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Dank u wel, mevrouw.

Dank u wel, mevrouw.
Thank you, madam.
From Lesson 14:Greetings and politeness·Dutch

Breakdown of Dank u wel, mevrouw.

mevrouw
madam / Mrs.
dank u wel
thank you (formal)

Questions & Answers about Dank u wel, mevrouw.

Why is it u instead of je here?
In Dutch, u is the formal word for "you", while je is informal. Because the speaker is addressing a mevrouw (madam), they use the polite form Dank u wel instead of the informal Dank je wel.
What does wel actually mean in this phrase?
By itself, wel can mean many things, but here it simply adds emphasis. While Dank u just means "Thank you", adding wel makes it closer to "Thank you very much."
Can I use mevrouw on its own without a last name?
Yes! Just like "madam" or "ma'am" in English, you can use mevrouw by itself to politely address a woman whose name you don't know. If you do know her name, it translates to "Mrs.", as in mevrouw Jansen.
What if I am saying thank you to a man instead?
You would keep the polite Dank u wel, but replace mevrouw with meneer, which means "sir" or "Mr."

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