Capitalization of Days and Months in Dutch
General Rule in Dutch
Unlike English, where days of the week and months of the year are always capitalized, Dutch follows a different rule. In Dutch, days and months are written with lowercase letters unless they start a sentence or are part of a title.
Days of the Week
The days of the week in Dutch are:
- maandag (Monday)
- dinsdag (Tuesday)
- woensdag (Wednesday)
- donderdag (Thursday)
- vrijdag (Friday)
- zaterdag (Saturday)
- zondag (Sunday)
Notice that all days begin with a lowercase letter. For example:
- Ik werk op maandag. (I work on Monday.)
- De afspraak is verplaatst naar vrijdag. (The appointment has been moved to Friday.)
Months of the Year
The months of the year in Dutch are:
- januari (January)
- februari (February)
- maart (March)
- april (April)
- mei (May)
- juni (June)
- juli (July)
- augustus (August)
- september (September)
- oktober (October)
- november (November)
- december (December)
Again, these are all written in lowercase:
- Mijn verjaardag is in juni. (My birthday is in June.)
- We gaan op vakantie in augustus. (We go on holiday in August.)
When to Capitalize Days and Months in Dutch
Beginning of a Sentence
Just like in English, the first word of a sentence is always capitalized, so if a day or month begins the sentence, it takes a capital letter. For example:
- Maandag is mijn vrije dag. (Monday is my day off.)
- September is vaak een drukke maand. (September is often a busy month.)
Titles and Headings
In titles and headings, Dutch sometimes follows different capitalization rules based on style guides, but generally, only the first word is capitalized. For example:
- Maandag in de stad (Monday in the city)
- Feestdagen in december (Holidays in December)
Comparing Dutch and English Capitalization Rules
For English speakers learning Dutch, this is a common area of confusion. In English, we write “Monday” and “June” with capital letters, but in Dutch, it is “maandag” and “juni.” Paying attention to these differences will make your Dutch writing more natural and accurate.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Incorrect: Ik ga op Vrijdag naar school.
- Correct: Ik ga op vrijdag naar school.
- Incorrect: Mijn favoriete maand is Oktober.
- Correct: Mijn favoriete maand is oktober.
To avoid these mistakes, always double-check whether a day or month is starting a sentence. Otherwise, keep it lowercase.
Tips for Practicing Capitalization in Dutch
- Read Dutch newspapers or websites to observe how natives write days and months.
- Practice writing sentences using days and months in different contexts.
- Use language learning platforms like Talkpal to get instant feedback on your writing.
Conclusion
Understanding the rules for using capital letters in days and months is essential for anyone learning Dutch. Remember, unlike in English, these words are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence or are part of a title. By practicing these rules and paying attention to context, you can improve your Dutch writing and sound more like a native speaker. Explore more tips and lessons on Dutch grammar at Talkpal to accelerate your language learning journey!
