pronoun Rules: You cannot use wie as a simple relative pronoun. Instead, use die for de-words or dat for het-words. However, you must use wie when it follows a preposition referring to a person (e.g., met wie). For things, use waar + preposition (e.g., waarmee).
  • Possession: To ask 'whose', modern Dutch typically uses van wie.
    Example: Van wie is dit? (Whose is this?)
  • Free Relatives (Whoever): wie can mean 'whoever'. These clauses use subordinate word order where the verb goes to the end.
    Example: Wie het weet, mag het zeggen.

Note: Be careful not to confuse wie with the English 'who' sound-alike hoe (which means 'how').

Examples (6)

  1. Wie is die vrouw?

    Who is that woman?

    Word by Word: Who is that woman?

    A basic direct question where 'wie' is the subject. Notice the verb is in the second position.

  2. Wie heb je gisteren gebeld?

    Who(m) did you call yesterday?

    Word by Word: Who have you yesterday called?

    Here 'wie' is the object. In direct questions, the verb still follows the question word.

  3. Met wie ga je naar het feest?

    With whom are you going to the party?

    Word by Word: With whom go you to the party?

    When referring to people after a preposition, use 'wie'. For objects, you would use 'waarmee'.

  4. Ik weet niet wie hij is.

    I don't know who he is.

    Word by Word: I know not who he is.

    In an indirect question, the word order changes and the verb moves to the end.

  5. Van wie is deze tas?

    Whose bag is this?

    Word by Word: Of whom is this bag?

    'Van wie' is the standard way to express 'whose' in modern Dutch.

  6. Wie het weet, mag het zeggen.

    Whoever knows it, may say it.

    Word by Word: Who it knows, may it say.

    This is a free relative clause meaning 'whoever'. The verb 'weet' moves to the end of its clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'wie' to mean 'how' due to English phonetic similarity.

    Wie gaat het met jou?
    Hoe gaat het met jou?

    English speakers often hear 'wie' and think 'who', then accidentally use it for 'how'. Remember: Wie = Who, Hoe = How.

  • Using 'wie' for objects or things.

    Wie is dat ding?
    Wat is dat ding?

    'Wie' is strictly for people. For objects, you must use 'wat' (what).

  • Using 'wie' as a simple relative pronoun for a person.

    De man wie daar loopt.
    De man die daar loopt.

    When referring back to a specific person, use 'die'. 'Wie' as a relative pronoun appears after a preposition (met wie) or without an antecedent (Wie dat zegt, liegt).

How It Connects

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wieLevel 1Who

Learn This First

To use 'wie' (who) effectively, a learner needs to understand basic sentence structure and the conjugation of the verb 'to be', as these are essential for forming the simple identification questions where this pronoun is first encountered.

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