LearnFrisian

Frisian is a language from Friesland in the Netherlands. LearnFrisian.com offers a free Frisian learning program, which includes audio for listening practice, exercise points, and competitive features for motivation. It’s a great resource for those exploring Frisian language and culture.

Start Now (Free) Full Video Course (Paid)

✅ 7000+ Questions

✅ 800+ Lessons

✅ 1500+ Audio

Why you should learn Frisian

Closest language to English

Makes it the easiest language to learn as an English speaker.

The Coolest Words

Frisian’s vowel system has some unique features that make it distinct from other Germanic languages.

Oldest living Germanic language

Frisian is the oldest living Germanic language.

Viking-Age Heritage

The Frisians share a fascinating warrior heritage with the Scandinavians and were known as fierce seafarers themselves.

Join a community of only 500,000 speakers

The Frisian language has around 500,000 speakers.

Explore a whole new world

Explore the Frisian history, myths, folktales, culture and much more.

Start learning Frisian today.

Start now!

What can you learn?

Introduction

Frisian Words

Pronouns

Basics

Countries

Interested in Frisian articles?

Check all the articles

Frisian Articles

How old is Frisian?

When people ask how old Frisian is, the answer depends on what you mean by “Frisian.” If you’re asking about the language as it’s spoken today in Friesland, it’s a few centuries old. But if you’re asking when Frisian first branched off as its own distinct language, you’re looking at well over a thousand years….

Read More How old is Frisian?
Frisian Articles

Frisian Doors: The Colorful Tradition That Turned a Province Into an Art Gallery

Walk through any Frisian village and you’ll notice something weird. The doors are painted in colors so bright they look like someone spilled a rainbow on them. Blues, greens, reds, yellows. Sometimes all on the same door. And it’s not random chaos. It’s tradition. Frisian doors are famous throughout the Netherlands for being ridiculously colorful….

Read More Frisian Doors: The Colorful Tradition That Turned a Province Into an Art Gallery
Frisian Articles

Frisians in Rome

In 28 AD, Frisian warriors fought Roman legions in a tax revolt that shocked the empire. Centuries later, Frisian soldiers served in the Roman army across three continents. The story of Frisians and Rome is one of resistance, recruitment, and an unlikely connection between a North Sea marshland people and the greatest empire of the…

Read More Frisians in Rome
Frisian Articles

Frisian Windmills: The Giant Wooden Machines That Shaped a Province

Look, when most people think of windmills, they picture the Netherlands. Tulips, cheese, clogs, windmills. The whole postcard package. But here’s what they don’t know: Friesland had its own unique windmill culture that was completely different from the rest of the country. And honestly? The Frisian approach to windmills was way more interesting. Let’s start…

Read More Frisian Windmills: The Giant Wooden Machines That Shaped a Province
Frisian Articles

Frisian Pottery: The Ancient Craft That Still Shapes Clay in Friesland

You know what’s cool? While everyone’s obsessing over Dutch Delftware, there’s this whole pottery tradition in Friesland that’s been quietly doing its thing for centuries. And it’s got its own unique style that deserves way more attention. Frisian pottery isn’t just one thing. It’s actually a collection of different traditions from different parts of Friesland,…

Read More Frisian Pottery: The Ancient Craft That Still Shapes Clay in Friesland
Frisian Articles

Frisian Holidays: The Unique Traditions That Make Friesland’s Calendar Different

Most people think holidays are pretty much the same everywhere. Christmas, New Year’s, maybe some local saint’s day thrown in. But Friesland has its own calendar rhythm that sets it apart from the rest of the Netherlands, and honestly, from most of Europe. Let’s start with Dodenherdenking, which technically isn’t unique to Friesland but gets…

Read More Frisian Holidays: The Unique Traditions That Make Friesland’s Calendar Different

How about a Frisian book?

Buy a Frisian book

Learn Frisian with a book

Buy a Frisian book

Common Questions

Everything you want to know about the Frisian language and this website.

Yes, it’s completely free to use.

www.learnfrisian.com is an online platform dedicated to teaching and promoting the Frisian language. Designed for both beginners and advanced learners, the website offers comprehensive resources, interactive lessons, and engaging content to help users grasp the nuances of Frisian. Whether you’re curious about Frisian culture, aiming to communicate with native speakers, or simply want to add another language to your repertoire, www.learnfrisian.com is your go-to destination to start your linguistic journey.

An account is only necessary for those who wish to track and save their progress, as well as for a more streamlined navigation experience.

We focus on teaching West Frisian, the dialect predominantly spoken in the Netherlands.

No, Frisian is considered one of the oldest Germanic languages, with its roots predating Dutch. Both languages, however, have evolved considerably over the centuries.

There are three main Frisian languages: West Frisian (spoken in the Netherlands), East Frisian (spoken in a small part of Germany), and North Frisian (spoken in parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany).

The ease of learning Frisian largely depends on your linguistic background. For English or Dutch speakers, certain aspects of Frisian might be easier to grasp due to some similarities in vocabulary and structure.

Frisian and English share a common Germanic origin. As a result, they have linguistic similarities, and some say that Frisian is the closest living language to English. However, they have also diverged over time and are distinct languages.

While both Frisian and Dutch are West Germanic languages and share some vocabulary, they have different phonetics, grammar, and vocabulary. They are distinct languages and are not mutually intelligible.

Frisian is a minority language, but efforts are being made to promote and preserve it. In Friesland, for instance, it’s taught in schools and used in public life.

Most Dutch people outside of Friesland do not understand Frisian. However, in Friesland, many residents are bilingual and can speak both Dutch and Frisian.

Frisian has ancient roots, tracing back to the early Germanic languages around the 1st century AD. It has evolved over the centuries and has distinct historical phases like Old, Middle, and Modern Frisian.

Like all living languages, the exact number of words in Frisian is difficult to pin down as it continually evolves. However, it has a rich vocabulary that serves the needs of its speakers in daily communication, literature, and other forms of expression.

Learning Frisian not only allows you to communicate with native speakers but also provides insight into a rich cultural heritage and history. It can also enhance cognitive abilities, as learning any language does.

‘â’ ‘aw’ as in ‘Dawn’
‘ê’ ‘he’ as in ‘Where’
‘g’ ‘g’ as in ‘Girl’
‘i’ ‘i’ as in ‘Bin’. Can also sound like ‘e’.
‘i’/‘y’ ‘e’ as in ‘He, She, We’
‘j’ ‘y as in ‘You’
‘û’ ‘o’ as in ‘Two’
‘w’ in Frisian is a sound in between ‘v’ and ‘w’ at the beginning of words.

‘oe’ ‘oo’ as in ‘Good’
‘ie’/’ii’ ‘ea’ as in ‘Leader’
‘ij’ ‘y’ as in ‘By’
‘ei’ it is near to ‘y’ as in ‘My’
‘oa’ ‘o’ as in ‘Bore’
‘ea’ ‘ea’ as in ‘Gear’
‘ch’ as in Scottish ‘loch’
‘iuw’ like ‘ee’ in ‘bee’ and ‘oo’ in ‘boot’ said together quickly.

The letters b, d, t, f, h, k, l, m, n, s are (nearly) the same as English.
The little ‘hat’ (circumflex) on top of these letters: â, ô, ê make the sound of the regular ‘a’, ‘o’, ‘e’ longer. This is not always the case with ‘û’.

While Frisian is predominantly spoken in the Netherlands, especially in Friesland, understanding the language can be beneficial in regions of Germany where East and North Frisian are spoken.

Yes, West Frisian, the variety taught on our platform, has a standardized orthography. However, like all languages, there are dialectal variations.

Frisian has its own set of phonetic rules which differ from both Dutch and English. Our platform provides guides and exercises to help learners with correct pronunciation.