Dutch A2 Vocabulary for Inburgering (+ Method)
The 50 A2 words that come up most in real Dutch life, grouped by topic, plus a fast, gap-based method to make them stick before your inburgering exam.
You do not need a special talent to learn Dutch vocabulary at A2 level. You need the right words, and the right method to make them stick. Below you get both: a fast, gap-based way to learn words so they hold, and a topic-based list of the 50 everyday words that come up most often on the inburgering exam and in real Dutch life.
The fast way to learn A2 words
Most people study vocabulary by reading a long list over and over. It feels productive, but it barely builds recall. These five habits are what actually make words stick, and they take less time than re-reading.
1. Learn words in topic groups, not random lists
Study words by real-life situation instead of alphabetical order. Pick one topic at a time, such as healthcare or work. When words belong to the same context, your brain connects them and they appear together in real conversations, so learning them together makes them easier to recall. That is exactly how the list further down is organized.
2. Learn every word inside a sentence
Never learn a word by itself. A word without context is hard to remember and even harder to use correctly. Instead of memorizing afspraak = appointment, learn Ik heb een afspraak bij de huisarts. Now you also know how the word fits in a sentence and which words go with it, which is what a writing task really tests.
3. Test yourself with gaps, not re-reading
This is the core of a gap-based method: leave a gap and force yourself to fill it from memory. Cover the Dutch column and produce the word from the English meaning. Then cover the English and go the other direction. Say the word aloud when you recall it, because speaking activates a different part of your brain than silent reading and makes the memory stronger. If a word does not come, give yourself about ten seconds to struggle for it before you look, that struggle is what builds recall.
4. Space out your reviews
Your memory fades quickly after you first see a word. Spaced repetition fights this by reviewing at growing intervals instead of cramming:
- Day 1: Learn 10 new words, each with an example sentence.
- Day 2: Review yesterday’s words. Repeat the ones you forgot.
- Day 4: Review again. Most words should feel easier.
- Day 8: Review once more. The words you still remember are now in long-term memory.
- Day 15: Final check. Send any stubborn words back to the start of the cycle.
This works better than drilling the same words every single day, because each time your brain has to work to recall a word, the memory gets stronger.
5. Write to lock it in
Recognizing a word is not the same as being able to use it. After you learn a set of words, write a short A2 text with as many of them as you can. After the healthcare set, write a short message to your doctor. After the work set, write to your employer: Ik kan morgen niet komen, want ik ben ziek. Ik heb een afspraak bij de huisarts. Ik neem later contact op. This forces you to use the words actively, which is exactly what the inburgering exam asks for.
The 50 words to know, by topic
Each word comes with an English translation and a simple Dutch example sentence you can use for study and practice. Learn one topic at a time, roughly 10 words per session.
1. Healthcare
| Dutch | English | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| huisarts | general practitioner | Ik ga morgen naar de huisarts. |
| apotheek | pharmacy | De apotheek is naast de supermarkt. |
| medicijnen | medicine | Ik moet elke dag medicijnen nemen. |
| recept | prescription | De dokter geeft mij een recept. |
| zorgverzekering | health insurance | Iedereen in Nederland heeft een zorgverzekering. |
| afspraak | appointment | Ik heb een afspraak om 10 uur. |
| ziek | sick | Ik ben vandaag ziek. |
| koorts | fever | Mijn zoon heeft koorts. |
| pijn | pain | Ik heb pijn in mijn rug. |
| behandeling | treatment | De behandeling duurt twee weken. |
2. Work
| Dutch | English | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| contract | contract | Ik heb een contract voor een jaar. |
| salaris | salary | Het salaris wordt elke maand betaald. |
| sollicitatie | job application | Ik heb een sollicitatie bij een bedrijf. |
| werkgever | employer | Mijn werkgever is heel aardig. |
| collega | colleague | Mijn collega helpt mij met het werk. |
| vakantie | vacation / holiday | In augustus heb ik twee weken vakantie. |
| vergadering | meeting | De vergadering begint om 9 uur. |
| ontslag | dismissal | Hij heeft ontslag gekregen. |
| deeltijd | part-time | Ik werk deeltijd, drie dagen per week. |
| ervaring | experience | Ik heb twee jaar ervaring als kok. |
3. Government
| Dutch | English | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| gemeente | municipality | Ik ga naar de gemeente voor mijn paspoort. |
| formulier | form | U moet dit formulier invullen. |
| paspoort | passport | Mijn paspoort is verlopen. |
| inschrijven | to register | Ik moet mij inschrijven bij de gemeente. |
| DigiD | digital identity | Je hebt een DigiD nodig voor de website. |
| afspraak maken | to make an appointment | Ik wil een afspraak maken bij het gemeentehuis. |
| bewijs | proof / certificate | Ik heb een bewijs van inschrijving nodig. |
| vergunning | permit | Je hebt een vergunning nodig om te bouwen. |
| aanvragen | to apply for | Ik wil een nieuw paspoort aanvragen. |
| identiteitskaart | identity card | Mijn identiteitskaart is nog geldig. |
4. Housing
| Dutch | English | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| huur | rent | De huur is 800 euro per maand. |
| verwarming | heating | De verwarming doet het niet. |
| reparatie | repair | De verhuurder betaalt de reparatie. |
| sleutel | key | Ik ben mijn sleutel vergeten. |
| buren | neighbors | Mijn buren zijn heel vriendelijk. |
| verhuizen | to move (house) | Wij gaan volgende maand verhuizen. |
| kamer | room | De kamer is groot en licht. |
| keuken | kitchen | We eten altijd in de keuken. |
| badkamer | bathroom | De badkamer is net gerenoveerd. |
| tuin | garden | De kinderen spelen in de tuin. |
5. Daily Life
| Dutch | English | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| boodschappen | groceries | Ik doe elke zaterdag boodschappen. |
| supermarkt | supermarket | De supermarkt is om de hoek. |
| pinnen | to pay by card | Ik wil graag pinnen. |
| contant | cash | Ik heb geen contant geld bij me. |
| fiets | bicycle | Ik ga met de fiets naar mijn werk. |
| trein | train | De trein vertrekt om half acht. |
| ov-chipkaart | public transport card | Je hebt een ov-chipkaart nodig in de bus. |
| weer | weather | Het weer is vandaag slecht. |
| afspraak | appointment | Ik heb om twee uur een afspraak. |
| feest | party | Zaterdag is er een feest bij de buren. |
Put the words on a weekly schedule
Combine the two halves of this guide into one week: learn one topic per session with sentences, review the day before, and write with the words twice a week.
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday | Learn 10 healthcare words with sentences |
| Tuesday | Review Monday’s words + learn 10 work words |
| Wednesday | Review Tuesday’s words + learn 10 government words |
| Thursday | Review all words from Monday to Wednesday |
| Friday | Learn 10 housing words + review weak words |
| Saturday | Learn 10 daily life words + write 2 short messages using the week’s vocabulary |
| Sunday | Full review of all 50 words. Mark difficult words for extra repetition next week |
Mistakes that slow you down
- Learning too many words at once. Studying 50 words in a day and forgetting 40 by Friday is not progress. Stick to 10 per day with daily review.
- Reading without testing. A vocabulary list feels productive, but recognition is not recall. You have to test yourself, with the gap drills above.
- Skipping the review of old words. New words push old ones out of memory. Always review before you add.
- Skipping writing practice. Being able to recognize a word is not the same as using it. Write short texts at least twice a week.
Practice the gap drills, not just the list
Reading this page teaches you the words once. What moves them into memory is retrieving them, again and again, at the right moments. That is what a spaced, gap-based drill does for you automatically: it hides the answer, asks you to produce the word, and schedules the next review for the moment you are about to forget.
You can do this on paper, but it is much easier to let something else track the schedule. The Inburgering Coach app turns these same topic words into gap drills and spaces the reviews for you, then puts the words straight into short A2 writing tasks so you use them the way the exam demands. You can also try the free level and practice exercises to see where your vocabulary is strong and where the gaps are before you build your weekly plan.
Related Guides
Keep learning
Frequently asked questions
How many A2 words should I learn, and how fast?
Aim for about 10 new words a day, or 30 to 50 a week, always with a daily review of older words. At that pace you build a solid base of roughly 250 to 400 practical words in about eight weeks, which covers most A2 writing and speaking on the inburgering exam. Consistency beats raw word count.
Should I memorize single words or whole phrases?
Learn words inside a short sentence, never alone. Instead of 'afspraak = appointment', learn 'Ik heb een afspraak bij de huisarts.' You then also learn which words and prepositions go with it, which is exactly what you need to use the word correctly in a writing task.
What is the fastest way to make new words stick?
Test yourself instead of re-reading. Cover the translation and try to produce the word from memory, say it aloud, and review it after one day, three days, and one week. This gap-based recall forces your brain to retrieve the word, which is what moves it into long-term memory.
How often should I review vocabulary?
Short daily reviews beat long weekly ones. Review each set of words the next day, then again after a few days, then after about a week. Always review your older words before adding new ones, or the new words push the old ones out.
Related guides
Writing
Inburgering A2 Writing: Examples & Templates
Every A2 writing template and worked example you need for the inburgering exam — formal emails, informal messages, and the tricky scenarios — ready to copy and adapt.
Study Plan
Inburgering Study Plan: 8 Weeks + Daily Routine
A realistic 8-week inburgering study plan paired with a 30-minute daily routine, so you prepare for A2 writing and KNM without burning out.
Guide
How to Self-Study Dutch to A2 Level Without a Course
Yes, you can reach A2 Dutch on your own. Here is a realistic self-study plan with daily routines, free resources, common mistakes to avoid, and week-by-week milestones.