Basic Expressions in Dutch
Before you dive into grammar rules, you need a toolkit of everyday expressions that let you function in Dutch from day one. These are the phrases you will use to greet people, say please and thank you, ask how someone is doing, and navigate basic social situations. Many of them do not follow grammar rules you have learned yet — they are fixed expressions, and that is perfectly fine.
Dutch has distinct levels of formality. Greetings, for example, range from the casual hoi (hi) to the formal goedemiddag (good afternoon). Knowing when to use which form helps you make a good impression. In general, use informal forms with friends, family, and people your age, and formal forms with strangers, officials, and older people until they invite you to be informal.
This article gives you the essential phrases to survive and be polite in Dutch-speaking environments.
Formation / How It Works
Greetings
| Dutch |
English |
Register |
| Hallo |
Hello |
neutral |
| Hoi |
Hi |
informal |
| Dag |
Hello / Bye |
neutral (used for both) |
| Goedemorgen |
Good morning |
formal/neutral |
| Goedemiddag |
Good afternoon |
formal/neutral |
| Goedenavond |
Good evening |
formal/neutral |
| Hey |
Hey |
very informal |
Farewells
| Dutch |
English |
Register |
| Tot ziens |
Goodbye |
neutral/formal |
| Dag |
Bye |
neutral |
| Doei / Doeg |
Bye |
informal |
| Tot later |
See you later |
informal |
| Tot morgen |
See you tomorrow |
neutral |
| Tot zo |
See you soon |
informal |
| Welterusten |
Good night (going to sleep) |
neutral |
Courtesy Phrases
| Dutch |
English |
Register |
| Alstublieft |
Please / Here you are |
formal |
| Alsjeblieft |
Please / Here you are |
informal |
| Dank u wel |
Thank you (formal) |
formal |
| Dank je wel |
Thank you (informal) |
informal |
| Bedankt |
Thanks |
neutral |
| Sorry |
Sorry |
neutral |
| Pardon |
Excuse me |
formal |
| Geen probleem |
No problem |
neutral |
| Graag gedaan |
You're welcome |
neutral |
Asking How Someone Is
| Dutch |
English |
Register |
| Hoe gaat het? |
How are you? |
neutral |
| Hoe gaat het met u? |
How are you? |
formal |
| Hoe gaat het met je? |
How are you? |
informal |
| Goed, dank je. En met jou? |
Fine, thanks. And you? |
informal |
| Het gaat goed. |
I'm doing fine. |
neutral |
| Niet zo goed. |
Not so well. |
neutral |
Agreement and Disagreement
| Dutch |
English |
| Ja |
Yes |
| Nee |
No |
| Oké |
Okay |
| Natuurlijk |
Of course |
| Zeker |
Sure / Certainly |
| Misschien |
Maybe |
| Ik denk het wel. |
I think so. |
| Ik denk het niet. |
I don't think so. |
Useful Conversational Phrases
| Dutch |
English |
| Ik begrijp het niet. |
I don't understand. |
| Kunt u dat herhalen? |
Can you repeat that? (formal) |
| Kun je dat herhalen? |
Can you repeat that? (informal) |
| Spreekt u Engels? |
Do you speak English? (formal) |
| Wat betekent ...? |
What does ... mean? |
| Hoe zeg je ... in het Nederlands? |
How do you say ... in Dutch? |
| Ik spreek een beetje Nederlands. |
I speak a little Dutch. |
Examples in Context
| Dutch |
English |
Note |
| Goedemorgen! Hoe gaat het? |
Good morning! How are you? |
Starting a conversation |
| Goed, dank u wel. En met u? |
Fine, thank you. And you? |
Formal reply |
| Mag ik een koffie, alstublieft? |
May I have a coffee, please? |
Ordering politely |
| Dank je wel voor je hulp. |
Thank you for your help. |
Expressing gratitude |
| Sorry, ik ben te laat. |
Sorry, I am late. |
Apologizing |
| Tot morgen! |
See you tomorrow! |
Saying goodbye |
| Pardon, waar is het station? |
Excuse me, where is the station? |
Asking directions |
| Geen probleem, graag gedaan. |
No problem, you're welcome. |
Responding to thanks |
| Ik begrijp het niet. Kunt u langzamer spreken? |
I don't understand. Can you speak more slowly? |
Asking for help |
| Welterusten! |
Good night! |
Before going to sleep |
Common Mistakes
| Wrong |
Right |
Why |
| Alstublieft to a friend |
Alsjeblieft |
Use the je-form with people you address informally |
| Dank u to a child |
Dank je (wel) |
Match the formality to the relationship |
| Goedemorgen at 8 PM |
Goedenavond |
Use the greeting that matches the time of day |
| Tot zien |
Tot ziens (with -s) |
The -s is always present |
| Using dag only for goodbye |
Dag works for both hello and bye |
It depends on context and tone |
Practice Tips
- Greet people in Dutch. Even if you switch to English afterward, starting with hallo or goedemorgen shows respect and builds the habit. Practice both formal and informal forms.
- Memorize courtesy pairs. Learn expressions in pairs: alstublieft/dank u wel (formal) and alsjeblieft/dank je wel (informal). Use them every time you interact in Dutch, even in small exchanges.
- Role-play common scenarios. Practice ordering coffee, asking for directions, and greeting a colleague. These micro-conversations are the building blocks of fluency.
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