Saying Hello
Hallo works at any time of day, with anyone. In the morning, goedemorgen (good morning) is the standard greeting.
| Hello, sir! | Hallo, meneer! |
| Good morning, madam! | Goedemorgen, mevrouw! |
A greeting is often followed directly by a question:
| Hello, are you home? | Hallo, ben je thuis? |
| Good morning! Are you tired? | Goedemorgen! Ben je moe? |
Please and Thank You
Alsjeblieft is the informal "please" — and Dutch speakers also say it while handing something over, like "here you go". (The formal version, alstublieft, appears in a later lesson.)
| The coffee, please. | De koffie, alsjeblieft. |
| Here is the tea. Here you go! | Hier is de thee. Alsjeblieft! |
Bedankt (thanks) is the everyday way to thank someone.
| Yes, thanks! | Ja, bedankt! |
| No, thanks. | Nee, bedankt. |
Saying Sorry
Sorry works exactly like in English, for small apologies and big ones.
| Sorry, I am late. | Sorry, ik ben laat. |
| Sorry, we are not at home. | Sorry, we zijn niet thuis. |
Saying Goodbye
Tot ziens literally means "until seeing" — see you later.
| Thanks, goodbye! | Bedankt, tot ziens! |
| Goodbye, sir! | Tot ziens, meneer! |
Your Politeness Toolkit
| situation | say |
|---|---|
| greeting someone | hallo, goedemorgen |
| asking or handing over | alsjeblieft |
| thanking | bedankt |
| apologizing | sorry |
| leaving | tot ziens |
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