What does dutch mean?
Dutch primarily means relating to the Netherlands — its people, its language, or anything characteristic of that country. As an adjective it appears in everyday phrases such as 'a Dutch painter' or 'Dutch cheese'; as a noun, 'the Dutch' denotes the people of the Netherlands collectively, and uncapitalized contexts are incorrect since the word always takes a capital letter. The word has also seeped into a cluster of familiar idioms born of 17th-century Anglo-Dutch rivalry: to 'go Dutch' is to split a bill equally, 'Dutch courage' means bravery gained from alcohol, and 'double Dutch' describes speech too fast or garbled to follow. These expressions were originally mocking, though today they are mostly used lightheartedly. Historically, 'Dutch' derives from a Germanic root meaning simply 'of the people' — the very same root that produced the modern German word 'Deutsch' — which explains why English once applied it loosely to German-speakers as well before it narrowed to mean specifically Netherlandish.
Of or relating to the Netherlands, its inhabitants, or their language.
"Rembrandt is perhaps the best-known Dutch master of the seventeenth century."
The people of the Netherlands, used with 'the': 'the Dutch'. Also, informally, the Dutch language.
"The Dutch reclaimed much of their land from the sea."
Always plural and definite when referring to the people; the language is usually called simply 'Dutch' without an article.
When used as a noun for the people, 'Dutch' takes no -s ending; it functions as a collective plural requiring 'the' and plural verbs.
"The Dutch have a long tradition of water engineering."
The word 'Dutch' and the German word for German come from the exact same root — medieval Europeans just used different versions of it to label each other.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dutch
'Dutch' entered Middle English from Middle Low German 'dutsch' or 'dudesch', meaning 'of the people', from Proto-Germanic '*þiudiskaz'. This root also yields modern German 'Deutsch' ('German'), which is why early English writers sometimes used 'Dutch' broadly for continental Germanic peoples, including Germans. Over the 17th century the English sense narrowed to refer specifically to the people and language of the Netherlands, cemented by the era's intense commercial and naval rivalry with the Dutch Republic. A related borrowing through Latin gives English 'Teutonic'.
Related word forms
How dutch is actually used
As an adjective, 'Dutch' is standard and neutral. As a noun it normally appears only in the definite form 'the Dutch' for the people; the language is usually called 'Dutch' without an article. Numerous idioms ('Dutch courage', 'Dutch treat') arose in 17th-century Anglo-Dutch rivalry and carry dated, sometimes mildly derogatory overtones, though most are now used playfully. Capitalize in all senses, including 'go Dutch'.
Easily confused with dutch
'Deutsch' is the German word for 'German', while 'Dutch' refers to the Netherlands — a frequent mix-up because both derive from the same ancient root meaning simply 'of the people'.