Greetings and politeness in Dutch
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Dutch words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Dutch phrases in this lesson
- HalloHAH-loh
- Hello
- Goedemorgenkhoo-duh-MOR-khun
- Good morning
- Goedenavondkhoo-duh-NAH-vont
- Good evening
- Tot zienstot ZEENS
- Goodbye
- Doeidooy
- See you
- AlstublieftAHL-stew-bleeft
- Please
- Dank u welDANK oo vel
- Thank you
- Graag gedaankhrahkh khuh-DAHN
- You're welcome
- SorrySOR-ee
- Sorry
- Pardonpar-DON
- Excuse me
- AangenaamAHN-khuh-naam
- Nice to meet you
The standard, friendly greeting that works in any situation. Safe for shops, offices, and strangers alike.
The g is guttural, like clearing your throat. Used until around noon. A polite, warm opener in shops or offices.
Said arriving anywhere in the evening. Plain hallo works too.
The standard goodbye, implying you expect to see the person again. Doei (DOO-ee) is the casual, very Dutch informal farewell.
The friendly goodbye, often doubled as doei doei. Tot ziens is the polite one.
The formal form, and the safe one with strangers and elders. Among friends it becomes alsjeblieft (ALS-yuh-bleeft). Also used when handing something over, like a shop assistant giving you your change.
The polite thank you. "Bedankt" (buh-DANKT) and "dank je wel" are the everyday casual ones.
Literally "gladly done." The natural response to a thank you. Geen probleem (no problem) is an equally common alternative.
Borrowed from English and the normal Dutch apology.
Borrowed from French. Use it to get attention or to squeeze past on a busy tram.
Literally "pleasant", said with a handshake while you say your name.