Learn Dutch: Doei, mevrouw!

Doei is informal and very common in the Netherlands. It is just like saying "bye" in English. For a more formal goodbye, you would use tot ziens.

Isn't it weird to use the informal doei with the polite word mevrouw?

It mixes two styles, but it is actually quite common in everyday Dutch life. You might hear a friendly cashier or a child talking to a teacher say this. In a strictly formal business setting, you would prefer tot ziens, mevrouw.

What is the difference between vrouw and mevrouw?

Vrouw simply means "woman" or "wife". When you want to address a woman politely as "madam" or "Mrs.", you must add the "me-" prefix and use mevrouw.

How is the "ou" in mevrouw pronounced?

The Dutch "ou" is a bit tricky. It sounds somewhat like the "ow" in the English word "house", but it is shorter and starts slightly closer to the short "a" sound.