Welkom! You've been working hard on the foundations of Dutch grammar, and now it's time for the fun part: learning to actually say things! While grammar is the skeleton of a language, vocabulary and common phrases are the flesh and blood that bring it to life. Knowing a few key phrases can make a huge difference, whether you're traveling to the Netherlands, meeting a Dutch person, or just starting your first conversation.
This lesson is your survival guide to basic Dutch conversation. We will cover the most essential phrases for greetings, introductions, being polite, asking for help, and asking basic questions. Memorizing these will give you a massive confidence boost and allow you to start interacting in Dutch right away. Let's start speaking! 🗣️
1. Greetings and Goodbyes (Groeten)
These are the first words you'll use in any conversation. The Dutch are generally informal, but it's good to know the difference between contexts.
| Dutch Phrase | English Translation | Context/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello | The most common, all-purpose greeting. |
| Hoi | Hi | Very common and informal, like 'hi'. |
| Goedemorgen | Good morning | Used until about noon. |
| Goedemiddag | Good afternoon | Used from noon until about 6 PM. |
| Goedenavond | Good evening | Used from about 6 PM onwards. |
| Dag | Hello / Goodbye | A versatile, slightly more formal word that can be used for both greeting and leaving. |
| Doei / Doeg | Bye | The most common, informal way to say bye. |
| Tot ziens | See you later | Literally "until seeing again." A bit more formal than 'doei'. |
| Tot straks | See you in a bit | Used when you expect to see the person again the same day. |
2. Introductions (Voorstellen)
After greeting someone, the next step is to introduce yourself and ask about them.
| Dutch Phrase | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Hoe gaat het met u/je? | How are you? (formal/informal) |
| Goed, dank je. En met jou? | Good, thank you. And with you? |
| Prima. | Fine / Great. |
| Het gaat. | It's going okay. / So-so. |
| Wat is je naam? | What is your name? |
| Ik heet... / Mijn naam is... | My name is... |
| Aangenaam. | Nice to meet you. |
| Waar kom je vandaan? | Where are you from? |
| Ik kom uit... | I come from... |
| Waar woon je? | Where do you live? |
| Ik woon in... | I live in... |
3. Polite Phrases (Beleefdheidsfrases)
Being polite is important in any culture. These phrases are essential for daily interactions.
| Dutch Phrase | English Translation | Context/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dank u wel / Dank je wel | Thank you very much (formal/informal) | The most common way to say thank you. |
| Bedankt | Thanks | A slightly more casual 'thank you'. |
| Alstublieft / Alsjeblieft | Please / Here you are (formal/informal) | Used when asking for something AND when giving something. |
| Graag gedaan | You're welcome | Literally "done with pleasure." |
| Sorry | Sorry | Used for small apologies. |
| Pardon | Pardon me / Excuse me | Used to get someone's attention or if you didn't hear something. |
| Neemt u me niet kwalijk | Excuse me / Forgive me | A more formal way to apologize or get past someone. |
This word is incredibly versatile. You use it when you ask for something ("Een koffie, alstublieft") and the waiter uses it when they give it to you ("Alstublieft!"). It covers both "please" and "here you go."
4. Understanding and Communication
When you're a beginner, you'll often need to ask for clarification. Don't be afraid to use these phrases!
| Dutch Phrase | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Spreekt u Engels? | Do you speak English? |
| Ik spreek een beetje Nederlands. | I speak a little Dutch. |
| Ik begrijp het niet. | I don't understand. |
| Kunt u dat herhalen, alstublieft? | Can you repeat that, please? |
| Kunt u langzamer spreken, alstublieft? | Can you speak slower, please? |
| Wat betekent...? | What does... mean? |
| Hoe zeg je... in het Nederlands? | How do you say... in Dutch? |
5. Basic Questions (Basisvragen)
Knowing how to ask questions is the key to starting and maintaining a conversation.
| Dutch Question Word | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Wie? | Who? | Wie is dat? (Who is that?) |
| Wat? | What? | Wat is dit? (What is this?) |
| Waar? | Where? | Waar is het station? (Where is the station?) |
| Wanneer? | When? | Wanneer vertrekt de trein? (When does the train leave?) |
| Waarom? | Why? | Waarom lach je? (Why are you laughing?) |
| Hoe? | How? | Hoe maak je dat? (How do you make that?) |
| Hoeveel? | How much / How many? | Hoeveel kost dat? (How much does that cost?) |
🧠 Phrase Matching Quiz
Match the Dutch phrase to its English meaning.
1. Graag gedaan
2. Waar kom je vandaan?
3. Ik begrijp het niet.
Conclusion
Fantastisch! You now have a toolbox of over 50 essential Dutch phrases. This is your passport to starting basic interactions. The key now is to practice them. Say them out loud. Use flashcards. Try to use them in a real conversation if you can. Don't worry about making mistakes or having a perfect accent. The most important step is to start speaking. By mastering these phrases, you've built a solid foundation for all your future Dutch conversations. Veel succes! (Good luck!) 🌟