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Questions & Answers about Graag gedaan, meneer!
Why does graag gedaan mean "you're welcome"?
Literally, it translates to "gladly done." Graag means "gladly" or "with pleasure," and gedaan is a form of the verb doen (to do). It is the standard way to say "you're welcome" in Dutch after someone thanks you, very similar to saying "my pleasure" in English.
Can I just say je bent welkom like in English?
No, that sounds very unnatural to a Dutch speaker! The Dutch word welkom is only used to greet someone arriving at a physical place, like "Welcome to the Netherlands." To reply to "thank you," always use graag gedaan.
Is meneer the standard word for "sir"?
Yes. Meneer is used both as "sir" to politely address a man, and as "Mr." before a surname. You might sometimes see it spelled as mijnheer in older texts, but meneer is how everyone speaks and writes today.
Is graag gedaan formal or informal?
It is completely neutral. Even though adding meneer (sir) makes this specific sentence polite and formal, the phrase graag gedaan is used with absolutely everyone, from strangers to your best friend.