Dutch Discoveries

The Influence of the Dutch Language on English As cultures mix and immigrants find new homelands around the world, languages often blend together to give rise to new dialects, phraseologies and words. In the United States, English and Dutch have had an interesting relationship for over four centuries. The Dutch language has had an influence on American English due to the numerous Dutch settlers that have populated much of the country. In this article, we will explore the history of the Dutch influence on English and examine the types of words used in American English that are derived from Dutch. Historical Background The Dutch first touched the shores of the United States in the 1600s, when the Dutch colony of New Netherland was established in present-day New York. The Dutch settlement of New Netherland spanned parts of modern-day New York, New Jersey, Delaware and a few other states. It was settled by the Dutch West India Company and soon provided a foothold for the Dutch trade pre...