Diminutives

Diminutives are forms of a word that show smallness or endearment and are much more common in Dutch (especially spoken Dutch) than in English. All diminutives in Dutch are formed by adding -je to the noun, and all are neuter nouns and form the plural by adding -s.

kindje little child
neusje little nose
schaapje little sheep

Nouns endings in a vowel, y, w or j; nouns that contain a long vowel or diphthong followed by r, l, or n; and nouns ending in unstressed -er, -el, and -en add -tje to form the diminutive.

eitje little egg
beentje little leg
dekentje little blanket

Nouns containing a short vowel followed by r, l, n, m, or ng add -etje.

balletje little ball
stemmetje little voice

Nouns ending in unstressed -ing drop the final -g and add -kje.

verrassinkje little surprise

Nouns ending in -m add -pje (unless m is preceded by short stressed vowel.)

bezempje little broom