Greetings in Dutch

When learning a new language, greetings are one of the most important things to master. In Dutch, there are many ways to say hello, goodbye, and express basic manners, which can be especially useful when meeting new people, traveling, or connecting with Dutch-speaking friends. Let’s explore some common greetings and phrases to help you start conversations with confidence!

### 1. Saying Hello

The most common way to say hello in Dutch is:

- Hallo – This is the direct translation of “Hello” and is used in both formal and informal situations.

- Hoi – A friendly, informal way to say hi, perfect for casual conversations.

Depending on the time of day, you might want to use these phrases:

- Goedemorgen – Good morning

- Goedemiddag – Good afternoon

- Goedenavond – Good evening

These are a bit more formal, but they work well in most settings and show a bit more politeness.

### 2. Asking How Someone Is

After a greeting, it’s common to ask how someone is doing. Here are a few ways to do that:

- Hoe gaat het? – How’s it going?

- Hoe is het met jou? – How are you?

A typical response might be:

- Goed, dank je! – Good, thank you!

- Het gaat wel. – It’s going okay.

### 3. Saying Goodbye

When it’s time to part ways, here are some common phrases to say goodbye:

- Dag – This means “Bye” and is very common in the Netherlands.

- Doei – An informal way to say “Bye,” similar to “See ya!”

- Tot ziens – See you later (more formal)

- Tot straks – See you soon (for people you’ll see later the same day)

- Tot morgen – See you tomorrow

### 4. Basic Politeness

Showing respect and politeness can make a great impression. Here are a few polite phrases that go well with greetings:

- Alstublieft – Please (formal)

- Alsjeblieft – Please (informal)

- Dank je – Thank you (informal)

- Dank u wel – Thank you very much (formal)

### 5. Fun Phrases and Tips

Here are a few extra tips for greeting like a local:

- Hoi hoi! – Doubling up “hoi” is a common, friendly way to say hi.

- Hallo allemaal! – This means “Hello everyone!” and is perfect for greeting a group.

Dutch people generally greet with a handshake in formal situations or give three kisses on alternating cheeks among close friends or family. Now that you know some basic greetings, try using them next time you meet a Dutch speaker or practice them with your friends.

With these greetings in your language toolkit, you’re ready to start a friendly conversation in Dutch. Veel succes (good luck) and tot ziens!