Breakdown of Je moet je uitspraak oefenen.
oefenen
to practice
moeten
must
je
you
je
your
de uitspraak
the pronunciation
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Questions & Answers about Je moet je uitspraak oefenen.
Why are there two je in the sentence and what does each one mean?
The first je is the subject pronoun you (informal). The second je is a possessive pronoun meaning your, modifying uitspraak (“pronunciation”).
What’s the difference between je and jij as “you” in Dutch?
Je is the unstressed, default form of “you” and is used in most statements. Jij is the stressed form, used when you want to add emphasis or contrast (e.g. “Jij moet je uitspraak oefenen” stresses that it’s you in particular who must practise).
Why is oefenen placed at the end of the sentence?
In Dutch main clauses the finite verb (here moet) comes in second position, and any infinitive verbs (like oefenen) move to the end. This is a standard V2 + infinitive-final word order for modal constructions.
Why isn’t there an article (like de or het) before uitspraak?
Because uitspraak is already specified by the possessive pronoun je. When you use a possessive, you don’t add a separate definite article.
Can I replace the possessive je with jouw?
Yes. Jouw is the stressed form of the possessive “your,” used for emphasis. Both sentences mean the same:
• Je moet je uitspraak oefenen. (neutral)
• Je moet jouw uitspraak oefenen. (emphatic)
Could you start with Jij instead of Je?
Absolutely. Jij moet je uitspraak oefenen is perfectly correct and simply adds emphasis on you, as opposed to someone else.
Do I have to include the subject pronoun je in Dutch?
Yes. Dutch is not a pro-drop language, so you generally need a subject pronoun. Omitting je would make the sentence ungrammatical.
How do you pronounce uitspraak, and why does it look tricky?
Uitspraak is pronounced [ˈœytspraːk]. The tricky parts are:
• ui = the Dutch vowel [œy], a rounded sound not found in English (somewhat like French eu + glide).
• ts = like ts in English “cats.”
• praak = long aa [aː], similar to “park” but with a more open a.