Dutch is the language of the Netherlands, and the adjective for the country and its people. Dutch cheese, a Dutch friend, speak Dutch.
It is always capitalised. The confusing part is the name itself: the country is the Netherlands, its people are the Dutch, and Holland is strictly only two of its provinces though it is widely used for the whole. Several English phrases use Dutch unkindly, from centuries of rivalry — going Dutch means each person paying for themselves, and Dutch courage means bravery from alcohol. Note Pennsylvania Dutch, which is actually German, from Deutsch.
1adjectivedutchBelonging to the Netherlands or its people.
“The Dutch coast is defended by dykes for most of its length.”
2nounlanguageThe language of the Netherlands.
“She learned Dutch in about eighteen months.”
dutch is a nationality or language.
The word once meant German, from a Germanic root meaning of the people — the same root as Deutsch. English narrowed it to the Netherlands while German kept it for itself, which is why the Pennsylvania Dutch speak a German dialect.
a clipping of duchess.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in News & Communication