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Questions & Answers about Hij is Jan.
The word is looks exactly like English. Is it pronounced the same way?
It is spelled the same, but pronounced slightly differently. In Dutch, the 's' in is is sharp (like in 'hiss'), not a buzzy 'z' sound like in English. The 'i' is also a bit shorter.
How do you pronounce the ij in hij?
The Dutch ij is a unique vowel sound. It is similar to a mix between the English 'ay' in 'say' and the 'eye' sound in 'hi'. To say hij, start with a light 'h' and blend an 'eh' sound smoothly into an 'ee' sound.
Can I leave out hij and just say is Jan?
No. Just like English, Dutch requires you to always include the subject of the sentence. You cannot drop the pronoun.
Is there another way to say his name is Jan?
Yes! You can also use the verb heten (to be called). Hij heet Jan means 'He is called Jan' or 'His name is Jan'. Both work perfectly.