So, you’re heading for the Netherlands to travel or work. Awesome! You’re in for an amazing adventure! It’s a beautiful country, steeped in a rich culture that may be very unlike your own.
However, showing respect to the locals is a big deal in every country around the world. A respectful manner and attitude could open doors for you that would otherwise remain mystifyingly closed. Aside from just knowing ‘Thank you’ in Dutch, greeting someone correctly in Dutch could incline a local to treat you more favorably than otherwise! So, the clever thing to do would be to learn Dutch greetings before you embark on your journey. Dutch greetings are different from other languages and probably not what you’d expect. But if learning how to say ‘Hello!’ in Dutch in easy and fun ways is important to you, you’ve come to the right place at DutchPod101.
1. Must-Know Dutch Greetings
Start straight away with this greeting lesson. It’s short, but it packs a punch!
This short, but powerful lesson teaches you the basic ways to greet someone correctly in Dutch! At DutchPod101, you will be taught the correct pronunciation and intonation, as well as the correct times to greet in Dutch. And you will have fun!
The focus of this lesson is Greetings in Dutch
Topic 1: How to say “Hello” in Dutch
1. The most-used informal greeting is Hallo! which means “Hi” or “Hello.” We should only use this greeting with friends or
relatives.
2. The most-used *formal* greetings will change depending on the time of day. Let’s start with: Goedendag! Literally this means
“good day.” As a rule of thumb, we can use goedendag only during the daytime—from late morning until early evening. In the morning, we
say Goedemorgen, “good morning!” During the evening we say: Goedenavond! Goed is Dutch
for “good.” Dag, “morgen,” and avond means “day,” “morning,” and “evening,” respectively.
3. What should you say when you leave? Dutch people usually say Tot ziens when leaving in a formal situation. Tot ziens
means “good-bye.” If we say “good-bye” to friends or our relatives, we use the informal word Dag! You can also say
Doei! The expression doei! is commonly used in informal situations.
Language Tip!
In formal situations, Dutch people commonly greet each other by shaking hands. On the other hand, if we meet someone we are very friendly with, we kiss each other on both cheeks, usually two or three times. Don’t be afraid to do it with your Dutch friends—it’s normal!
2. Common Ways to Say Hello in Dutch
Standing at the airport in a foreign country for the first time can be a somewhat scary experience for anyone, especially if you need assistance. However, don’t worry – at DutchPod101 we teach you how to quickly get a local’s attention with friendly, correct Dutch greetings! You are more likely to get helped this way.
Here is our Dutch greetings list of all the general ways to address a person upon meeting. It is tailored for formal and informal situations.
1- Good morning.
Goedemorgen
‘Good morning’ in Dutch is acceptable any time between approximately 5:30am and 12:00pm, when the day is still young. And smile – it’s the universal ice-breaker!
2- Good evening
Goedenavond
This greeting is one you would use casually when night begins to fall. Address your friends, close family or close acquaintances, and those who are not your superiors, with this phrase.
3- How are you?
Hoe gaat het?
Show your friendly interest in another person’s well-being by asking this question. This is the casual greeting form that you would use with your friends and family. For the sake of the friendship, it would be good to listen carefully to the answer! It shows caring and selflessness on your part.
4- How have you been?
Hoe is het met je?
This is a good question to ask someone you have not seen for a while. The inference is that some catching-up is needed!
5- What’s up?
Hoe gaat het?
An universally informal and energetic way to greet your friends or equals! Literally, it means ‘What’s going on in your life?’, yet often no answer is expected. It’s just a greeting! Crazy, right?!
6- Long time no see.
Tijd niet gezien.
This phrase means is another greeting comment that means “I have not seen you for a while!” Often, no response is expected, except to reciprocate.
7- Hey!
Hey!
This is a friendly exclamation to greet your friends or equals with. Reserve its use more for people you see regularly!
8- Good afternoon.
Goedemiddag
‘Good afternoon’ in Dutch is an informal greeting and is used during the second part of the day. The appropriate period falls, in most cultures, from 12:00am till sunset.
9- How’s it going?
Hoe gaat het?
This greeting phrase basically means the same as ‘How are things progressing?’, ‘How are things going in your life?’ or even ‘What’s up?’ Depending on the friendship, a lengthy answer is not always expected.
10- It’s nice to see you again.
Het is goed om je weer te zien.
This friendly, welcoming phrase is best used after greeting someone you have not seen for a while. If you mean it, you will make the person feel special! This is a good thing to say to make someone feel welcome in Dutch.
11- How’s everything?
Hoe gaat het met alles?
This is a variation of ‘How’s it going?’ Use casually with your equals or close acquaintances.
12- How’s your day?
Hoe is je dag?
Ask this when you’re speaking to your Dutch friend during the day. It’s a friendly phrase to start a conversation with.
13- Yo!
Yo!
Yo! is English slang and a universal greeting popular among young men of most nationalities. Rather don’t answer the phone with this, unless you know your caller well!
14- Hello!
Hallo!
Suitable for use in most settings, situations and persons, this is an important Dutch greeting to know. Be sure to master this word first at DutchPod101!
15- It’s nice to meet you.
Het is leuk u te ontmoeten.
When meeting someone for the first time, this is a polite and friendly way to welcome them. It means you are happy to make their acquaintance.
3. Why Should You Choose DutchPod101 To Learn How To Greet In Dutch?
Online learning systems abound, and it’s not easy to know which one will suit your needs best. This means you have to be careful and select a system with a good reputation, and that has proven longevity. DutchPod101, which is part of InnovativeLearning.com, ticks all the boxes! With millions of lesson downloads and over a decade of teaching, we can say with confidence that this is one of the best language learning systems on the web. Why is it such an excellent system? Let us count the ways…
1- Video Presentations with Native Speakers
Friendly native Dutch speakers guide you step-by-step through the process of learning vocabulary, phrases and much more. They demonstrate correct pronunciation and emphasis of the words, so as to ensure that you speak like a native when you’re done! Watching the enthusiastic tutors makes not only for a pleasant and more personal experience – it also allows you to copy mouth and lip movements. It’s like learning from your own Dutch friend in your own home!
2- Superb Flexibility with 24/7 Access to Learning Material – Anywhere and on Any Device connected to the Internet!
PC, Android, iPhone, iPad, laptop, even TV – whatever device you prefer! Go online with our FREE app to do your lessons, no matter where you are or which device you are using. All you need is a good internet connection to log on and learn to speak Dutch at your own pace, in your own place!
3- Pronunciation Tool Ensures You Really Speak Dutch!
In any language, correct pronunciation is often crucial. The nuances in language require this, or you could find yourself saying things you don’t mean. You will find our Pronunciation Tool invaluable to wrap your mouth around the correct way to greet in Dutch!
4- Our Content is Always New and Dynamic
Every week, new audio and video lessons are uploaded, so as to keep our promise that learning Dutch with DutchPod101 is always fun and exciting! In addition, you will get access to bonus material and basic Dutch phrases. These are a fantastic way to build your comprehension and speaking skills!
5- Need to Fast Track your Learning? We Have the Solution!
Most learning activities are more fun when you’re not doing them alone. For this reason we developed Premium PLUS, which gives you a personal tutor – 24/7! Also, this way you’re likely to learn to speak Dutch much faster!
So, if our lively Dutch blog is not enough for you, just upgrade to Premium PLUS to get your very own teacher. Personalised goals and lessons based on your needs, assessment of your progress, non-stop feedback and many other super features makes this a very attractive option.
Say ‘Hello’ to a wonderful, exciting way to learn another language, and learn how to say ‘Hello’ in Dutch in no time! You will be very happy you did!
