Order anything by pointing in Dutch
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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
- Ik wil graag...ik vil KHRAAKH
- I would like...
- DezeDAY-zuh
- This one
- Hoeveel kost het?HOO-vayl kost hut
- How much is it?
- De rekeningduh RAY-kuh-ning
- The bill, please
- Met pinmet pin
- By card
- Contantkon-TANT
- In cash
- WaterVAH-tur
- Water
- KoffieKOF-ee
- Coffee
- Theetay
- Tea
- BiertjeBEER-tyuh
- Beer
- Zonder...ZON-dur
- Without...
Literally "I want gladly", the standard polite order.
Used to indicate the item you want when pointing. Dit (this) is used for neuter nouns, deze for common gender nouns. When in doubt, deze works most of the time.
The standard way to ask the price. Wat kost dit? (what does this cost?) is an equally natural alternative.
Ask for the bill when you are ready to leave. Mag ik de rekening? (may I have the bill?) is the polite full form.
In the Netherlands, debit card payment is called pinnen. Asking to pay met pin (by card/PIN) is very common and widely accepted.
Cash is accepted but the Netherlands is increasingly cashless. Many smaller shops prefer or even require card payment, so it is worth asking first.
Tap water (kraanwater) in the Netherlands is excellent quality and perfectly safe to drink. Sparkling is bruisend water, still is plat water.
Dutch coffee culture is serious. A koffie is typically a small, strong filter coffee or espresso. Koffie verkeerd (coffee wrong) is the popular milky version.
The diminutive is how you order one. It arrives small, with a big head of foam.
"Zonder ijs" (ZON-dur AYS), without ice.