- Hallo ("HAH low") -- Hello (Universal greeting for hello (and by far the easiest to say). Appropriate almost any time or place.)
- Hoi ("hoy") -- Hi (Used more often with people you know. A bit more casual.)
- Goedemorgen ("KHOO duh MORE khen") -- Good morning (Most commonly used in museums, shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. More formal and appropriate for people you don't know. Sometimes shortened to morgen.)
- Goedemiddag ("KHOO duh midakh") -- Good afternoon (Same usage as above, only for a different time of day. Sometimes shortened to middag)
- Goedenavond ("KHOO dun AH fohnt") -- Good evening (Same usage as above, only for a different time of day. Not typically shortened)
- Dag ("dakh") -- Bye (Literally "day" as in "good day," this is the most common word for goodbye. Appropriate with most anyone. Can also be used as a greeting.)
- Tot ziens ("toht zeens") -- See you later (figurative) (Cheerful, yet still appropriate with people you don't know. Often used by shop or restaurant workers as you leave.)
- Doei or doeg ("dooey" or "dookh") -- Bye (Used more often with people you know, but can be used in a casual, friendly way. Much like the British "cheerio.")
- ! Thank you and please are used regularly and a few different ways in everyday Dutch conversation and interaction, even in the most casual settings. As a visitor, you should follow suit (in any language).
- Dank u wel ("dahnk oo vel") -- Thank you very much (formal)
- Dank je wel ("dahnk yuh vel") -- Thank you very much (informal)
- ! Most common way of saying thank you. The formal version is appropriate to use with people you don't know and the informal for family and friends. Although it isn't a literal translation, the added wel is similar to adding "very much" to thank you. A simple dank u is also fine.
- Bedankt ("buh DAHNKT") -- Thanks (A little less formal than dank u wel, but appropriate for most any situation.)
- Alstublieft ("ALST oo bleeft") -- Please or if you please (formal)
- Alsjeblieft ("ALS yuh bleeft") -- Please or if you please (informal)
- ! These words have various meanings in different contexts and are used very frequently. (Sometimes "here you are" or "you're welcome")
- Pardon ("par DOHN") -- Pardon, excuse me (Universal word for excuse me, whether to get someone's attention or to be polite when trying to work your way through a crowd.)
- Meneer ("muh NEAR") -- Mister
- Mevrouw ("muh FROW") -- Miss, Mrs. (These words are the Dutch equivalents of the English "mister" or "sir" and "miss," "Mrs." or "ma'am" (mevrouw is used for both married and unmarried women). You might say Pardon, meneer, to be more polite.)
- Sorry (same as English, but with a long "o" and somewhat rolled "r") -- Sorry (This one's pretty self explanatory. You accidentally step on someone's toe on the tram. "Oh, sorry!" No translation needed.)
oct 26 2013 ∞
oct 27 2013 +