Learn Hardcore Dutch: De hond is groot.

In Dutch, nouns can take either the definite article de or het, depending on their gender and number. Around three-quarters of Dutch nouns use de, including hond, which is a masculine (or common) noun. There isn’t always a straightforward rule to determine which article goes with which noun, so you’ll often learn them as you go along.

How do I pronounce "hond" correctly?

The word hond is pronounced similarly to "hont" in English, where the o has a short vowel sound, and the d at the end sounds more like a light t. Try breaking it down slowly: ho-nt.

Is "hond" always masculine, or could it be feminine?

In modern Dutch, words that take de are often referred to as the “common gender.” This includes both historically masculine and feminine words. Because hond uses de, it’s typically lumped into the same group that includes many masculine and feminine nouns. However, in everyday usage, you don’t usually worry about distinguishing masculine from feminine.

Can I say "De hond is zeer groot" or "De hond is heel groot"?