Phrases
Conversational sentences. Swipe to change language.
Goedemorgen!
Good morning!
Formal/Neutral greeting used until 12:00 PM.
Goedemiddag!
Good afternoon!
Formal/Neutral greeting used from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Goedenavond!
Good evening!
Formal/Neutral greeting used from 6:00 PM to midnight.
Hallo!
Hello! / Hi!
Universally used in all informal and semi-formal contexts.
Hoi! / Hé!
Hi! / Hey!
Strictly informal; used with friends, classmates, and family.
Dag!
Good day! / Bye!
Neutral; can be used both when arriving and leaving.
Doei! / Doeg!
Bye!
Strictly informal; used when leaving peers or family.
Tot ziens!
Goodbye!
Formal/Neutral departure phrase.
Tot straks!
See you later today!
Used when you expect to see the person again within a few hours.
Tot snel! / Tot later!
See you soon! / See you later!
Informal/Neutral departures when the next meeting time is indefinite.
Welkom. Kom binnen.
Welcome. Come on in.
Welcoming someone into your home, class, or office.
Hoe heet je?
What is your name?
Dutch uses hoe ("how") + heten ("to be called"). Saying "Wat heet je?" is incorrect.
Ik heet Eddy.
My name is Eddy.
Conjugated form of heten for the first person (ik).
Hoe heet je zus?
What is your sister's name?
Je here is the possessive pronoun "your".
Ze heet Amalia.
Her name is Amalia.
Ze is the singular feminine pronoun "she".
Hoe heet hij?
What is his name?
Hij is the masculine pronoun "he".
Hij heet Marco.
His name is Marco.
Masculine singular introduction.
Wie is dat?
Who is that?
Use wie ("who") for people, and wat ("what") for things.
Dit is Hakan.
This is Hakan.
Introducing someone nearby or in a picture.
Wie zijn jullie?
Who are you all?
Plural inquiry. Jullie is the informal "you all".
Hallo, ik ben Francesca en wie ben jij?
Hello, I am Francesca and who are you?
Double informal introduction.
Hallo, mijn naam is mevrouw Wang.
Hello, my name is Mrs. Wang.
Formal introduction using family name and title.
Dit is mijn vader, meneer Hettema.
This is my father, Mr. Hettema.
Introducing family formally.
Goedemiddag, ik zal mijn nieuwe collega even voorstellen.
Good afternoon, I will briefly introduce my new colleague.
Voorstellen means to present/introduce someone to a group.
Leuk je te ontmoeten!
Nice to meet you!
Informal reaction after meeting someone.
Leuk u te ontmoeten!
Nice to meet you! (formal)
Polite reaction for teachers, elders, or officials.
Ik ben Wissam en ik houd van sporten.
I am Wissam and I like sports.
Standard template for sharing your name and interest.
Ik bel ... want hij/zij houdt van koken.
I am calling ... because he/she likes cooking.
Activity routine used in getting-acquainted games.
Hoe spel je dat?
How do you spell that?
Standard question when writing down names or addresses.
Waar kom je vandaan?
Where do you come from?
Vandandaan is split into waar ... vandaan in questions.
Ik kom uit Italië.
I come from Italy.
Komen uit + Country Name indicates origin.
Wat is uw land van herkomst?
What is your country of origin?
Herkomst is a formal noun seen on official registrations.
Waar komt u vandaan?
Where do you come from? (formal)
Polite version using the formal u.
Ik kom uit Syrië.
I come from Syria.
Correct Dutch spelling for Syria is Syrië (pronounced Seer-ee-ye).
Mijn nationaliteit is Syrische.
My nationality is Syrian.
The feminine suffix "-e" is added because nationaliteit is a de-word.
Ik kom uit Zweden.
I come from Sweden.
Country example.
Ik kom uit Oekraïne.
I come from Ukraine.
Note the trema (ï) on Oekraïne.
Jullie komen uit Chili.
You all come from Chile.
Plural origin statement.
Waar woon je?
Where do you live?
Informal residence inquiry.
Wat is je adres?
What is your address?
Asking for specific address coordinates.
Ik woon in de Spuistraat op nummer 388.
I live in the Spuistraat at number 388.
Use preposition in for regular, enclosed streets and cities.
We wonen aan de Nieuwe Gracht op nummer 3.
We live along the Nieuwe Gracht at number 3.
Use preposition aan when facing an open waterway or canal.
Het adres is Kazernestraat 32.
The address is Kazernestraat 32.
Standard Dutch order: [Street Name] [House Number].
Mijn woonplaats is Delft.
My city of residence is Delft.
Woonplaats means the city or town, not the street.
In de postcode volgen twee letters na de cijfers.
In the postal code, two letters follow the digits.
Dutch postcodes always take the format: 4 digits + 2 letters (e.g., 1021 JZ).
De combinatie van postcode en huisnummer is uniek.
The combination of postal code and house number is unique.
Useful fact for online deliveries or administrative registration.
Gebruikt u de auto voor het werk?
Do you use the car for work?
Ik werk in een computerwinkel.
I work in a computer shop.
Ik werk bij de taxicentrale.
I work at the taxi company.
Werk je in Edam?
Do you work in Edam?
Nee, ik werk niet in Edam, ik werk in Haarlem.
No, I do not work in Edam, I work in Haarlem.
Mijn collega geeft ook autorijles.
My colleague also gives driving lessons.
De docent geeft Nederlandse les.
The teacher teaches Dutch lessons.
Ik volg een cursus Nederlands.
I am taking a Dutch course.
Kan ik hier een cursus Nederlands volgen?
Can I take a Dutch course here?
We studeren economie in Rotterdam.
We study economics in Rotterdam.
Marco en ik studeren Nederlands.
Marco and I study Dutch.
We doen samen een cursus Nederlands.
We are taking a Dutch course together.
We oefenen de Nederlandse woorden.
We practice the Dutch words.
Hallo, ik zoek het adres van een computerwinkel.
Hello, I am looking for the address of a computer store.
Zoeken indicates the process of searching, while vinden is the outcome.
De winkel is in de Maasstraat op nummer 15, klopt dat?
The shop is in the Maasstraat at number 15, is that correct?
Use klopt dat? to verify if a statement is factually accurate.
Nee, dat klopt niet. Het is een ander nummer.
No, that is not correct. It is a different number.
Negating factual accuracy: dat klopt niet.
Ik zoek het even online voor u.
I will look it up online for you.
Even is a filler word indicating the action will be done quickly.
Ah, hier is het dan: nummer 215. Ik schrijf het even op.
Ah, here it is: number 215. I'll just write it down.
Opschrijven is a separable verb (schrijf ... op) meaning to jot down.
Wat is het antwoord op deze vraag?
What is the answer to this question?
Standard classroom question.
Jij bent de nieuwe cursist, klopt dat?
You are the new trainee, is that correct?
Context: A teacher greeting a new student in class.
Doet u mee, samen met Sara?
Are you joining in, together with Sara?
Meedoen is a separable verb (doet ... mee) meaning to participate.
Nee, sorry. We moeten weer verder gaan.
No, sorry. We have to move on again.
Weer means "again"; verder gaan means "to proceed / go further".
Ik weet het niet.
I don't know.
Universal phrase for "I don't know".
Bedankt!
Thanks!
Dankjewel.
Thank you.
Dankuwel.
Thank you. (formal)
Dat is fijn, dankuwel mevrouw.
That is nice, thank you ma'am.
Wat vervelend, excuses!
How annoying, apologies!
Excuus! / Sorry!
Excuse me! / Sorry!