ELONIO

The formal 'you' (u bent)

In Dutch, when speaking to a stranger, someone older, or someone in authority (like a doctor or a teacher), use the formal pronoun u instead of the informal jij or je.

The formal "you" and "zijn"

Just like jij, the formal pronoun u pairs with the verb form bent when using the verb zijn (to be). (The examples also borrow two small words taught at the end of this lesson: hier — "here" — and en — "and".)

You are welcome here.
U bent hier welkom.
I am the student and you are the teacher.
Ik ben de student en u bent de docent.

Addressing people politely

You will often hear u used alongside polite titles like meneer (sir / Mr.) and mevrouw (madam / Mrs.).

Sir, you are the doctor.
Meneer, u bent de arts.
Madam, you are the teacher.
Mevrouw, u bent de docent.

Building longer sentences

This lesson also introduces a few helpful little words to expand your sentences: hier (here), ook (also), niet (not), and en (and).

Notice how they fit into the sentence structure:

You are also here, sir.
U bent hier ook, meneer.
You are not the teacher, madam.
U bent niet de docent, mevrouw.
Practice this lesson