Dutch irregular verbs: list with past tense
Irregular Dutch verbs, also called strong verbs, form their past tense by changing the vowel: lopen → liep, schrijven → schreef. Regular verbs add -te or -de. There are few irregular verbs, but they are the ones you use most. Verbito has 95 of them, most common first.
Groups with the same vowel change
Many change their vowel in the same way, so they are easier to learn in groups.
ij → ee
schrijven → schreef, blijven → bleef, kijken → keek
ie → oo
kiezen → koos, vliegen → vloog, liegen → loog
-cht
kopen → kocht, denken → dacht, zoeken → zocht
List of Dutch irregular verbs
| Infinitive | Past (sing.) | Past (pl.) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| zijn | was | waren | to be |
| hebben | had | hadden | to have |
| gaan | ging | gingen | to go |
| doen | deed | deden | to do |
| kunnen | kon | konden | to can |
| moeten | moest | moesten | to must |
| komen | kwam | kwamen | to come |
| zeggen | zei | zeiden | to say |
| zien | zag | zagen | to see |
| weten | wist | wisten | to know |
| geven | gaf | gaven | to give |
| nemen | nam | namen | to take |
| vinden | vond | vonden | to find |
| denken | dacht | dachten | to think |
| lopen | liep | liepen | to walk |
| spreken | sprak | spraken | to speak |
| eten | at | aten | to eat |
| drinken | dronk | dronken | to drink |
| slapen | sliep | sliepen | to sleep |
| schrijven | schreef | schreven | to write |
| lezen | las | lazen | to read |
| kijken | keek | keken | to look |
| begrijpen | begreep | begrepen | to understand |
| kopen | kocht | kochten | to buy |
| verkopen | verkocht | verkochten | to sell |
| zoeken | zocht | zochten | to search |
| vragen | vroeg | vroegen | to ask |
| helpen | hielp | hielpen | to help |
| beginnen | begon | begonnen | to begin |
| sluiten | sloot | sloten | to close |
| brengen | bracht | brachten | to bring |
| krijgen | kreeg | kregen | to get |
| rijden | reed | reden | to drive |
| vliegen | vloog | vlogen | to fly |
| zwemmen | zwom | zwommen | to swim |
| zingen | zong | zongen | to sing |
| vergeten | vergat | vergaten | to forget |
| onthouden | onthield | onthielden | to remember |
| verliezen | verloor | verloren | to lose |
| winnen | won | wonnen | to win |
| springen | sprong | sprongen | to jump |
| vallen | viel | vielen | to fall |
| trekken | trok | trokken | to pull |
| dragen | droeg | droegen | to carry |
| houden | hield | hielden | to hold |
| laten | liet | lieten | to let |
| blijven | bleef | bleven | to stay |
| sterven | stierf | stierven | to die |
| breken | brak | braken | to break |
| snijden | sneed | sneden | to cut |
| ruiken | rook | roken | to smell |
| bezoeken | bezocht | bezochten | to visit |
| kiezen | koos | kozen | to choose |
| vechten | vocht | vochten | to fight |
| vangen | ving | vingen | to catch |
| klimmen | klom | klommen | to climb |
| varen | voer | voeren | to sail |
| bewegen | bewoog | bewogen | to move |
| genezen | genas | genazen | to heal |
| wegen | woog | wogen | to weigh |
| meten | mat | maten | to measure |
| hangen | hing | hingen | to hang |
| vergelijken | vergeleek | vergeleken | to compare |
| verbieden | verbood | verboden | to forbid |
| smelten | smolt | smolten | to melt |
| bevriezen | bevroor | bevroren | to freeze |
| bijten | beet | beten | to bite |
| strijken | streek | streken | to iron |
| vertrekken | vertrok | vertrokken | to leave |
| stijgen | steeg | stegen | to rise |
| bestaan | bestond | bestonden | to exist |
| lijken | leek | leken | to seem |
| wijzen | wees | wezen | to point |
| fluiten | floot | floten | to whistle |
| stelen | stal | stalen | to steal |
| liegen | loog | logen | to lie |
| bidden | bad | baden | to pray |
| vermijden | vermeed | vermeden | to avoid |
| vervangen | verving | vervingen | to replace |
| verdwijnen | verdween | verdwenen | to disappear |
| verschijnen | verscheen | verschenen | to appear |
| duiken | dook | doken | to dive |
| beschrijven | beschreef | beschreven | to describe |
| genieten | genoot | genoten | to enjoy |
| bezitten | bezat | bezaten | to own |
| vergeven | vergaf | vergaven | to forgive |
| bespreken | besprak | bespraken | to discuss |
| gieten | goot | goten | to pour |
| bedenken | bedacht | bedachten | to invent |
| ontwerpen | ontwierp | ontwierpen | to design |
| onderwijzen | onderwees | onderwezen | to teach |
| kruipen | kroop | kropen | to crawl |
| verlaten | verliet | verlieten | to abandon |
| onderbreken | onderbrak | onderbraken | to interrupt |
| onderzoeken | onderzocht | onderzochten | to investigate |