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De or het kind?

← Dutch words

het kind

child, kid, non-adult human

/kɪnt/

Forms

Singular
het kind
Plural
de kinderen
Diminutive
het kindje

Why het?

  • No reliable spelling rule decides this one, so het kind is learned together with the word.
  • Every plural takes de, so it is de kinderen whatever the singular takes.
  • Every diminutive takes het: het kindje.

The rules for de and het, with the exceptions

Meaning in English

  1. child, kid, non-adult human
  2. first-degree descendant, still a minor or irrespective of age
  3. product of influence, breeding etc.

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