West Frisian language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Frisian |
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| Native speakers | 470,000 (2001) | |||
| Language family |
Indo-European
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| Official status | ||||
| Official language in | Netherlands | |||
| Linguasphere | 52-ACA-b | |||
West Frisian North Frisian Saterland Frisian
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West Frisian (called Fries in Dutch) is a unique language spoken mainly in Friesland, a province in the Netherlands. It's a very important part of the culture there. Most people in Friesland can understand and speak West Frisian. Many can also read it, and some can write it.
Contents
How West Frisian Works: Alphabet and Grammar
West Frisian uses the same letters as the Latin alphabet, which is what English uses. Sometimes, special marks called accents are added to the letters A, E, O, and U. These accents change how the letters sound.
In West Frisian, all nouns (words for people, places, or things) have a "gender." There are two main types:
- The common gender, which is used for both male and female nouns.
- The neutral gender, used for other nouns.
Just like in English, West Frisian has words that are singular (meaning one) and plural (meaning more than one). To make a noun plural, people usually add "-(e)n" or "-s" to the end of the word. These endings are called suffixes.
West Frisian also uses different kinds of verbs (action words). These include weak verbs, strong verbs, and irregular verbs.
West Frisian's Official Status
West Frisian became an official language in the Netherlands in 1956. This happened after many people who loved the language worked hard to make it happen.
Because it's an official language, West Frisian is a required subject in schools throughout Friesland. This means students learn to speak, read, and write it. Also, in courts in Friesland, people are allowed to speak West Frisian. They can even take their oath (a serious promise) in West Frisian.
How West Frisian is Like English
West Frisian is often thought of as the language most similar to modern English. If you know English, you might notice some words look or sound alike!
Here's an example of West Frisian text:
Dis dei is goed oeral. De sinne is waarm en de licht fan de sinne-skinen fielen goed wit de myld wyn. Juster elke was goed, buten dis dei is better. De sinne-opgong en de sinne-undergong is moai wit de blew lofts. Buten dis dei is lyket de maaitiid en net de simmertiid. Ik find dit dei de best of de wike. De rein komt foar de wykein foar Saterdei en Sunndei moarn, but it will net by kald en wol gean oer uus by de middei. De stjeren wol elke by sichtber yn de nacht en sa wol de moanne.
And here's what it means in English:
This day is good overall. The sun is warm and the light from the sun-shining feels good with the mild wind. Yesterday also was good, but this day is better. The sunrise and the sunset is beautiful with the blue sky. But this day is like the springtime and not the summertime. I find this day the best of the week. The rain is coming for the weekend for Saturday and Sunday morning, but it will not be cold and will go over us by the midday. The stars will also be visible in the night and so will the moon.
See also
In Spanish: Idioma frisón occidental para niños
