DutchThe first Dutch you use every day: saying hello and goodbye. It is easy, but there are a few habits that make you sound natural instead of like a textbook.
Short answer: say hoi or hallo to people you know, and goedemorgen or goedemiddag when it is more formal. Say goodbye with doei (informal) or tot ziens (polite). And when you enter a small shop or a waiting room, a short goedemorgen to everyone is normal.
1 Saying hello
| Dutch | When |
|---|---|
| Hoi! / Hai! | Friends, colleagues, people your age |
| Hallo! | Almost everyone; a little more neutral |
| Goedemorgen | Until about 12:00, more polite |
| Goedemiddag | From 12:00 until about 18:00 |
| Goedenavond | In the evening |
2 Saying goodbye
| Dutch | When |
|---|---|
| Doei! / Doeg! | Informal, very common |
| Tot ziens | Polite, in shops and at the doctor's |
| Tot morgen / Tot straks | See you tomorrow / see you later today |
| Fijne dag! / Fijn weekend! | Have a nice day / weekend |
Tip: answer Fijne dag! with Jij ook! or, more polite, U ook!. You will hear it at every checkout.
3 How are you?
Hoe gaat het? (How are you?) is a real question, but a short answer is fine: Goed, en met jou? (Good, and you?). With someone you call u: Goed, en met u? Many Dutch people do expect an honest answer when they know you well.
The Dutch can say goodbye several times in one sentence: "Doei, tot morgen, fijne avond, doei!" Join in. It means the conversation went well.
Partner tip For one week, greet each other only in Dutch: Goedemorgen! when you wake up, Hoi! when someone comes home, Doei! at the door, Welterusten at night. The partner adds a new one now and then, Tot straks, Fijne dag. Small words, every day: that is how they become automatic.
Test yourself
You walk into the doctor's waiting room at 10:00. What do you say?
Goedemorgen. A short greeting to everyone is normal.
The cashier says "Fijne dag!" What do you answer?
Jij ook! or U ook!
