---
title: "Deze, die, dit, dat"
level: A1
chapter: "Pronouns"
canonical: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/demonstratives
updated: 2026-10-08
author: Dutch Fluency
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
---

# Deze, die, dit, dat

Dutch has four words for this, that, these and those: _deze_, _die_, _dit_ and _dat_. Use _deze_ (this) and _die_ (that) with de-words and with every plural. Use _dit_ (this) and _dat_ (that) with het-words, so you say _deze fiets_ and _dit huis_, but _deze fietsen_ and _deze huizen_.

## The pattern

> _Deze_ and _dit_ point to something close, _die_ and _dat_ to something further away. Choose the pair that matches the noun: _deze_ and _die_ for de-words and plurals, _dit_ and _dat_ for het-words.

- _de stoel_, close: _deze stoel_ (this chair)
- _de stoel_, far: _die stoel_ (that chair)
- _het raam_, close: _dit raam_ (this window)
- _het raam_, far: _dat raam_ (that window)
- plural, close: _deze stoelen_, _deze ramen_ (these)
- plural, far: _die stoelen_, _die ramen_ (those)

## Examples

| **Deze** fiets is nieuw. | This bike is new. |
| Gaat **die** trein naar Utrecht? | Does that train go to Utrecht? |
| **Dit** brood is lekker. | This bread is tasty. |
| Werkt Daan in **dat** gebouw? | Does Daan work in that building? |
| **Deze** appels zijn heel zoet. | These apples are very sweet. |
| Ik neem **die** schoenen. | I'll take those shoes. |
| Zijn **deze** boeken van Priya? | Are these books Priya's? |
| **Dat** meisje is de dochter van Ahmed. | That girl is Ahmed's daughter. |
| **Deze** week is Sanne jarig. | It is Sanne's birthday this week. |

## Why it works this way

The grammar term for these words is demonstratives: pointing words. A demonstrative takes the place of _de_ or _het_, so it has to match the noun in the same way. Compare _de tafel_, _deze tafel_ with _het bord_, _dit bord_. In the plural every noun uses _de_ (see [De or het](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/de-and-het)), so _de borden_ gives _deze borden_ and _die borden_.

Remember: _het_ ends in t, and so do _dit_ and _dat_. _De_ ends in e, and so do _deze_ and _die_.

English only changes for number: this book, these books. Dutch also changes for _de_ or _het_, but that difference disappears in the plural. If you speak German or Spanish, the idea will feel familiar.

This means you can only pick the right word if you know the article, so always learn a noun together with _de_ or _het_ ([How to actually learn de and het](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/learning-de-het)).

Close and far also work for time: _deze week_ means this week, and _die avond_ means that evening.

When _dit_ or _dat_ stands alone, as in _Dit is Mei_, the rule is different. That is the next lesson: [Dit is, dat is, het is](https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar/dit-is-dat-is).

## Watch out

- Not: _dit fiets_ Say: _deze fiets_ (it is _de fiets_, so _deze_)
- Not: _die huis_ Say: _dat huis_ (it is _het huis_, so _dat_)
- Not: _dat boeken_ Say: _die boeken_ (plurals always take _deze_ or _die_, even though it is _het boek_)
- Not: _deze meisje_ Say: _dit meisje_ (singular diminutives, such as _meisje_, are always het-words)
- Not: _Ik neem dat trein._ Say: _Ik neem die trein._ (_dat_ looks like English that, but it is _de trein_, so _die_)

## Quick check

1. You are holding a cup of coffee (_de koffie_). Fill in _deze_ or _dit_: _... koffie is te heet._
2. You point at a house across the street. Fill in the gap: _... huis is mooi._
3. Choose _deze_ or _dit_: _... tomaten zijn rijp._
4. Fix the sentence without changing its meaning: _Die kopje is van Bas._

## Answers

1. _Deze_: _koffie_ is a de-word, and it is close to you.
2. _Dat_: _huis_ is a het-word, and it is far away.
3. _Deze_: plurals always take _deze_ or _die_.
4. _Dat kopje is van Bas._: _kopje_ is a singular diminutive, so it is _het kopje_.

## Use it today

In the supermarket, pick three things and name them in your head with the right word, for example _deze appels_, _dat brood_ and _die kaas_. If you are unsure about _de_ or _het_, guess first and check at home.

## Questions learners ask

**What is the difference between deze and dit in Dutch?**

Both mean "this". Use deze with de-words and with all plurals (deze stoel, deze boeken), and dit with het-words (dit boek).

**When do you use die or dat in Dutch?**

Both mean "that", for something further away. Use die with de-words and all plurals (die fiets, die huizen), and dat with het-words (dat huis).

**How do you say "these" and "those" in Dutch?**

"These" is deze and "those" is die, for every plural noun. Even a het-word takes deze or die in the plural, so dit huis becomes deze huizen.

From the Dutch Fluency Grammar: https://www.dutchfluency.com/grammar. Shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.