Singular pronouns and 'to be' (ik ben, hij is)

To introduce yourself and others in Dutch, you need three things: singular pronouns, the verb zijn (to be), and the word een (a/an).

Pronouns and the verb "zijn"

Here are the singular subject pronouns and how they pair with zijn:

Note that "you" and "she" have two forms: a stressed form (jij, zij) and an unstressed form (je, ze). They mean exactly the same thing.

Using "een" (a/an)

In English, we say "a" or "an" depending on the next sound. In Dutch, the indefinite article is always een, regardless of the next word's starting letter.