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Basic Dutch words and phrases

It is true that English is widely spoken in the Netherlands (around 86 percent of the population speak English). However, it's helpful to learn some fundamental words so you can get around in regions where English is not spoken.

Here are the easiest Dutch phrases that you can learn for daily usage.

Good Morning

Goedemorgen

khoo-duh-mawr-ghuh

Good Day

Goedemiddag

khoo-duh-mih-dahkh

Good Evening

Goedenavond

khoo-duh-nah-fohnt

Good Night

Goedenacht

khoo-duh-nahkht

Hi / Bye

Hoi / Hallo / Daag / Doei

hoy / hah-loh / dahk / doo-ee

Goodbye

Tot ziens

toht zeens

See you later (in the same day)

Tot straks

toht straks

See you soon

Tot zo

toht zoh

Please

Alstublieft / Alsjeblieft

ahlst-ew-bleeft / ahl-shuh-bleeft

Thank you

Dank u wel / Dank je wel

dahnk-ew-vehl / dahnk-yuh-vehl

Thank you very much

Hartelijk bedankt

hahr-tuh-lik buh-dahnkt

You're welcome (don't mention it)

Graag gedaan

khrahkh khuh-dahn

I'm sorry / Excuse me

Sorry

saw-ree

Pardon me (didn't understand)

Pardon, wat zei u?

pahr-dohn, vat zay ew

Yes / No

Ja / Nee

yah / nay

How are you? (formal)

Hoe gaat het met u?

hoo khaht ut meht ew

How are you? (informal)

Hoe gaat het?

hoo khaht ut

Fine / Very well

Goed / Heel goed

khoot / hayl khoot

So so / Bad

Het gaat / Slecht

uht khaht / slehkht

I'm tired / sick.

Ik ben moe / ziek

ik ben moo / zeek

I'm hungry / thirsty.

Ik heb honger / dorst

ik heb hohng-ur / dohrst

What's your name? (formal)

Hoe heet u?

hoo hayt ew

What's your name? (informal)

Hoe heet je?

hoo hayt yuh

My name is (I'm called)...

Ik heet...

ik hayt...

I am...

Ik ben...

ik ben

Nice to meet you.

Aangenaam (kennis te maken)

ahn-guh-nahm (ken-nis tuh mah-kuh)

Mister / Misses / Miss

meneer / mevrouw / mejuffrouw

muh-nayr / muh-frow / muh-yuh-frow

Where are you from? (formal)

Waar komt u vandaan?

vahr kawmt ew fun-dahn

Where are you from? (informal)

Waar kom je vandaan?

vahr kawn yuh fun-dahn

I am from the Netherlands.

Ik kom uit Nederland.

ik kawm owt nay-der-lant

Where do you live? (formal)

Waar woont u?

vahr vohnt ew

Where do you live? (informal)

Waar woon je?

vahr vohn yuh

I live in America.

Ik woon in Amerika.

ik vohn in ah-meh-ree-kah

How old are you? (formal)

Hoe oud bent u?

hoo owt bent ew

How old are you? (informal)

Hoe oud ben je?

hoo owt ben yuh

I am ____ years old.

Ik ben ... jaar (oud).

ik ben ... yahr owt

Do you speak Dutch? (formal)

Spreekt u Nederlands?

spraykt ew nay-der-lahnds

Do you speak English? informal)

Spreek je Engels?

sprayk yuh ehng-uhls

I [don't] speak...

Ik spreek [geen]...

ik sprayk [khayn]

I don't speak ... very well.

Ik spreek niet zo goed...

ik sprayk neet zoh khood

I [don't] understand.

Ik begrijp het [niet.]

ik buh-khraip ut neet

I [don't] know.

Ik weet het [niet.]

ik vayt ut [neet]

How much is it?

Wat kost het?

vat kohst ut

I'd like...

Ik wil graag...

ik vil khrahk

Cheers!

Proost!

prohst

Have fun!

Veel plezier!

fayl pleh-zeer

Good luck!

Veel succes!

fayl suk-sehs

Be careful!

Wees voorzichtig!

vays fohr-zikh-tikh

That is great / terrible!

Dat is geweldig / vreselijk!

dat is khuh-vehl-duhkh / fray-zuh-likh

I love you. (informal)

Ik hou van je.

ik how fahn yuh

I love you (all).

Ik hou van jullie.

ik how fahn juh-lee

How funny / odd!

Wat vreemd!

vaht fraymt

What a pity!

Wat jammer!

vaht yah-mer

What is this / that?

Wat is dit / dat?

vut iss dit / dut



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